This ear (auricular) acupuncture protocol was developed by Dr Richard C. Niemtzow in 2001. He is a retired Air Force colonel and was the first full-time physician acupuncturist in the Armed Forces.
He originally conceived this technique as a way to deliver pain relief through acupuncture as quickly and efficiently as possible in combat and other military situations. It is growing in popularity in both military and civilian medical settings internationally.
This unique technique uses semi-permanent ASP® needles to activate ear points in order to influence the processing of pain in the central nervous system. According to Dr Niemtzow, pain relief can be immediate and hold for a longer stimulation. It can also be used in case of anxiety and insomnia.
BFA was recognized in 2019 as a solution to fight the opioid crisis by the Association of American Medical Colleges and presented in the documentary Escape Fire: The Fight to Rescue American Healthcare in 2012.
