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About 40 percent of U.S. war veterans are coping with pain. The traditional strategy for pain management has been to give painkillers which can be highly addictive and result in prescription drug abuse. According to a speech given before the House of Representatives last August regarding this issue, 150 U.S. soldiers died from drug overdose in the last two years.

It is encouraging that acupuncture, massage, chiropractics and mind-body therapies are now used for war veterans experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and pain. Hopefully, the incorporation of complementary and alternative medical practices (CAM) in the military is reflective of a greater shift toward a more holistic approach to our overall health care system to come.

PTSD is also being addressed through the brain-body connection with yoga nidra, which is a form of guided meditation that reduces stress and depression. About 15 to 20 percent of war veterans are at risk of PTSD. Yoga nidra is an alternative or complement to the traditional therapies of antidepressants and psychotherapy in preventing night terrors and healing traumatic memories.

Source: The Mac Weekly