What is Acupuncture?

According to the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society:

Acupuncture may be defined as the insertion of needles into specific points on the body to produce a healing response. Each acupuncture point has specific actions when stimulated. This technique has been used in veterinary practice in China for thousands of years to treat many ailments. The Chinese also use acupuncture as preventative medicine.

Acupuncture is used all around the world, either along or in conjunction with Western medicine, to treat a wide variety of conditions in every species of animal. Clinical research has been conducted showing positive results in the treatment of both animals and humans, and the use of acupuncture is increasing.

For small animals, the following are some of the general conditions which may be treated with acupuncture:

• Musculoskeletal problems, such as arthritis, intervertebral disk disease, or traumatic nerve injury

• Respiratory problems, such as feline asthma

• Skin problems such as lick granulomas and allergic dermatitis

• Gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea

For large animals, acupuncture is again commonly used for functional problems.
Some of the general conditions where it might be applied are the following:

• Musculoskeletal problems such as sore backs or downer cow syndrome

• Neurological problems such as facial paralysis

• Skin problems such as allergic dermatitis

• Respiratory problems such as heaves and “bleeders”

• Gastrointestinal problems such as nonsurgical colic

How Does Acupuncture Work?

A simple explanation compares acupuncture treatments to electrical systems. After all, the body does have an electric field. When you flip a light switch, it may turn off a light in a distant part of the room, but we all know there is the invisible connection between the two parts. So it is with acupuncture, and that is why needles are not always places at the place where the problem seems to be!

The biochemical explanation is that the acupuncture points contain a large number of capillaries and nerve endings. Stimulation of these points by needling, pressure, or electrical impulse will cause release of nerve signals and endorphins into the nervous system and bloodstream that have systemic effects on the body.