They are "the people you see on the street who are walking around with vacant eyes."
That's how acupuncturist Jill Allison describes veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the target population of her group's new clinic.
"We all know what a huge problem they're having coming back," Allison said.
The clinic, a branch of Acupuncturists Without Borders, gives veterans another place to heal. Acupuncturists Without Borders started in the immediate aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The group provided free treatment for people traumatized by the disasters and runs clinics for military veterans in nearly two dozen cities across the U.S.
In Seattle, veterans make up a significant portion of the homeless population, and with troops still overseas in both Iraq and Afghanistan more soldiers will continue to come home reeling from the physical and emotional wounds of war.
Each Monday night from 6 to 8 p.m. a group of licensed acupuncturists and supporters provide free treatment for PTSD at a walk-in clinic at Solid Ground, 1501 N. 45th St. in Wallingford. Solid Ground's support allowed the Seattle clinic to open in time for the holidays, which acupuncturist Brenda Loew said seems to be the hardest time for a lot of vets.
HOW IT WORKS
Acupuncturists insert five needles into specific points in the patient's ear. The treatment has been found to reduce stress and anxiety, improve mental clarity and sleep and alleviate hyper-vigilance, flashbacks and nightmares.
In this acupuncture method, the ear represents the entire body, with different points correlating with different organs and locations in the body, said acupuncturist Dave Smart. The five points used to treat PTSD are associated with the heart, liver, kidney, sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. These points were originally selected through trial and error for detoxification and the treatment of addiction, and were later found to have positive effects on patients with PTSD, said Loew.
All patients receive needle insertions in the same five places while sitting in a comfortable room. After treatment, they're welcome to stay and relax with others. Because of limited space, time, and liability concerns the acupuncturists are not able to treat ailments other than PTSD.
STIGMA PREVENTS TREATMENT
Acupuncture is gaining acceptance as an effective treatment for PTSD. The U.S. military even uses it in the field. It is also available through the Veterans Affairs, but many vets avoid seeking treatment at VA hospitals because of the stigma associated with PTSD and the complicated paperwork, Loew said. Patients have the option of being anonymous at Solid Ground's o'Kelly Clinic, also known as Seattle Acupuncture for Vets.
Treatment is open to all veterans experiencing the after-effects of their service, but the clinic is especially designed to reach veterans who are homeless and cannot access health care. It's also offered to families of veterans.
The clinic's official name is the o'Kelly Clinic of Solid Ground, named after o'Kelly McCluskey, a local veteran who passed away earlier this year. McCluskey founded the first Washington chapter of Veterans for Peace and was a big supporter of the plans for an acupuncture clinic, Loew said. n