Pain Management, using the Battlefield protocol. The Battlefield was designed by Air Force Colonel, Dr. Richard Niemtzow, and is now playing an important role in the U.S. Military, as a successful treatment modality for pain management. After having invented this protocol, Dr. Neimtzow decided to introduce this protocol in 2008 at Landsthul Region Medical Center, Landsthul, Germany, applying it to wounded soldiers for pain relief. This goes right along with my modality of treatment, auriculotherapy (ear acupuncture, auricular medicine), in that it is performed using only the outer ear. There is an order to which each acupuncture needle is inserted; however it makes no difference as to which ear is first. In line of Chinese theory, I choose to treat women, starting with the right ear, and with men, the left. This is my personal preference. As stated, it does not matter which ear is chosen first. What matters is alternating between ears after each point is inserted. There is a total of five points used, accounting for the possibility of having a total of ten needles inserted. To help understand the treatment protocol, I will explain the purpose, and location (Auriculotherapy Manual: Chinese and Western Systems of Ear Acupuncture, Terry Oleson, Ph.D.), for each of the five points used. The five auricular points, and their order of insertion, are : 1) Cingulate Gyrus, 2) Thalamus, 3) Omega 2, 4) Point Zero, and 5) Shenmen. Once the first needle is inserted, ask the patient to walk or move the painful part for 30 seconds. If the patient does not experience, a 30% minimum reduction in pain, move to the next ear using the same point. Continue, using the order, until there is significant pain relief. Once this has been established, finish the protocol on that particular ear. For instance, if the treatment begins on the right ear using the first point, and no change, continue with the insertion of the cingulate gyrus on the left ear. Again, if no results, go back to the right ear and insert the sec on point (3rd needle), asking the patient to move the affected area. If there is a significant decrease in pain reduction, continue with 4-5 on the right ear. In this case. there will be a total of 5 needles inserted between both ears. The patient no longer needs to move the affected area once the pain reduction is established. The Cingulate gyrus, is part of the limbic lobe of the brain. It is a part of the limbic system, known as the feeling and reacting brain. Therefore, the cingulate gyrus is involved in processing emotion, memory and learning. The thalamus point, (aka: Subcortex, Brain, Pain Control Point), found at the base of the Concha Wall has multiple uses, one being reduction in chronic pain. Other uses include: regulating excitement and depression; calms the mind, restoring tranquility; schizophrenia, and regulates water metabolism. The Omega 2 point, found on the Superior Helix, central to the Allergy Point, affects somatic stresses. It is used for musculoskeletal pain, inflammation of the limbs and rheumatoid arthritis. The fourth point, Point Zero (Point of Support), located in a notch on the Helix Root as it begins to rise from the Concha Ridge), brings the entire body back to homeostasis. This point supports the actions of any auricular point used in auriculotherapy. Other functions include: balancing of energy, hormones and brain activity, as well as controlling visceral organs through peripheral nerve ganglia. Terry Oleson states this point as being the Autonomic Brain (pg. 56, 2nd edition). I use this point in every patient treatment, no matter the pathology. Shen Men (Divine Gate, Spirit Gate), the fifth point places the patient into a state of receptivity to treatment (Abatte, Skya (Diane). Chinese Auricular Acupuncture, 2004, 45-46.). It is located superior and central to where the Triangular Fossa curves. It tranquilizes the mind, alleviating tension and anxiety that is often found in pain patients. Other uses include: insomnia, hypertension, depression, inflammatory disorders and restlessness. This point is a must for every patients treatment protocol, no matter the pathology. Normally, this point is the first point implemented in each of my patients; however, and for reasons unknown, it is the last point used in Battlefield. In using Battlefield, i have yet to have a patient that did not have at least 75% in pain reduction at the first visit. Several patients, living with chronic pain for greater than 20 years, have walked out pain free after their first treatment, and have chosen to continue treatment on a monthly basis as maintenance. With each patient iterated, i have found the results to be long term, in duration. I have several patients having had one treatment in as much as 9 months ago. I highly recommend this protocol to be the first treatment used when having patients present with pain. It should be used in any form of pain To not offer this as an alternative choice, is denying ultimate healthcare to your patient. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me. Good luck, and I look forward to hearing responses from those practitioners who are willing to give this a try.
Posted on: Thu, 25 Sep 2014 21:46:58 +0000
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