Acupuncture and TCVM - West Park Animal Hospital

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Acupuncture & TCVM

What is TCVM?

Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, or TCVM, is a form of complimentary therapy including treatments such as acupuncture and herbal therapy. It actually works best when harmoniously combined with western medical diagnostics and therapeutics. Both TCVM and Western Veterinary Medicine offer their own subset of strengths and weaknesses. Western medicine is often more focused on the diagnosis of individual disease, acute injury and targeted therapy based on a specific diagnosis. However, TCVM takes a more holistic approach to medicine and often foregoes a specific diagnosis in an attempt to identify patterns of disharmony or imbalances in the body. With this form of pattern recognition, the doctor will often take into account the disease signs along side of the pet’s temperament, sex, age, activity and living environment. One potential effect of this approach is to reduce the number of pharmaceuticals needed to treat a patient by bringing the overall body and mind back into balance.

“In examining disease, we gain wisdom about anatomy and physiology and biology. In examining the person with disease, we gain wisdom about life.”
-Oliver Sacks

What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a proven and widely accepted treatment modality for many different medical conditions, especially when used in combination with western medical diagnostics and treatments.

Did you know that acupuncture has been practiced by traditional Chinese medical doctors for thousands of years? In fact, acupuncture evolved over 3,000 years using techniques similar to those used in medical research today. They made observations, implemented various treatment methods, made detailed recordings of the results, then adjusted their methods based on those results.

Foolish is the doctor who despises the knowledge acquired by the ancients.
-Hippocrates

What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a proven and widely accepted treatment modality for many different medical conditions, especially when used in combination with western medical diagnostics and treatments.

Did you know that acupuncture has been practiced by traditional Chinese medical doctors for thousands of years? In fact, acupuncture evolved over 3,000 years using techniques similar to those used in medical research today. They made observations, implemented various treatment methods, made detailed recordings of the results, then adjusted their methods based on those results.

Foolish is the doctor who despises the knowledge acquired by the ancients.
-Hippocrates

How does it work?

Researchers have discovered that acupuncture works by stimulating acupoints. Acupoints are areas under the skin with exceptionally high concentrations of free nerve endings, tiny blood and lymphatic vessels, and cells that are important in the healing process.

Stimulating acupoints can result in rapid pain relief due to the release of endorphins, the body’s natural relievers of pain, along with serotonin and other neurotransmitters.
Acupuncture also causes stem cells to be released into the bloodstream. These are important in the healing and regenerative processes.
Research suggests that acupuncture can also stimulate the immune system, reduce inflammation, regulate gastrointestinal motility, regulate hormones, and reduce fevers.
Over 34,000 research papers have been produced on acupuncture, and over 500 articles are specifically written about acupuncture in animals.

What can it be used for?

Muscle soreness
Osteoarthritis
Neck and back pain caused by intervertebral disc disease
Seizures
Diarrhea, constipation, vomiting and stomach ulcers
Skin problems
Asthma
Inflammation of the eyes
Kidney failure
Chronic liver disease
Anxiety, phobias or other behavioral disorders
Infertility
Cushing’s disease
Hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism
Weakness often seen in older pets
Quality of life, hospice care, cancer
Cognitive Dysfunction

What can it be used for?

Muscle soreness
Osteoarthritis
Neck and back pain caused by intervertebral disc disease
Seizures
Diarrhea, constipation, vomiting and stomach ulcers
Skin problems
Asthma
Inflammation of the eyes
Kidney failure
Chronic liver disease
Anxiety, phobias or other behavioral disorders
Infertility
Cushing’s disease
Hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism
Weakness often seen in older pets
Quality of life, hospice care, cancer
Cognitive Dysfunction

Can other treatments be used with acupuncture?

Acupuncture is an especially powerful tool when used in combination with laser therapy, herbal therapy, and nutritional alternatives. In fact, using other therapies such as herbal medications in conjunction with acupuncture can allow for better responses and a need for fewer visits to the veterinary hospital.