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Animal Holistic Health Center |
| Basic definitions & theories
on how "Holistic" medicine works |
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What is Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
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- Traditional Chinese Medicine is the system that has been
used for over 3 thousand years in China to diagnose and treat medical
ailments in both humans & horses, and more recently other animals
- In TCM, diseases or clinical symptoms occur when the flow of Qi is
disrupted- either depleted, unbalanced or blocked along one or more of the meridians
- Treatment in TCM is aimed at re-establishing the smooth flow of Qi to
rebalance the meridians
- Once the equilibrium is re-established, the body will heal
- Acupuncture is one of the main diagnostic and treatment modalities used in
TCM
- Other TCM treatment modalities include herbal therapy, acupressure,
nutrition therapy, and therapeutic exercise
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What is Acupuncture?
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Acupuncture is defined as the insertion of very thin needles into
specific anatomic points on the surface of the body in order to move Qi,
the basic term for life
force, energy, and spirit of the body &
the universe at the stimulated point.. Depending on the points treated,
acupuncture can increase / speed up (tonify), slow down (sedate) the flow of
Qi, & remove blockages impeding the flow of Qi along the meridians. |
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Forms of Acupuncture & definitions of methods |
Over thousands of years, the practice of acupuncture has evolved and now incorporates
several methods of point stimulation besides traditional " dry needling".
- Dry needling- insertion of thin solid needles into points- most common
& traditional method.
- Aquapuncture- injection of small volumes of Vitamin B or other liquid
- Electroacupuncture-running electric current between points
- Moxibustion- heating acupuncture points to add energy by burning a
Chinese herb called Moxa
- Laser acupuncture- using a laser on the points
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| What
is Chinese Herbal Medicine? |
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Chinese herbal medicine is a ancient art dating back
more than 10,000 years and today remains an integral part of the Traditional
Chinese Medicine (TCM) system. Over the thousands of years, herbal
prescriptions have been formulated and used on countless patients in China.
Herbal Medicine is aimed at building & strengthening normal function of the
organ systems and the body as a whole unit. Unlike "Western" drugs which
rely on instant short-term effects, herbs work slowly and heal over time to provide
lasting effects & often without unwanted side effects. In this
way, TCM seeks to correct the root of the disease, not just relieve the
symptoms of disease by blocking abnormal organ function with drugs. In
China, for every person who has been treated with acupuncture, there are at
least ten who have been treated with herbs.
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| How Does Acupuncture & Herbal Therapies
Work? |
| In "Eastern" terms..... |
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Acupuncture "needling" works by adjusting the flow of Qi
along the meridians
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Needle stimulation of the acupuncture points can either
tonify & add energy, or sedate & drain Qi at a particular point along a
channel
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The set of acupuncture points treated are uniquely chosen
for each patient depending on their TCM diagnosis based on history, physical
exam, & diagnostic acupuncture points
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The treatment points can often change with each visit
depending on how the patient's clinical signs and response to prior therapy
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Herbal preparations are often combined with acupuncture to
help strengthen Qi deficiencies in many meridians
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In "Western" terms..... |
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Acupuncture works by stimulating
certain parts of the nervous system to change physiologic parameters such as
blood pressure and flow, and by stimulating the release of chemicals
(hormones and neuropeptides) that control physiologic parameters and pain in
the body.
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Herbal Medications work on a molecular level with
receptors in the body similar to "western" medical drugs.
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Many prescription medications are based on plant
extracts found in nature- particularly the rain forests.
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Physiologic changes shown to be affected by
acupuncture include: |
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Hormones scientifically proven
to be affected by acupuncture include: |
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Endorphins & Enkephalons- One set of hormones called endorphins, are
powerful pain controllers that are released in the central nervous system.
A common example of the power of endorphins occurs when when people experience “runners high” or when a
person who is in shock after a traumatic accident does not feel pain
immediately. With repeated acupuncture treatments, there is a constant low
level of endorphin released which helps block out the pain of chronic
diseases such as severe hip or back arthritis. |
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Cortisol- Another hormone affected is cortisol, a powerful anti-inflammatory modulator in the body. Release of
cortisol helps relive inflammation & swelling which in turns alleviates
pain.
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| Reproductive Hormones- Acupuncture has also been show to affect fertility and can
induce labor though the stimulation of reproductive hormones. Though
acupuncture is not commonly used in the West for reproduction, it is widely
used in China on agricultural farms. |
| Current
"Western Laboratory" Research |
| Although this is only a brief overview, there
is a considerable amount of research data proving the physiologic effects of
acupuncture in Western terms. The European medical community
has accepted holistic medicine as a viable and effective treatment modality
for many years and have hundreds of published research articles on
acupuncture and herbal therapies. China has collected data from literally
millions of patients. In the United States, the NIH has recently taken
an interest in investigating "Holistic" medicine. Highly favorable
preliminary results has resulted in the decision to fund extensive research
into the safety & effectiveness of acupuncture, herbal, & other holistic
treatment modalities. |
| Role of Acupuncture &
TCM in modern "Allopathic" medicine |
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In a recent
2001 newsletter, the Dana Farber Cancer Institute featured their acupuncture
and alternative therapy department where hundreds of cancer patients are finding relief from
the devastating side effects of radiation & chemotherapy.
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