Acupuncture

GENERAL

Acupuncture: The science behind the practice
Proceedings from veterinary conference indicating the science of acupuncture using gate theory mechanisms and neurohumoral responses to control pain and stimulate healing.
http://veterinarycalendar.dvm360.com/acupuncture-science-behind-practice-proceedings
Author: Nancy Scanlan, DVM, MSFP, CVA

The Validity of Acupuncture in Veterinary Medicine
“An ever-expanding body of evidence-based research supports acupuncture as a clinically useful modality and over 10,000 references to acupuncture can be found in the United States Library of Medicine search through PubMed.”
http://people.tamu.edu/~e-tebeaux/ode/techwrite/Validity%20of%20Acupuncture.pdf
Authors: Huisheng Xie DVM, PhD, Lindsey Wedemeyer MA, VetMB, MRCVS

Acupuncture
Clinical trials indicate that acupuncture therapy can be effective in several conditions such as musculoskeletal problems, neurological disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, other chronic conditions, and performance enhancement in large and small animals.
https://largeanimal.vethospitals.ufl.edu/hospital-services/equine-integrative-medicine/acupuncture-rehabilitation/
Author: Dr. Justin Shmalberg and Dr. Xie Huinseng

What is Veterinary Acupuncture?
Commonly asked questions in the profession answered in a basic easy-to-read format.
https://www.ivas.org/about-ivas/what-is-veterinary-acupuncture/
Author: IVAS

Veterinary Acupuncture
“The practice of acupuncture is unusual by Western standards, yet just as unique is the philosophy which drives it. Acupuncture is a component of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), which views good health as the harmonious balance between body, heart, mind, and spirit, and illness as imbalance. Specifically, these imbalances exist in the body’s energy or life force, which TCM refers to as Qi. Hence, maladies and afflictions are considered to be the result of an imbalance, or blockage, in patients’ Qi.”
http://www.akcchf.org/canine-health/your-dogs-health/caring-for-your-dog/veterinary-acupuncture.html
Author: Brook Bolen

Review of Veterinary Acupuncture Clinical Trials
“This review presents recent clinical trials involving the use of acupuncture in animals. The studies which are organized into broad categories of pain control, neurologic disease, gastrointestinal disease, disorders of sense organs and emergency medicine demonstrate its effectiveness in treating a wide range of medical conditions such as canine hip dysplasia, pain from osteoarthritis and surgery, intervertebral disc disease, seizure disorders, vomiting, inflammatory bowel disease, cardiac and respiratory depression and anxiety.”
https://www.veterinairepetcare.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/vet-acupuncture-research-review.pdf
Author: Huisheng Xie DVM, MS, PhD, Neal Sivula DVM, PhD

Skeptical about Veterinary Acupuncture? Get Current.
Video by a veterinarian explaining the use of acupuncture for analgesia resulting in pain control similar to that of morphine.
http://veterinarymedicine.dvm360.com/skeptical-about-veterinary-acupuncture-get-current
Author: Janice Huntingford, DVM, DACVSMR, CVA, CVPP, CCRT, CAVCA

PAIN

The Role of Acupuncture in Treating Chronic Pain
“According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), a number of studies suggest that acupuncture works particularly well on chronic pain such as back and neck pain; osteoarthritis/knee pain; and headache. It often reduces the incidence and severity of tension headaches and may prevent migraines. “Therefore,” the NIH concludes, “acupuncture appears to be a reasonable option for people with chronic pain to consider.”
https://www.practicalpainmanagement.com/patient/treatments/alternative/role-acupuncture-treating-chronic-pain
Author: Kirstin Lagatree

Increased Comfort the Point Of Equine Acupuncture Therapy
https://vetmed.illinois.edu/pet_column/equine-acupuncture/
Author: Gina Vecere

Acupuncture for Pain Relief
Review article showing the use of acupuncture for temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain in humans.
https://www.practicalpainmanagement.com/treatments/complementary/acupuncture/acupuncture-pain-relief
Author: Leonard Goldstein, DDS, PhD

Acupuncture for chronic pain: individual patient data meta-analysis
“Acupuncture is effective for the treatment of chronic pain and is therefore a reasonable referral option. Significant differences between true and sham acupuncture indicate that acupuncture is more than a placebo.”
http://www.dcscience.net/vickers-acupuncture-2012.pdf
Author: Andrew J. Vickers, DPhil, Angel M. Cronin, MS, Alexandra C. Maschino, BS, George Lewith, MD, Hugh MacPherson, PhD, Norbert Victor, PhD, Nadine E. Foster, DPhil, Karen J. Sherman, PhD, Claudia M. Witt, MD, and Klaus Linde, MD

