Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) is a medical system that has been used to treat animals in China for thousands of years. TCVM practitioners view a patient’s body as an integrated, energetic structure which, when it becomes unbalanced, results in a disease process. The goal of treatment is to identify the disturbance so that one can restore balance, ultimately allowing the body to heal itself. Acupuncture is one technique used to restore balance.
Acupuncture is defined as the stimulation of a specific point on the body resulting in a therapeutic homeostatic effect. The specific point on the body is called the “Shu-xue” or acupoint. Shu means transporting, distributing or communicating; xue refers to a hole, outlet or depression. Therefore, acupoints are the special loci where Qi gathers on the body surface. Qi is the vital life force that flows through the body.
The goal of acupuncture is to restore the flow of Qi and allow the body to return to homeostasis. TCVM believes that pain is due to blockage of Qi so stimulating acupoints allows Qi to flow freely which enables the body to heal itself. The arrival of Qi is called the de-Qi response. This response varies between individuals and can be felt as a soreness, numbness, heaviness or distension around the point. This sensation travels along a pathway which is called a meridian or a channel. There are 14 Regular Channels (including the Governing Vessel and a Conception Vessel Channels), 8 Extraordinary Channels and 15 Collateral Channels.
Acupoints are selected based on restoration or maintenance of balance in a patient. Acupuncture can be used to treat a wide variety of conditions, such as: pain, osteoarthritis, regulation of gastrointestinal motility, dermatologic conditions, neurologic conditions, anti-inflammatory effects, anxiety or behavioral issues, immunodeficient conditions, organ failure, endocrinopathies, and neoplastic conditions.
Dr. Kerry Scholz has been performing acupuncture at Oldwick Animal Hospital since November 2016, and the results have been remarkable! Our patients have seen dramatic improvement in pain and mobility. The process takes about an hour, and may need to be repeated every few weeks.