FAQs
In the Hands of the Revolutionaries and Communities: A Social History of Acupuncture : 2020 Video Podcast Series created by Eana Meng, MPhil Student, University of Cambridge, UK. Produced by the Harvard University Asia Center.
Photo of women in Gaza
Gaza Residents Empowering each other with Community-based Trauma Care Tools
The NADA Gaza Strip project was designed to help civilian residents cope psychologically with the traumas of war & everyday life. After receiving training in NADA, these professional healthcare teams provide ongoing care within their communities. This model empowers community members to help themselves & their neighbours to provide continuity of care. The application of metallic ear beads was also taught to participants to assist with the symptoms of PTSD experienced by the large number of children being brought to the clinic.
Healthcare professionals have been working independently & voluntarily since April 2010, giving NADA treatments to civilian men, women & children for the symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress (PTSD) & other stress-related illnesses at a variety of clinic locations in the Gaza Strip.
Photography: Mahmoud Shamali.
Text & Images reproduced with permission from NADA Training Report, Guidepoints News from NADA (USA), January 2011. (change button to Original Source: link - acudetox.com/resources/newsletter/)
Is NADA just for Detox?
No! One of the main benefits of the NADA protocol is that it promotes a deep sense of peace & relaxation in those who experience it. Many of today’s chronic health issues stem from long-term exposure to stressful stimuli. NADA supports you to release, recharge & return to self by softening the fight, flight, freeze state of the autonomic nervous system. Regulating the nervous system helps shift your body & mind into a more more grounded, reflective & restful state. Things begin to look & feel different as the nervous system begins to regulate & reshape.
Is NADA a stand-alone treatment?
The NADA protocol is not intended as a stand-alone treatment. It is a complementary treatment that promotes symptom relief & improves treatment retention by relieving acute & chronic distress in persons seeking recovery, best used to enhance comprehensive, integrated addiction support services (Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, USA 2006).
A note on Testimonials
Source: https://acupuncturepregnancy.com.au/testimonials/
Doctors of Chinese medicine are registered by the government body Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). Like GP s, medical specialists, dentists etc we conform with the advertising standards set by AHPRA*.
Hence, although we hear positive feedback everyday, we cannot share it with you here. You will find plenty of positive reports from our patients in various chat rooms, where such comments are allowed.
The best testimony to our work, & the effectiveness of NADA-style care & community engagement, is …..
the numbers of people - young & old who access those services since the People’s Detox clinic began in the South Bronx, 1970.
People come to see us when they ….. Then they often keep coming …. And then we see them again for….
They are referred to us by social workers, counsellors, community health & family violence services, community health justice advocates, LGBTIQA+ support services, ….., or by their friends.
But, by the way, our Canadian and American colleagues have no restrictions on testimonials. Here you can read some (back-link to ….? ) stories, just like the ones we hear, from members of our International Solidarity Team of NADA clinics & trainers across the globe.
What can I expect from getting a treatment?
What does a NADA session look like?
Group of people sitting in a circle
Soundscape or silent
Explanation of the treatment + informed consent
Explanation of method and informed consent.
Swabs
Insertion of 1-5 very small, sterile, single use acupuncture needles in the outer ear.
You don’t have to do anything once the needles or seeds are in. Simply sit back, close your eyes, breathe & relax for about 45 mins. If you feel you’re done before that time, just raise your hand from the elbow - it’s no problem. The needles or seeds will work without any effort on your part. Don’t worry if your mind gets busy with all kinds of things. The treatment will still be working in the background.
What does it feel like? Does it hurt?
In short, yes, when the needles are initially inserted there is a brief sharp sensation felt.
Having said that, one of the main areas of feedback from our initial trial was that participants felt the needles were very comfortable, and several people asked if they could be deeper or stimulated further next time!
The different acupoints are associated with different intensity of sensation. After this, there is usually a sensation of warmth correlating with changes in qi and blood flow. The subsequent release of endorphins, endogenous opiates and other happy chemicals, along with the qi flow changes, that induce a sense of deep calm and relaxation.
How much does it cost?
The sliding scale represents the idea that financial resources, including income, are not and should not be the only determining factor in whether or not someone can access services/care/etc. It reflects our commitment to serving individuals and/or communities that would otherwise not be able to afford the services. For a sliding scale to work it relies on the principles of truthfulness, respect for complexity, and accountability. I do not ask for income verification. I trust people to be honest. Community thrives when accountability is a central value, because that is where mutual respect and dignity grows.
Image of sliding scale - plus background info
Source: The Sliding Scale: A Tool of Economic Justice, Alexis J. Cunningfolk http://www.wortsandcunning.com/blog/sliding-scale?rq=sliding%20scale