NEUROLOGIC DISEASE

Retrospective study of the clinical effects of acupuncture on cervical neurological diseases in dogs
“This study was conducted to evaluate new acupuncture protocols for the clinical treatment of cervical spinal cord diseases in 19 dogs. This report standardized AP treatment containing Jing-jiaji for canine cervical problems and evaluated its effects. The newly standardized AP methodology offers clinical practitioners an effective way to improve the outcomes of cervical neurological diseases in dogs.”
https://synapse.koreamed.org/Synapse/Data/PDFData/0118JVS/jvs-17-337.pdf
Author: Ching Ming Liu1 , Fang Chia Chang2 , Chung Tien Lin3

Clinical effect of additional electroacupuncture on thoracolumbar intervertebral disc herniation in 80 paraplegic dogs
“The results suggest that a combination of electroacupuncture and acupuncture with conventional medicine is more effective than conventional medicine alone in recovering ambulation, relieving back pain, and decreasing relapse. Electroacupuncture and acupuncture is thus a reasonable option for the treatment of intervertebral disc herniation in paraplegic dogs with intact deep pain perception.”
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21061457
Author: Han HJ1, Yoon HY, Kim JY, Jang HY, Lee B, Choi SH, Jeong SW

Comparison of Decompressive Surgery, Electroacupuncture, and Decompressive Surgery Followed by Electroacupuncture for the Treatment of Dogs with Intervertebral Disc Disease with Long-standing Severe Neurologic Defects
“The proportion of dogs with clinical success was significantly higher for dogs that underwent EAP (15/19) than for dogs that underwent DSX (4/10); the proportion of dogs with clinical success for dogs that underwent DSX + EAP was intermediate (8/11). EAP was more effective than DSX for recovery of ambulation and improvement in neurologic deficits in dogs with long-standing severe deficits attributable to thoracolumbar IVDD.”
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20513202
Author: Joaquim JG1, Luna SP, Brondani JT, Torelli SR, Rahal SC, de Paula Freitas F.

Scalp Acupuncture for Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
“The main findings were that SA therapy can further improve neurological deficit score and the clinical effective rate in patients with acute ischemic stroke when compared with WCM control.”
https://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2012/480950/
Author: Yan Wang, et al

SKIN/EARS/ALLERGIES

Acupuncture Prevents Relapses of Recurrent Otitis in Dogs: A 1-Year Follow-Up of a Randomized Controlled Trial
“Conclusion Acupuncture seems effective for preventing relapses in cases of recurrent canine otitis. This result suggests that acupuncture could be tested as a treatment of other recurrent localized infections.”
https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Acupuncture-Prevents-Relapses-of-Recurrent-Otitis-A-S%C3%A1nchez-Araujo-Puchi/e201595aa888baa76b9a4d3a5b50f1a825ac0441
Author: Max Sanchez-Araujo, A. Puchi

Effects of Acupuncture on 1-chloro-2, 4-dinitrochlorobenzene-induced Allergic Contact Dermatitis in Mice
These experimental results suggest that acupuncture treatment had anti-inflammatory effects that were produced by inhibiting proinflammatory activities. Acupuncture probably also accelerated skin regeneration and skin barrier protection by promoting EGF secretion and inhibiting Tyr phosphorylation of occludin.
http://www.councilofchiropracticacupuncture.org/articles/acupuncture/Effects%20of%20Acupuncture%20on%201-chloro-2%2C4-dinitrochlorobenzene-induced%20Allergic%20Contact%20Dermatitis%20in%20Mice.pdf
Author: Yanchun Zhong, Xiaozhu Liu, Yinfeng Li, Huankun Liang, Jiali Li, Cuicui Chen, Kangyan Li, Xipan Liu, Shuhai Zhong, Laiqing Li, Yan Wang

Acupuncture for the treatment of allergic rhinitis
“Acupuncture may modulate the immune system; it has been proposed as a useful treatment for patients with allergic rhinitis.”
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6320097/
Author: Haipeng Bao, PhD, Dongxu Si, PhD, Longxia Gao, PhD, Huizhuo Sun, MD, Qi Shi, PhD, Yue Yan, PhD, Dashzeveg Damchaaperenlei, PhD, Chunlei Li, PhD, MingXia Yu, MD, and Youlin Li, PhD.

