Family Acupuncture Center Opens Clinic for National Military Stress Recovery Project

Family Acupuncture Center treats Veterans, Active Duty Servicemembers and their Families Suffering from

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                       

February 26, 2014

(Silver Spring, MD)– The Family Acupuncture Center is an independent and locally run clinic dedicated to the free treatment of trauma experienced by combat veterans, active duty and their families.  It is part of a national network of independent member clinics established with the help of Acupuncturists Without Borders (AWB).  The veterans’ free clinic will be held Tuesday, March 4, 2014 from 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm at the Family Acupuncture Center in Silver Spring, Maryland.  These free community acupuncture clinics will be offered every Tuesday evening.

In 2006, AWB established the Military Stress Recovery Project (MSRP) with a pilot clinic in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  Today, 27 clinics operate nationwide treating thousands of our nation's servicemembers.  The campaign, originally intended to help Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, soon discovered veterans from other conflicts were underserved, as well as the families who help them cope with PTSD symptoms.  Madsen says, "Current wars can re-engage trauma with veterans. While many people think PTSD is only combat related, it's not. PTSD can come from sexual assault, abuse or any other traumatic experience." For more than a decade, Madsen has been treating patients with non-combat related PTSD and says military servicemembers can also benefit from acupuncture.

Thousands of military veterans suffer from serious acute traumatic stress – they may be having flashbacks, panic, insomnia, suicidal ideation, or any number of symptoms. A June, 2007, Washington Post article reported that “nearly 40 percent of soldiers, a third of Marines and half of the National Guard members” are reporting symptoms of mental-health issues.

AWB, who is coordinating the nationwide program, began by treating residents, volunteers, relief workers, first responders and military personnel following Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, Louisiana. AWB offers treatment based on the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA) ear protocol, which has proven to be extremely powerful in alleviating symptoms of stress and trauma.  During treatment, people sit fully clothed in a circle of chairs and the licensed acupuncturist places 5 tiny needles on each ear.  The recipients are invited to close their eyes and rest for 30-45 minutes, as the acupuncture does its work.

At clinics around the country, veterans are experiencing benefits such as a full nights sleep for the first time in years and fewer bad dreams.  They are reporting improved mental clarity, less anxiety and a reduction in stress. Acupuncture is currently being investigated at Water Reed National Military Medical Center as a viable treatment for PTSD in returning veterans and the military has started using acupuncture in the battlefield to help with pain. AWB is a private entity and is not affiliated with the Veterans Administration or the military.  Treatments provided by the Family Acupuncture Center are confidential.  Kay Madsen, owner of the Family Acupuncture Center says, "Unlike conventional therapy for PTSD, acupuncture does not rely on rehearsing or replaying the traumatic events.  Instead, acupuncture treatment is a more passive experience of relaxation and calm while the needles help to "reset" the brain to stop replaying the overwhelming horror of the past traumatic event." 

Family Acupuncture Center in Silver Spring will be offering the Community Style Acupuncture, which consists of:

·       Acupuncture needles on ears only

·       Treatment to help reduce stress and anxiety; help with trouble sleeping; provide a general sense of well-being and make you feel better.

·       30 – 45 minute treatment / group setting.

Family Acupuncture Free Veterans’ Clinic hours will be every Tuesday evening from 7 to 9:30 P.M., beginning Tuesday March 4, 2014 at 13415 Connecticut Ave., Suite 204, Silver Spring, MD 20906.  For more information, contact Kay Madsen at 240-393-5420.  

Website:  www.familyacupuncturecenter.org

e-mail: familyacupuncture@verizon.net

About Acupuncturists Without Borders
Acupuncturists Without Borders (AWB) provides immediate disaster relief and recovery to communities that are in crisis resulting from disaster or human conflict. AWB is committed to creating alliances with local community based organizations and treating all who have been affected - survivors, first responders, emergency personnel and other care providers.  AWB uses community-style acupuncture to provide caring, compassionate treatment in a group setting. This model of treatment allows everyone treated to experience relief from stress and trauma together. When the entire group feels calm and quiet, hope, determination and resiliency rises powerfully within it.  For more information, please visit www.acuwithoutborders.org.

About Kay Madsen/Family Acupuncture Center
The Family Acupuncture Center was established and continues to be operated exclusively by Kay Madsen, Nationally Board Certified (NCCAOM), Licensed Acupuncturist.  It was founded on the concept that medical care should be provided from the vantage point that each patient is a unique whole person, not a statistical average or a sum of specialized parts.  One of her primary areas of clinical success relates to women's health issues, including PMS, menstrual issues, menopausal symptoms, and infertility.  Other success stories concern resolution of pain, including migraines and other chronic headaches, sleep and digestive issues, fatigue, and psycho-emotional manifestations, such as depression and anxiety.  For more information, please visit www.familyacupuncturecenter.org.