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Veterinary Acupuncture
By Marlene Smith-Schalkwijk DVM
Introduction
Acupuncture is one part of the oriental healing art, Traditional
Chinese Medicine (T.C.M.). This medical concept precedes Western
Medicine by 4000 + years. It was developed at a time prior to the
availability of such diagnostic techniques as laboratory blood
test, radiographs, ultra sound, CAT scans and even exploratory
surgery (unsafe and unavailable anesthesia). The healers/ doctors/
shaman/ and medicine men/women had only eyes for observation, ears
to listen, fingers to palpate, nose for odours and meditation to
access his/ her spiritual guide.
The 5 Elements of Nature
In Chinese medicine the body was seen as a reflection of what we
can observe in nature on a daily base. The observation of the basic
building blocks of creation led to the 5-element theory of causes
of diseases. In this the Chinese observed the Fire (or Sun), the
Earth, the Metals (in the Earth), the Water and Wood element. They
observed that these elements create each other like Fire creates
ashes (or Earth) the Earth creates Metal. Water feeds Wood and
Wood feeds Fire. These elements also control each other. As Earth
is used to build dams to control Water and Metal axes control Wood
and Wood (vegetation) is used to keep the Earth down and under
control. Fire will melt Metal and Water controls Fire. The Chinese
used these concepts in their medical treatments and diagnosis.
Yin and Yang
The ancient Chinese also observed the phenomena of winter, with
its cold, slow movements, and white colours. On the other side
of the scale was the summer with the heat, fast movements and activity,
colours, and odours. They gave these phenomena of opposing factors
the names of Yin and Yang. They saw that the same thing was expressed
in the body. Health was seen as a good balance between Yin and
Yang. An imbalance is expressed as a disease. For example the nighttime
with its darkness, cool, calm and quietness is seen as the Yin
time. If there is insufficient Yin in the body, the animal will
be restless at night, hot (panting) want a cold drink or have dream
disturbed sleep.
Pattern of Disharmony
The Chinese doctor will try and find this pattern of imbalance
between Yin and Yang.
He/ she will look for excess (or lack) of heat or cold, if the
disease is on the surface (as an acute cold) or if it has penetrated
deeper into the body (Irritable Bowel Disease).
The doctor will LOOK at the patients tongue for differences in
colour and coating, look at the skin and coat (dry, discoloured
hair) and the expression in the eyes. He / she will listen to the
tone and strength of the voice and listen to the (long) history.
He / she will palpate the pulse, back and abdomen for signs of
pain or tension or flaccidly. From all of that he will look for
a pattern that will help him / her to understand where the imbalance
is.
The Organs
The function of the organs was well documented in TCM. They had
a more extended function then in Western Medicine. In the 5 Element
theory, the Heart is placed under the Fire element, the Stomach
and Spleen/ pancreas belong to the Earth element, the Lung / Large
Intestine to the Metal, the Kidney / Bladder to the Water element
and the Liver / Gallbladder to the Wood element. The emotional
expressions were also related to the organs. The Kidney in the
Water element was related to fear, while joy belonged to the Heart
and Fire.
The Seasons
In their observations the Chinese noticed that certain diseases
have a tendency to occur at certain times of the year. Hot skin
rashes during the summer, colds, flu’s and bladder problems
during the winter, arthritis during the cold and damp days, and
allergies in the spring and fall. In TCM, arthritis that gets worse
during cold and damp weather is seen as “cold and dampness
trapped in the joints”. Treatment would be to use warming
herbs and / or Moxa burning to warm up the joints.
Qi
There was also the observation of the daily rising and sinking
of the sun and the return of the seasons. A life tree or animal
looks very different from a dead one and that is not just the lack
of movement in the animal’s case. The Chinese deducted that
there was a certain energy that kept things moving. They referred
to it as Qi. Other philosophies call it Prana or Life force. This
Qi also runs through our bodies and visits each organ at a certain
time of the day. It can be low or high just like the tides of the
sea. If an organ is out of balance at the time the Qi is maximum
present, symptoms will occur typical at that time. For example
women in menopause or who are pre-menstrual can have problems with
their Liver Qi flow and Liver Yin. When these are deficient the
person will wake up in the middle of the night with heat, tachycardia,
insomnia and other symptoms related to other organ involvement.
The Qi is at a maximum in the Liver between 1 and 3 am.
