Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners view health very differently than "regular" or "Western" medicine. Many eastern cultures believe that living bodies are energetic beings with channels or meridians of energy running throughout the inside of bodies as well as along the outside. In order to maintain proper health, the energy of the body must be balanced.
Acupuncture, which has been practiced for over 3000 years, is the practice of using very slender needles inserted into certain points in the body to help maintain the flow of energy along the meridians, reestablishing balance within the body.
There
are 371 known Acupuncture points on the outside of a human body, and 179
on animals. Stimulation of the appropriate Acupuncture points can offer
relief from many health problems for which Western Medicine does not offer
effective or satisfactory remedies. Allergies, gastrointestinal disorders,
urinary leakage, anxiety and mood disorders, renal failure, back pain,
and vertebral disc disease are some of the ailments for which Acupuncture
can provide relief. The number of treatments necessary is dependant on
the severity of the problem and how long-standing it is.
Chinese herbal medicines are often used in conjunction with Acupuncture.
These herb combinations are balanced"recipies" designed to treat specific
conditions. Together with Acupuncture, they form a very gentle yet powerful
treatment that, over time, help a patient's own body regain strength and
balance.
There are many different techniques for performing Acupuncture. The most
common form involves inserting very slender needles into appropriate Acupuncture
points in the body. Often times the needles do not cause discomfort, and
the animal enters a relaxed state once they are inserted. Lasers can also
be used to stimulate Acupuncture points. Aquapuncture and hemoAcupuncture
involve injecting small, amounts of liquid such as Vitamin B12, homeopathics,
or the patient's own blood into Acupuncture points which provides a longer
effect. Moxibustion is a special warming technique which involves burning
a cigar-like stick of herbs over Acupuncture points (nothing touches the
body), and is especially wonderful for many older animals. ElectroAcupuncture
involves low-level electricity traveling into the regular Acupuncture
needles and into the body to provide the longest lasting effect.