Equine Acupuncture - My English Report

I wrote this a week or so ago for my English class and though why not post it on here? :)
(It might format it kinda wierd on here..didn't want to indent for a new paragraph. )

Equine Acupuncture: Getting Right to the Point
A light bulb went off for early, modern day Chinese folks when their war horses came back from battle with arrows stuck in them, but instead of harm being done in some cases, there were reports that it had actually brought about therapeutic effects. The practice of equine acupuncture began roughly 3,000 years ago in China, but did not begin being performed in America until 1974. The word acupuncture originates from the Latin word acus, meaning needle, and punctura, meaning to prick (Bradford). By pricking needles into specific trigger points, the effects of acupuncture provide a balance to the system, which allows for reparation. There are 173 acupuncture pressure points on each side of the horse, 36 in the head, 50 in the tail and along the trunk of the horse, 32 in the front limb, and 36 in the hind limb, and an additional random 19 throughout the equine (Bradford). Each of these points are linked to specific organs or areas of the body and can be stimulated by the use of acupuncture. That is where, how, and why acupuncture began. The practice of acupuncture has captured many people’s fascination and is even more mind boggling when it has been seen performed and the positive effects it achieves with the simple prick of a needle.

Acupuncture is the art of using needles to stimulate certain points in the body that correlate to organs and systems. “The effects of acupuncture therapy cannot be explained in terms of a single mechanism, but rather a series of interactions between the nervous system , the endocrine system and the immune system” (Boldt). This is the cause for why many cannot grasp how and why acupuncture truly works. Acupuncture is considered a Traditional Chinese Medicine that deals with the flow of Qi also known as life force, or energy, through paths called meridians. An equine’s body contains twelve paired and two additional non paired meridians. “The meridians are pathways by which Qi and blood circulate in the body” (Bradford). “Meridians link the exterior of the body to the internal organs and are accessible by acupuncture points” (Stewart). The heart, lungs, liver, stomach, small intestine, spleen, and kidney are just some of the meridian tracts that acupuncture points are situated along, that are identified when using acupuncture. Out of these, the bladder meridian is usually the first one vets will analyze because the points along it correlate with many of the other systems and vital organs (Ward). These acupoints, also called pressure or trigger points, are positioned along these meridians that can be accessed through the art of acupuncture. “Acupuncture points are areas on the skin of decreased electrical resistance or increased electrical conductivity” (Schoen). Acupuncture comes into play and is a holistic therapy that can be used when these points, that contain energy become unbalanced. The saying “Balance is everything” goes hand in hand with acupuncture because after all, maintaining and providing a balance is the answer to why acupuncture produces such positive results and why it works.
One may have thought that all there is to acupuncture is just jabbing needles into a random spot, but there is really a lot more to it. The horse with no doubt, is a very large animal and one could be there all day if there weren’t any directions, clues, or an area to start. Acupuncture would the be the art of finding a needle in a haystack if it weren’t for acupoints and meridians to rely on. The acupuncturist will first palpate along the meridians in the horses body and carefully watch for how the horse responds, and all the while feel for any abnormal hot or cold acupoints. “Besides using acupuncture points for treatment purposes, reactivity of acupuncture points can aid in diagnosis,” stated D.V.M. Ed Boldt. If there is any discomfort the acupuncturist will note the point and use a chart that shows what point correlates to what specific meridian and what meridian corresponds to what specific organs or systems . When discomfort occurs at certain points when just palpating this is a signal that there is a block of energy and that is where the needles come in. In the meeting I attended specifically on acupuncture, D.V.M. Amy Bradford clearly exclaimed that “Sensitivity upon palpation indicates an imbalance of Qi.” Pain is a signal of blocked energy or excessive or too minimal amounts of energy in an area. By applying a needle the acupuncturist is able to galvanize the designated acupoints along the meridians to assist the energy in flowing properly, allowing for balance to return to the equine’s body. The needles are usually inserted around 1/10” to 4/10” deep but it really depends on the symptoms and type of acupuncture being administered (Brennan). “A block can cause pain and prevent healing. Sometimes electrical energies must be ‘set straight,’ so that all the cells involved in the healing process can work at full capacity” (DeRock). This not only helps relieve the horses symptoms, but balances the energy of the whole body in order to prevent the underlying problem from reoccurring. By simply inserting a needle the entire physiology of the body can be influenced for the better (Brennan).
Much to one’s surprise when a needle is inserted into an acupoint, it actually has a calming effect on the horse. This can be explained simply by the release of endorphins into the system (Bradford). It wakes up the endorphin receptors and promotes healing throughout the body, but does not cause the horse to feel any pain. It allows the horse’s body to remotely in the end heal itself, and that is what acupuncture symbolizes!
