Curious about acupuncture? We’ve put together a quick FAQ to answer some of the questions our clients ask most often.
How was acupuncture discovered?
During a time before the many distractions of modern life, ancient people spent long periods in quiet observation and were able to perceive subtle electromagnetic energy moving through the body called Qi, or Chi. It flows through pathways known as meridians and concentrates at specific gates we now call acupuncture points.
What actually are acupuncture points?
Anatomically, every acupuncture point contains a blood vessel, a nerve, and a collagen bundle. This makes them ideal communication points for the circulatory, nervous, and connective tissue systems. I like to think of it this way: our bodies have plumbing, wiring, and framing, and acupuncture points are the valves, switches, and connectors for those systems.
Do the acupuncture meridians correspond to any specific anatomical structures?
Although acupuncture points are associated with blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissue, they do not strictly follow the paths of any one of those systems. Meridians do more closely follow fascial lines, which makes sense given that the fascia (the connective tissue structure of the body) is highly conductive. Meridians also appear to correlate anatomically with embryonic developmental structures. Additionally, some of the main meridians we use are associated with internal organs (e.g. liver meridian, bladder meridian, etc.).
What is acupuncture good for?
The short answer is, everything. Acupuncture is about restoring balanced circulation and communication in the body, which supports overall well-being and helps correct imbalances that lead to symptoms of dis-ease. I use acupuncture as a complement to Western medicine to interrupt dysfunctional patterns, get a faster response when treating pets with herbs, and treat symptoms for which Western medicine has no great explanation or treatment.
What are your favorite acupuncture cases?
Not quite an FAQ, but I just love to talk about this because it is so unexpected. I love acupuncture for older cats. They usually need very few needles to see benefits, and often quickly realize that acupuncture makes them feel better and become surprisingly receptive. Cats generally have fewer treatment options because they do not tolerate medications well or might simply refuse them altogether. The effects of acupuncture also tend to last nicely for them, so they can often go one to three months between treatments.
How do you know which points to treat?
Veterinarians in the United States who are trained in acupuncture select points that address specific symptom patterns and exam findings, which may fit into a Western medicine or Chinese medicine diagnosis. I sometimes select points in this way, and I also kick it old school and use the Taoist martial arts method of meditation to perceive the internal pattern of my patients, so I can treat the points that feel needed for that specific pet on that specific day. Some of the points I select this way correspond with standard acupuncture points, and some appear in other acupuncture systems such as Master Tung’s. I feel like I see more profound responses with the classical Taoist style, but it is all good either way.
What if a pet won’t hold still?
We feed treats while placing needles and then, ideally, they settle down and “marinate” for 15 to 20 minutes before we remove the needles. Some pets prefer to walk around, roll, or shake. We do lose a few needles on the “movers and shakers,” so we try to keep them relatively still, but we still see a beneficial effect even if not all of the needles stay in as long as we would like. The needles are very thin and flexible, so they simply bend or fall out if a patient moves or lies down on them.
Does acupuncture hurt my pet?
I am a bit of a wimp about needles myself, so I have learned to use very small needles that are generally well tolerated and still work well, even though they can be challenging to find and retrieve in a furry pet. Ultimately, we let the pet guide us. If they are able to get comfortable, acupuncture is a tool we can use for them. If they do not love it or the treats are not an adequate trade-off, we find other ways to get the job done. Some pets prefer acupuncture over soft tissue manipulation because we place the needles, give them lots of snacks, and then leave them alone, allowing them to feel better without a lot of handling. Others prefer the physical contact and attention of treatments like massage and osteopathy.
What if my pet doesn’t like needles?
I have learned that I can get a good effect using very small needles, but for patients who do not prefer acupuncture, we can use our laser machine to treat acupuncture points needle-free. Acupressure is another needle-free method to stimulate points. We can do this at the clinic or pet parents can be taught to do this at home. We also use hands-on soft tissue osteopathy techniques to address many of the same issues we treat with acupuncture, including working with blood vessels, lymph vessels, fascia, nerves, organs, and glands. I sometimes use both acupuncture and osteopathy manual manipulation in the same session or use them as alternating treatments. Integrative medicine is all about finding the best tool for the job, so I am fine with whatever gets it done!
