The Qi-Unity Report interviews Robert Peterman

QUR: How does a person go from being a Navy SEAL to an acupuncturist?

I was first introduced to acupuncture theory while I was stationed in Japan after "Desert Storm.” I became friends with the chief medical officer on the 7th Fleet staff. He worked with the Japanese Naval doctors who incorporated acupuncture into their standard allopathic medicine procedures. He came back one time with an auriculotherapy machine to play with. Of course, having my own accumulation of long-term injuries, I became the guinea pig. He only had an ear chart, but it was fascinating how the machine would only tone when he found a spot corresponding to an injured area. Several years later, I was assigned to Special Operations Command in Tampa, and I was studying Wing Chun Kung Fu locally. Before classes everyone would talk about their acupuncture treatments and tell how much it helped them. A school that used to be in St. Petersburg had an open house, which I attended, and I was bitten by the bug to learn more. After I got out of the service, I hiked the entire 2100-mile Appalachian Trail and decided to go to acupuncture school. This was also the time when I actually had a treatment myself. My toes had become numb during the hike and stayed that way until I had the treatment. One treatment took care of it.

I was drawn to acupuncture primarily with an interest in pain management. It still remains the focal point of my practice. In the service, the options usually seemed to be either surgery or pain pills—neither choice appealed to me. I stopped the pain meds very early in my career because I realized that they only masked the pain symptoms, while I continued to stress the injury that resulted in more longterm damage. I never took them again, although they were handed out like candy. Needless to say, I felt that acupuncture provided another option that I wished to explore and make available to others with issues similar to those I went through.

QUR: Have you discovered any similarities between what you learned in your Navy career and your current practice as an acupuncturist?

In the SEALs, we had a saying: “Training is never over.” I have further developed my own saying: “The more I learn, the less I know.” I always feel the need to keep learning. I joke that if I won the lottery, I would be going to school all the time. I continue to observe that there is so much more that I have yet to learn, which makes what I do know appear minuscule. I have also learned that everything is always changing. One must learn to “adapt to one’s environment” in the SEALs; it certainly never adapted to us. Likewise, an acupuncturist cannot be limited by a specific set of protocols for every patient. I have learned that I must view each patient individually, and sometimes that can take quite a bit of detective work. Therefore, an acupuncturist must also learn to adapt to the patient. There are also changes that take place between treatments. I have found that a minimum 72-hour window between treatments works for the majority of patients since their body appears to go through adjustments that then manifest differently the next time I see them. Once again, adaptation becomes easier as one learns and understands other ways to view that patient. Continuing education and training continues to work for me in this respect.

In the SEALs, our opponents were men and equipment developed by men. However, often nature herself was the most dangerous opponent. The actual mission could be a cakewalk after that. We made our plans on what we knew or perceived from intelligence sources, but dealing with thinking men often throws a monkey wrench into the equation, and things may not be what they seem. That’s not even accounting for the number of things that can occur that are beyond one’s control. I never saw a plan that came off as originally envisioned. More time could be spent in planning than on the actual mission, but it can go out the window in a second. After a few poorly-chosen cuss words, one has to adapt very quickly.

As acupuncturists, we also deal with man, but more than that, he is a physical, mental, and spiritual entity with many attributes beyond our current knowledge, understanding, and control. I believe that is why there are diseases without cures and why placebos are often an effective cure. Whatever the case, we still develop a plan of treatment as an onset point - realizing that we will likely need to change it. Often I have gone into my treatment room with a plan that quickly gets thrown out of the window - hopefully without the cuss words. But that is one of the challenges about this field that fascinates me - you have to keep re-observing, re-orienting, make new decisions, and take new actions. It isn’t boring. Often the seemingly most obvious solution is not the best solution, and what should logically work does not. I do not subscribe that it is chaos theory, but often logic doesn’t have a thing to do with it.

In the SEALs, most things are considered classified on a need-to-know basis, but for those involved, you try to provide them with as much information as they can possibly want. Also, if your mission involves others that are either evacuees or have been hostages, you want them to also know as much as possible about what you are doing so that they will cooperate and be helpful in getting them to safety. I use a similar approach with my patients - although I had not thought about it before this moment. I explain what I am doing. I tell them why I am putting a needle in a specific location and what I am trying to do. I will even let them know when I am changing my approach. Most seem to appreciate it and get absorbed into their treatment. They often start telling me what they are feeling and where. This has been useful on several occasions, as it has led me to do other things that I had not originally considered. I believe that all participants need to have an understanding of the processes, which helps them to learn something more about themselves and leads to better treatment.

QUR: How is your practice fairing in Cody, Wyoming?

