Acupuncture is a treatment that is growing in popularity in the equine community. It is being utilised by a growing number of veterinarians and can be used for a variety of conditions. The practice is gaining respectability among equine associations, and The American Veterinary Medical Association.
The history of equine acupuncture has a long history, dating back to the years 2000-3000 in China. The practice has been popular in the Far East for centuries, but received little attention among Western veterinarian practices until recently.
The primary purpose of equine acupuncture is to treat the horse’s muscoloskeletal system. It is also a treatment used for chronic disease. The acupuncture stimulates certain pressure points in the body, causing a specific reaction.
Equine Acupuncture Theory
Health is often defined as a balance and harmony between a living creature and its internal environment, within its external environment. there is complete mental, physical, and social balance, and goes beyond the mere absence of disease.
Equine acupuncturists observe the entire horse, and not just the point of the body that is diseased or injured. The practitioner will consider why the disease developed, and will observe the horse in its natural home surroundings.
Acupuncture treatment is meant to restore a state of balance, which is also known as homoeostasis. The treatment has an effect on the area of the brain known as the hypothalamus. It affects mechanisms in the brain that control blood pressure, pulse, respiration, hormone secretion, white blood cell production, and intestinal motility.
Equine Acupuncture Meridians
There are 12 main pairs of meridians and 2 unpaired meridians.
- Heart – Small Intestine
- Lung – Large Intestine
- Liver – Gall Bladder
- Pericardium – Triple Heater
- Kidney – Bladder
- Spleen – Stomach
- Conception Vessel
- Governing Vessel
One of the most often treated meridians from the list is the bladder meridian. Located on each side of the spine, it contains some of the most important points in the body. Each of these points is located along the meridians, and they control the flow of energy through the body. Problems occur when the flow of the energy is blocked, or it is not in balance. The goal of acupuncture is to balance the energy flow by removing the blockages.
Preventative Equine Acupuncture
Instead of medicine and painkillers, acupuncture releases enkephalins, endorphins, and serotonin, which all act as natural painkillers. Acupuncture is also useful in preventing disease and injury. Horses that are in prime condition and compete take part in a variety of exercises that can cause injuries that go unnoticed. Over a period of time, these injuries can build up, and can cause the horse greater injury because they will handle their body in ways that compensate for these smaller injuries. Through treatment and regular examinations, these injuries can be spotted early. Once the blood supply and normal functions are returned to the muscles, these injuries heal more quickly and the horse can continue to compete.
Equine Acupuncture Benefits
Acupuncture can be used to treat almost any medical condition, with only a few exceptions. Malignant tumours, end stage organ failure, and irreparable fractures will respond poorly, and possibly grow worse if acupuncture is administered. It is important to use acupuncture in conjunction with traditional veterinarian care, in order to assure that the horse is getting full, safe treatment.
In equine practice, acupuncture is commonly used for the relief of muscoloskeletal pain and to influence the function of internal organs. It is especially useful for treating:
Conditions that respond positively to Equine Acupuncture:
- lung problems
- pneumonia
- allergic bronchitis
- chronic cough
- infertility
- reproductive problems
- Scars
- ovarian pain associated with heat cycles
- kidney
- heart
- internal medicine problems
- liver
- diarrhea
- digestive tract problems
- excess gas
- neck problems
- constipation
- nerve inflammation
- pain and stiffness
- wobblers
- neurological disorders
- behaviour problems
- nerve damage
- navicular
- arthritis
- chronic pain
- musculoskeletal disorders
- laminitis – acute and chronic
- colic (acute and chronic)
Related Posts
Shiatsu is a massage therapy modality that is based on many of the same theories as Acupuncture and Acupressure, but instead it is designed for horses. It aims to balance the energy...
The Equine Touch is a non-diagnostic, non-invasive energy and connective soft tissue discipline that works at the holistic level. Although a new field of animal modalities, the...
Equinology Inc. is an organisation dedicated to the provision of quality educational courses in horse care and health science. Curricula developed by Equinology Inc. are constantly...
From the middle ages to present day, horses have been shod, but well trained farriers have been able to use barefoot trimming that does not include shoes. Those that advocate a...
Has Fido recently been injured? Is he aging and experiencing pain? Does he have an illness? If so, you might want to be aware of veterinary acupuncture. You’ve most likely heard...
Comments
I am looking for charts and books on equine accupunture can you help ??????
Comment by Coleman Gilmore — March 20, 2009