Acupuncture is an element within the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) health system which also includes herbs, acupressure, laser, electro and magnetic therapy, exercise and diet.
Acupuncture has been used successfully on animals and humans for nearly 4000 years. There are many theories as to how and why it works. Western medical acupuncture practice believes it may work by releasing pain-killing endorphins, or that it triggers 'gate control', so that nerves carrying pressure messages reach the brain faster than pain messages, which stops the brain registering pain.
Traditional acupuncturists believe that all acupuncture points are connected together to form a complete circuit covering the body, creating an integral web-like system called meridians. Energy or Qi circulates around the body via these meridians connecting organs and tissues.
The ancient Chinese held that illness was a state of imbalance or blockage in the healthy energy flows of the body and that acupuncture, by acting on these channels of energy flow, restored them to normal.
A body of scientific evidence now exists to support the use of acupuncture to treat certain conditions. We at the Acuvet clinic have found that the following conditions respond favourably to acupuncture therapy:
Musculo-Skeletal System:
· Bone disorders i.e. arthritis
· Hip dysplasia
· Spondylosis
· Tendonitis
· Lameness involving injury to ligaments, tendons and muscles.
· Back problems.
o Disc trouble.
o Trapped nerve syndromes.
o Chronic Back Pain / Weakness.
Respiratory System:
· Chronic Catarrh.
· Sinusitis.
Gastro-intestinal System:
· Certain forms of Gastro-enteritis.
· Chronic Diarrhoea.
Some Skin conditions:
· Lick Granulomas.
· Chronic allergic dermatitis.
Uro-genital System.
· Urinary Incontinence.
Any chronic pain which is not being controlled adequately by conventional treatment.
When the side effects from conventional drugs are a problem.
Treatment involves the insertion of a varying number of needles into specific acupuncture points, which are left in place for approximately 20 minutes. In addition to needles, there are also other ways in which acupuncture points can be stimulated, including acupressure, electrical currents, by heat (moxibustion), Magnets and low reactive level laser.
Acupuncture is a useful form of therapy especially for conditions that do not respond well to orthodox means. It is not a cure-all but should be considered alongside other established methods of treatment. It can fill a gap but will never replace conventional therapy, yet where it is indicated it works well and can at times be beneficial when other orthodox treatments have failed.
The average number of treatments is about 4 and if improvement follows it will usually be apparent by then. Some problems may need as many as 6 treatments before showing signs of improvement but generally if there is no improvement at all after 3 treatments it is unlikely that acupuncture will have an effect.
Treatments are usually once a week to begin with, then at longer intervals according to progress. Chronic conditions may subsequently require booster treatments at varying intervals.
Animals accept needles fairly well and will often relax and some may even fall asleep during the treatment. The Acuvet Clinic uses disposable sterile needles & hence there is no risk of transfer of infection. Occasionally acupuncture treatment may initially aggravate a condition, however, such a response is temporary and is usually followed by a substantial relief and improvement.
It has the advantage that undesirable side effects of some of the drug therapy can be avoided.
Acupuncture is often an alternative to premature euthanasia in animals.