Battlefield Acupuncture (BFA) for Gulf War Veterans Illness (GWVI)

Gulf War Illness (GWVI) is a chronic multi-symptom illness (CMI) resulting in a constellation of debilitating symptoms, including fatigue, mood disorders, pain, and digestive complaints. Despite the frequent experience of GWVI symptoms among military personnel who served in Gulf War era conflicts, pharmacotherapies utilized in the management of GWVI have limited efficacy and GWVI pathogenesis is incompletely understood. Auricular (ear) acupuncture has demonstrated benefit in management of GWVI-related symptoms, such as headache, and chronic pain. Battlefield acupuncture (BFA) is a form of auriculotherapy which is readily accessible within our VA system as part of the Whole Health Program. The objectives of this study are to: 1) Examine the impact of BFA on GWVI symptoms; 2) explore potential inflammatory and epigenetic biomarkers that may define the GWVI phenotype, and moreover predict the successful implementation of BFA therapy in GWVI veterans, and 3) to develop a rodent model for the future investigation of GWVI pathophysiology and the mechanistic benefit of BFA in modulating these pathways.

​This pilot study seeks to generate preliminary data on the impact of BFA on GWVI symptoms, and explore inflammatory pathway biomarkers that may be modulated by this auriculotherapy, and further may predict the success of BFA therapy in GWVI. This proposal aligns closely with the VHA and DoD priorities to identify novel, effective non-opioid therapies for the management of chronic pain symptoms, as typically experienced in GWVI patients. We also plan to develop a validated rodent model for the future study of the pathogenesis of GWVI and the pathways positively modulated by BFA intervention.

Principal Investigator: Dr. Gregory Sayuk

This study is currently enrolling patients. To learn more about BFA and how you can join contact our research office at (314) 289-7690

This study is an investigator initiated protocol funded by the VA.