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| Veterinary Acupuncture |
Acupuncture may be defined as the insertion of needles into specific points of the body to
cause a desired healing effect. This technique has been used in veterinary practice in China
for at least 3000 years to treat and prevent many ailments. Acupuncture is used worldwide
either by itself or in conjunction with Western medicine. Acupuncture is not a cure-all,
but can work very well when it is indicated.
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According to ancient Chinese medical philosophy, disease is a result of imbalance of energy
in the body. Acupuncture is believed to balance this energy and thereby, assist the body to
heal itself. In western terms, acupuncture can assist the body to heal itself by affecting
certain physiological changes. For example, acupuncture can stimulate nerves, increase
blood circulation, relieve muscle spasm, and cause release of hormones such as endorphins
and cortisol. Although many of acupuncture’s physiological effects have been studied,
many more are still unknown. Further research is being done to discover more of the
effects and their uses in veterinary medicine.
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The effectiveness of acupuncture is well documented and extends well beyond chronic pain
management. Some of the conditions that can be treated with acupuncture are musculoskeletal
(ie arthritis, intervertebral disc disease, hip dysplasia), digestive disorders (ie
diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome), respiratory disorders (ie asthma, sinusitis,
heaves), urogenital disorders (ie cystitis, irregular heat cycles) and dermatological
conditions (ie lick granulomas, chronic ear problems). Acupuncture can often also be
helpful for kidney and liver conditions, seizures, immune-mediated disorders, and
increased comfort in cancer patients. The number of treatments will vary with the
condition, but often improvement will be seen within the first few weekly visits.
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Please contact us if you have any questions related to acupuncture and how it may be
helpful to your pet. |
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