What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is the insertion of very thin needles through the skin to activate specific points in the body. It is a key component in the treatment of various conditions in Chinese medicine.
Types of acupuncture:
- Dry needle
- Aqua puncture (generally B12 and saline)
- Electroacupuncture – electrical stimulation to acupuncture points
- Hemo (blood) acupuncture
- Moxibustion (applying heat) and heat lamps
- Tuina – manipulation of body and touch
How long has acupuncture been around for?
Acupuncture can be traced back almost 6000 years (western medicine has been around for 200 years)
What does acupuncture treat?
Acupuncture can be a primary treatment of a variety of disease processes in the body and can added to Western medicine to give the best possible outcome for longevity and fighting disease processes.
- Anxiety
- Arthritis
- Acute and Chronic pain
- Depression
- Insomnia
- Nausea
- Lung problems
- Heart problems
- Kidney problems
- Liver Problems
- Gallbladder problems
- Large intestine problems
- Small intestine problems
- Weight loss/gain
- Can help with and sometimes cure Endocrine disorders
- Back and neck issues
- Treatment of Joint issues such as elbow dysplasia and cranial cruciate tears
- Eye issues
How does acupuncture help?
There is a force called qi (pronounced chi) that is moving through the body. If qi is blocked it will become stagnant and cause various forms of disease processes. The goal of acupuncture is to release blockages in meridians throughout the body.
Meridians are channels that direct the flow of energy through specific pathways of the body. There are 12 major meridians in the body and each corresponds to a particular organ and the larger functions of that organ as well as the organs around them. Each meridian plays a role in health over the entire body. If energy is imbalanced in any way disease may result. The goal of Eastern medicine is to optimize the circulation and balance of qi.
12 Major meridians including their active times:
- Lung (3-5 am)
- Large intestine (5-7 am)
- Stomach (7-9 am)
- Spleen (9-11 am)
- Heart (11-1 pm)
- Small intestine (1-3 pm)
- Bladder (3-5 pm)
- Kidney (5-7 pm)
- Pericardium (7-9 pm)
- Triple warmer (9-11 pm)
- Gallbladder (11-1 am)
- Liver (1-3 am)
To put it in a scenario term – if you have a kinked wire in your house leading to a light bulb…flipping the switch doesn’t work to turn on the light anymore. Acupuncture is aimed at unkinking the wire.
How old does an animal need to be in order to receive acupuncture?
Puppies as young as 8 weeks old can receive acupuncture.
Does acupuncture work in all animals?
Yes, acupuncture can be used in all animals however; we are using it in our clinic primarily to treat cats and dogs.
How fast does acupuncture work?
It can work in as little as 10 minutes and sometimes it will take up to 48 hours to see effects from it.
What to expect after acupuncture?
Most patients are relaxed and sometimes sleep for then the get home.
How long does acupuncture last?
It can last 7 days to a few months depending on the disease processes in the body and how many treatments have already been done.
Typical sessions are between 7 minutes to 30 minutes depending on what the patient is in for and what the needs of the patient are.
How many treatments does it take to resolve disease processes?
Sometimes it can be done in as little as one to two treatments. However, it is recommended that 8 treatments to resolve most problems.
What to expect when your pet receives acupuncture?
Most patients tolerate acupuncture amazingly well. Some acupuncture points are more sensitive than others but most of the time they barely recognize that they are having acupuncture. Once the needles are in, generally they relax with it and some might even fall asleep after 7-10 minutes.
What does the body create when acupuncture is done?
- Endorphins
- Serotonin
- Oxytocin
- Dopamine
- Stimulates stem cell growth
Are there any risks to acupuncture?
There are no side effects or risks to acupuncture
Is acupuncture effective?
Acupuncture is very effective. There are specific diseases that acupuncture can have significant impacts in. And it can reduce the need for medications and increase the patients’ longevity.
Does acupuncture work well on both dogs and cats?
Yes, acupuncture works really well in both species.