Auricular acupuncture for sleep disturbance in veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder: a feasibility study.

The purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility and acceptability of an auricular acupuncture (AA) insomnia regimen among Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and sleep disturbance. Secondarily, this study examined the effect of an AA insomnia regimen on objective sleep times by wrist actigraphy, subjective sleep times by sleep diary, and sleep quality ratings utilizing the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index. Veterans (n = 30) were randomized to receive a 3-week AA insomnia regimen. Veterans receiving the AA insomnia regimen reported it as a more acceptable treatment for sleep disturbance than subjects in the control group (AA group median = 5 vs. control group median = 3, p = 0.004). Significant differences between groups were found on the sleep quality and daytime dysfunction components of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (p = 0.003, p = 0.004). No other significant differences between groups were found for objective and subjective sleep measures. These results suggest that an AA insomnia regimen may improve sleep quality and daytime dysfunction among veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder. Future, large-scale, prospective clinical trials are needed to examine AA effects on sleep.

Auricular acupuncture: a brief introduction for military providers.

Injured veterans returning from Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom often require long-term medical management for a variety of complex physical and mental health conditions. These conditions can be challenging to treat with conventional Western medicine practices alone. Recently, complementary and alternative medicine practices have been used within military settings, and have been well received by veterans. Auricular acupuncture is a practice that has provided veterans with a new approach to manage symptoms associated with a wide range of health conditions. This treatment has become an attractive treatment option because of its low cost, portability, minimal side effect profile, and ease of use in clinical and operational settings. Although formally trained Oriental medicine practitioners have historically performed these treatments, military health care providers are now receiving education and training to administer these treatments. This education and training allows military health care providers to expand their knowledge of acupuncture and provide this treatment to veterans across the continuum of care. The purpose of this article is to provide a fundamental description of auricular acupuncture and increase awareness of this treatment and its relevance to military settings.