at a glance

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Different Modalities of Acupuncture
ACUPRESSURE
Another way to stimulate an acupoint is acupressure. Firm
massage is applied to the specific point for 20 to 30 minutes.
Acupressure offers horse owners a way to participate in the
treatment of their horse. Owners can help by learning what
to do for their horses between acupuncture treatments.
Combining acupressure with acupuncture treatment will
enhance healing and maintain health. Acupressure relaxes
horses that are in heavy training and helps to relieve muscle
spasms. Acupressure also makes the horse more receptive to
acupuncture treatments because he is more accustomed to
sensations at the acupoints.
CUPPING
Cupping is a technique that combines creating a vacuum
and thermotherapy. It is more commonly used in human patients
because the horse’s coat makes it difficult to create a
vacuum. This ancient Chinese technique involves applying
negative pressure to acupuncture points. A small, globular
glass cup is coated with cotton and alcohol and the interior
of the cup is ignited. The cup is then firmly placed over the
acupoint. Fire consumes the oxygen in the cup, creating a
vacuum. This causes the skin and underlying tissues to be
pulled up into the cup,causing irritation of the acupoint. The
heat used to create a vacuum does not give off enough heat
to burn the skin.
WARM NEEDLING
Warm needling is called moxibustion and involves burning
a Chinese herb, mugwart or Artemisia vulgaris, on the
needles or on the skin. The herb, the only one used for moxibustion,
is rolled into a cylinder similar to a cigar; then a onecentimeter
section is cut and put on the needle. When the
acupuncturist ignites the cylinder of herb, it produces heavy
smoke. Burning the herb is used to heat the acupuncture
needle and thereby stimulate the acupoint. Moxibustion is