| Acupuncture
and animals:
Why
this 5,000-year-old form of healing
is gaining popularity
by
Cheryl Schwartz, D.V.M.
<
Previous Page
Each organ is connected to an energy line
or meridian, as well as to diagnostic
points along the spine or abdomen. Your
acupuncturist will check these points
to find the cause of a problem, and then
potentially treat the points to re-balance
the flow.
Acupuncturists also look at tongues and
feel pulses in your animal friend’s
hind legs to gather more clues for diagnosis.
Tongue shapes, colors and coatings tell
the practitioner the state of internal
organs.
What type of problems do veterinary acupuncturists
treat? In short, anything that is not
surgical. Many patients come for renal
or liver disorders where there is either
no Western treatment, or the treatment
has not been effective. Others come for
immune disorders – chronic viral
conditions, asthma, allergic bronchitis,
low or high blood cell counts, some types
of cancer, and skin allergies. Digestive
disorders are also prime candidates, especially
when the animal patient cannot tolerate
Western medications.
In TCM, we look at the entire individual
to form an overall health picture. Bernie
the cat came in one day in spring, accompanied
by his human companion, because he was
not eating breakfast, and would only eat
dinner. He was losing weight and his human
companion was very nervous about the situation.
Blood tests and x-rays were normal.
When I examined Bernie, he felt slightly
tense in his abdomen, passed some gas
(unusual for cats), and began smacking
his lips. I interpreted this last as a
sign of nausea. Bernie was sensitive to
the touch along the middle of the spine,
which corresponded to the diagnostic point
for the stomach. Taking into account the
hour of the day he was not eating,which
pointed to the spleen/pancreas and stomach,
I had more clues. Spring is the season
that brings out liver disorders according
to Chinese medicine. And, even in Western
physiology, we understand the connection
between the liver and the digestive system.
The beauty of Chinese medicine is that
it can pick up information well before
blood tests show anything.
The symptoms Bernie expressed pointed
to a problem of the liver and stomach
not relating well. We treated Bernie using
Liver, Stomach and Spleen/pancreas acupuncture
points and sent him home with an herbal
combination that supported the re-balancing
of those organs. Bernie soon started feeling
better and regained his appetite.
There’s no doubt acupuncture can
help bring up energy and fortitude in
your animal friends. And remember, the
intention for healing plays an important
role in the process. If you’re attempting
to help your friend heal, let her know
that you love her and want her to be well.
Dr. Schwartz
was founder of the EastWest Animal Care
Center in Oakland, CA, and the author
Four Paws Five Directions and Natural
Healing for Dogs and Cats A-Z (Hay House).
She started using TCM in her veterinary
practice 25 years ago and speaks and writes
widely on the topic.
To find practitioners of Chinese Veterinary
Medicine in your area, consult the Institute
of Traditional Medicine at www.itmonline.org
or www.altvetmed.com.
A form
of acupuncture you can do at home
 Veterinary
acupuncturists are trained to work with
needles. But you can use TCM to help your
animal companion feel better in the comfort
of your own home. Try acupressure –
which is a steady, gentle finger pressure
holding of a point for 10 to15 seconds.
The point to try is called Su San Li or
the “run three-mile” point,
used by messengers in ancient times who
ran between camps delivering information.
Find this point by locating the knee of
your dog or cat on the hind leg. The knee
is usually at the level of the bottom
line of the abdomen, where the hind leg
meets the body. If you can find the knee
cap, run your fingers down below it and
on the outside and you will find a muscle
belly, just to the outside of the straight
edge of the top of the long leg bone (tibia).
Press this point gently. It will help
restore energy, appetite and foster good
immunity in your companion!
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