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Acupuncture & Chinese Herbs for Animals

Dr Viki Dioszegi BVSc BHSc

Acupuncture is recognised as a useful treatment option for animals. Treating animals is not new; a treatise on treating elephants has been discovered in Sri Lanka and estimated to have been written 3000 years ago. Acupuncture is a part of Traditional Chinese Medicine as is the use of Chinese Herbs.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) – is a complete medical system that records the largest volume of medical knowledge known to the world today. According to TCM, an understanding of health begins with an understanding the laws of nature.

A TCM practitioner will not be interested in what type of bacteria or fungi is causing the pathology rather he/she will view the patient and the disease in terms of their relationship to each other and helping the body to overcame the disease. This way this traditional system can help transcend existing limits of scientific knowledge especially for difficult cases; increasing the chance of recovery for our animal.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is one of the oldest forms of medical treatment. “Acupuncture” means piercing with fine needles, however acupuncture points can be stimulated by massage (acupressure), medical laser, electrical stimulation, magnets and injections, inserting different implants such as gold beads and warming the points with herbs (moxa).

There are 361 acupuncture points on the body and 133 in the ear. These points have been shown to have reduced electric skin resistance – acting like little open gates from the body to the surface. Also acupuncture points are connected to each other on an organized fashion called “meridians”. The purpose of all treatment is to balance and restore the energy flow on the meridians.

When is acupuncture appropriate?

Needles can be very handy especially for certain conditions when Western medicine does not have a specific solution to a problem and only offer pain relief or palliative care.

Major indications for acupuncture:

Musculo-skeletal: spinal/nerve trauma, paralysis, disc problems, arthritis and rheumatism, hip dysplasia, old age degenerative problems, tendon and bone disorders, spasm, founder and locking patella on horses.
Digestive system: ulcers, colic, miscellaneous motility disorders, appetite stimulating after trauma, surgery
Respiratory: sinusitis, pneumonia, allergies, nose bleeding
Reproductive: infertility, ovary and uterine problems, milk let down, induction of labour
Urinary: incontinence and retaining urine, infections.
Neurological, behavioural problems, epilepsy.
Skin and ear problems.

Do animals enjoy acupuncture?

When they need treatment animals do not seem to mind fine needles and often get so relaxed they fall asleep. Sedation, restraint or any form of anaesthesia are never used, as they will suppress the nervous system and the acupuncture treatment will not work.

Chinese Herbs for animals?

The use of herbs goes back 5000 years ago when wise man and philosophers spent long periods of their lives living alone in dense forests. They were observing animals as they seemed to know just what was required to maintain their health and athleticism. Noting the plants that animals ate after periods of starvation and other various times; gave a starting point to evolve herbal formulas for the treatment of common diseases.

A huge number of formulas have been developed over the last 5 millennia however many have fallen into disuse and only the best of them survived. Surviving formulas are on an official list of “Classic Formulas”. The basic requirement for entry onto this list is that the formula must have been in constant use over 100 years shown no side effects. To get the most effective and non-toxic combinations together took thousand years to develop. Some of the formulas are existed before Christ and since used, non-modified. Opposite to this today’s pharmaceutical medicines go through a 3-5 years research period before registered on the market.

What makes the formulas so unique?

Using whole plants and not only synthetic active substances
The proportion of ingredients in a formula- each plant has substances (10-30 or more chemical entities) but in total they also represent a synergy and balance one against the other.
Herbs cooked or cold processed together and not single herbs put together to make the final formula
Diversity of formulas and putting few individual herbs to an existing formula can be even further modified and tailored if needed
Easy to administer as a granulate mixed with food or little non-bitter pills
Non-toxic, no adverse effects and dependence
Especially for chronic disease management generally cheaper than conventional medication with all their benefit.

At Animal Options your animal can be treated with acupuncture and Chinese herbs where our practitioners are qualified veterinary acupuncturists and we stock a range of Chinese herbs.

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