According to news reports, US veterinary students are increasingly adding acupuncture to their list of skills as they study to become veterinarians. In fact, several students from Louisiana State University have traveled to China to study veterinary acupuncture, thanks to grants given by private citizens who are interested in approaching horse health in a holistic way.
Positive effects of acupuncture in horses
Stimulation of acupuncture points in equines releases B-endorphins, serotonin and other neurotransmitters known to have positive roles in pain relief and healing.Carien Schippers
Fourth-year LSU veterinary student Shannon David spent two weeks in China studying veterinary acupuncture thanks to a grant from Donald and Sue Crow, of Shreveport.
Also participating in the acupuncture course co-sponsored by Southwest University in Chongqing, China, and the Chi Institute of Chinese Medicine in Florida was Dr. Larry McCaskill, who received his DVM from LSU in 1981.
Acupuncture is increasingly being used in veterinary medicine. It is used in equine medicine for pain management, muscle re-education, and colic, especially colic involving dysfunction in gastrointestinal motility.
Conditions that are successfully treated by Acupuncture:
- Colic
- Founder
- Lameness
- Hormonal disturbances
- Back pain
- Tension/Anxiety
- Neurological isease
Modern research continues to discover scientific explanations for of the effects of acupuncture. It has been discovered that acupuncture points are located in areas rich in nerve plexuses. Stimulation of acupuncture points induces the release of B-endorphins, serotonin and other neurotransmitters. These natural substances are well known to have many positive roles in pain relief and healing
Acuptuncture has been successully used to treat anhidrosis (non-sweating), problems in reproduction, arthritis, and nerve paralysis, in addition to many other medical disorders in equines.
Many owners report improvements in appetite and energy, as well as a decrease in chronic pain. Acupuncture can improve immune function and boost overall health.
Currently, the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital offers acupuncture therapy for equine patients and farm animals and will offer it for small animal patients in the near future
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