Acupuncture at Urban Vet Care
Acupuncture is a component of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that has been used as a therapy for over 3,000 years. Simply stated, acupuncture is the insertion of very thin needles through the skin at specific points on the body. According to TCM, most acupoints are located on 14 major meridians. In normal health, energy (Qi, pronounced “chee”) flows constantly through each meridian from one acupoint to another. By stimulating these specific points, acupuncture can help balance the flow of Qi and thus, help the body heal itself.
Throughout history, acupuncture has been shown to stimulate the nervous system, support the immune system, reduce pain and inflammation, accelerate healing, help regulate the GI system and blood pressure, promote release of hormones, and help relieve stress.
Since the basis of TCM is to treat the whole patient by addressing the underlying root of the problem, the Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medical (TCVM) exam will be very thorough and will address not only the outward symptoms that your pet is having, but also your pet’s personality, habits, diet and environment. In this way, acupuncture will complement other therapies to help achieve maximum health, balance and self-healing.
Most pets tolerate acupuncture very well and they recognize it as a therapy that brings relief. Many will even fall asleep! It can sometimes take a few treatments for them to understand what is going on, and I will work with each pet individually to make sure they are comfortable.
Common Indications for Acupuncture:
- Chronic gastrointestinal disorders – diarrhea, vomiting, constipation
- Immune disorders
- Chronic urinary tract diseases
- Chronic dermatologic conditions
- Behavioral problems
- Seizures
- Back/neck pain/osteoarthritis/paralysis/paresis/lameness
- Chronic respiratory problems
- Geriatric or muscle weakness
- Post operative pain
- Fever