THE PSYCHOTHERAPEUTIC EFFECT OF EAR ACUPUNCTURE

Author: I. Széchenyi Dr.
Institution: Széchenyi Health Center, Budapest, Hungary

Aim:
Our aim is to understand the psychotherapeutic effect of the 5-point NADA (National Acupuncture Detoxification Association) protocol that we experienced in a number of cases, in addition to its effect of eliminating drug addiction and to provide a theoretical explanation for the above in the theoretical context of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
(Although the 5-point NADA protocol was put together for the treatment of those with addictions, it has always been assumed that the healing capacities of the method go far beyond that.)
The protocol is effective not only in eliminating chemical drug addiction, but in previous research we proved that it also has an immediate stress-reducing effect. (Crisis intervention, post-traumatic stress)

Methods:
The comparison of the concordant conclusions of the subjective reports of the patients, the operator's experiences about patient's behaviour, and the results of scientific research (Likert – scale, serum prolactin, serum cortisol and meridian - diagnostics) to the theoretical conclusions of TCM.

Results:
The textbook descriptions of TCM are in line with the patients' subjective reports, the operator staff’s experience and the results of scientific (randomized, double-blind, controlled) research.

Conclusion:
It is not a meaningless phrase that ear acupuncture is a holistic therapy, that is, it plays a role not only in the elimination of biological functional disorders (e.g., sleeping problems, decrease of the blood pressure, elimination of sweating, craving and withdrawal symptoms), but it is also very effective in the elimination of internal pathogenic factors (e.g. anger, rage, aggression, fear, anxiety).