Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine References
Below are some abstracts regarding TCVM in the veterinary literature, as well as some direct links to entire articles from the Chi Institute. More references are available upon request, as are the full articles
Acupuncture for Disk Disease
Acupuncture treatment for feline multifocal intervertebral disc disease
J Feline Med Surg 2009;11:706-710Choi KH, Hill H
A 14-year-old male neutered domestic shorthair cat was admitted to the Veterinary Medical Center, University of Minnesota for evaluation of severe hind limb ataxia, atrophy and paresis. Diagnosis based on physical examination, neurological assessment and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was multifocal intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) with dorsal disc protrusion throughout the thoracic and cranial lumbar spine. The Oriental Medicine (OM) diagnosis (pattern identification) was painful obstruction (Bi) syndrome caused by phlegm-heat accumulation with blood stagnation in the spine. High dose prednisolone therapy (1.25 mg/kg PO, once daily) initially did not show any significant improvement in clinical signs. The cat was then treated with several modes of acupuncture treatment including dry needle acupuncture, electro-acupuncture and scalp acupuncture along with Tui-Na (hand manipulation in OM) and physical therapy. Significant improvements in mobility, proprioception and spinal posture were noticed and the cat was able to rise, walk and run 4 months after starting acupuncture treatments. This is the first case report of feline IVDD with multiple sites of disc compression which was successfully treated with several modes of acupuncture treatment.
Comparison of decompressive surgery, electroacupuncture, and decompressive surgery followed by electroacupuncture for the treatment of dogs with intervertebral disk disease with long-standing severe neurologic deficits
J Am Vet Med Assoc 2010;236:1225-1229
Joaquim JG, Luna SP, Brondani JT, Torelli SR, Rahal SC, de Paula Freitas F
Forty dogs between 3 and 6 years old and weighing between 10 and 20 kg (22 and 44 lb) with long-standing (> 48 hours) clinical signs of severe neurologic disease attributable to thoracolumbar IVDD were selected in this study. Thoracolumbar medullar injury was classified on the basis of neurologic signs by use of a scale ranging from 1 (least severe) to 5 (most severe). The DSX dogs (n = 10) were retrospectively selected from those that underwent DSX for the treatment of thoracolumbar IVDD. In addition, 19 dogs received EAP alone and 11 dogs underwent DSX followed by EAP (DSX + EAP). Outcome was considered a clinical success when a dog initially classified as grade 4 or 5 was classified as grade 1 or 2 within 6 months after the end of treatment. 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.
Effects of adjunct electroacupuncture on severity of postoperative pain in dogs undergoing hemilaminectomy because of acute thoracolumbar intervertebral disk disease
J Am Vet Med Assoc 2009;234:1141-1146
Laim A, Jaggy A, Forterre F, Doherr MG, Aeschbacher G, Glardon O
The objective of this study was to compare severity of postoperative pain in dogs undergoing hemilaminectomy because of acute thoracolumbar intervertebral disk disease treated with a combination of conventional analgesics and electroacupuncture (EAP) or with conventional analgesics alone. Fifteen dogs undergoing surgery because of acute thoracolumbar disk disease were selected. Dogs were alternately assigned to treatment (conventional analgesics and adjunct EAP) and control (conventional analgesics alone) groups. Analgesic treatment was adjusted as necessary by the attending clinician, who was not aware of group assignment. Pain scores were assigned 1, 3, and 12 hours after surgery and every 12 hours thereafter for 72 hours by the same individual who performed acupuncture treatments. Total dose of fentanyl administered during the first 12 hours after surgery was significantly lower in the treatment group than in the control group, but dosages of analgesics administered from 12 through 72 hours after surgery did not differ between groups. Pain score was significantly lower in the treatment group than in the control group 36 hours after surgery, but did not differ significantly between groups at any other time. Results provided equivocal evidence that adjunct EAP might provide some mild benefit in regard to severity of postoperative pain in dogs undergoing hemilaminectomy because of acute thoracolumbar intervertebral disk disease.
