ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE - U.S. NAVY'S NEW MISSION

No doubt, the U.S. Military is probably the most realistic institution in the Western hemisphere. What makes them understand that the combination of natural Western and Eastern mind-body medicine may well be the answer to their heros' medical needs, instead of focusing on ‘modern’ Western medicine with  basically chemical pills and technical modalities only? Learn more …

The Philosophy Behind

Carl Donovan, veteran at Fort Bliss, Texas, asks:
 
Like many of my veteran colleagues, I came back from service in the Navy with post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and chronic pain which, so far, my healthcare provider could not solve with all the prescription I have to swallow. Do you know a way out?
 
Dr. Fritz:
 
I could certainly advise you how to relieve post-traumatic stress disorder,  depression and chronic pain the natural way at my very best knowledge.
 

U.S. Navy's Progressive Health Policy

However, to be fair enough, it is your own breed, the U.S. Navy with Army Col. Richard Petri, chief of physical medicine and integrative health services at the navy base in your hometown Fort Bliss, Texas, whom - especially as a doctor - I owe deep respect.
 
Because they have understood that seemingly ‘modern’ medicine with lots of pharmaceutical drugs and technical modalities are not the final answer for veteran’s needs suffering from post-traumatic stress disorders and chronic pain. Rather, e.g., natural mind-body therapies, with special reference to meditation and other natural modalities.

Scientific Validation

Take research at Massachusetts’ Benson-Henry Institute for Mind-Body Medicine proving, inter alia, a 40% reduction in doctor visits among their mind-body patients. Demonstrating that our body is a systemic natural  phenomenon with health being influenced by emotions, thoughts, and social relationship.
 
Another successful seven-session ‘mind-body’ curriculum  had been organized already in mid-2013 in San Diego, California, with 500 Navy personnel involved. With special reference to regular meditation, healthy sleep, healthy diet, social connections, and physical activities. Just as one of the Marines, injured gravely in Afghanistan, participating in the trial put it: “After walking around on these crutches and being on narcotics. I’ve been able to cut my prescriptions in half.”
 
With this new understanding what health of (not only) veterans is all about, the U.S. Navy hopes to see a standard ‘mind-body’ component at least at military hospitals soon.
 
While this is primarily important for the health of our heros, this alternative medical mind-body approach also relieves military health care costs which increased by 130% between 2000 and 2012 alone.

In A Nutshell

Army Col. Petri in Fort Bliss:
“If we don’t change our practices, health care in the military will bankrupt the military.”
Not only the military, to be sure………