To the author's knowledge, she is the only American acupuncturist who has been able to gain access to work with Ukrainian military members and willing to travel to a war zone.
She used her connections to find a place to volunteer in Kiev, her hometown, as an acupuncturist at the Lisova Poliana Veterans Mental Health and Rehabilitation Center from July to September 2022.
Some patients said that acupuncture was their most effective procedure. Many have been able to relax, sleep better and release tension – a huge step in their recovery process.
Lisova Poliana Veterans Mental Health and Rehabilitation Center.
I am a Ukrainian-American acupuncturist in private practice in New Orleans, La. I have a VA-based practice – most of my current clients are U.S. veterans. To my knowledge, I am the only American acupuncturist who has been able to gain access to work with Ukrainian military members and willing to travel to a war zone.
After the war in Ukraine started, I felt pulled to travel to Ukraine (where I grew up) to volunteer as an acupuncturist. I used my connections to find a place to volunteer in Kiev, my hometown, as an acupuncturist at the Lisova Poliana Veterans Mental Health and Rehabilitation Center from July to September 2022.
A Ukrainian commander receiving acupuncture.
The Lisova Poliana facility is a 200-patient inpatient center that focuses on treating psychological trauma, brain injury, and orthopedic injuries of veterans of the current war. Recent veterans of heavy artillery war have shown mild to severe stuttering, loss of speech, post-concussion headaches, bullet injuries, severe insomnia, anxiety, orthopedic pains, acute PTSD, and signs of acute brain injuries.
The conversations and decisions for treatment were made quickly. I worked individually and in group settings, oftentimes simultaneously from three different rooms. Over the two months I gave treatment to more than 200 wounded soldiers, seeing 15 to 25 patients daily. Each patient was seen every day for the duration of 2-3 weeks.
A Ukrainian soldier receives acupuncture from Oksana Dovbnya, a Ukrainian acupuncturist at the center.
Many of my patients reported significant improvement. As a very specific patient population, they were very practical, oriented on results, and have spread the word to other patients through the "soldiers' telephone". Some said that acupuncture was their most effective procedure. Many have been able to relax, sleep better and release tension – a huge step in their recovery process.
My acupuncture room at Lisova Poliana.
In my last week in Kiev, I met a local Ukrainian acupuncturist, Oksana Dovbnya, who has agreed to continue volunteering at Lisova Poliana. Since then she has seen 15-20 people daily from October 2022 to the present. Her work has had a big impact, helping veterans reduce symptoms of head injuries, normalize their sleep, reduce their pain, and relieve PTSD.
Me (second from the left) and the Lisova Poliana medical staff on Ukrainian Independence Day.
Oksana and I have since partnered with Acupuncturists Without Borders, which committed to support our project. Our ongoing budget goal is to raise small stipends for Oksana and other acupuncturists who might join us to ensure that their presence at Lisova Polyana is sustainable. You can help support this unique, difficult work by making a donation here: https://gofund.me/ac43a106.
My next trip to Ukraine is scheduled for April-May 2023; and again in July-August. I would like to relieve Oksana and hopefully find other volunteers who can join our local team. If you would like to know more about this opportunity, please email me at kch@communityselfhelp.org.
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