What is PTSD

PTSD, or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a psychiatric disorder that can occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event. People with PTSD have intense, disturbing thoughts and feelings related to their experience that last long after the traumatic event has ended. They may relive the event through flashbacks or nightmares; they may feel sadness, fear or anger; and they may feel detached or estranged from other people. People with PTSD may avoid situations or people that remind them of the traumatic event, and they may have strong negative reactions to something as ordinary as a loud noise or an accidental touch. According to statistics from the Veterans Administration, approximately 7-8% of the general population will have PTSD at some point in their lives, and as many as 30% of veterans will have PTSD in their lifetime. https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand/common/common_adults.asp Acupuncture for PTSD Acupuncture is a great way to complement conventional treatments for PTSD. Research has shown that combining acupuncture with conventional treatments such as medication and therapy has a greater therapeutic effect than conventional treatments alone. https://www.healthcmi.com/Acupuncture-Continuing-Education-News/1410-acupuncture-for-combat-ptsd-found-effective Very small, sterile needles are inserted into various places in the body including the arms, legs, hands and ears. The sessions are safe and non-invasive, and last about 30 minutes. Most people who have used acupuncture say they feel very relaxed during the treatment, and have a better sense of well-being afterwards. In addition, people report additional benefits from the acupuncture like improved sleep quality, increased relaxation, and a decrease in pain. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26530240