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I was blessed with the fortuitous opportunity to attend a training with an incredible organization called Acupuncturists Without Borders. It’s something I’ve always wanted to take part in and the weekend could not have unfolded more beautifully. I was surrounded by inspirational and powerful healers from all over the country (and world!) as we came together for a unified purpose. Acupuncturists Without Borders is a grassroots, nonprofit organization providing acupuncture relief and recovery efforts to those suffering from disaster or human conflict. Throughout training, the founder, Diana Fried, referred to their work at AWB as “a medicine of peace.” She was quoted saying, “Our collective response to humanitarian crises, as global citizens in the 21^st century, represents perhaps our greatest opportunity to heal many of the roots of violence, and therefore, to sow the seeds of world peace. In the community rebuilding process, similar to an individual’s healing process, we find openings to community-wide transformation.”

The acupuncture treatment itself involves a 5-point auricular protocol known as NADA. This protocol is generally administered in a group setting and places five small needles into each person’s ear. The beauty of acupuncture points is that they correlate to a person’s physical, emotional and spiritual levels. This group of points is associated with the body’s detox organs and assists in the removal of toxins in that particular system. They also aid in the harmonious function of the entire organ system allowing the body to be better equipped to fight off disease. The 5 Detox/Acu-Wellness Points are:

• Sympathetic – Turns off the adrenaline release by stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system. It has a strong pain relieving and relaxant effect upon internal organs. It improves vasodilation and relieves stress related health disorders.
• Shenmen – Tranquilizes the mind and allows a connection to one’s spirit. Slows the heart rate. Alleviates anxiety, nervousness, pain, insomnia, high blood pressure and generally produces a calming and relaxing effect. Alleviates feelings of impatience, mood swings and replaces them with joy.
• Kidney – Helps to release toxins through urine. Associated with relieving fear, paranoia and anguish and fortifying feelings of gentleness and awareness and strengthening will power.
• Liver – Resolves anger and aggression by encouraging the smooth movements of the body’s energy. Cleanses the blood and clears all impurities. It is related to emotional stability and balance.
• Lung – Aids respiration and enhances the immune system. Associated with relieving sadness and grief, letting go.

I’ve had the pleasure and honor of administering this treatment to thousands of individuals, amongst many different groups – students, vets, indigenous communities, people in recovery, people undergoing radiation therapy and those just looking for a little more peace in their lives. Deceptively simple, this acupuncture treatment delivers powerful transformational healing to both individuals and the group as a whole. It is my hope to not only support the vision and mission of Acupuncturists Without Borders but also to continue bringing this medicine of peace to my community.

As one last sharing, before our group departed to go back into the world, Diana read the following quote:

This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy. I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community, and as long as I live it is my privilege to do it whatever way I can. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work, the more I live. I rejoice in life for it’s own sake. Life is no brief candle to me; it is a sort of splendid torch which I have got a hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations. – George Bernard Shaw.

For more information on Acupuncturists Without Borders or to support their efforts, please visit Acupuncturists Without Borders and be sure to check out some of their amazing videos.