Channels
/ Meridians
The Qi follows certain pathways in the English language called channels
or meridians. These are not any physical structures such as blood
vessels. The gravitational attraction of the moon on the tides
does not go through a physical structure either.
The Chinese also discovered that there were predictable places
on the surface of the body where they could influence these pathways
and thus the energy of an organ. They gave them names that refer
to their location as Hegu (adjoining valleys) or Zu San Li (Leg
three miles). The last point was found to be beneficial in long
distance runners. Needling that point would give them the extra
energy to run another mile!
By needling specific points the ancient doctors found that they
could influence the movement of Qi. They could smooth it out if
it was uneven or redirect it if it was reversing (or rebellious)
as in vomiting.
Acupuncture Points
The word acupuncture comes from the Latin words "acu”,
which means needle and "pungare", meaning piercing. The
Chinese mapped the points through which the Qi could be manipulated
and documented them very accurately. Modern research has confirmed
that these points coincide with a lower electric resistance on
the skin using a modified Ohm meter (or point finder). The Western
world named the channels after the organs they relate to as Bladder
or Stomach channel. The acupuncture points on these channels are
given a number as Large Intestine 4 (= Hegu) or Stomach 36
(= Zu San Li). Modern research also found that needling Zu San
Li or Stomach 36 would influence the motility of the stomach and
increase the release of insulin, thus making more energy available
for that athlete to run those extra three miles!
Chinese Medicine in Use
After the doctor has found the pattern of disharmony, he / she
will prescribe a treatment plan. This often includes exercise such
as Qi Gong, Tai Chi or plain walking in fresh air. This will move
the Qi (stagnation of Qi is the cause of many illnesses), and will
also add fresh (air) Qi to the system. Exercising in a gym or other
enclosure with stale air is not as effective). Massage and herbal
formulas (herbs were seen as culinary spices and food) as well
as dietary adjustments were also often prescribed.
Needles were then placed in the appropriate points to influence
the Qi and stimulate the body back into harmony. Treatments were
often daily for many weeks or months. In our busy society when
payments are made on every visit (in China the doctor was paid
when the person stayed healthy and no payments were made for treatments)
this is less accepted. Chinese practitioners rely more on herbs
these days.
Acupuncture in human and animal patients is used over the entire
world. The Cuba Veterinary School has invited American veterinarians
who practice acupuncture to come to Cuba to teach their veterinarians
veterinary acupuncture. Lack of drugs makes them rely more on acupuncture.
Instead of needles, pressure can also be applied to the acupuncture
points. The advantage of this technique is that the animal owner
can learn some of the specific points and treat their own animals
on a daily base. In our practice we teach our animal guardians
which points to use for specific conditions. This technique is
particularly useful in the geriatric patient.
Acupuncture in Action
Over the back, parallel to the spine, runs one of the most important
acupuncture channels, called the Bladder channel. Points on this
channel often overly the organs. These points are also close to
the spine, making it a short distance for the neuro transmission
to travel from the acupuncture point to the spine and via the spinal
cord to the brain, where it will release endorphins. These points
are referred to as the “Back Shu” points. Shu means “gathering
of energy”. These points are easily accessible and very powerful!
Western research has found that acupuncture points are located
in areas with a high concentration of fine nerve endings. Stimulation
of these areas gives a chain reaction via the spinal cord to the
brain. Neuro-peptides (endorphines) are released which will sit
on specific neuro receptors in the brain. This will then result
in the release of insulin in the case of Zu San Li (ST 36) or Pi
Shu (BL 20) or San Yin Jiao (SP6).
It is beyond the scope of this paper to go into detail which points
are used for specific conditions. I refer to specific books in
this field as “ Four Paws, Five Directions” by Dr.
Cheryl Schwartz or Veterinary Acupuncture courses in Canada and
the USA for further education for licensed veterinarians.
Which diseases can be treated with acupuncture?
Acupuncture is being used all over the world to treat pain. It
is very effective in acute and chronic back pain included disc
disease. Hip and elbow displacia and other forms of arthritis also
respond well. Endocrine disorders such as diabetes is also treated
in China with acupuncture. Immune problems such as allergies,
asthma, irritable bowel disease, lupus, immune mediated arthritis,
and myositis all respond to acupuncture. Gastro intestinal problems
such as chronic or acute vomiting or diarrhea are also relieved
by acupuncture. Geriatric patients with heart, liver or kidney
failure respond exceptionally well to acupuncture diet and herbs.
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