Information
What is Acupuncture?
When pet parents start looking into acupuncture for their pets, it is usually due to the exhaustion of all other medical options that have failed to help their animal. In a desperate last attempt to help they google “alternative veterinary therapies” and is sure to find acupuncture at the top of the list.
The list of ailments that are treated successfully with acupuncture is extremely long and today we have the scientific literature to back-up the clinical claims. Acupuncture is no-longer an “alternative” medicine in many countries. It is an integrative therapy and can be easily used as a stand-alone treatment for many diseases and disorders.
To truly understand acupuncture we must study its history. Developed in the ancient orient about 5000 year ago, acupuncture grew from a crude acupressure into a surgical procedure. The Chinese was extremely good at documenting discoveries, numerous books on acupuncture were published hundreds of years ago.
Logic tells us that if the patients did not see and feel results after acupuncture treatments, this modality would have seized to exist a long time ago.
Today prestigious scientific databases like Pubmed and ScienceDirect house thousands of peer reviewed publications on the effects and use of acupuncture in humans and animals. Acupuncture is no-longer classified as a pseudoscience and holds its own within the medical science community.
Thousands of veterenarians practice acupuncture all around the world, and it is growing in popularity among the western nations including Europe and the USA. To find an acupuncturist near you go to www.tcvm.com or email [email protected].
How does Acupuncture work?
An Ancient Oriental Healing Art.
Incerting fine acupuncture needles into specific acupoints to stimulate and facilitate self-healing.
The body is designed to be resilient and survive. It is equipped with all the necessary healing factors and cellular pathways to heal itself and to regenerate new tissues for healing and to grow.
Sometimes, in dis-ease or trauma situations the body needs some external help to stimulate appropriate and effective healing. In western or coventional medicine the aim of any treatment is to lessen the symptons and remove any inciting causes of disease. This works fantastically for emergency medicine and diseases where surgery is required to remove foreign objects, diseased organs or repair broken bones.
For more chronic diseases or “uncurable” disorders Western medicine fails when using a symptomatic treatment approach.
Acupuncture forms part of the Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine systems. (TCVM). TCVM include Herbal medicine, Food therapy and Tui Na (Massage/Chiropractics). The philosophy of treatment when using TCVM differs quite remarkably from western medicine. In TCVM the practitioner aims to identify the root cause of the disease or disorder and treat the disease pattern not just the symptoms. TCVM restores the body to its own healthy homeostasis, thus resolving any illness. This is why TCVM is so successful in treating chronic illness such as chronic pain, arthritis, allergies, skin problems, autoimmune diseases and cancer.
The effects of acupuncture has been studied and documented in thousands of clinical trails and scientific research.
The five main areas that are influenced in the body are:
Neurological System
Endocrine System
Vacular System
Inflammatory System
Stem Cells
Acupuncture stimulates and appropriately activate all of the above mentioned systems in the body, allowing self healing and a terurn to healthy homeostasis.
How Small are Acupuncture Needles?
Basically a Non-Intrusive Procedure.
ACUPUNCTURE!
- Promotes Blood Flow.
- Stimulates the release of Oxytocin.
- Activates the release of the body’s own painkillers.
- Relaxes and releases muscle tension.
- Activates the body’s ability to heal.
What does Acupuncture Stimulate?
Neurological System
Acupuncture acts locally and centrally to stimulate the peripheral and central nervous system. This is extremely effective in pain control.
Endocrine System
Acupuncture in specific points has been shown to up-regulate and down-regulate specific hormones and restore balance to the endocrine system.
Vacular System
Acupuncture immediately increases blood flow to injured areas transporting healing cells and proteins to where it is needed. It is also very effective in controlling blood pressure.
Inflamatory Complex
An appropriate inflammatory response is required for the body to heal. Acupuncture sedated excess inflammation, and fever and also aids in the migration of inflammatory cells to the area of disease.
Stem Cell Activation
Stem cells are the body’s building blocks and are needed to repair injured or dead tissues. Acupuncture stimulates the release of stem cells into circulation to aid in tissue regeneration.
Restores Balance
Although we still know very little about the way acupuncture heals the body, we do understand that it is the most effective modality in restoring balance to the body in all physiological structures. Thus allowing the body to heal itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions & Answers
What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is an oriental healing modality involving the insertion of special acupuncture needles into specific acupuncture points. It is done to relieve pain and promote healing.
Are there any specific evidence on how it works?
Modern scientific research shows that acupoints are in areas of the body where there is a high density of free nerve endings, blood vessels, and lymphatics usually within the fascia. When stimulated it causes the release of beta-endorphins, serotonin, and other neurotransmitters locally and centrally (in the brain).
Electroacupuncture causes the mobilization and release of stem cells in the body.
Is acupuncture safe?
Yes! Acupuncture is a safe medical procedure when administered by a qualified practitioner.
How long does the treatment take?
Each session may take between 20 to 45 minutes. The first session usually takes longer than the follow-up treatments.
How soon can we expect to see results?
Depending on the condition and how long it has been present, results may be immediate while others will require several treatments. A minimum of or at least three to five treatments is usually recommended. (1 to 2 weeks apart)
Does acupuncture hurt?
Rarely! Acupuncture is generally not painful because the needles used are as thin as hair. Over 95% are comfortable with acupuncture. Due to the relaxation effects, some animals will fall asleep during the treatments. 5% of patients may react during the fort treatment, but it is usually a short reaction followed by sedation.
Who is qualified to perform acupuncture?
In South Africa only registered veterinarians that have undergone specialist training may legally perform acupuncture on animals. To find a registered practitioner visit www.tcvm.com.
What physiological effects are included by acupuncture?
- Pain relief.
- Promotion of tissue healing and regeneration.
- Regulation of the GIT.
- Anti-inflammatory effects.
- Immune modulation (allergy therapies)
- Hormone and reproduction regulation.
- Antifebrile effects.
When is acupuncture recommended?
Clinical trials indicate that acupuncture therapy can be effective in the following conditions:
- Musculoskeletal pain and injury. (Muscle pain, back pain, osteoarthritis, DJD)
- Neurological disorders (IVDD, paralysis, seizures, wobblers, radial nerve paralysis)
- Gastrointestinal (diarrhea, gastric ulcers, colic, vomiting, constipation, and impactions)
- Other chronic conditions: Skin problems, COPD (heaves), asthma, cough, uveitis, renal failure, chronic liver disease, behavioral problems, infertility, and endocrine disorders including Cushing’s.
- End of life and hospice care.
- Performance enhancement and prevention of disease.
