Acupuncture is a form of Asian medicine that has been utilized for over 5,000 years that consists of inserting small needles into specific pressure points in order to achieve a desirable result. Despite what you may read on the internet, there are decades worth of research that have found that acupuncture is a valid form of medicine that can have beneficial results.
In my practice, I have found that it is most beneficial to utilize both Eastern and Western medical practices as they support one another throughout the healing process. There are two perspectives when it comes to the use of acupuncture: Eastern and Western.
According to the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) perspective, acupuncture is a method that seeks to rebuild the balance of energy and life force, also known as qi, that flows through the body’s meridians/pathways. By stimulating specific points along these meridians, qi flow and balance can be restored, which in turn promotes healing.
According to the Western perspective, acupuncture stimulates nerves, muscles, chemicals, lymphatics, and connective tissues, which can lead to the release of natural, pain-relieving substances, such as endorphins and neurotransmitters. Acupuncture can also aid in relaxing and contracting muscles, which releases chemicals that boost the immune system and promote healing. In addition to this, acupuncture can also promote nerve growth and the release of hormones while increasing blood flow to problem areas.
Unlike with humans, there is no placebo effect with animals, which means that the results that we see in animals after undergoing acupuncture treatments are reflective of real-life improvements. For example, if a lame horse were to be treated with acupuncture and repeatedly display noticeable signs of lasting improvement, this would be considered evidence as to the validity and effectiveness of acupuncture as a method of treatment.
Acupuncture is now taught at most accredited veterinary schools in the United States, with many veterinary neurologists and orthopedic specialists recognizing the validity of using acupuncture as a non-invasive modality of treating veterinary patients. Even some veterinary dentists will occasionally utilize acupuncture to relieve oral pain and discomfort.
I have used acupuncture in my practice for over 25 years, as it is a wonderful adjunct to Western medicine. Animals are holistic organisms that are constantly trying to maintain bodily homeostasis within their environment. While traditional Western medicine has a tendency to only focus on one problematic area at a time and treat symptoms of that one specific issue, thus resulting in physician specialties, it rarely cures disease or seeks to resolve the source and cause of the disease. Acupuncture practitioners view the balance of the entire body as a method of resolving the source of the problem and restoring overall health.
Acupuncture typically involves several treatments over time; however, some animals that are “fire” in nature (e.g., cats and horses) only require one or two sessions. The addition of Chinese herbs helps to expedite and balance treated patients for the best possible health outcome.
Acupuncture in veterinary medicine can be used to treat the following:
- Orthopedic pain and disease
- Neurologic pain and disease
- Endocrine disorders
- Behavioral disorders
- Reproductive disorders
- Cognitive decline
- Muscle cramping
- Allergen-related disease