Acupuncture

How acupuncture helps people with PTSD.
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Acupuncture is medicine and has powerful effects without using the typical tools of pharmaceuticals or surgery that much of our modern Western Medicine relies on.  

This paragraph does not intend to explain fully how acupuncture works for all ailments.  However, for PTSD, it may work by activating the Parasympathetic nervous system (rest and digest and heal) and calming the sympathetic nervous system ("fight or flight").  Repeated, regular treatments may begin to help a person who has experience trauma begin to experience retaining the calm of the acupuncture treatment for a little longer each time.  Over time, the frequent retraining of the nervous system can help release old emotional patterns (if the person is ready and desires this), and deal with addictions (again, if the person is ready and desires this).  Acupuncture is not like traditional talk therapy. There is no need to speak about the trauma to resolve it.  Acupuncture in this context is more like meditation, yoga, exercise, qi gong, and tai chi - it is a practice, of sorts, for the body to re-set itself.  One treatment might bring great benefit but one treatment isn't going to produce change as much as repeated treatments will.

Acupuncture in the community setting is cost-effective to deliver and some people feel safer and more comfortable trying this new therapy with a group of others.
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Craniosacral Therapy (CST)

​Craniosacral Therapy is a gentle hands-on treatment that facilitates the release of restrictions in structures in the body that surround the nervous system. These restrictions are often the result of physical and/or emotional trauma and may impede the optimal function of the nervous system, including the brain and spinal cord.  As these restrictions are released, the nervous system is able to allow trapped physical and emotional energy to escape and be released, thus allowing muscles to soften, the body to relax and self-correct, and return to its optimal level of functioning.  It increases blood flow and circulation of the cerebral spinal fluid, balancing neurotransmitters and hormones critical to resolving many of the symptoms associated with PTSD.

Veterans have reported improvements in sleep, reductions in depression and/or panic attacks, reductions in intrusive memories and hypervigilence, improved mental focus, decreased pain and discomfort, and improvements in relationships while emerging from isolation. Veterans have also reported experiencing more meaningful connections in their lives, and to life itself.  
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Herbalism

There are many Natural herbs that support the Nervous System.  A trained clinical herbalist can evaluate your history, symptoms, and energetics and explore with you what herbs may be right to support your body.  Herbalists treat people and not diseases.  Two people with the same symptoms may need different herbs based on how they present to the herbalist energetically.  The herbalist may examine your skin, tongue and/or pulses or other energetic indicators to evaluate your system.  Two categories of herbs in particular, nervines and adaptogens have shown to be particularly useful in helping to relieve the symptoms that often accompany dysregulation of the nervous system.

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Reflexology

Reflexology is a good therapy for people with PTSD because the therapy calms the central nervous system, quiets the mind, and enhances circulation to nourish and normalize organ and gland functions (including the brain).

Reflexology is a science based on the principle that there are reflexes in the feet and hands relative to each gland, organ and all parts of the body. Stimulating these reflexes helps nature normalize body functions leading to health and vitality.

In a reflexology session the feet, a microcosm of the whole body, are given a “tune-up” -- reducing nervous stress, improving nerve and blood supply and thus healing many health problems in a natural way. A session may be 30 minutes or a full hour.
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Somatic Experiencing (SE)

Somatic Experiencing is a proven method for resolving trauma symptoms and relieving chronic stress.  It was developed by Peter Levine, PhD.  Dr. Levine demonstrated that trauma does not rest in the event but in the person’s nervous system. We can support the client in their experience of a more “coherent” and “resilient” nervous system.  In the traumatic experience, the body becomes “stuck” in the mode of fight, flight or freeze.  It no longer has the ability to discharge the “survival energies”.  SE offers the opportunity for the individual to engage, complete, and resolve the body’s instincts to fight, flight or freeze and restore inner balance, resilience and vitality to the nervous system. 
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Therapeutic Yoga & Psychology

Therapeutic Yoga and Psychology (TYP) blends proven healing modalities, and invites a present moment experience into awareness, connection, exploration, and enjoyment.  One guiding principle of TYP is that the practices and techniques are skillfully chosen to support the special needs of individuals towards their own healing and well-being.  It draws from and combines a variety of options, including gentle and restorative yoga postures, Somatic Experiencing techniques, East-West psychology, healing touch, guided imagery, breath awareness, and simple aromatherapy.  An assortment of supportive props is used.  This offering does not aim to diagnose or fix; rather it can provide respite, and promote stress hardiness, nervous system health, emotional soothing, and overall relaxation, by loosening tension patterns in the body, and recalibrating the physiology, which can encourage mind-body-and spirit harmony - in any state of health.  
   
Each session begins with a brief dialogue about current physical and emotional matters or concerns, then moves into purposeful therapeutics with inquiry, and concludes with a check-in about what stood out in the session, and any helpful takeaways.  Sessions can take place on a large cushioned mat, in a chair, on a massage table, and the combination. Useful home activities may be provided for continued self-care.  No prior experience is necessary. 

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Alternative Health Practitioners

Do you practice one of the modalities we offer, or do you provide a service that you think would be a good fit with us? Are you interested in volunteering your time and services with the Veterans Resiliency Holistic Clinic? Contact Karen today.