I'm so excited to share that I'm now offering 5NP ear acupuncture at Sea Change Medicine!
What’s 5NP?
5NP stands for Five Needle Protocol, and you may also hear it called the NADA protocol or acudetox. Five tiny needles are placed at specific points on each ear while you relax. It was born in the 1970s at Lincoln Detox in the South Bronx, a community-run addiction program started by the Young Lords and the Black Panther Party during the heroin epidemic (the history is fascinating). Since then, it has become a widely used tool for stress relief, in settings from hospitals to disaster relief (check this out).
5NP is a nonverbal stress treatment. You don’t have to talk, explain, or relive anything. You can just sit back, rest, and let your body unwind.
So much of what I see in practice, from gut issues to hormone imbalances to poor sleep, is tangled up with chronic stress. 5NP gives us a simple, gentle, hands-on way to help your nervous system downshift out of the stress response.
What 5NP can do for you
A calmer nervous system: So many of us are running on high alert without even noticing. 5NP gives your body a chance to shift out of "go mode" and into rest. Most people feel a real sense of calm settle in during the session, and many tell me it's the most relaxed they've felt in weeks.
Easier, deeper sleep: When your system is wound up, sleep is often the first thing to suffer. Many people find they fall asleep more easily and wake up feeling more rested after a few sessions.
A quieter mind: If your thoughts tend to race or loop, 5NP can help turn the volume down. It's not about forcing yourself to relax. It's about giving your body a cue it already knows how to follow.
Feeling more steady: With regular sessions, many people notice they feel less reactive and more grounded, so hard days can feel a little more manageable.
Support for cravings and habit change: This is where 5NP began. If you're cutting back on sugar, alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, or other substances, it can be a supportive addition to the other changes you're making.
Support for your gut and hormones: Chronic stress affects digestion, cortisol, and hormonal balance. Calming the nervous system can help the rest of your healing work land better.
What to expect
You'll settle into a comfortable chair, fully clothed. I'll gently place five very fine needles in each ear. Most people feel a tiny pinch, or nothing at all.
Then you rest for anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes. Some people drift off, some sit quietly, and some just enjoy having nowhere to be. There's no talking required and nothing you need to do. When we're done, I'll gently remove the needles and you'll head back into your day feeling lighter.
5NP works well on its own, and the effects tend to build with regular sessions.
The five points
Each of the five points has its own traditional meaning in Chinese medicine and ear acupuncture.
Sympathetic: helps balance the nervous system and ease the shift out of fight-or-flight and into rest.
Shen Men: known as the "Spirit Gate," a deeply calming point used to settle the mind.
Kidney: associated with your deep reserves of energy and resilience, and with easing fear.
Lung: connected to the breath and to letting go, often used to support grief and release.
Liver: associated with the smooth flow of energy and emotion, helping ease tension and irritability.
Two ways to try 5NP
If you're working with me 1:1, we can add 5NP to your visits. It pairs beautifully with the deeper work we're doing on your gut, hormones, and overall resilience.
I'll also be hosting drop-in Chill Out Hours in Portland, where you can come in, get a treatment, and rest in a calm, shared space. This is available to anyone over the age of 18!
Booking details for Chill Out Hours are coming soon. To be the first to know, join my email list or reach out at hello@drkatbodden.com.
5NP is a supportive therapy and isn't a replacement for medical or mental health care. If you have questions about whether it's right for you, I'm happy to talk it through.
