Animal Acupuncture - Holistic Veterinary Service

For most of us here in the western society, acupuncture is a relatively new idea, and we are just beginning to discover its benefits and how effective it is for various ailments. In the Far East, however, acupuncture dates back thousands of years, and is still very much in use today. The earliest know acupuncture needles have been found in China, made of stone, and date back 8,000 years. The written history begins about 4,000 years ago, with the first recorded veterinary acupuncture text dating to around 640 BC. Much of the research behind the employment of acupuncture, and the efficacy of different treatments comes from thousands of years of recorded observations of what worked and what didn’t work. Now through modern technology we have further evidence of the methods that make acupuncture work, including certain chemicals (such as endorphins and serotonin) released into the bloodstream when acupuncture points are stimulated, nerve signals measured along meridians, modern clinical studies and so on. Not all doctors agree that acupuncture is effective, and some argue that it is unproven. However, even in modern western medicine, we use many treatments which in fact are not proven, and with time are amended to more effective remedies, less invasive techniques and so on. I would argue that thousands of years of recorded results is in and of itself proof of effectiveness. That coupled with modern studies and clinical observations of results makes the case for acupuncture even stronger.

Acupuncture points are specific locations found on the body along meridians, or channels. The channels run along the surface of the body. There are 14 regular channels which together form more or less 7 vertical circles or stripes fairly evenly spaced over the body surface. There are also branches of these channels which connect them with internal organs. (Just as a point of interest, on occasion in horses, these channels are actually visible, since stimulation of one point on a channel can cause the other acupoints along the channel to raise up in bumps.) It is because of the constant and connecting flow of energy and nerve signals along these meridians, that one can have a profound effect through acupuncture on a body part which would appear to be unrelated. For example, bony pain is a problem which acupuncture is often very effective for. Using neck pain as an example, the acupuncturist may place needles locally on the neck area, but stimulating points as far away as the front toes (or hands in humans), can have profound pain relieving results in the neck. Acupuncture can also be used for many different internal medicine conditions, such as vomiting and diarrhea, kidney disease, liver problems, and cancer therapy. Because of the connections that the external channels have with internal organs, stimulating acupuncture points on the back, belly, and legs can effect and improve internal conditions. Practitioners of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine often use acupuncture in conjunction with herbal treatments, diet and lifestyle changes to achieve an even more positive and long lasting result. Balancing the whole patient, not just their disease, is always the goal.

There are so many nuances and unexpected associations found in the study of acupuncture, that it is difficult to present even an introduction in the scope of just one article. For those of you interested in learning more, there are many texts available, both human and veterinary. But I’ve found the best way for someone to begin to understand the effects of acupuncture is to see it in action by trying it for a medical problem for either themselves or their pet. Write in and let me know your results.