Written by Wendy L. Miller RN, HTCP, Executive Director of Healing Warriors Program
June 3, 2024
Veterans and their families often face unique challenges upon returning from service, including mental health issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression, which can create challenges in readjusting to civilian life. Integrative therapies, which combine conventional medicine with complementary approaches such as acupuncture, Healing Touch therapy, and craniosacral therapy, are offered at the Healing Warriors Program and provide a whole-person approach to addressing these multifaceted needs for both Veterans and their support systems. Integrative therapies foster a sense of unity and support within the family while addressing the family’s unique challenges (Monson et al., 2012).
Acupuncture, a component of traditional Chinese medicine, involves inserting thin needles into specific points on the body to stimulate energy flow and restore balance. Research suggests that acupuncture can modulate the body’s stress response by regulating neurotransmitters and hormones such as cortisol, thereby promoting relaxation and reducing stress levels (Lee et al., 2013). Craniosacral therapy focuses on manipulating the craniosacral system, which includes the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord, to enhance the body’s self-healing mechanisms. By releasing restrictions in this system, craniosacral therapy may alleviate tension, improve circulation, and promote relaxation, thereby reducing stress and its associated symptoms (Gallagher & Lund, 2017).
Healing Touch therapy utilizes gentle touch and energy-based techniques to facilitate the recipient’s self-healing process. Practitioners aim to balance the body’s energy flow and promote harmony between the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual aspects of well-being. Research suggests that Healing Touch therapy can reduce stress, anxiety, and pain while enhancing relaxation and overall quality of life. Talk therapies can require significant time, thus incurring substantial cost and reporting high dropout rates. One review found that only 2–8% of PTSD patients received an adequate dose (eight sessions or more) of prolonged exposure or cognitive processing therapy, the “gold standard” psychotherapies for PTSD. This is often due to subjects dropping out, declining treatments, or not being a good fit (Reeve et al., 2020).
Complimentary Alternative Medicine (CAM) approaches are becoming more widespread because they can be delivered outside conventional mental health clinics, require less talking and disclosure than psychotherapy, and may not carry the risks of side effects from pharmaceutical interventions (Grant et al., 2017). Acupuncture, Healing Touch, and craniosacral therapy offer a range of tools and techniques that can help family members cope with the stress and emotional toll of supporting a Veteran. Shannon et al. (2017) discussed how providing relaxation techniques, stress management skills, and integrative therapies empowers family members to navigate better the ups and downs of their loved one’s journey toward healing.
References
Gallagher, L. M., & Lund, D. (2017). Craniosacral therapy as a treatment for anxiety disorder: A randomized pilot study. Journal of Evidence-Informed Social Work, 14(1), 46-57
Grant, S., Colaiaco, B., Motala, A., Shanman, R., Sorbero, M., & Hempel, S. (2017). Acupuncture for the Treatment of Adults with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, 19(1), 39–58. https://doi.org/10.1080/15299732.2017.1289493
Lee, J. H., Choi, T. Y., Lee, M. S., Lee, H., Shin, B. C., & Ernst, E. (2013). Acupuncture for acute low back pain: a systematic review. The Clinical Journal of Pain, 29(2), 172-185
Monson, C. M., Fredman, S. J., & Dekel, R. (2012). Posttraumatic stress disorder in an interpersonally traumatized population: A review and treatment study. Journal of Rehabilitation Research & Development, 49(5), 649-666
Reeve, K., Black, P. A., & Huang, J. (2020). Examining the impact of a Healing Touch intervention to reduce posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in combat veterans. Psychological Trauma, 12(8), 897–903. https://doi.org/10.1037/tra0000591
Shannon, P. J., Havens, J. R., & Tindle, H. A. (2017). The impact of veterans’ service-connected disability and level of military sexual trauma on mindfulness in PTSD treatment. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 9(5), 600–607