Acupuncture by Jennifer Prince, DVM
Veterinary Services Department, Drs. Foster & Smith, Inc.
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=0&cat=1446&articleid=1334

Traditional Chinese medicine has used acupuncture to treat a wide
variety of conditions for about 3,500 years. Acupuncture is said
to stimulate the body's natural healing processes which in turn
help the body heal itself.
Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners believe that
acupuncture stimulates the flow of energy forces that nourish
tissues, stimulate blood flow, and enhance the body's systems.
Acupuncture has been used both as a preventative measure and
to help treat diseases.

According to ancient Chinese medical theory, the life force
(called qi or ch'i) flows through the body via 14 invisible
channels known as meridians. They regulate all physical and
mental processes. Opposing forces within the body, called yin
and yang, must be balanced to keep ch'i flowing properly.
The meridians run deep within the body's tissues and organs,
surfacing at some 360 places identified as acupuncture points,
sometimes called acupoints.
Certain meridians are identified with organs such as the bladder
or liver, and the points all along such meridians are believed
capable of affecting the associated internal organ. Stimulating
these points is said to balance and restore the flow of ch'i.

The word acupuncture is derived from the Latin 'acus' needle and
'pungo' puncture. The puncture refers to the insertion of tiny
needles at very specific points on the surface of the body.
The needles used are smooth and solid and very thin.
Some people say they feel a brief slight sensation upon the
insertion of the needle into the precise acupuncture point.
The depth of insertion, type of stimulation, and duration of
treatment vary according to the disease or the condition being
treated. Needles should be sterile and only used once.

In modern veterinary acupuncture, multiple systems of treatment
are used. These include the classical needle alone, needles used
in conjunction with electrical stimulation, or stimulation using
a specific type of laser. Gold beads, surgical staples, or
magnets are sometimes put into acupuncture points to provide
permanent stimulation.

Many western theories exist to try to explain the reported effects
of acupuncture, however no one theory explains all the effects.
One thing specifically is known: acupuncture does cause the release
of endorphins, compounds that have physiological effects resembling
morphine.

In humans, acupuncture is most commonly used for the treatment of
pain, paresis, and paralysis. Acupuncture helps provide short-term
relief of pain. In some human studies, long-term relief has occurred
as well. Patients may show a better response after each treatment or
a good response which lasts for a short period of time and increasingly
longer on each subsequent treatment. Acupuncture should not be expected
to cure an underlying problem. Human research is underway to determine
for which physical problems acupuncture works well.

Research studies on the effects of acupuncture on animals have not
yet been performed, but anecdotal information suggests it may be helpful
in certain conditions. Acupuncture has been used in the treatment of
pain, hip dysplasia, chronic digestive disturbances, lick granuloma,
epilepsy, and other miscellaneous conditions in pets. Some pet owners
have noted an improvement in attitude in their pets before any physical
improvement is seen. This may be due to a reduction in pain or some
unknown factor.

For more information, you may wish to contact:

American Academy of Veterinary Acupuncture
Box 419, Hygiene, CO 80533-0419
(303) 772-6726
E-Mail:AAVAoffice@...
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