at a glance

84
Acupuncture as a Diagnostic Tool
foot cannot always be diagnosed with TCM. However, conditions
associated with intra-articular inflammation were reflected
by sensitive acupoints in the TCM examination.
Furthermore, horses with joint inflammation but no lameness
could be confirmed by the intra-articular anesthesia.
When the horses’ joints were blocked, normal responses to
pressure were re-established and the acupoints palpated
normally.
TCM can play a key role in diagnosis of obscure lameness
by identifying syndromes through patterns of sensitivity at
certain points. A group of points that are sensitive in the diagnostic
examination may indicate hock pain or foot pain,
and so on. If a group of body points is sore on palpation, a
predictable anatomical area is involved and is usually the
source of the soreness. This can be used in conjunction with
conventional diagnostics to find the source of lameness. It is
especially helpful in hindquarter lameness. It is worth noting
that healthy horses do not have sensitive acupoints.
TYPICAL TCM EXAMINATION
A typical TCM examination that I would perform on a
horse is as follows:
1) I stroke the horse’s neck and get him/her to relax, while
assessing the pulse under the jaw.
2) I ask the owner pertinent medical history questions
both related to the presenting complaint and related to the
Five Phase Theory or the Eight Element Theory. The questions
concerning the history will depend on the disease
process.
3) I ask what Western medicine diagnostic procedures have
been done and the results of those procedures. If I localize a
problem to an area that has not been blocked, radiographed,
or further explored,I recommend those tests be done.
4) I palpate acupoints along the neck, back, and hindquarters
looking for sensitivity or reaction at those points.If sensitivity
is found at a particular point, I check related points for