ADVICE FROM THE VET
ACUPUNCTURE IN HORSES
By Nancy Homewood BVetMed CertAVP MRCVS
Acupuncture is a treatment derived from ancient Chinese medicine that involves placing very thin needles into specific places in the body to treat and prevent disease.
use of acupuncture originated over 2000 years ago. It is aholistic approach to diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease. TCM addresses signs of pain and illness as the body being ‘out of balance’ and treatment is aimed at restoring the body’s equilibrium. The restoration of balance within the body then triggers the body’s natural healing response. It is thought that Acupuncture can affect homeostatic regulatory mechanisms, for instance the control of blood pressure, pulse, respiration, hormone secretions and intestinal motility. Training in Traditional Chinese
T
Acupuncture was undertaken as an apprentice with masters and within families. Over time, TCMhas developed and adapted to new cultures in which it is growing. It has grown in popularity in the Western civilisation and is becoming available for mainstream healthcare systems for pain relief and treatment of disease. The World Health Organisation recognise acupuncture as a treatment for over forty conditions in human medicine. It is used in many general practices and pain clinics within the UK and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) also provide guidelines for its use to treat conditions in humans through the National Health Service, where it is classed as a ‘complementary therapy’ In the United Kingdom, only qualified
Veterinary Surgeons, who have undergone training in Acupuncture, can perform acupuncture in animals. Due to the insertion of a needle into the body, it is classed as an invasive treatment. It also requires a thorough knowledge of veterinary anatomy and physiology. Western acupuncture in horses has evolved to primarily treat musculo- skeletal pain, although practitioners may use TCMor a combination of TCMand Western Acupuncture in individual cases.
10 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER2018
he traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is one of the world’s oldest medical systems and the
HOW DOES IT WORK? The insertion of fine, sterile, stainless
steel needles through the skin, into specific points of the body stimulate tiny nerve endings. These nerve endings carry impulses to the brain which results in the release of neurotransmitters and hormones. These then act directly on body tissues and organ systems. Natural painkillers such as endorphins can act on pain pathways, essentially modulating the transmission of incoming pain signal to the brain. The effect of the individual needle depends on the location it is placed and which nerves are stimulated.
WHY WOULD MY HORSE
NEED ACUPUNCTURE? Western Acupuncture is commonly used for musculoskeletal pain, particularly of the neck, back, shoulders and hindquarters.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN DURING A
CONSULTATION? I generally like to do acupuncture in the
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The most commonly treated
conditions include back pain (acute or chronic), Sacro-Iliac pain, Muscular neck pain, arthritis, muscular spasms. Acupuncture can be used as an adjuvant therapy alongside more conventional treatment methods for the conditions described above. It can also be used as the primary treatment option, if deemed suitable. Minor injuries can go unnoticed sometimes, and this can then increase the risk of more serious injuries due to the way the horse may compensate for more subtle pain. Regular examination and treatment can help to identify these injuries in the early stages to help restore normal function.
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