Alternative equine medicine gains following

By Dr. Tim Holt
Colorado State University

During the past 10 years, veterinarians and many of their clients have become increasingly interested in using acupuncture and alternative medicines such as chiropractic therapies to treat an animal's ailments. Many veterinarians today combine these ancient arts with traditional Western medicine.

In particular, acupuncture and chiropractic, which are called manipulative or manual therapies in veterinary medicine, are becoming especially popular because of their successful use in treating specific skeletal and muscular imbalances, and the problems those imbalances trigger, in horses.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture was first practiced and developed in China thousands of years ago, during the Zang and Chow dynasties, and is still practiced there today on humans and animals. The first veterinary textbook that relates its use to horses dates from 2000 to 3000 B.C.

It was introduced into the United States in 1970, after a man accompanying President Nixon's trip to China became ill. The man underwent an appendectomy with only acupuncture used to provide anesthesia. As a result, President Nixon cleared a path for cultural exchange between Chinese and American medical practitioners.

Acupuncture uses a variety of methods including needles; pressure to specific points; mildly electrically stimulated needles, called electroacupuncture; aquapuncture, which includes injecting a liquid into points to prolong stimulation; gold implants; moxibustion, or burning mugwort to create a deep heat to warm needles or specific areas on the body; laser stimulation and massage to treat conditions.

There are multiple theories as to how acupuncture works, but the traditional Chinese approach relates to five elements and eight principles. Treatment is pursued based on the patient's characteristics, which fit the five elements, and often relate to specific ailments.

The five elements are wood, fire, earth, metal and water. The element that might best fit a horse depends upon its specific personality and physical characteristics.

Clinically, acupuncture is used to diagnose and to treat conditions. In diagnosis, veterinarians will look for sensitivity of certain points and their correspondence with specific conditions. These points are areas on the skin that have decreased electrical resistance or increased electrical conductivity, or are near various kinds of nerve and nerve conductors. These points are related to specific internal organs through nerve networks branching from the spine.

Therapeutically, acupuncture can successfully treat musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal, neuralgic, reproductive and respiratory conditions. In addition to relieving pain, acupuncture can accelerate healing and overall body balancing.

Often, acupuncture is used to treat a secondary or underlying problem. For example, a horse may exhibit lameness, which can be treated with traditional therapies. However, an underlying cause, such as a back problem, can be resolved through acupuncture.

Some common conditions successfully treated with acupuncture include chronic back problems, lower leg lameness, nerve paralysis, nonsurgical colic, diarrhea, impactions, indigestion, neck pain or stiffness, acute or chronic inflammation of the tissue that attaches the foot to the hoof, founder, navicular disease, or the inflammation of the navicular bone and forefoot. Acupuncture has also treated allergies, lung disease and reproductive problems in both the mare and stallion, and it increases plasma concentrations of natural hormones, which can help eliminate fatigue and pain.

Chiropractic

Chiropractic approaches, called physical manipulation approaches in veterinary medicine, have also been successful in treating horses. Manipulation treats ailments by creating motion in joints and muscles. It successfully treats lameness and performance problems by addressing skeletal imbalances.

Veterinarians will administer manipulation with only their hands. Often, a manipulation exam includes watching the horse's movement and evaluating how the saddle and shoes fit the horse.

Before choosing to pursue acupuncture or manipulation as an option to treat your horse, be sure that your veterinarian conducts a thorough examination. A correct diagnoses and treatment is just as important when administrating alternative medicine as it is when administrating Western medicine.

In addition, potential complications do exist, such as acupuncture needles breaking during treatment or complications as a result of acupuncture needles being improperly inserted and entering organs, major vessels and other vital structures.

All alternative medical treatments should be performed by a licensed veterinarian.

Tim Holt, DVM, is an assistant professor of clinical sciences. He is a 1988 graduate of the CSU vet school and has also completed his certification in veterinary acupuncture and manual therapy from CSU.