The Rip Van Wrinkler,
Volume XV, Issue 1, Febraury 2011

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photos by S K-M
Acupuncture
by Howard Rothstein DVM, Saugerties, NY- (845) 246-6150
(reprint from the Rip Van Wrinkler, Volume XII, Issue 1, February 2008)

Acupuncture (acus = needle; punctura = puncture) is an ancient art of healing that has been used successfully for 4000 years on both animals and people.   Simply stated it involves the stimulation of specific points on the body which have the ability to alter various biochemical and physiological conditions in order to achieve a desired effect. 

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Acupuncture started gaining recognition in the US following Pres. Nixon’s visit to China in the early 1970s.  It has recently gained more acceptance by mainstream western medicine.  I regard acupuncture as one of a variety of treatment modalities available to me to treat animals.

According to classical oriental medical theory, disease is an imbalance of energy in the body.  Acupuncture is based on balancing the energy, thereby correcting the flow of energy and healing the animal.  Acupuncture points are located in meridians that connect organ systems.  There are 14 primary meridians and 365 major acupuncture points.  “Chi” is a life energy that runs through the meridians.  An imbalance in the Chi can cause disease.  Acupuncture is used to bring the Chi into a homeostatic condition and allow healing to take place.

Western medicine has several theories that are presently being tested as to how acupuncture works.  We do know that endorphins and other neurotransmitters are released when acupuncture points are stimulated.  This leads to reduction of pain and inflammation.  More work is being done to figure out how acupuncture works long term.

Acupuncture is used to treat many ailments in animals ranging from skin disease to musculoskeletal disease.  I have been most successful treating osteoarthritis, intervertebral disc disease, other pain syndromes, and as an adjunct to treat systemic aliments.

I use disposable stainless steel needles and stimulate anywhere from 1 to 20 points.  Needles are left in from 20 seconds to 45 minutes, but generally 15 minutes .  Some conditions respond quicker than others.  I generally allow 4 to 8 treatments at weekly intervals.  Acupuncture is not a cure-all and will not work on everything.  As with any other treatment modality, some animals will respond better than others, since diseases are more readily treated than others.

I have been treating dogs, cats and horses with acupuncture for 19 years.  My practice is mostly western medicine.  I have found acupuncture to be a very useful tool that fits nicely and works well with western medicine.  In recent years I’ve included the use of Chinese Herbs.  I think the blending of Oriental and western medicine helps/has helped my patients.

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