PTSD Treatment in Greenville, SC
Integrative PTSD treatment in Greenville, SC. Acupuncture for trauma helps regulate the nervous system, reduce hyperarousal, and improve sleep and mood. Call (864) 365-6156.
What Is PTSD?
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event, resulting in persistent intrusive memories, nightmares, hyperarousal, emotional numbing, and avoidance behaviors. It is not limited to combat veterans — PTSD develops in survivors of accidents, abuse, medical trauma, natural disasters, and other overwhelming experiences. PTSD reflects a dysregulation of the brain's fear-processing and stress-response systems.
Common Symptoms
Root Causes: A Functional Medicine Perspective
PTSD involves structural and functional changes in the brain — particularly the amygdala (hyperactivated, driving fear responses) and the prefrontal cortex (underactivated, impaired in regulating the amygdala). The HPA axis becomes dysregulated, resulting in abnormal cortisol patterns — often low cortisol baseline with exaggerated cortisol spikes in response to triggers.
Neuroinflammation plays a significant role in PTSD: trauma activates microglial cells in the brain that generate inflammatory cytokines, impairing hippocampal function (memory formation and contextualizing trauma) and perpetuating the neurological patterns of PTSD. Sleep deprivation — almost universal in PTSD — further worsens neuroinflammation and impairs the brain's natural trauma-processing mechanisms during REM sleep.
How We Treat PTSD at IHP
Battlefield Acupuncture — a specific auricular (ear) acupuncture protocol developed for military PTSD — has been extensively studied in veteran and military populations, with strong evidence for reducing hyperarousal, intrusive symptoms, and sleep disturbances. The U.S. military has incorporated acupuncture protocols into PTSD treatment programs at multiple VA medical centers.
Dr. Hendry uses a combination of Battlefield Acupuncture and body acupuncture targeting the amygdala-calming and nervous system-regulating points associated with trauma response in TCM. The parasympathetic-activating effect of acupuncture directly counters the sympathetic hyperarousal central to PTSD. Functional medicine support — addressing inflammation, cortisol dysregulation, and sleep — works alongside acupuncture to restore biological resilience.
Dr. Hendry's Approach
Dr. Hendry approaches PTSD with sensitivity and a deep understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms involved. He works collaboratively with therapists, psychiatrists, and counselors — viewing acupuncture as a biological complement to psychological treatment, not a replacement. Acupuncture's ability to reduce physiological hyperarousal often makes patients more accessible to therapeutic work by calming the nervous system enough to engage with trauma processing.