ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES

INAG 120 – Equine Health Management

October 12, 2011

What is “Alternative?”

Therapy other than conventional medicine surgery and dentistry

Acupuncture Chiropractic Homeopathy Herbology and

Naturopathy

Physical Therapy Massage Reiki/Therapeutic Touch

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy

Acupuncture

International Veterinary Acupuncture Society - http://www.ivas.org/

What is Acupuncture?

Traditional Chinese Thought: Animals born with a fixed amount of Vital

Essence (Jing) Jing is spent in living Jing is supported by the movement of Qi (Vital

Energy) throughout the body via a system of meridians and channels

Qi is replenished by food and air Disease arises when there’s an imbalance or

disruption in the flow of Qi through the meridians

Philosophy of Acupuncture

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) defines disease as a state of energetic imbalance in an organism

The imbalance is between the yin and the yang

Acupuncture…

YIN VS YANG Interior vs exterior Deficiency vs excess Heat vs cold

4 examinations Look, listen, ask, touch

Pathogens: Wind, Cold, Summer heat Damp, Dryness, Fire (heat)

Acupuncture Meridians

12 Main Pairs of Merdians Lung and Large

Intestine Heart and Small

Intestine Pericardium and Triple

Heater Liver and Gall Bladder Spleen and Stomach Kidney and Bladder

2 Unpaired Meridians Governing Vessel Conception Vessel

Acupuncture

Areas on the surface of the body provide access to the energy carried in the meridians = acupuncture points

Stimulation of the acupuncture points can assist the body to heal itself by balancing the Vital Energies

Balancing is mediated via the nervous system but also affected by hormonal factors!

Acupuncture Points

Points, which, when sensitive to palpation can help diagnose a problem

Association Points – follow the Bladder Meridian

Alarm Points – located along belly Empirical Points – over time – sensitive to

imbalance in one area Trigger Points – areas of pain within a

tight band of muscle

For a CHART of all Equine Points, go to http://www.wbvc.bc.ca/equine.htm

When an acupuncture point is treated

A signal travels along the peripheral nerve to reach the spinal cord

Results in the blockage of pain, an endorphin release, an increase in blood flow

Treatment of certain points can enhance the immune system & cause specific hormone release

Acupuncture Meridians

Acupuncture Meridians

Gall Bladder Meridian©Dr. Lauren DeRock DVM

Ting Points

Types of Acupuncture

Simple needling (AP): insertion of fine solid metal needles, leave in place for 20-30 minutes

Electroacupuncture (EAP): AP needles fitted with electrical stimulator

Aquapuncture: introduction of fluid through needles

Lliquid (B12) injected into AP point Laser Stimulation: use of painless laser light Moxibustion (moxa): smoldering “cigar” of rolled

herb held above AP point until it becomes uncomfortable (re-applied 15-20 times)

Metal beads Not recommended in most cases

What’s the difference between “Western Medicine” and Acupuncture?

Western Medicine diagnosis of underlying disease treat disease using medication

Acupuncture evidence of abnormal changes that underlie the symptoms treatment is generalized to the whole body

Here, used for diagnostic and therapeutic

Acupuncture

Potential for abuse exists!!! Techniques often regarded as

surgical/medical procedures – should you use only licensed vets?

Increased research in use of acupuncture for treatment of lameness

May be used both as adjunct to traditional lameness exam as well as adjunct to treatment of lamenesses

Conditions Treated with Acupuncture

Lung problems Chronic cough Allergic bronchitis Pneumonia Reproductive

problems Infertility Ovarian pain

associated with heat cycles

Scars Internal medicine

problems Liver Kidney Heart Digestive tract

problems Diarrhea Excess gas

Conditions Treated with Acupuncture

Neck Problems Pain and stiffness Nerve inflammation Neurologic disorders Wobblers Nerve damage Behavior problems Chronic pain Musculoskeletal

disorders

Navicular Arthritis Laminitis – acute and

chronic Tying up or azoturia Colic – acute and

chronic Need good

conventional diagnosis

NOT a replacement for surgery

Evaluation of Response

POOR RESPONSE Minimal or no

improvement After 2-4 sessions

in large animals Results last only a

few days Animal is

uncomfortable Wrong diagnosis? Wrong practitioner?

GOOD RESPONSE Improvement in

1-4 sessions in large animals

Treatment should be pleasant experience

Horse occasionally sore after treatment

Acupuncture

Scientific basis for support: Stimulation of specific points on the body to

achieve a therapeutic or homeostatic (returning body to its normal state) effect

Acupuncture points – 4 known neural structures Type 1 – located where nerves enter muscle Type 2 – located on superficial nerves Type 3 – located in high density superficial nerve

areas Type 4 – located at muscle-tendon junction

Acupuncture

Stimulates various sensory receptors (pain, temperature, pressure and touch) stimulates sensory nerves signal to CNS

brain release of hormones and transmitters Number of treatments required depends

on condition treated and length of problem

Individual treatments last 5-30 minutes

Acupuncture

Diagnostic aid in lameness exam Based on level of sensitivity to palpation

of particular acupuncture points (acupoints)

“Trigger points” = knots or tight bands in a muscle Each diagnostic acupoint has 4-5 meanings

depending on which show up as reactive on exam Combination of reactive points will help localize

lameness problem Alarm points may signify specific problem

Can help determine which of two+ problems may have come first

Acupuncture – Lameness Treatment

Primary hock problem: Injection of medication directly into joint Acupuncture therapy to treat the secondary

back/neck problems resulting from hock injury Not a replacement for traditional therapy

for joint problems

Contraindications for Acupuncture

While patient is fasting, over-fatigued, intoxicated, or very weak

very young, very old

some points contraindicated in pregnancy

Acupuncture Exam

eXtension Horses via YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bb5aAfIDoLg