'NADA acupuncture is a public health model... says Dr. Michael.O. Smith

'NADA acupuncture is a public health model that adds a valuable component to the behavioral health fields', says Dr. Michael.O. Smith,

Some were dozing off;some with  drooping.heads;some in a sort of trance;some snoring off. They all had one thing in common- sterilized  acupuncture  needles carefully pierced in one of  their ears. It was a cloudy and chilly  February afternoon in Delhi. Even some of the large contingent of journalists who routinely take the flights of steps at the reception of the I N S building in Rafi Marg were inquisitive.

A couple of them were led to the few vacant seats so were some of the non journalists INS staff. Acupuncture Detoxification specialist and associates and assistant  inserted needles in their ears with care and precisely without hurting them. Presiding over this demonstration was Dr. Michael.O.Smith,Chairperson NADA International who has pioneered and spearheaded a NADA world wide social movement with NADA  protocol of auricular acupuncture. An interactive session on NADA acupuncture for well being was jointly organised by Nada India Foundation and Arvindam Samagra in Delhi at Indian Newspaper society (INS) building. 

      The session was conducted by Dr. Michael O' Smith MD DAc Bronx NY, & Dr.Arindam Sinha MBBS DAc PGDACP.  Dr. Smith is a senior psychiatrist & acupuncturist from Bronx, New York & is  Chairperson of NADA International having its branches in 22 countries.Dr.Smith also founded along with Suneel Vatsyayan Nada India Foundation way back in 2001 and set up a permanent N A D A office in India headed by Suneel Vatsyayan. 

According to Dr. Smith "N A D A Ear acupuncture teaches the person to relax from inside out'. This increased sense of calm and the quieting of symptoms that occurs as a result of the acupuncture treatment stimulate patients' own 'Qi'       pronounced 'chi' meaning one's inner energy ] and bring them back into a more balanced state. As the person become calmer inside, they become much more aware of themselves and others. From the quieter, inner place the person can then make more careful choices in his / her reactions to the life situations'. 

Almost all those who experienced ear acupuncture at the programme were unanimous about the relaxing aspect. In fact the N A D A protocol which was initially used and found effective in addiction treatment has come a long way and has diversified into a more universal realm of wellness. 
Session opened with an introduction of speakers by Dr. Rajeev Srivastav, followed by a small lecture on "Role of Acupuncture in future of public health in India" by Dr. Arindam Sinha, Dr. Arindam Sinha is physician & acupuncturist & Co-founder of Sinha Medical AcupunctureResearch & Training Centre at Kalkaji, New Delhi.

 Dr.  Arindam Sinha,  described the manifold benefits of the NADA Protocol said that India plagued by a variety of noncommunicable diseases can easily find this time tested and scientifically validated therapy of immense use. According to Dr. Sinha, it will help in both prevention and treatment of non communicable diseases like diabetic complications, hypertension, coronary artery diseases, cerebro- vascular accidents and their debilitating effects.

The doctors and experts present at the programme felt that there is urgent need to introduce the N A D A Protocol found acceptable in the west to the public health discourse not just as a cost effective treatment regimen for addiction but for the whole concept of wellness at a time when large number of people plagued by depression and life style related issues.

Mr. Arunoday Goswami former under secretary with Ministry of Social Justice  talked about bureaucratic hurdles in policy making regarding NADA eat acupuncture and suggested that better acceptance among medical community & general public can lead to future change in policies, as it happened with Needle exchange program of Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and National AIDS Control Organisation. 

Prof. T.K.Thomas, drew attention to the problem students, parents,educational institutions, C B S E and other boards face during the 12th examination on account of the immense real and imaginary fears. He suggested that the N A D A Protocol may be made available to students who are prone to suicidal tendencies or contact the Helpline of the C B S E for instant mitigation. Prof. Thomas also suggested that N A D A India may use various occasions like Health Melas and Book Fairs to popularize Acu-detox. 

Dr. Smith pointed to the western philosophy of branding students as 'winners or losers as the main cause of stress among students.

Mr. Daniel raised a question on NADA protocol’s role in stress reduction on performance of students, In response Dr. Smith told about his experience when NADA actually helped students to better recall & performance during exam. Suneel also shared similar experiences of Caring Foundation how students under depression were counseled along with acudetox successfully.  

Suneel Vatsyayan, Chairman of NADA India detailed the availability of these training facilities for physicians, nurses, counselors & social workers in Delhi and in other parts of the country . He said that NADA ear acupuncture for well being by NADA India has been used by corporate & NGOs for team work, de-addiction centers for relapse prevention. NADA India also trained and conducted Acudetox sessions for police, para military personnel and inmates of prisons in Gujarat, M.P.and Delhi.

Dr. Uttam , Dr. Bharat Bhushan & Mrs. Kanchan Kapoor, from Muskan foundation , Dr. Ajay vats,Mr.Raghav of The Beginning of New Life and staff of Vishvashnia Peer led de-addiction centers  & Mrs. Pallavi trustee of Indian Association of Acupuncture Detoxification was also present.

Towards the end Mr. Vatsayan thanked  all the speakers and guests and certificates were distributed by Mr..Alexander Danial former additional Director General of Border Security Force (BSF) to new NADA -Acupuncture Detoxification Specialist,Associates and Assistants  who successfully completed their training  under Nada India and ArvindamSamagra held at Sinha Medical Acupuncture , Kalkaji New Delhi on 31st Feb 2014.
Inputs from Prof.T.K.Thomas,Dr.Sinha and Suneel Vatsyayan