Background: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a widely recognized consequence of deployment, combat exposure, and trauma. Postdeployment PTSD commonly co-occurs with other medical problems and mood disorders to include depression, suicidality, substance-abuse disorders, anxiety disorders, and chronic pain. These mind and body injuries, and their consequences, often co-occur and are appropriately considered as war-related, trauma spectrum responses (wrTSRs).Objective: This article describes the potential role of complementary and integrative medicine for treating wrTSRs such as PTSD and their associated comorbidities. Method: This overview describes the interplay between these comorbidities as part of the wrTSR as well as suggesting how complementary and integrative medicine (IM) approaches may be used to address many of the challenges involved in treating wrTSRs. Conclusions: Complementary and IM modalities include tools that induce permanent healing in a whole person. Better and more-holistic approaches are needed for healing the wrTSR. In addition, there needs to be greater emphasis on research and implementation of whole-person healing practices. Finally, it is necessary to recognize the importance of healing as much as curing.

Background: In the recent past, numerous natural disasters and wars have resulted in casualties on site that have been treated successfully by trained personnel using holistic medical techniques, including acupuncture, hypnosis, yoga, biofeedback and other techniques. Adaptations of several of these medical modalities may be taught to first responders. Objective: This article provides a compilation of advice and techniques by practitioners of integrative medicine designed to aid first responders of cataclysmic natural disasters or military conflicts. Coverage includes simple, specific, integrative medicine modalities that have accessible techniques for most community-based responders. Method: This overview describes techniques that have been found to be useful during natural disasters and armed conflicts, such as the Fukushima Daiichi earthquake and the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan. The more trained personnel who are able to respond in a crisis, the better the outcome will be for the wounded population. Conclusions: Integrative medicine and traditional medicine techniques can be useful in times of natural cataclysmic disasters and military conflicts.