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CAM at the WRIISCs. Jeanette E. Akhter, M.D., M.Ac Complementary and Alternative Medicine Fellow WRIISC DC. Palo Alto-YOGA Louise Mahoney. Three classes One for women only. One is chair yoga for Veterans in the VA MOVE program 3rd class is a mixed gender mat class. Growing Demand.
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CAM at the WRIISCs Jeanette E. Akhter, M.D., M.Ac Complementary and Alternative Medicine Fellow WRIISC DC
Palo Alto-YOGA Louise Mahoney • Three classes • One for women only. • One is chair yoga for Veterans in the VA MOVE program • 3rd class is a mixed gender mat class
Growing Demand • Class size increasing • A few Veterans come 3 times/week; willing to drive long distances • Feedback from participating Veterans: helpful for PTSD
Challenges • Space • Personnel / Time
East Orange, NJ • Research project within WRIISC • Planning Qigong for Veterans and probably also for staff (held up by credentialing of practitioner)
Additional CAM Activities • Acupuncture • Biofeedback • Meditation • Therapeutic touch • Aromatherapy • Yoga
Washington, DC • Within WRIISC • Acupuncture: individual full body treatments and group ear acupuncture • Zero Balancing- body work to balance energy flow between bones, joints and soft tissues
Within WRIISC • Yoga Nidra –guided meditation practice promotes improved psychological, physical and spiritual wellbeing • Labyrinth: (experience this yourself !!) • Research: “Effect of Group Ear Acupuncture on Insomnia in OIF/OEF Veterans with PTSD”
Additional CAM Practices • Biofeedback • Qigong, Tai Chi • Services for Staff (via Planetree) • Ear acupuncture • Body acupressure • Massage • Reiki
Development of our Integrative Health Center • Coordination of all CAM activities • Increasing availability of CAM services to Veterans and Staff
Challenges • Increasing demand – what a wonderful “problem”! • Personnel / time • Credentialing • Funding • Space