Leading U.S. Trauma Center Using Body-Mind Methods

Prominent medical institutions are integrating more body-mind practices into patient care as evidence of the benefits of these practices mounts. At the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center in downtown Baltimore, 7,500 patients come for treatment annually. Medical professionals are now offering these trauma patients acupuncture and Reiki, as well as music and sound therapy, to help with pain management.

“Pain management in trauma patients can be challenging because many of the medications have side effects, such as nausea and vomiting, and the medicines do not always provide adequate pain relief,” explains Rick Dutton, MD, chief of trauma anesthesiology at the University of Maryland Medical Center.

“For years, we’ve known that emotions can affect how patients perceive pain. Trauma patients, in particular, often feel additional stress and loss of control because their injuries come unexpectedly. By offering these complementary therapies, we hope to give patients more options for relaxation and stress relief, which can help with pain control and healing.” ■

Source: Center for Integrative Medicine News, University of Maryland, www.umaryland.edu.