Acupuncture
A gentle, non-invasive, ancient Chinese approach.
What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is one of the components of Traditional Chinese Medicine that has been around for 1000s of years. It utilizes very small needles (as thin as a piece of hair) to stimulate points, or acupoints, on the body along channels, called meridians. These points stimulate different therapeutic responses in the body.
Is there science behind acupuncture?
Yes! Research has found that acupoints contain small groups of blood vessels, nerves, and immune cells which are stimulated when a needle is inserted. They have also found that stimulation of these acupoints releases β-endorphins, serotonin, and other neurotransmitters which can be beneficial in pain management.
What is Qi (pronounced “chee”)?
Qi is a being’s life force or energy. Qi is continuously flowing through the body maintaining normal function and balance. Qi can be broken down into Yin and Yang components. Yin and Yang are like two sides of a coin, representing cold and hot, dark and light, etc. When Qi flow is interrupted, the balance of Yin and Yang is disrupted, and disease occurs. An example of something that can disturb Qi flow would be an infection. When the flow of Qi is blocked, this causes pain. Acupuncture works to restore proper flow of Qi, balancing Yin and Yang, enabling the body to heal itself.
What is a Channel (or Meridian)?
Channels are like the highway system that Qi uses to flow around the body. Most acupoints that we use are along these channels. Some of these channels are connected to a specific organ.
Is acupuncture safe?
Yes! It is a medical procedure performed by a trained practitioner. There are very few negative effects that can result from acupuncture.
How long do acupuncture sessions last?
Typical treatment time with needles is 15-20 minutes, but sometimes treatment can go longer for more serious or chronic conditions.
How soon do you see results?
Some results can be seen immediately, but generally we recommend giving it at least 3 sessions to see a change. More chronic conditions may take longer and may need to be seen more frequently. Generally, a session every 1-2 weeks is adequate to start.
How many treatments are needed?
This can be variable depending on the condition being treated. More chronic conditions (going on a long time) will often take longer to resolve than something more acute (just started).
Does acupuncture hurt?
Rarely. The needles are so small that often the animals barely feel anything happening. Acupuncture can actually induce a state of relaxation and many animals will fall asleep. Oral sedation prior to an appointment may be used in very specific situations, but is often not needed.
What can acupuncture be used for?
The short answer is almost everything! Acupuncture is commonly used to treat pain from musculoskeletal or neurologic conditions. It can also be used for non-painful neurologic disorders (such as seizures), gastrointestinal disease, skin disease, heart and lung problems, endocrine disorders, any organ dysfunction in general, etc. Acupuncture can be used on its own or in conjunction with western medicine for an integrated approach.
Is my pet a candidate for acupuncture?
As mentioned above, acupuncture can be used to treat many things, but not all patients are the best candidates for this type of treatment. If your pet generally doesn’t like coming to the veterinarian, and doesn’t like to be handled, it is unlikely they are going to allow treatment with acupuncture needles. Treatment also requires the animal to stand still (or sit/lay down) for an extended period of time. If your pet is very active/hyper in the office, this wouldn’t be conducive to acupuncture needling. As mentioned above, oral pre-medication sedation can sometimes be used, but it would be on a case-by-case basis. If you have questions, it might be best to reach out to us directly and see if we think your pet would be a good fit for acupuncture.
When should acupuncture be avoided?
Overall, there is minimal risk with acupuncture in most cases. Caution should be used with acupuncture and pregnancy, fractures, open wounds, and tumors. Newer research is finding there are applications in these instances but there are restrictions.
What is electro-acupuncture?
Electro-acupuncture uses standard acupuncture techniques with needles, but runs an electrical current through the needles. This has been found to be extremely helpful in pain conditions, and paralysis or paresis cases, making the acupuncture effects more potent and last longer.
If you’d like to learn more about acupuncture or you’d like to schedule a consultation for your pet, call us at 802-295-6900.
