Author: Miles Cook

“Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.” – Audre Lorde

Protests, oppression, boycotts, lost friends, fatigue, quarantine, police violence, town halls, depression, hard conversations, stress; we are all currently in the mire that is the current state of affairs. But many of us aren’t swimming, I’ve seen many of my community drowning in burnout, compassion fatigue, and stress. I see more and more people looking like they are captives in a war against their own bodies and minds. So it always lightens my worries when someone will ask, “Are you still doing the thing with the needles and seeds?” and I can bring them to The Center for Trauma & Resilience (CTR).

CTR provides culturally and linguistically informed services, which includes our emotional support and counseling services. CTR does not believe in a one-size-fits-all approach to therapy or self-care. We understand that talk and group therapy does not work well for all clients, for a number of reasons, so we also offer several forms of non-verbal therapeutic services. We have a self-care program and run compassion fatigue workshops that walks the talk; letting people voice their own needs and make their own choices. These programs emphasize an individuals connection with their body and include yoga and a form of ear acupuncture called NADA.

The NADA protocol is appropriate for individuals seeking an individual, non-verbal avenue for reducing symptoms of stress, trauma, substance abuse, and fatigue. This particular method is an evidence-based practice, stemming from ancient acupuncture traditions and contemporary trauma response care. The process was developed by classically trained acupuncturists, Dr. Omura and Dr. Wen, in 1974 to provide care for clients at the Lincoln Recovery Center in South Bronx. The clients who received this treatment reported it helped them reduce their cravings and, unexpectedly, to reduce pain and improve feelings of relaxation.

Since this discovery, the NADA method has been utilized internationally by thousands of practitioners.The process has been examined and it has been proven to be effective across language barriers and among diverse populations. The experimentation and research that has been done since NADA was created at the Lincoln Recovery Center has not only confirmed the effects felt by the original recipients, but it has also shown the treatment provides significant relief to those coping with trauma & grief.

These compelling conclusions piqued CTR’s interest in NADA in 2017. We decided to have several staff members trained as acudetox specialists and piloted the program to clients who were interested. After witnessing the positive results and hearing the rave reviews from our clients, we made NADA an official program at our agency in 2019. 

But what actually is NADA? The quick explanation is that the NADA treatment places 5 thin, sterile, single use needles in both ears for 30 to 45 minutes. If you are not comfortable with needles, there are options to use metal beads or “seeds,” instead, on the pressure points, but they need to stay on for a longer period of time, preferably until you next go to sleep.  Since the beginning of this program, we have treated clients with all different ages, ability levels, languages and traumas, and do everything we can to accommodate our clients and their needs. Everyone is welcome to try!

The five needles correspond to five emotional functions and five bodily functions.

1. Sympathetic point: This point works with the nervous system and is responsible for stress reactions. Stimulating the point starts the process of providing balance and helping a person be present with their body and emotions. 

2. Shenmen or the Spirit Gate: This point works with the fight-flight-freeze response and is responsible for the feelings of pain, tension, and restlessness. Stimulating the point anchors the spirit and calms the mind, reducing feelings of anxiety, depression, or insomnia. 

3. Kidney: This point works primarily with the kidney and associated hormones. In oriental medical theory, the liver is associated with feelings of fear and/or mistrust. Stimulating the point relieves feelings of fear and supporting the operation of a participant’s internal organs. 

4. Liver: This point works with the liver and is associated with feelings of anger or frustration. Stimulating the point relieves feelings of tension and clearing a person’s decision making or thought patterns. 

5. Lung: This point is associated with respiration and the skin. The point and the lungs are associated with the regulation of grief or sadness. Stimulating the point assists in regulating body temperature, easing the process of breathing, and the reduction of apathy or lethargy. 

The most common question we get from first-time recipients is “does it hurt?” The participants have stated that they often do not feel when the needles are inserted and, if they do, they only report feeling a slight pressure, like a pinch. Interestingly, when participants feel the pressure on the same point in both ears, it could be indicative of their current emotional or physical struggles. Some participants will begin feeling the corresponding emotion more strongly during the session; or example, they might become tearful or nervous. However, the most common response during the session is a sense of relaxation or a “lighter than air” feeling throughout the body. Following the session, participants often find it easier to fall and stay asleep when they go to bed that night. When done on a regular basis, some participants find that they are better able to handle stress and stay in-touch with their emotions. 

The Center for Trauma & Resilience offers our NADA program to clients and community members. If you are interested in NADA, give us a call! We trust participants to know their bodies best and can self-determine what schedule for NADA works best for them. That can include: once every two weeks, once per week, twice a week, and can be scheduled directly before or after a counseling/case management session. For current or past CTR clients, speak to your counselor or case manager to schedule an appointment. For community members, non-profit staff, social justice advocates, or even if you just have questions about the program, give us a call at (303) 860-0660!