INTERNAL MEDICINE

Acupuncture and regulation of gastrointestinal function
“In this review, we discuss the regulation on GI function through acupuncture from the perspectives of GI motility, the GI barrier, visceral sensitivity, and the brain-gut axis. The results of studies in both humans and animals suggest that acupuncture has the potential to treat GI disorders by regulating GI motility, the GI barrier, visceral sensitivity, and the brain-gut axis.”
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4507100/
Author: Hui Li, Tian He, Qian Xu, Zhe Li, Yan Liu, Fang Li, Bo-Feng Yang, and Cun-Zhi Liu

Acupuncture in Treating Hepatic Fibrosis: A Review with Recommendation for Future Studies
“After treatment of 3 months, compared with the controls, the symptoms and liver function of patients in treatment group were significantly improved, which showed that injection matrine at Zusanli (ST 36) can improve liver function, reduce liver inflammation and alleviate or delay the progress of hepatic fibrosis of patients with hepatic fibrosis caused by chronic HBV.”
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3746655/
Author: Jue Zhou, Ph.D., Yi Liang, Ph.D., Xian-Ming Lin, M.D., Rui-Jie Ma, Ph.D., and Jian-Qiao Fang, Ph.D.

An integrative approach to chronic kidney disease (CKD) in cats
“Chronic kidney disease in cats is a manageable condition that responds well to integrative medicine. In the author’s experience herbal medicine and acupuncture are key. Many integrative practitioners have reported success with other additional therapies, including homeopathy, cell salts, flower essences and osteopathy.”
https://ivcjournal.com/integrative-approach-chronic-kidney-disease-cats/
Author: Barbara Fougere, BSC, BVMS, BHSc (Comp Med), MODT, MHSc, CVA, CVCP, CVBM

Halting and Reversing Renal Failure: An Integrative Approach
http://www.civtedu.org/renal-disease/
Author: Steve Marsden, DVM, ND, MSOM, Lac. Dipl. CH, CVA, AHG

Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Medicine, Tui-na and Food Therapy Integrated with other Treatments for Chronic Renal Disease of a Cat
This case illustrates the power of TCVM techniques especially acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicines to manage chronic internal medicine diseases, like chronic renal failure, with a poor conventional prognosis.
https://watcvm.org/media/system/journalpdfs/5.2/TCVM%20%20Treatments%20Chronic%20Renal%20Disease%20of%20a%20Cat%205.2.pdf
Author: Lisa J. Donato DVM

LARGE ANIMAL

Acupuncture in Horses
“Horses were among the first animals treated with acupuncture due to their importance in warfare and farming. Today, equine acupuncture is commonly incorporated in the treatment of a number of conditions, especially musculoskeletal disorders and back pain.”
https://ceh.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/health-topics/acupuncture-horses
Author: Amy Young

Acupuncture for anhidrosis (non-sweating) in horses
https://depaoloequineconcepts.wordpress.com/2014/09/11/acupuncture-for-anhidrosis-non-sweating-in-horses/
Author: DePaolo Equine Concepts

Why Equine Acupuncture is Gaining Ground
“Results showed that acupuncture reduced hip hike differences under all conditions and led to other objective and subjective improvements as well.”
https://www.veterinarypracticenews.com/why-equine-acupuncture-is-gaining-ground/
Author: Narda Robinson, DVM, DO

It's Not Voodoo! Veterinary Acupuncture Can Be A Helpful Tool for Beef Producers
https://www.beefmagazine.com/health/its-not-voodoo-veterinary-acupuncture-can-be-helpful-tool-beef-producers
Author: Christy Couch Lee

Aquapuncture therapy of repeat breeding in dairy cattle
“The pregnancy rate after the treatment was 14/18 (77.7%) and 12/18 (66.6%) based on progesterone concentration and rectal palpation respectively, suggesting acupuncture as a simple and effective method to treat repeat breeders in dairy herds.”
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12230028
Author: Lin JH1, Wu LS, Wu YL, Lin CS, Yang NY

Bovine Acupuncture for Infertility, Metritis, and Mastitis
http://www.civtedu.org/bovine-acupuncture-lankenau/
Author: Cynthia, Lankenau, DVM, CVA, CCVHM

Bovine Acupuncture for Musculoskeletal Conditions
http://www.civtedu.org/bovine-acupuncture-lankenau/
Author: Cynthia, Lankenau, DVM, CVA, CCVHM

Bovine Acupuncture for Metabolic Diseases/GI/URD
http://www.civtedu.org/bovine-acupuncture-lankenau/
Author: Cynthia, Lankenau, DVM, CVA, CCVHM

Therapeutic Effects of Acupuncture in Calf Respiratory Disease
“Clinical recovery rates were poor (59%) in calves treated by medicine alone. Rates were best to combinations of medicine + AP (83-73%). AP alone gave intermediate rates (83-63%).”
https://www.med-vetacupuncture.org/english/vet/ap_resp1.htm
Author: Tchi-chou Nam, Chung-ho Chang, Yong-ho Park, Kang-moon Seo