Like with just about anything there is usually more than one way to do something, it is the same with acupuncture. There are numerous ways to go about stimulating an acupoint through acupuncture and here are some of the techniques. The most common way acupuncture is usually carried out in equines is called dry or simple needling. Some of the other methods include moxibustion which helps increase circulation and is very effective for arthritic horses. This also allows one to insert herbal remedies or vitamins in with the needles which makes the treatment more productive (Brennan). Other approaches include point injection, cold laser, hemoacupuncture, aquapuncture, infra-red, electroacupuncture, and hot needling (Hayes, Schoen, Boldt). Acupuncture is considered a holistic alternative therapy along with treatments like chiropractic and acupressure. These treatments are very similar to acupuncture and can be used with it. These different routes offer the acupuncteristic more options and more arrows in their quiver when it comes to proscribing treatment solutions.
Acupuncture is a very safe practice with slim chances of anything going wrong, however, there are still rules to be followed. There are currently 920 veterinarians that are endorsed by the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society (IVAS) throughout the world that can administer acupuncture on horses (“Tuesday Talk”). In order to perform acupuncture on a horse the individual must first be a licensed veterinarian. “IVAS certification is not required for a veterinarian to perform acupuncture” (Hayes). The IVAS also provides training in Chinese medicines like acupressure and includes practices like herbal remedies too (Ward). Even though it is not required of vets, it is highly recommended that they take sessions which only requires a minimal amount of additional training to perform acupuncture. It is still always best to check for certification. “Veterinary acupuncture is considered a valid modality, but the potential for abuse exists. These techniques should be regarded as surgical and/or medical procedures under state veterinary practice acts,” said the director and D.V.M. Allen Schoen.
“Acupuncture can be used as a diagnostic tool or therapy, predominantly for horses that fail to respond to treatment by conventional Western medicine” (Kane). There is nearly no limit to what acupuncture can help treat or at least attempt to alleviate the pain for. “It is best known for the treatment of spinal disorders, particularly disc problems, but many other skeletal problems such as arthritis, navicular disease, and joint inflammation,” stated D.V.M., Mary L. Brennan in her book Complete Holistic Care and Healing for Horses. Acupuncture can also be used to help with allergies, kidney failures, joint problems, nerve injuries, reproductive disorders, muscle atrophy, eye problems, back pain, colic, lameness, stomach ulcers respiratory and emotional disorders. Shock, scars, hives, paralysis, diarrhea, hock and stifle injuries, Lyme disease, and behavioral disorders like cribbing are just a few of the many conditions that can also be corrected with the use of acupuncture (Stewart). It is hard to believe but in the horse world there are some instances that acupuncture could also be used, except not for pain relief but yet for cosmetic purposes. There’s been cases where owners have had acupuncture administered to decrease the neck size of their halter horses for better show results and placings. They were able to use acupuncture instead and this result allowed them to not have to put the horse through a traumatic surgery (Brennan). Acupuncture can also be applied if the owner notices his or her horse is coming down with an illness, so it can be used to help treat the complication. This goes entirely against the saying “If it is not broken, don’t fix it” but when you think about it, why not try and prevent it before it becomes a problem? In other words do less sooner than more later. Acupuncture not only provides solutions but can be used as a preventative.
There are many benefits to using acupuncture as a treatment for horses. To start off, there are hardly any negative after effects to using acupuncture and it is considered to be noninvasive (Gregorio). Another benefit to acupuncture is that it can be used in the horse competitions without penalty. “...It usually allows continued performance without having to resort to the use of drugs, which are often banned in competition” (Brennan). Being able to use acupuncture instead of drugs to cure an illness is essential not only in the competitive horse world but for everyday horse owners too. A horse weighing roughly a thousand pounds that does not want to take its dosage of bute or refuses anymore shots is not a fun or safe situation to be in. Yes, acupuncture does involve needles too, but the endorphins released upon the insertion of needles into an acupoint provides a calming effect unlike that of needles when administering drugs into the horses system. Drugs also not only weaken the immune system and usually have a long list of negative side effects that go hand in hand with them. It is also not uncommon to have a horse that is allergic to certain medications, and some drugs like bute can cause even more problems like stomach ulcers over time (DeRock). This is where acupuncture can be used instead or even to supplement these situations. Sometimes horses, like people, need that recommended dose of medicine and the huge benefit of acupuncture is that it still can be used in a situation like this. A positive effect in using acupuncture is the fact that it can also be used to enhance and help speed up recovery, by being able to combine treatments. For example, acupuncture can be used with medications to help lower the dosage, lameness exams to help determine the true problem, chiropractic sessions, and with herbal remedies, just to name a few (Gregorio). Acupuncture also provides immediate results which is irrefutable and not something that can be said for many other treatments! Finally, acupuncture aids in helping the horse feel more spry and pain free, and a pain free horse is a happy horse! Attitude is everything in the horse world and keeping horses pain free is key factor in allowing a horse to have a blissful temperament.
