We hear quite a bit these days about how acupuncture is an “alternative medicine practice”. But how “alternative” can it be when acupuncture is being used by the United States Marine Corps? Lt. Cmdr. Brian Kleyensteuber, stationed at the K-Bay Marine base in Hawaii, is a psychiatrist, and licensed acupuncturist. He uses acupuncture to treat Marines for a variety of physical and psychological disorders. “I don’t do the healing,” Kleyensteuber said, “I facilitate the body healing itself.”

Phoenix Acupuncture Treatment Facilitates the Body’s Natural Healing Processes

Here is a list of some of the ways Lt. Cmdr. Kleyensteuber uses acupuncture to treat his fellow Marines by facilitating their bodies’ natural healing processes.

Acupuncture for Back Pain

Due to the heavy lifting and repetitive motion often required of active duty marines, back pain is a recurring issue. An example is Sgt. Maj. Paul Davis. He wanted to relieve back pain without medication, and had heard about acupuncture for back pain. Davis has a herniated disk, and also experiences pain in his trapezius muscles (the muscles that run from the neck to the shoulder). After a series of regular acupuncture treatments, his back pain has gone from “pretty severe” to non-existent.

Acupuncture for PTSD

Because acupuncture treats anxiety, it has been beneficial in treating those who have post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Acupuncture for PTSD works with the parasympathetic nervous system to reverse, or calm, reactions to perceived fears and stressors. For a veteran with PTSD, the ability to re-train the body’s reaction to triggers, stress, and fear is critical for integrating back into society, maintaining human connections, and functioning in the day-to-day work world. Using acupuncture for PTSD allows veterans to heal from their trauma, without the negative side effects common to prescription psychiatric medications.

Acupuncture to Treat Addiction

For most people with addictions, stress is the Number One trigger. By working to manage stress, while simultaneously re-programming the nerve pathways, acupuncture can be an important element in an addiction treatment program. Sgt. Kevin Ivey sought acupuncture to treat alcohol addiction, as well as stress. He said he feels, “more relaxed, better at handling stress and has physical relief from his previous back pain.”

Take Your Cue From the Marines. Seek Treatment From a Phoenix Acupuncturist

Here at Southwest Integrative Medicine, we’re thrilled to read the US Marine Corps is using acupuncture as a part of their medical and psychiatric treatment programs. The Department of Defense plans on expanding its acupuncture treatment program, and it turns out the the U.S. Navy’s Bureau of Medicine and Surgery has recently added best practices for acupuncture and other alternative medicine treatments as well. Ready to take your cue from the Marines? Contact Southwest Integrative Medicine and see how acupuncture can improve your health, and your life.

As a thank you for their service, we are offering community acupuncture to our veterans. This Phoenix acupuncture treatment is something we offer on Saturdays to our existing patients at a discounted rate. Military and veterans can take advantage of this service as a new patient. In short community acupuncture is acupuncture done in a group setting where multiple people can be treated at the same time. It is modeled off of the treatment approaches in China. You could read more about our phoenix community acupuncture here.

For interest in acupuncture or community acupuncture click on the link below.