Acudetox INDIA
Introduction
In the present day society, adolescents ,youth, women and girls find it hard to talk about help, issues related to NCDs ,addiction, trauma, domestic violence, mental health etc. We believe that talking about feelings, trauma asking for help is still a taboo and highly stigmatized and further biggest barrier in effective service delivery at grass root level.
The idea of forming Nada Acudetox India Network was mooted by Nada India Foundation to achieve the objectives of promoting barrier free health delivery services among marginalized. Nada India encourages Community Wellness for Behavioral Health including Addictions, Mental Health, and Disaster & Emotional Trauma.
Dr. Michael O’ Smith, psychiatrist and acupuncturist said “NADA Acupuncture teaches us to relax from the inside out.” This increased sense of calm and the quieting of symptoms that occurs as a result of the acupuncture treatment stimulates one’ own “Qi”( one’s inner energy) and brings us back into a more balanced state and chance to communicate. As we become calmer inside, we become much more aware of over selves and others.
From this quieter, inner place we can then make more careful choices in our reactions to life situations.”
Read more about AcuDetox.
You can also read about NADA helpful resources here.
Ear Acupressure for stress relief
A 15 year old girl from Bapu Sambhu camp, Delhi sharing her experience with one of the peer educators. I have used beads 10-12 times and every time I feel as my tension in my mind is reduced, mind becomes light and calm. I feel that all my work will be completed. No tension whenever I use beads. It becomes easy to study and remember chapters. All my work becomes easy and mind remains cool. I even take interest in my household chores and perform better and with ease. It helps me to sleep better. No tension and worries about the future, that what will happen to me in future. Absolutely, no tension! read more
“We’re talking about the body wanting to heal itself.
This comes from life, so you are choosing your own healing.
Nature wants us to get it right.” – Michael Smith, NADA Founder
How to Ear Massage
There is no wrong way to do it. Massage the upper ear with your finger and thumb – how long is up to you.
“‘How do you put on beads?’
What do you mean? I just put them on. And when I’m feeling frustrated, I put on another.” -Sheila Murphy
How to Apply Beads & Seeds
Again, there is no wrong way to do it. Ear Acupressure is less about the points themselves and more about giving yourself intentional time to heal. Stress less about where to put the beads and focus more on taking calming breaths and setting healing intentions.
What You Need
Be creative with what you have that is bigger than a poppy seed but smaller than a peppercorn. You can use any small round object such as a mustard seed and some tape (Band-Aid, medical tape, or other household tape available).
How to Apply Beads & Seeds
The general area to aim for: Shen men + Reverse Shen Men with a photo pointing to the top of the ear.
How to Apply Beads & Seeds
Trust your intuition. After the beads/seeds are in place you may gently press on them or let them be. They can stay on for one to two weeks, or you can remove them if they are uncomfortable.
For more details and how to get beads please call: 9810594544 [email protected]
Integrating the NADA Protocol into Your Work
Do you wish to integrate the NADA Protocol into your existing work—whether in retention, barrier-free services, reaching the unreached, help-seeking behavior, prevention, wellness, addiction treatment (DATE: Drug, Alcohol, Tobacco, and E-cigarette), rehabilitation, behavioral health programs, or internet/gaming addiction as an adjunct treatment?
Nada India Foundation supports the training of professionals and practitioners who want to use ear acupuncture, magnetic beads, or seeds as tools to:
- Enhance engagement before individuals commit to being patients
- Improve patient retention and help-seeking behavior
- Strengthen tobacco cessation and wellness programs
- Break barriers to healthcare access
- Support treatment readiness, healing, recovery, and wellness
About the NADA Protocol
The NADA Protocol is a non-verbal, group-based approach to healing. It involves gently placing up to five small, sterilized disposable needles into specific points on each ear.
Recipients sit quietly together for 30–45 minutes, allowing the treatment to take effect.
Why NADA?
Clinically effective, cost-efficient, and drug-free
Cross-culturally compatible and easy to establish
Works well in behavioral health, addictions, disaster relief, or any setting where people can sit together
Enhances outcomes when combined with counseling, education, medical support, and self-help groups (AA, NA, etc.)
Training Completion Certificate
- Every trainee must complete both the theoretical (didactic) and practical (clinical) components of the training, supervised by a Registered Independent Trainer.
- Trainees must demonstrate mastery of the basic competencies to the satisfaction of the trainer. Upon successful completion of all requirements (training hours, competencies, and application process), the participant will receive a Certificate of Training as an Acupuncture Detoxification Specialist/Associate/Assistant.
⚠️ Note: Some applicants may need additional supervised practice if they are unable to demonstrate required competencies during the training. Trainers will help create a personalized plan for such participants.
Important Information
The Training Completion Certificate represents successful completion of the NADA Acudetox Training and demonstration of entry-level skills.
NADA does not issue licenses or ongoing certification.
Practicing ear acupuncture depends on the law of the land and your respective professional body’s regulations.
Trainees must sign an Ethics Pledge, committing to confidentiality, respectful client interaction, limited scope of practice, transparency, and sharing experiences within the NADA community.
ADS professionals are encouraged to maintain their skills through continuing education, attending NADA annual conferences, and active membership
Application
At the start of training, trainees must complete an application form, which also provides access to benefits such as newsletters and NADA updates.
