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What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is the stimulation of specific points on the body, which have the
ability to alter various biochemical and physiological conditions in order to achieve
a healing effect. It is not a cure-all, but it works well where indicated and when
used alone or in combination with traditional veterinary medicine. Veterinary
acupuncture has been used to treat animals for nearly 4,000 years in China.
In North America it has been used for decades, in both domestic and exotic
animals. Acupuncture is one of a variety of therapies a veterinarian may use
to treat your pet.
How Does Acupuncture Work?
Ancient Chinese medical philosophy believes that disease is a result of an
imbalance of energy in the body. Acupuncture is believed to balance this
energy, and thereby assist the body in healing disease. In Western
terms, acupuncture can assist the body's efforts to heal itself by causing
certain physiological changes. For example, acupuncture can stimulate
nerves, increase blood circulation, relieve muscle spasms, and, cause the
release of hormones, such as endorphins (one of the body's pain control
chemicals) or cortisol (a natural steroid).
What are some of the uses of Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is known to have therapeutic effects in a wide variety of
animal diseases. Pain modification is an important application of
veterinary acupuncture, but there are much wider applications. Examples
of clinical conditions where veterinary acupuncture may be used are:
• Gastrointestinal disorders
• Respiratory problems
• Urinary disorders
• Musculoskeletal disorders
• Dermatological problems
How long do acupuncture treatments last, and how often are they needed?
The length and frequency of treatments depends on the problem and condition
of your pet. Stimulation of an individual acupuncture point may be for as little as
10 seconds or as long as 20 minutes. Generally, acute problems require less
time and frequency of treatment in chronic cases. For example, an acute
sprain may require only one treatment, whereas more severe or chronic
ailments may require multiple treatments. A positive response is generally
seen after the first to third treatment in chronic cases. Once optimum response
is achieved, treatments are tapered off so the greatest amount of
symptom-free time elapses between them.
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