"Whole-istic" Care at the VA? The VA Addresses the Opiate Crisis in Innovative Ways.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has been ramping up its complementary and integrative care in its medical care packages. Modalities include battlefield acupuncture, manual treatments, meditation, mindfulness, Tai-Chi and Qi-gong classes in addition to whole health coaching, massage, aqua therapy, and yoga. The department is now implementing a "whole health approach" that centers on each veteran's over arching and global health needs concentrating on whole physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health.

Focus for doctors throughout the VA system will be on treating ailments only as they arise and concentrating on whole health, preventative and functional care.

Watch for the Whole Veteran Act and the Expanding Care for Veterans Act this year, which would expand the scope of VA research to include the effectiveness, accessibility and implementation of complementary and integrative interventions such as yoga and meditation to veterans.

To traditionalists, these interventions may sound like the VA is endorsing treatments and therapies that once were relegated to "witches and dirty hippies". Especially in the last 20 years, new research has shown that Tai-Chi, Qi-gong and yoga classes, taken on a regular basis, enhance the mobility, flexibility and balance of people as they age and provide relief for a myriad of physical ailments from scoliosis and arthritis to tendinitis and degenerative disc disease. There is also evidence of reduced incidence of heart attack and stroke in participants, underlining the positive cardiovascular effects these practices have on a body.

Further, those regular participants diagnosed with anxiety and depression experience relief from their symptoms. The National Institute of Health has a wealth of information showing the positive effects that Eastern medicinal and cultural practices have on your health.

Battlefield acupuncture is a variation on auricular therapy involves inserting a small needle into the ear. It has a “central effect” on the nervous system and the cingulate gyrus, an area

Emily Hansen's Battlefield Acupuncture Needles. Small needles are inserted into the cartligious portions of the ear, interrupting pain signals from the rest of the body.

of the brain that processes pain. Inserting a needle into the correct points on the ear interrupts the pain signals. Pain relief is instant and reduces the patient's reliance on opioids and anti-inflammatory medications, which have serious side effects. The side effects for auricular therapies can include irritation, bleeding and infection at the insertion sites, but no serious side effects have been reported. However, the needles should be cared for properly.

Needles are left in for up to three days, then the patient returns to the doctor to have the needles removed or the patient can remove them themselves.

Emily Hansen, American Legion Post #353 Adjutant and Legion Lounge Assistant Manager, recently had a Battlefield acupuncture performed to help control an acute worsening of chronic pain. "I went to the VA and the doctor put in the first needle and had me walk to the door (of the exam room) and back," she said. "Then he put in the second and had me walk to the door and back again. I did that with each needle. By the time they were all placed, my pain went from a 7 or 8 out of 10 down to a 4."

Battlefield acupuncture needles

"I don't know how it works, but it works!" she went on. "You don't really notice the needles," she said. "Sometimes they get caught on the pillowcase while you're sleeping, but it doesn't hurt." She said often the needles fall out themselves and taking them out yourself doesn't hurt either. "It's really easy and it saves you a trip back to the doctor."

Needles are never re-used and are disposed of in the same type of sharps container that contain used hypodermic syringes.

Aqua therapy is especially useful for people who are recovering from catastrophic injuries and illnesses or who've had a significant amount of muscle atrophy or wasting. Aqua therapy, as the name implies, takes place in a therapy pool of water, which is about 3 feet deep. The patient's body is much lighter in the water, allowing them to engage muscles that they haven't used in weeks or months. The weight of the water allows the patient to stand more easily as the water presses at the patient from all sides, allowing for more natural stability and balance. As therapy progresses, the patient transitions into more and more difficult exercises that promote building balance and muscle strength and flexibility.

Ann Clark, Legion Lounge part-time bartender and Social Media Coordinator for the post, said has used multiple complementary therapies. "I shattered my ankle a few years ago and experienced a significant amount of muscle wasting afterwards," she said. "My journey to being able to walk right again started in an aqua therapy pool with a fabulous physical therapist. I transitioned into regular physical therapy and took an aqua exercise class at my gym."

"I also worked with an amazing massage therapist that was able to release the lactic acid and fascia around the muscles, which greatly reduced the amount of soreness I felt after physical therapy sessions."

As Ann became able to walk without a cane, she re-started yoga classes "with a wonderful teacher who was so encouraging and intuitive. She showed me the "easy" way of working toward the yoga stretches and poses others in the class were capable of. Practicing the "easy" way allowed me to develop even more strength and balance until I was capable of "intermediate"- level poses."

Eventually, Ann decided she wanted to know more about yoga and why it's so calming. "I wanted to know why I feel so good after a good yoga session and how it can be beneficial to others. So, in May 2019, I became a certified yoga instructor. Now, I give advice to others to help alleviate pain...both mental and physical. Yoga has been a god-send to me!"

Can any of these modalities help you? Feel free to ask Emily or Ann about their experiences. For more information on availability of VA-endorsed Whole Health therapies in Omaha, click here or call the Omaha VA at 402-599-2130. In Lincoln, call 402-486-7822. In Grand Island, call 308-395-3405.