Bloom Therapy is excited to introduce the 5-Needle Protocol (5NP), also known as Acudetox. 5NP is a bilateral auricular acupuncture, meaning the needles are placed in both ears. 5NP is used for relaxation, detoxification, trauma recovery, stress management, sleep disorder, depression, anxiety, balancing, grounding, and more.

The 5NP provides a bridge between Western medicine and Eastern healing practices, encouraging clinicians and recipients to respect our innate potential for growth and healing. 5NP is a trauma-informed protocol because it promotes empowerment, resilience, respect, choice, self-care and one’s innate healing capability with safe face-to-face involvement.

The protocol works with or without a diagnosis and reaches participants in a subjective manner, safely, non-verbally, drug-free, and with few known side effects. Our practitioner, Tita Machado, LPC, ADS is now licensed with the Texas Medical Board as an Acudetox Specialist. She is excited to bring 5NP to her clients as an additional tool within the therapeutic space for clients that wish to calm and rebalance themselves during their session.

In 5NP, the ear is recognized as a map of the human body. The five specific points used in 5NP protocol interface with the ear’s connections to distinct aspects of human functioning. The points stimulated in order of application include:

1. Sympathetic Point: helpful in reducing symptoms of fight / flight and promoting aspects of ‘rest and digest’, or the parasympathetic response. This point helps calm anxiety and regulate an agitated autonomic nervous system.
2. Shen Men (meaning spirit gate): affects non-physical aspects of the body. Helps regulate energy in either a strengthening or tranquil manner; ‘high spirited’ and ‘low spirited’ energy comes into balance. It supports self-awareness and purpose.
3. Kidney Point: facilitates detoxification in the kidney organ system, thought to be a key purveyor of wisdom and purpose. An unbalanced kidney results in fear.
4. Liver Point: another detoxification organ system which is a major actor (the General) in forceful yet benevolent assertion. Imbalance in the liver results in frustration, anger or rage.
5. Lung Point: a third detoxification organ system, providing support and regulation to the whole body – taking in and letting go continuously. Lung helps to manage grief and loss, shame, and when in balance it creates healthy self-esteem and dignity.

This is what the protocol looks like:

 

If you are working with a different Bloom therapist and are interested in receiving 5NP treatments as an adjunct treatment to your talk therapy, speak to your therapist, and they will help coordinate treatment with Tita. For more information regarding 5-needle protocol, please follow the link to the 5NP Texas website https://5nptexas.com or contact Tita at [email protected]