Download Alternative Therapies

INAG 120 – Equine Health
Management
October 12, 2011
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Therapy other than conventional medicine
surgery and dentistry
Acupuncture
Chiropractic
Homeopathy
Herbology and
Naturopathy
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Physical Therapy
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Massage
Reiki/Therapeutic Touch
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Extracorporeal Shock Wave
Therapy
International
Veterinary Acupuncture Society http://www.ivas.org/
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Traditional Chinese Thought:
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Animals born with a fixed amount of Vital Essence
(Jing)
Jing is spent in living
Jing is supported by the movement of Qi (Vital Energy)
throughout the body via a system of meridians and
channels
Qi is replenished by food and air
Disease arises when there’s an imbalance or disruption
in the flow of Qi through the meridians
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Traditional Chinese
Medicine (TCM)
defines disease as a
state of energetic
imbalance in an
organism
The imbalance is
between the yin and
the yang
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YIN VS YANG
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4 examinations
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Interior vs exterior
Deficiency vs excess
Heat vs cold
Look, listen, ask, touch
Pathogens:
Wind, Cold, Summer heat
 Damp, Dryness, Fire (heat)
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12 Main Pairs of
Merdians
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Lung and Large Intestine
Heart and Small Intestine
Pericardium and Triple
Heater
Liver and Gall Bladder
Spleen and Stomach
Kidney and Bladder
2 Unpaired Meridians
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Governing Vessel
Conception Vessel
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Areas on the surface of the body provide access
to the energy carried in the meridians =
acupuncture points
Stimulation of the acupuncture points can
assist the body to heal itself by balancing the
Vital Energies
Balancing is mediated via the nervous system
but also affected by hormonal factors!
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Points, which, when sensitive to palpation can
help diagnose a problem
Association Points – follow the Bladder
Meridian
Alarm Points – located along belly
Empirical Points – over time – sensitive to
imbalance in one area
Trigger Points – areas of pain within a tight
band of muscle
For a CHART of all Equine Points, go to http://www.wbvc.bc.ca/equine.htm
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A signal travels along the peripheral nerve to
reach the spinal cord
Results in the blockage of pain, an endorphin
release, an increase in blood flow
Treatment of certain points can enhance the
immune system & cause specific hormone
release
Gall Bladder
Meridian
©Dr. Lauren DeRock DVM
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Simple needling (AP): insertion of fine solid metal
needles, leave in place for 20-30 minutes
Electroacupuncture (EAP): AP needles fitted with
electrical stimulator
Aquapuncture: introduction of fluid through needles
 Lliquid (B12) injected into AP point
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Laser Stimulation: use of painless laser light
Moxibustion (moxa): smoldering “cigar” of rolled herb
held above AP point until it becomes uncomfortable
(re-applied 15-20 times)
Metal beads
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Not recommended in most cases
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Western Medicine  diagnosis of underlying
disease  treat disease using medication
Acupuncture  evidence of abnormal changes
that underlie the symptoms  treatment is
generalized to the whole body
Here, used for diagnostic and therapeutic
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Potential for abuse exists!!!
Techniques often regarded as surgical/medical
procedures – should you use only licensed
vets?
Increased research in use of acupuncture for
treatment of lameness
May be used both as adjunct to traditional
lameness exam as well as adjunct to treatment
of lamenesses
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Lung problems
Chronic cough
Allergic bronchitis
Pneumonia
Reproductive
problems
Infertility
Ovarian pain
associated with heat
cycles
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Scars
Internal medicine
problems
Liver
Kidney
Heart
Digestive tract
problems
Diarrhea
Excess gas
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Neck Problems
Pain and stiffness
Nerve inflammation
Neurologic disorders
Wobblers
Nerve damage
Behavior problems
Chronic pain
Musculoskeletal
disorders
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Navicular
Arthritis
Laminitis – acute and
chronic
Tying up or azoturia
Colic – acute and
chronic
Need good
conventional diagnosis
NOT a replacement for
surgery
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POOR RESPONSE
Minimal or no
improvement
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After 2-4 sessions in
large animals
Results last only a few
days
Animal is
uncomfortable
Wrong diagnosis?
Wrong practitioner?
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GOOD RESPONSE
Improvement in
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1-4 sessions in large
animals
Treatment should be
pleasant experience
Horse occasionally
sore after treatment
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Scientific basis for support:
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Stimulation of specific points on the body to achieve a
therapeutic or homeostatic (returning body to its
normal state) effect
Acupuncture points – 4 known neural structures
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Type 1 – located where nerves enter muscle
Type 2 – located on superficial nerves
Type 3 – located in high density superficial nerve areas
Type 4 – located at muscle-tendon junction
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Stimulates various sensory receptors (pain,
temperature, pressure and touch)
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 stimulates sensory nerves  signal to CNS 
brain  release of hormones and transmitters
Number of treatments required depends on
condition treated and length of problem
Individual treatments last 5-30 minutes
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Diagnostic aid in lameness exam
Based on level of sensitivity to palpation of
particular acupuncture points (acupoints)
 “Trigger points” = knots or tight bands in a muscle
 Each diagnostic acupoint has 4-5 meanings depending on
which show up as reactive on exam
 Combination of reactive points will help localize lameness
problem
 Alarm points may signify specific problem
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Can help determine which of two+ problems
may have come first
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Primary hock problem:
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Injection of medication directly into joint
Acupuncture therapy to treat the secondary
back/neck problems resulting from hock injury
Not a replacement for traditional therapy for
joint problems
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While patient is
fasting, overfatigued,
intoxicated, or very
weak
very young, very old
some points
contraindicated in
pregnancy
eXtension Horses via YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bb5aAfIDoLg