Military studying acu care for PTSD

The US Army’s prestigious Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, DC, houses a clinical trial currently underway to determine the effectiveness of acupuncture as a treatment for PTSD among military personnel.

According to ClinicalTrials.gov, untreated PTSD “leads to decreased force readiness and increased health care utilization. Yet, service members with the disorder may be resistant to traditional treatments or find them undesirable because of side-effects, stigma, and long-term commitment.

“Acupuncture, which has few known side effects, holds promise as an effective treatment option for PTSD. Acupuncture has been shown to improve well-being and has been successfully used to treat stress, anxiety and pain conditions.”