What’s the meaning of acupuncture?
Acupucture is the most used theraputic technique of the Traditional Chinese medicine. This technique utlizes needles precisely inserted in targeted spots called ‘acupoints’.
In order to complete the treatment, other techniques could be implemented such as ‘moxibustion’, massage, electric stimulation, and the laser stimulation.
How does acupuncture work?
According to the Chinese traditional medicine, both human and animal bodies are crossed by perpetual flow of vital energy. This vital energy is called ‘Qi’, and it originates from the major organs and runs through a system of canals called ‘meridians’.
When the energy flows naturally and in balance, the animal is healthy; if the flow is blocked and unbalanced, the animal could be sick and in pain.
The energy flow can be stimulated through the acupoints along the meridians, reinstoring the delicate energy balance and promoting a healthy state.
The Chinese theory explains how acupunture normalizes physiologic functions and it helps maintaining an harmonic balance in the body.
Does acupuncture have side effects?
Acupuncture does not produce any side effects because of the absence of chemical moleculs. In addition, the needles are sterilized and therefore no infection can be developed or transmitted.
What to expect from a treatment?
The benefits from acupuncture treatment will start during the first 3 to 4 weeks and it will last for a long time after the treatment is completed.
We as acupuncturist encourage the owners to utilize this technique for the benefits of the animals and to prevent many pathologies.
How many treatments are necessary to see benefits?
Every patient is unique therefore the treatment plan is individuallly developed based upon the type of pathology, the gravita of the condition, the duration of the disease, and the psycophysic state of the patient.
In order to obtain the best therapeutic results, the most sever cases will need to be treated at least twice a week for several weeks, and then span the recurrence in between treatments; the chronic cases will need one to two treatments a week.
Which pathologies will benefit from acupuncture?
The diseases that can be treated with acupuncture are several: pain, bones, and muscles related. Major benefits can be achieved in the reproductive, cardiovascular, dermatologic, immunologic, respiratory, and behavioral systems. In addition, acupuncture can be used to improve the performance of competitive animals.
(F. Longo – M. Testa: “Agopuntura Veterinaria”; brochure* S.I.A.V. – Torino ottobre 1999 -)
