January/February 2011 - Dogs Naturally Magazine

VETERINARY ACUPUNCTURE
by: Julie Mayer DVM CVA CVC CCRP
Acupuncture (From the Latin acus, “needle”, and pungere, “prick”) is
a technique of inserting and manipulating fine needles into points on
the body with the aim of relieving pain and for therapeutic purposes.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, acupuncture points are known as
Shu Xue. Shu = passing or communication and Xue = a hole or an
outlet. The original meaning of Shu Xue is a hole in the skin that
communicates with one or more internal organs by way of a meridian
(Jing) or its collateral (Luo). Most of these points are located on
a meridian which is a well-defined energetic channel that runs externally
and internally along specific pathways on the body. Stimulating
acupuncture points with a prick, pressure, electricity, heat, photons,
etc., activates the body’s natural healing abilities. Acupuncture is a
complete medical system that is used to diagnose and treat illness,
prevent disease, and improve well-being.
Acupuncture works by correcting imbalances in the flow of Qi
(sometimes translated as “vital energy”) within the body. The Qi
moves throughout the body via the meridians, which are also energetically
connected to the internal organs. The Qi can be accessed and
manipulated by the acupuncture points along the meridians. These
points can be stimulated by the use of needling, mild electric current,
warmed with herbs (moxibustion) or application of a low-intensity
laser or tui-na.
Acupuncture originated in China and India about 3000-5000 years
ago. Text books have been recovered with writings of the practice of
acupuncture and there are hieroglyphics depicting acupuncture on
humans and animals. It is said that veterinary acupuncture was first
discovered when lame battle horses were found to become sound after
being hit by arrows at distinct points. Regardless, interest in veterinary
acupuncture followed its use in humans since livestock was
very important for survival. The human acupuncture points and meridians
were transposed to the four legged animals.
As transportation developed, humans were able to visit other regions
and parts of the world and brought with them their culture. Eventually,
the first veterinary acupuncture report was published in England
in 1828 by the British Veterinary Association in The Veterinarian.
Pioneers of Veterinary Acupuncture founded the National Association
of Veterinary Acupuncture in 1973 in the United States. The
International Veterinary Acupuncture Society arose out of NAVA in
1974. The Japanese Society of Veterinary Acupuncture and Moxibustion
was formed in 1979.
As the practice of acupuncture became contagious around the world,
government organizations began researching and examining its practical
use and validity. Here if a brief recent timeline:
• The World Health Organization concluded in 1979 that “Acupuncture
is clearly not a panacea for all ills but sheer weight of
evidence demands that acupuncture must be taken seriously as a
clinical procedure of considerable value.”
• In 1995, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classified
acupuncture needles as medical instruments and assured
their safety and effectiveness.
• In 1997, the US National Institute of Health issued a report titled:
“Acupuncture: The NIH Consensus Statement” and determined:
a. acupuncture is useful for treating many conditions
b. the side effects of acupuncture are considerably less adverse
compared to other medical procedures such as surgery or
pharmaceuticals
c. that U.S. insurance companies should provide full cover
age of acupuncture treatment for certain conditions
Julie Mayer DVM CVA CVC CCRP
INTEGRATIVE VETERINARIAN
Holistic Healing Acupuncture
Homeopathy Nutrition
Rehabilitation Chiropractic
Herbs Mach Morsels
Sports Medicine Reiki
Flower Essences Seminars and Webinars
Integrativeveterinarian.com
Dr.julie@integrativeveterinarian.com
30 January-February 2011 | Dogs Naturally Magazine