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Many sources say that the history of Traditional Chinese Medicine can
be traced back to approximately three thousand years ago.
"Veterinary Acupuncture: Ancient Art to Modern Medicine" states: "Legend
has it that veterinary acupuncture was discovered when lame horses used
in battle were found to become sound after being hit by arrows at
distinct points." -
- The first veterinary acupuncture report
in Europe was published in 1828, but many US citizens were not aware of
Chinese Medicine until the Nixon era. The International Veterinary
Acupuncture Society (IVAS) was founded in 1974 by a group of
veterinarians, and has steadily grown since. In 1988, the American
Veterinary Medical Association acknowledged that veterinary acupuncture
and acutherapy are valid modalities.
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- As you will see, Chinese Medicine is
quite unlike Western Medicine.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) includes acupuncture, herbal
medicine, acupressure, food therapies, medication and exercises. It is a
very different, yet logical, way of thinking and dealing with problems
to assit your four-legged friend. The goal of acupuncture and Chinese
herbs is to rebalance the body by treating the meridians, which are
located beneath the skin's surface. Here is how that works:
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- Qi is energy circulating in the body.
Qi, (also spelled Chi, and pronounced, ÄúChee,Äù), is the life force
energy. There are 12 major meridians and 8 extra meridians through which
the Qi circulates. Meridians are like rivers which distribute Qi
throughout the body. If any of these meridians have a blockage that
causes the energy to not flow properly, problems develop, such as
illness, swelling, and pain.There are several factors that can affect
the flow of Qi through the meridians. For example, weather, your mood,
foods eaten, and much more affect the flow of Qi. Acupuncture is used to
stimulate the flow of Qi through some meridians, and to inhibit the flow
of Qi in other channels (meridians) to restore balance. When the Qi is
balanced, you're healthy. Too much Qi in one area, and not enough in
others creates an imbalance which causes health problems.
The meridians follow aspects of the circulatory, lymphatic, muscular,
and nervous systems. Qi flows through the meridians directing the
blood and other body fluids that keep us alive. This quote might help
explain: "The meridians are like major power lines running through the
body, and the acupuncture points are the relay switches to access the
energy." The acupuncture needles and herbs are being used to access the
energy on the acupuncture points. Chinese herbs work in the same sort of
way as acupuncture. Herbs also have the function of balancing the body
by treating energy blockages, by treating conditions like heat, excess,
cold, deficiency, and other imbalances.
There are 37 actions or functions for herbs, (such as warming, clearing,
reducing*, and tonifying**). *Reducing means that it will help get rid
of an excess of energy for a specific meridian. **Tonifying means that
it will strengthen the meridian it works on.
Traditionally, in Chinese medicine, a variety of techniques are used to
diagnosis the imbalances for an individual. The diagnostic process uses
symptoms, and appearance, (including dry skin, weight, and odors). Also
used are tongue diagnosis, (the tongue is looked at), and pulse
diagnosis, which differs quite a bit from Western pulse taking. When
checking the tongue, practioners look at color, shape, tongue coating,
and cracks in the tongue. There are certain spots on the tongue that
relate to the organs, (such as the liver and spleen), and they'll note
how those certain areas look also.
When doing pulse diagnosis, the pulse is felt in 3 positions and 2
layers, each corresponding to an organ and meridian. There are 6 pulses
on the right front paw: Large Intestine, Lungs, Stomach,
Spleen/Pancreas, Kidney Yang, Pericardium. There are 6 pulses on the
left front paw: Small Intestine, Heart, Gall bladder, Liver, Urinary
Bladder, and Kidney Yin.
(NOTE: description of Kidney Yang and Kidney Yin follows)
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- Using all this information will help
practioners determine where the energy blockages are, and how they
should be treated. Some practioners have developed their own ways of
reading the energy, and might have something that they do instead of, or
in addition to, the traditional diagnostic techniques.
The basic principle of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is to restore
balance.
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- If a disease is due to an excess, that
excess must be drained.
- If it is due to a deficiency, that
deficiency should be tonified.
- If the problem is due to heat, that heat
should be cooled.
- If the problem is due to cold, that cold
should be warmed.
- If it is due to dryness, that dryness
should be moistened.
- And, if it is due to dampness, that
dampness should be dried.
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The root cause for the occurrence and development of disease in
Chinese medicine is imbalance between Yin and Yang. Yin and Yang are
opposite forces, that when balanced, work together. Examples of Yin are
water, passive, slow, night, and moon. Examples of Yang are fire,
active, fast, day, and sun.
Chinese Medicine acknowledges several causes for disease.
External causes include wind, cold, damp, dryness, and heat. Wind
includes things such as air conditioning, and some say it also includes
microwaves, and radiation. The source of the external cause does not
have to be a natural source. Internal causes are known as the, ÄúSeven
Emotions,Äù. The emotions are anger, joy, grief, fear, worry, and
anxiety. There is disagreement in various translations on what the exact
"Seven Emotions" are, but these six are pretty constant. Other causes of
disease include constitution, diet, exercise, rest, and trauma.
In TCM seizures are often caused by heat generated by the liver, which
generates wind, which causes the seizure. (The image of someone caught
up in a wind storm might help explain that terminology.) Seizures can
also commonly be caused by imbalances in the heart meridian. Deficient
Kidney Yin can also play a role. If Kidney Yin is low, Yang is dominant,
and heat is Yang. It is important to treat the Liver Heat, (or Heart,
depending on the diagnosis), but also to work to bring the Kidney Yin
back up, and in balance with Kidney Yang. The Kidneys, in TCM, are
Water. Water helps Wood, (Liver), and hinders Fire (Heart), so if the
Kidneys are out of balance, that could be a factor in the Liver or Heart
imbalances that trigger seizures. By using the various methods of
diagnosing imbalances, a practioner will be able to detemine the
imbalances that need to be treated in any individual, and the best
method for treating those imbalances. -
- For further reading on TCM, I highly
recommend the following books:
- Four Paws Five Directions
(by: Cheryl Schwartz, DVM)
- The Well Connected Dog:
A Guide to Canine Acupressure (by: Amy Snow and Nancy Zidonis)
- Canine Acupressure: A treatment
workbook (by: Nancy Zidonis and
Marie Soderberg)
- Complementary and Alternative
Veterinary Medicine: Principles
and Practice (edited by Allen M Schoen DVM and Susan G. Wynn DVM)
- Veterinary Acupuncture: Ancient Art
to Modern Medicine (edited by
Allen Schoen)
- Veterinary Acupuncture:
(by: Klide and Kung)
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- Some sites on the Internet you might
like to peruse that deal mainly with veterinary acupuncture:
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http://users.med.auth.gr/~karanik/english/veter.htm
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http://www.altvetmed.com/acupunct.html
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http://www.msnbc.com/news/185564.asp
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http://users.med.auth.gr/~karanik/english/webjour.htm
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