By Greg Lane, LAc, DiplAc, MTOM
The heart of a healer is filled with compassion and the desire to serve. The heart of a warrior is filled with honor and the desire to serve. These two worlds come together at PCOM. Some of our current students, alumni, and staff are veterans themselves. Giving back to the community is not just about being of service, it is about answering a calling.
Recently, I had the pleasure of supervising interns and treating patients at the Veterans Stand Down, which occurred on Friday, July 12, in San Diego. We were staffed with four licensed acupuncturists and four student interns from 8:00am to 5:00pm on Friday and Saturday and from 8:00am to 1:00pm on Sunday. We treated 95 patients, just on Friday, with acupuncture, and many more with massage. There were between 10-12 massage therapists working at any one time adjacent to the acupuncture area. Remarkably, all but a few patients were helped with a very simple modified Balance Method protocol that we employed for the acupuncture treatments, and everyone I observed who got off a massage table, or the Lomi Lomi mat, had smiles on their faces.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Veterans Stand Down, it is an extraordinary event that extends an array of services to veterans at no cost. The first Stand Down was organized in San Diego in 1998 by Veterans Village of San Diego. It has grown out of this first event to include nationwide Stand Downs numbering more than 200. The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans states: “The program has become recognized as the most valuable outreach tool to help homeless veterans in the nation today.”
Stand Down’s philosophy is a hand up, not a hand out. The hand up is made possible each year by the dedication of thousands of volunteers and numerous sponsors.
Our group was set up in a large M.A.S.H. style tent over an asphalt surface on the grounds of San Diego High School. We were one of many tents that offered services ranging from food service, clothing, medical, showers, grooming, employment services, AA, NA and others – all free of charge of course.
Effective Treatment and Heartfelt Interactions at the Event
What really stood out for me was how well the simple treatment strategy of treating contralateral sides from the affected area worked and in a very short time. Needles were retained for no more than 20 minutes typically and most people had significant pain relief, even from extremely chronic pain. Some of the patients that I treated had gait altering back pain, neck pain head ache, migraine, shoulder pain, elbow pain, foot and ankle pain, peripheral neuropathy, generalized fibromyalgia, and post traumatic gun- shot wound pain. All of these patients received pain relief and reduction if not complete abatement of neuropathies.
The protocol was a modification from Richard Tan’s Balance Method as adapted by my colleague, PCOM Alumnus and Veterans Village Acupuncture Integrative Medicine Director, Mitch Lehman. All patients were treated while sitting in folding chairs that were set-up in a circular formation at the rear of the tent.
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Personal Reflections and Impactful Conversations
The conversations that I had with the veterans whose ages ranged approximately from mid-20s to late 70s were fascinating and humbling. At first, I was apprehensive of who would be entering our area, however, by about 8:45a.m. on Friday after I had treated my first patient and my students had also treated theirs, I was confident and inspired for the remainder of the day. What followed did not disappoint, as more and more patients filtered in with representation from all colors, sizes and varying levels of vitality and overall states of health. At the end of the day, I felt tired, and had the feeling of a purpose fulfilled, yet still wanting more. When I arrived home to greet my wife and family I gave them all a hug and a kiss and thanked the universe for the good fortunes that I have been graced to receive, including the gift that in some small way I was able to be of service on that day to those men and women that have served our country. I’m looking forward to next year’s Stand Down event.
For more information about the Veterans Stand Down please visit:Â https://vvsd.net/standdown/
Greg Lane, LAc, DiplAc, MTOM Current Director of Clinical Services and Clinical Co-Chair at Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, SD. Most recently, Greg managed the operations of the Healthyroads Total Population Health Coaching Program for American Specialty Health assisting members with weight management, stress reduction and tobacco cessation. He received his Master of Science Degree from PCOM and was licensed by the Medical Board of California, Acupuncture Committee. In private practice, Greg has focused on Women’s Health, Orthopedics, Pain Management and Drug and Alcohol Detox. Greg was co-owner of California Medical Arts Group in Santa Monica, CA. He also maintained hospital privileges at Century City Hospital working in an integrative pain management setting. Greg also worked in Beverly Hills providing acupuncture treatments as part of a drug and alcohol detox program. He was Senior Herbalist at Elixir Tonics & Teas in West Hollywood. Greg received his Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from California Institute of the Arts and was a professional dancer for many years maintaining a rehearsal and performance schedule while studying Chinese medicine.
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