Small steps to new treatment

Islamabad

The first talk on the effectiveness of using a special method known as 'Auricular acupuncture' for persons suffering from drug abuse was given by Dr Arif Afridi to a small group of committed persons who are working to eradicate/control this menace that is ruining the lives of many families. Among the audience were UNDOC Country Representative, Cesar Guedes; ambassador of Spain Javier Carbajosa Sánchez and founder/president of DOST Foundation Parveen Azam. 

The event was organised by the Karim Khan Afridi Welfare Foundation (KKAWF) and president of the foundation, Cristina Afridi, welcomed the guests and thanked them for their presence, with a special thank you to Parveen Azam for coming all the way from Peshawar. She then gave a brief introduction of the speaker and invited him to the podium. 

Dr Afridi began by explaining what the treatment is and what it entails. A slide presentation gave a detailed view of the various points in the ear and the method that is used. Auricular acupuncture is the stimulation of acupuncture points on the external ear surface for the diagnosis and treatment of health conditions in other areas of the body. The ear is said to represent the whole anatomical body but in an upside down orientation. Dr. Michael Smith, best known as the founding director of the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA) who has pioneered and spearheaded a NADA worldwide social movement with NADA  protocol of auricular acupuncture, has refined the procedure so that now five points in the ear are the focus instead of the original fifteen as previously used by practitioners. These five points are sympathetic; Shen men (calming, relaxing, centering); kidney; liver and lung (the Yin organs - nourishing, nurturing, restorative, supportive). 

Questions about the success rate of the method (good); the length of the treatment (depending on individual patient but usually three to four weeks) and many others related to training were asked and took up most of the scheduled time. In conclusion - as suggested by Dr Tabish Hazir - it was decided to form a core committee to chalk out the details of a training programme involving doctors; other health practitioners and those working in rehabilitation centres so that the method can be used in Pakistan where it is needed urgently. 

Dr Afridi also demonstrated the procedure on two volunteers because the audience was curious but it has to be performed in the right atmosphere - quiet surroundings; soft music and a patient who has been prepared to be calm and stress free - so it was just a demonstration.

It was interesting to learn that as far back as 1976 or even earlier, a Pakistani doctor, Maj Gen (r) Mohammad Shuaib, psychiatrist in the Pakistan Army and Dr Afridi early mentor, demonstrated the effect of acupuncture in treating various problems, thereby aiding the patient to regain health in a natural manner. For various reasons the medical profession did not adopt these methods which are now accepted worldwide! 

Dr Afridi is a psychiatrist based in America and also practices auricular acupuncture and is visiting Pakistan. 

KKAWF is a non-profit organization working to disseminate knowledge on the adverse effects of drug use and break taboos that exist around drug use, enabling people to reach out for help

DOST is a not-for-profit organisation working in Peshawar. It reaches out to people living on the margins of society and brings them back into the mainstream. DOST works with street children, drug addicts, destitute women, prisoners, refugees, youth and the general public. It strives to restore their lives, their dignity, and their humanity and to bring them back as contributing members of society.