There is, however, with everything some chance that something could go wrong just like with anything in life. Primarily, if everything is done safe and by requirements one of the worst effects that could come about from acupuncture is that the horse does not react to the treatment. That is not a very bad top ranking negative effect when you considering the some side effects of many medications out on the market, not only for horses, but humans too. Acupuncture also should not be used for pregnant mares, unless the acupuncturist is highly skilled in that area, because if by some chance the needle would be inserted in the wrong spot it could induce premature labor (“Tuesday Talk”). Another situation would be if an untrained physician performed acupuncture on a horse, there is a risk that they could cause an infection or even hit a joint in the horse. That should not happen though, because only veterinarians that are certified in acupuncture through the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society (IVAS) should be practicing acupuncture. Acupuncture also should not be administered right after feeding a horse or after a excessive workout (Stewart). Like with anything, cost is always a huge factor and that goes for acupuncture too. Depending on the acupuncturist, location, and diagnosis, cost can vary but a treatment is not usually just pocket change. Also you have to play into effect that your horse might require more than one session when you factor in the cost. Horses generally show improvement between two to four sessions (Stewart). When you compare the costs of acupuncture to the cost of other treatments, they will no doubt be just as expensive, if not more. The only real physical side effects of acupuncture is that it has been stated that in some cases a horse will be somewhat sore after the treatment (Ward). Those are the few negative side effects to acupuncture.
One of the main drawbacks to acupuncture is not the rare negative side effects but rather that there is no scientific data to show and prove to people that acupuncture actually does work. “While acupuncture has been recognized by the American Veterinary Medicine Association (AVMA), there is a lot of anecdotal evidence but no scientific studies to validate the benefits or acupuncture on horses (Gregorio). The only proof is in their horse and how their horse improves, that is what gets people to believe that this Eastern medicine might have some truth to it after all. It really follows the lines of “You have to see it to believe it.” People are wary to try something new, unless they have depleted all other options and that is usually where holistic treatments come in. I believe that one of the crucial negative effects of acupuncture is not a side effect but yet a setback. If it could be scientifically proven acupuncture would be used more and it would be more widely known, respected, and applied.
In considering acupuncture as a whole the positive effects clearly outweigh the negative with no competition, but it is hard for many to get over their preconceived beliefs of acupuncture, and that is a huge setback. One of the main negative effects of acupuncture is the fact that horse owners are cautious and biased when it comes to applying this ‘unexplainable’ treatment on their horses. “Misconceptions about the safety, effectiveness, and comfort of acupuncture have some owners reluctant to consider it as treatment for their horses” (Brennan). Another downfall to acupuncture is that acupuncture treatments are still considered to be ‘complementary therapies’ and are to be used with conventional veterinary medicine not as a replacement (Boldt). Still, even with those mountains to climb and misconceptions to overcome, acupuncture as a whole continues to be a very effective holistic remedy and ancient Chinese Eastern Medicine. It provides a holistic and natural way to diagnose a condition and then sets it up so the horses body can heal itself naturally.
Though I have never performed acupuncture myself, I have not only read about its stunning effects but I have seen them. My horse, Cocoa has had some major issues concerning her lower back and digestion problems. It is a very frustrating and Mayer 10helpless feeling not knowing what is wrong and the fact that traditional medicines are not helping. I have practiced acupressure (which is very similar to acupuncture) on her and will soon be having my equine chiropractor begin acupuncture treatments with her. Through holistic treatments a lot like acupuncture I have been able to scope out the situation and am striving to come all the more closer to a solution and the root cause of the problem, and with acupuncture I believe we can overcome it. I have learned a valuable lesson, that the crucial step is not merely treating the problem but preventing it and keeping a balance once you have treated it, to keep it from reoccurring. Balance truly is everything when it comes to living life to the fullest and for treatments like acupuncture.
It is very common for a parent to tell a kid to ‘point to where it hurts.’ Horses, though are not able to readily communicate with there owners by just merely pointing to the discomfort but with acupuncture the horses do not need to point! It is ironic that horses have always had acupoints all along their bodies, that a trained acupuncturist would easily be able to identify, and find the source of discomfort. In an essence horses all along, even way back to when they had arrows thrusted in them in battle, have been pointing to exactly where it hurts, we just have to feel instead of listen!

Savvy Out,
Olivia, Cocoa, and Dixie