Once all training requirements are successfully completed, the Registered Trainer will submit the Certificate of Training application along with the signed ethics pledge to the Nada India Foundation office. For trainings please contact registered trainer [email protected]
PLEASE NOTE:
The Training Completion Certificate indicates successful completion of NADA acudetox training and demonstration of entry-level skills. NADA does not provide initial or ongoing certification of ADSes /license to practice.
ADSes are encouraged to maintain competencies and continue to expand their knowledge by pursing continuing education, attending the NADA annual conferences and maintaining active annual membership in the organization. ADSes each sign an Ethics Pledge verifying the understanding of and agreeing to abide by rules regarding limited scope of practice as appropriate, confidentiality, client rapport and respectful treatment, financial interest, and sharing experiences with the NADA community.
NADA asks that each trainee complete an application at the onset of training. This membership, good for one year, entitles trainees to all the benefits including the newsletters etc. Upon successfully completing training requirements and demonstrating mastery, the Registered Trainer will submit the trainee’s completed application for the Certificate of Training as an Acupuncture Detoxification Specialist/Associate/Assistant to the Nada India office, signed by the Registered Trainer, along with the trainee’s signed ethics pledge.
Read more about ear acupuncture and addiction treatment in India.
Read the article_on_acupuncture_and_treatment_readiness.
If you wish to join the upcoming ADS/Acudetox Counseling training or are interested in integrating the Acudetox component into your existing setup, please contact the independent registered trainer directly at [email protected].
Disclaimer: This course/workshops as of now do not provide any degree or diploma, these provides additional knowledge to your existing clinical expertise. Your practicing of Acupuncture/Ear Acupuncture will solely depend upon the law of land and your respective professional bodies. This course is meant for the doctors, acupuncturist and others as mentioned above to sharpen their clinical skills and knowledge through Continuing Education programs.
SOME PERSPECTIVES ABOUT EAR ACUPUNCTURE
Click here to read about Nada Ear Acupuncture.
THE HISTORY OF ACUDETOX INDIA
Nada India promotes two basic approaches one is the use of ear acupuncture at all stages of addiction treatment & rehabilitation and peer based interventions. NADA protocol was developed and spearheaded as a worldwide movement by Dr. Michael O. Smith Psychiatrist and Acupuncturist from New York the Founder of National Acupuncture Detoxification Association.
Read more about the Nada newsletter here.
EAR ACUPUNCTURE PROTOCOL MEETS GLOBAL NEEDS
Developed in the 1970s at Lincoln Hospital (Bronx, NY), the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA) protocol was originally used as a supportive component in drug and alcohol treatment settings. The 3-5 point ear acupuncture formula controlled withdrawal symptoms and helped patients become more clear-headed and comfortable. Nearly 1,000 licensed drug treatment programs use acupuncture in the U.S. according to federal N-SSATS statistics.
The 21st century has brought a remarkable expansion in the use of the NADA protocol. It is used in 130 prisons in England. Correction officers provide all the treatments under a 5 year training contract by Smart-UK. The jail program was expanded because of an 80% reduction in violent incidents. Post-trauma treatments have been given to community members after 9/11 and Katrina. Treatments for firemen have been permanently institutionalized in both cities. Ear acupuncture for stress has been used by thousands of para military ( Border Security Force) personnel in India through NADA-India.
NADA acupuncture has changed the face of psychiatric hospital care in Northern Europe. 3,000 nurses have been trained in 100 different government facilities. Refugee services in war-torn areas have been particularly impressive. The DARE program in Thailand has provided ear acupuncture for many years with a dozen different Burmese tribes in border camps. NADA was introduced during a 2 week training sponsored by Real Medicine Foundation in refugee camps in East Africa in May 2008. By the end of the year, 18,000 treatments were provided by the refugee trainees. Support was provided for survivors of a violent land dispute.
NADA members have used magnetic beads to treat children with ADHD and autism-spectrum disorders, and violence-prone adolescents. The beads are placed on the back of the ear opposite the shen men point. Bead remains in place with and adhesive 1-2 weeks at a time. Many instance of prolonged improvement have occurred, but this technique is only in an early stage of evaluation.
NADA acupuncture is used on a public health model. Treatments are commonly given in large groups on a frequent basis. Patients sit quietly for 45 minutes in a collective experience. Many jurisdictions have laws that allow a wide range of clinical personnel to be trained to use the NADA protocol in state approved facilities under general supervision of a fully licensed acupuncturist or physician. States that do not have this provision, such as Florida and California, have few NADA programs in comparison with states like Virginia and New York which do have this arrangement.
NADA uses 3-5 ear acupuncture points: sympathetic, shen men, lung, liver and kidney. In many settings only the first 3 points listed above are used. Results seem to be similar with 3 points, and there is less expense in Third World settings. NADA training also involves sterile precautions and social integration with other services. Apprenticeship training is always necessary because the clients are often troubled and distracted. NADA is a non-verbal approach. There are no diagnostic procedures. The ear points provide a balancing effect: some fall asleep; some feel relief of depression; some seem to be meditating. These balancing effects continue from one to several days even though the patient may be exposed to contrasting emergencies during that time. It is a coping and preventive effect. As an added note, Lincoln used electro acupuncture extensively in the 70s. Symptom relief lasted 6-8 hours. Our patients always preferred the prolonged preventive effects of manual acupuncture.
NADA acupuncture adds a valuable component to the behavioral health fields. Its worldwide validation strengthens the entire acupuncture profession. Click here to take the pledge.