I am only in a small town, but I am quite happy with my practice. I stopped advertising several years ago, so most of my patients have gotten my name from friends or family who I have treated. I could be much busier in the summer when the tourists are passing through to go to Yellowstone Park, but I prefer to focus on the locals. I also volunteer as an EMT at the hospital. I do this as a way of doing community service, but it has also opened doors, as I have seen doctors, nurses, and others, who have come to my acupuncture practice for treatment. It is fascinating to see how many people have at least some knowledge of acupuncture and how many of them are looking for other ways to resolve their issues. My practice is centered on pain management. As people become tired of taking pills or surgery ends up not being the appropriate solution - even after it has been performed - they are drawn to anything that may help. Hopefully, I have been of some assistance for them.

It would be nice to see legislature enacted to license acupuncturists here in Wyoming, but there does not seem to be the interest since the practitioners are so few. I do maintain a license in several other states for professional credibility, but it would be beneficial to have something established here, especially since the last attempt was by chiropractors who were trying to get licensing only for themselves and MDs. Fortunately, that did not go anywhere. Licensing would also be useful for insurance claims. Often, they will not cover acupuncture here.

QUR: What do you think about the prospects for AOM in the military? Do you think it’s easier or more difficult to get acupuncture included in military settings?

The possibilities are certainly wide open. I like what Joe Chang is doing with the Army in PTSD studies and his opening of dialogue with the Navy on the West coast. I also like what I hear concerning the Air Force in their usage of acupuncture for pain, although I do not agree with their current decision of limiting themselves to MDs, and it is still quite parochial. These are all just small steps on a long road, but it is a path worth following. I believe that it could be difficult to get acupuncture included in military settings, but the military is traditionally mission oriented, so the answer lies in demonstrated results. Success in small steps could pave the way for more widespread employment. I would certainly encourage any continued research that validates acupuncture, and I am happy to see that the military is funding some of it - even if it is only chump change in the big picture at this point in time.

As I mentioned earlier, it was the limitations in treatment in the military that eventually led me to acupuncture. A recent article stated that about one-third of sailors and Marines, and one in four soldiers have used some type of alternative therapy. Personally, I do not like the term “alternative therapy.” I prefer complementary, yet I would still rather see a more integrated approach to treatment. I also believe that would be the best approach for acupuncture’s inclusion within the military as well. However, if these soldiers and sailors do get results the word will surely get back. The down side is that chiropractors took years to get more openly employed by the military, but I believe that this is a good time to get more deeply embedded, especially with concerns for PTSD treatment.

On a slightly separate note, I have discovered that there is also interest within the Veteran’s Administration for acupuncture certainly for PTSD but also pain management. At one visit to a VA hospital, I found that DOs are doing some acupuncture, but due to their other duties, they cannot give it adequate attention. They would like to see acupuncturists involved because they have their own success stories from its use. They are also thinking more along the lines of integrated medicine for treatment so there are at least those who will listen, and hopefully push from their side. Unfortunately, administrators will always be administrators, and the tough nut in the process, especially when money and new ideas are brought up. Hopefully, there are those who can provide that bottom up approach to make things happen within their respective organizations. I would recommend other contact with VA hospitals to see who these individuals might be, and get this door opened further and working for everyone’s benefit.

QUR: What do you think acupuncturists and AAAOM members can do to get AOM included in national healthcare reforms?

I believe that AAAOM is going in the right direction by engaging lobbyists for advancing goals for us in Washington, D.C. I also support interaction with other advocacy groups. I feel that seeking support from other groups, such as AARP who are running their own campaign, would also be beneficial. I must admit that I consider that leveling the playing field and keeping the so-called experts from a broken system at bay would provide the best benefit for health care reform, but regrettably that will not happen so we are forced to work within the current system to achieve reform. It would e nice to see egos put aside and rice bowl protection put on hold for the betterment of more effective reform. I think a more integrated or coordinated approach, which would include acupuncture, for treatment would be much better for the patients in the end. Whatever the case, dollars will have the greatest voice, and that is why we need other advocates as well. An integrated and coordinated approach would be beneficial for us to get our interests supported as well.

Individually, we all should get involved in writing to our Senators and Congressmen to at least voice our concerns and hopefully provide some education. Since we are a smaller group, this alone will not be enough so we should provide means for our patients to add to our voice.

We must continue to emphasize our strengths whenever we can. The facts are really all that count, so well-documented information needs to be compiled, assimilated, and disseminated. Key players need to be educated and understand the facts about acupuncture and what it provides in support of health for our citizens when they make decisions. Emotions do not have any role in any of this, although I am sure that emotions will be there for everyone concerned anyway. I believe that if we take the high road in all our actions, the best result will occur.

I apologize if I have gotten a bit long-winded, but it is spring, and liver time, so I’ll use that as my excuse. I certainly do not know all the answers, and I confess that some of my responses are to questions that I have not honestly thought about at all until recently. Hopefully, I have provided at least something for someone to think about. And if it gets other acupuncturists with better ideas involved in our future then it was worth my meager meanderings. I regret that other commitments kept me from the symposium in Sacramento, but I hope that everyone had a wonderful time and that some good information, ideas, and results occur within the process.