by Anthony M. Giovanniello, MS.Ac., L.Ac.

Acupuncture Ambassadors (AA) is an idea that has been brewing in me for almost 10 years. As acupuncture is a second career for me (I was in television and animation production for a number of years) I wanted this new work to be about service. Early on I had been inspired by a French/ Swiss group called Acupuncture Without Borders. http://www.cornelius-celsus.ch/en/5_0_human/cont_5_0.html Their mission has laid the groundwork for our work as Acupuncture Ambassadors.

The mission of AA is to travel, teach and treat with Acupuncture internationally in areas of the world where healthcare is minimal or non-existent. Doing this work for the last few years has convinced me of the importance of taking steps to create schools of Asian Medicine all over the world. As we know Acupuncture and Traditional Asian medicine have its roots in rural community medicine and can be an important part of treating people with acute and chronic illness but also as preventative medicine. Acupuncture is also such an effective treatment for the symptoms of PTSD and boosts immunity in immune compromised patients. These are worldwide health issues and we have the medicine to make a difference. Treating patients with emotional issues has been the focus of my practice in New York as I had experienced PTSD firsthand when I was very close to the events of 911. It was acupuncture that helped me heal. This is not only the mission of AA but also my personal mission to do this work full time.

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Taking our skills in Asian Medicine on the road is not a new idea. There have been acupuncturists who have done this work for more than 20 years. Today there are number of traveling acupuncturists and Asian medicine practitioners, wonderful individuals and organizations who are doing similar work and AA is proud to be part of this great effort.

In 2008 we traveled to Vietnam and Cambodia with NADA Vietnam / NADA Cambodia, (http://nadavietnamcambodia.ning.com) a group of acupuncturists, massage therapists and lay volunteers. We treated many patients during our three weeks there. We had the great opportunity to work with acupuncturists in Vietnam who guided us to Buddhist monasteries where so much of healthcare takes place in rural areas. Cambodia does not have a tradition of acupuncture so we were able to introduce them to the healing qualities of this medicine. They have many people who suffer from PTSD from the war that ended about 8 years ago. They were especially interested in the treatments for PTSD and drug addiction which is also a serious problem. This was a revelation for them. We also taught a group of 70 blind massage therapists the simple but powerful NADA 5 needle ear acupuncture treatment that works for pain, PTSD and addictions. The blind community was very receptive to the addition of new ways to treat patients. There have been follow-up missions since and I have been told that the majority of our students are doing well and helping so many.

I myself traveled to Arizona in November 2009 where I joined the Global Alternative Health Project (GAHP) (www.youcanchangetheworldnow.com/) helping treat Native American patients on the Navajo reservation. A profound experience.

Our mission to Kathmandu, Nepal in February this year was successful far beyond expectations. So many patients were treated for a variety of medical issues. Many issues that we here in the States do not see in daily practice.

One of the most moving experiences there was the opportunity to treat a group of orphans from a home for conflict children. Nepal is still recovering from a devastating civil war, which left many homeless families and orphan children. Many of these children are suffering from PTSD with symptoms of nightmares, stomach pain and headaches. Although we were there for a short time the acupuncture treatments were welcome and very effective. The children are sleeping through the night and their other symptoms were put at bay at least for a while.

The acupuncture camp we set up at the Chusang Tibetan Buddhist Monastery was such a success that a permanent clinic and training facility at the monastery is being planned. Our intention is that many can be schooled in basic acupuncture protocols for pain, stress, anxiety and PTSD. Protocols like NADA, Battlefield Acupuncture, moxa, shonishin and Tuina Na will be among the initial introductory training. This clinic will become the Asian base for our operations. We are hoping to have a “grand opening” ceremony in February 2011. We will be treating the local population and implementing basic training courses to medical monks and nuns of the surrounding monasteries to create a team to further healthcare in the more remote areas of the country where it is very limited. It is our hope that an “acupuncture” seed will be planted and many of those who will receive basic training will further their studies at a local school of acupuncture run by Hata-Sensei, a Japanese acupuncturist who has been working in Nepal since 1993. She is a force for so much good in that country not only training acupuncturists but running a low cost clinic and local moxa factory employing 200 workers. Acupuncture Ambassadors would like to support Sensei’s efforts by providing scholarships for enthusiastic students of our trainings to attend her institution. This support would not take a great deal of funding as tuition is about $30.00 per month per student. Our Chusang Monastery clinic and training facility and Sensei’s school are also in need of a comprehensive library of medical (Chinese and Western medicine) text books to help facilitate a good quality education.

We have also made great inroads with some of the local doctors who are interested in having acupuncture as an ongoing treatment at their hospital facilities in Patan, Nepal and outlying remote clinics.

Acupuncture Ambassadors has just returned from a mission in Senegal, West Africa. We joined with The African Organization for Academic and Athletic Development (AOAAD) (www.progress4africa.org). Senegal is wonderful place but very poor. We traveled with American MDs/ surgeons and medical students and worked in two regional hospitals performing operations on patients that would not be able to afford these procedures without our help. AA worked in the rehabilitation centers in these hospitals. Although the rehab staff are lovely and caring people, the physical rehab centers in Senegal are poor with little modern equipment and techniques. Acupuncture was welcome by all the staff and patients and we have been encouraged to return and find ways to train staff in acupuncture basics for pain, stroke and wellness. We also treated the staff at the local orphanage who were in dire need of pain relief and emotional trauma from their daily efforts of taking care of almost 100 children under the age of five. A basketball camp for hundreds of children was run by AOAAD sending messages for good health, exercise and further education. Donated modern wheelchairs are also being delivered to many of Senegal’s handicapped to give them more independence.

Acupuncture Ambassadors has many future plans in the works. We have a proposal to medical NGOs and other international health organizations to establish acupuncture clinics for PTSD in refugee camps. If anyone would like a copy of the proposal please contact me and I would be glad to send it on. We would appreciate any comments, suggestions or even contacts to people who may be interested I pursuing this avenue.

We are setting up a chapter in Japan to bring Japanese acupuncturists into our fold. We are also looking at working on PTSD issues with Jordanian social workers who are treating Iraqi refugees who fled Iraq at the beginning of the latest war there.

We will be having a few fundraisers in the next few months in New York and California to support out efforts. Also as a fundraiser and a way to bring the efforts of volunteer acupuncture more in the public view we are developing a documentary style television series following Asian medicine practitioners on the road. Its working title is From Point To Point: On The Road with Modern Barefoot Doctors. An accompanying book on the series is planned.

AMG Foundation is the corporate entity of Acupuncture Ambassadors and is a 501c3 non-profit organization and all contributions are tax deductible.

All check contributions can be made out to AMG Foundation
Mailed to:
Anthony Giovanniello
110-64 Queens Blvd. # 236
Forest Hills, NY 11375

Thank you for your continued support of Asian Medicine worldwide and Acupuncture Ambassadors.

With sincere regards,

Anthony M. Giovanniello, MS.Ac., L.Ac.

Acupuncture Ambassadors
http://acupunctureambassadors.blogspot.com/

Acupuncture for Veterans
www.acupunctureforveterans.org

Iyashi Acupuncture
917-836-1547
http://www.healthprofs.com/500833
email: amgiovanniello@earthlink.net