NADA protocol – an essential part of an acupuncturists tool kit
Here at the Northern College of Acupuncture, training in the NADA protocol seems to be increasing in popularity, year on year. In this blog NCA Lecturer and NADA Trainer Judy Blair explains about NADA and why we believe that it is an essential part of an acupuncturists tool kit.
What is the NADA protocol?
Originally developed in the 1970s as a way of supporting other treatments for drug and alcohol withdrawal and rehabilitation, there is a growing body of evidence to support the use of the NADA protocol. It is now used for its therapeutic benefits in many settings – including with people who have been traumatised by war or natural or man-made disasters; people experiencing side-effects from treatment for cancer; people with a range of mental health issues and much more.
How does NADA work?
The NADA protocol works by stimulating five points on the outer ear with the insertion of very fine needles, or the application of ear seeds, beads or tiny magnets. It can help with reducing some pain, lower the “fight or flight” response to stress and increase restfulness and relaxation. Taking just a few days to learn, this simple, but powerful technique can make a huge difference to helping a person’s healing journey.
NADA training in 2023
In July, 2023 another group of enthusiastic trainees arrived at the NCA to begin three intensive days of training. Everyone who came on the course and the ‘refresher’ course worked hard to immerse themselves in gaining new knowledge and skills and practicing the needling technique. The training was being run as a fundraiser for the charity World Medicine – everyone’s generosity and open-heartedness was amazing! We had some superb assistants – Liz, Fiona and Fiona, Sarah, Sandra, Saoirse, Jacqueline, Michele and Heather – who all went the extra mile to support the trainees. Deepest gratitude to them and also to Janet, who is now a NADA trainer – it couldn’t have happened without each and every one of you!
NADA course assistant and NCA graduate Heather Reade says:- “Thank you so much for letting me attend the nada course over the weekend. It was so enjoyable, Jude as always was inspirational and with her phenomenal knowledge made the course easy to follow and a joy to learn.”
NADA trainer Judy Blair (in pink)
NADA at for cancer patients
In 2023 our students had the benefit of seeing the NADA protocol at work when the NCA visited our graduate Robin Sunley who is an NHS employed acupuncture practitioner working at the James Cook hospital in Middlesborough. As part of his role Robin treats patients recovering from cancer treatment at the Trinity Holistic Centre- using only the NADA protocol. Robin can treat several patients at once (sitting on chairs) giving patients access to this low cost but effective acupuncture, supporting their recovery.
NCA graduate Robin Sunley treating patients at the James Cook University Hospital
Students, staff and attendees at the NCA Nada training day
NADA training for acupuncture students
From 2023 we will offering our NADA training to our Year 3 BSc in Acupuncture as an “add on” to their acupuncture training. This will be at the low cost of around £250. The benefit to our students is that they will become qualified NADA practitioners able to take out insurance and offer this to the public. We see this as a further way (on top of the massage qualification between Years 1 & 2) for our students to start to build a client base whilst they study.
Carolyn and Heather get to the point!
NADA trainer trainee Janet Stevens says:
“I was inspired by the NADA protocol through working with Judy Blair and being lucky enough to visit the Trinity Holistic Centre in Middlesbrough and seeing how much of a difference the use of the NADA protocol makes to the patients.
I supported Judy in teaching the NADA protocol over the last few years inspiring more and more people to take the NADA protocol out into the community. I want to be able to teach people the fantastic benefits of the protocol and help them make a difference to those in need.
In my own practice I use the NADA protocol to help people with anxiety, mental health and with side effects from detoxing from various medications. One particular patient had been trying to stop taking Venlafaxine for several years and even though she was only taking a very minimal amount of the medication every time she tried to stop, she suffered from painful ‘brain zaps’.
Using the NADA protocol immediately made a difference and stopped the ‘brain zaps’ for increasingly long intervals until she was able to stop taking the Venlafaxine completely. Another patient suffers complex PTSD and mental health issues and finds the NADA protocol helps her in her recovery alongside her therapy sessions.”
Inspired by this blog? Feeling the urge to learn NADA? Find out more about studying to become a fully trained acupuncture practitioner with us at NCA: https://nca.ac.uk/acupuncture-courses.