Be part of the European BFA training tour!
What is Battlefield Acupuncture?
This ear (auricular) acupuncture protocol was developed by Dr Richard C. Niemtzow in 2001. He is a retired Air Force colonel and was the first full-time physician acupuncturist in the Armed Forces.
He originally conceived this technique as a way to deliver pain relief through acupuncture as quickly and efficiently as possible in combat and other military situations. It is growing in popularity in both military and civilian medical settings internationally.
This unique technique uses semi-permanent ASP® needles to activate ear points in order to influence the processing of pain in the central nervous system. According to Dr Niemtzow, pain relief can be immediate and hold for a longer stimulation. It can also be used in case of anxiety and insomnia.
A solution to reduce opioid consumption
BFA was recognized in 2019 as a solution to fight the opioid crisis by the Association of American Medical Colleges and presented in the documentary Escape Fire: The Fight to Rescue American Healthcare in 2012.
In this excerpt you can see the insertion of ASP® needles at 4.26:
Registration
Dates:
- Next dates TBC
Who can attend this training:
Therapists who attend this training should be allowed to use needles according to the laws in their country.
Course content
Day 1
- Illusions of the Ear
- The history of Auriculotherapy
- Understand the history behind the BFA protocol
- Learn how to do the BFA Protocol and how to use it
- Effectively use ASP® needles and learn correct auricular insertion technique for BFA including: BFA point location
- Recognize Side Effect and Results of BFA
- Apply BFA in clinical practice successfully – know when to use the protocol
Day 2
- Learn Advanced BFA – how and when to utilize it
- Pairing of Needles
- Clustering of Needles
- Proper use of needles and correct auricular insertion
- Incorporating Nogier’s Phases
- Clinical Pearls: Piezo Pen, PTSD protocol
- Contraindications and Outcomes of ABFA
- Apply ABFA and Auriculotherapy protocols into clinical practice successfully
Trainer
John Howard is an acupuncturist. As a protégé of Dr. Niemtzow, he has been training Battlefield Acupuncture since 2007 in America and Europe.
To learn more about him and about BFA click here.
Some studies and articles on BFA:
- Military medicine makes room for Eastern medicine practices
- Acupuncture before surgery means less pain significantly fewer opioids for veterans
- Battlefield Acupuncture and physical therapy versus physical therapy alone after shoulder surgery
- Battlefield Acupuncture shows promising results in alternative pain management downrange
- Battlefield Acupuncture: my story
- Battlefield Acupuncture: Yes it exists and the military is using it to fight troops pain