Evaluation of electroacupuncture treatment for thoracolumbar intervertebral disk disease in dogs
J Am Vet Med Assoc 2007;231:913-918
Hayashi AM, Matera JM, Fonseca Pinto AC
Fifty dogs with signs of thoracolumbar intervertebral disk disease were selected. Dogs were randomly allocated to 1 of 2 treatment groups and classified as having grade 1 to 5 neurologic dysfunction. Dogs in group 1 received electroacupuncture stimulation combined with standard Western medical treatment; those in group 2 received only standard Western medical treatment. A numeric score for neurologic function was evaluated at 4 time points to evaluate effects of treatments. Time (mean ± SD) to recover ambulation in dogs with grade 3 and 4 dysfunction in group 1 (10.10 ± 6.49 days) was significantly lower than in group 2 (20.83 ± 11.99 days). Success (able to walk without assistance) rate for dogs with grade 3 and 4 dysfunction in group 1 (10/10 dogs) was significantly higher than that of similarly affected dogs in group 2 (6/9 dogs). Dogs without deep pain perception (grade 5 dysfunction) had a success (recovery of pain sensation) rate of 3 of 6 and 1 of 8 in groups 1 and 2, respectively, but the difference was not significant. Overall success rate (all dysfunction grades) for group 1 (23/26; 88.5%) was significantly higher than for group 2 (14/24; 58.3%). Electroacupuncture combined with standard Western medical treatment was effective and resulted in shorter time to recover ambulation and deep pain perception than did use of Western treatment alone in dogs with signs of thoracolumbar intervertebral disk disease.
Electro-acupuncture and Chinese herbs for treatment of cervical intervertebral disk disease in a dog
J Vet Sci 2007;8:95-98
Hayashi AM, Matera JM, da Silva TS, Pinto AC, Cortopassi SR.
A non-ambulatory dog with tetraparesis following a pain episode that had evolved over 2 months was submitted for medical treatment and diagnosed with intervertebral disk disease at C3-C4 and dorsal extradural compression at C1-C2 and C3-C4 using myelography and computed tomography. The dog experienced ambulation recovery after 15 days of treatment with only electroacupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine, with marked improvement occurring after only 10 treatments. Six months of followup demonstrated that the dog was stable and had no recurrence of symptoms. Therefore, it was concluded that the combination of electroacupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine was responsible for motor rehabilitation.
20. Electro-acupuncture and Chinese herbs for treatment of cervical intervertebral disk disease in a dog
J Vet Sci 2007;8:95-98
Hayashi AM, Matera JM, da Silva TS, Pinto AC, Cortopassi SR.
A non-ambulatory dog with tetraparesis following a pain episode that had evolved over 2 months was submitted for medical treatment and diagnosed with intervertebral disk disease at C3-C4 and dorsal extradural compression at C1-C2 and C3-C4 using myelography and computed tomography. The dog experienced ambulation recovery after 15 days of treatment with only electroacupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine, with marked improvement occurring after only 10 treatments. Six months of followup demonstrated that the dog was stable and had no recurrence of symptoms. Therefore, it was concluded that the combination of electroacupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine was responsible for motor rehabilitation.
Acupuncture for Seizures
Electroencephalographic evaluation of gold wire implants inserted in acupuncture points in dogs with epileptic seizures
Res Vet Sci 2009;86:152-161
Goiz-Marquez G, Caballero S, Solis H, Rodriguez C, Sumano H
The purpose of this study was to evaluate both, clinically and with electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings, the effect of gold wire implants in acupuncture points in dogs with uncontrolled idiopathic epileptic seizures. Fifteen dogs with such diagnosis were enrolled in the study. A first EEG recording was performed in all dogs under anaesthesia with xylazine (1 mg/kg) and propofol (6 mg/kg) before the treatment protocol, and a second EEG was performed 15 weeks later. Relative frequency power, intrahemispheric coherence available through EEG, number of seizures and seizure severity were compared before and after treatment using a Wilcoxon signed-rank test. There were no significant statistical differences before and after treatment in relative power or in intrahemispheric coherence in the EEG recording. However, there was a significant mean difference in seizure frequency and seizure severity between control and treatment periods. After treatment, nine of the 15 dogs (60%) had at least a 50% reduction in seizures frequency during the 15 weeks established as follow-up of this treatment.
TCVM Treatment for Seizures
by Dr. Aituan Ma, Professor, College of TCVM, Hebei Agricultural University of China
Author: Chi Institute/Sunday, April 01, 2012/Categories: TCVM Articles,TCVM Newsletter, 2012 Spring Issue
Acupuncture for Internal Medicine Conditions
Treating Icterus (Huang Dian) with TCVM
by Haleh Siahpolo DVM, MPVM, CVA
Author: Chi Institute/Wednesday, August 01, 2012/Categories: TCVM Articles, TCVM Newsletter, 2012 Summer Issue
TCVM Treatment for Vomiting
Acupuncture and herbal medicine treatments for common vomiting patterns
Author: Dr. Ronald Koh/Monday, April 01, 2013/Categories: TCVM Articles, TCVM Newsletter,
TCVM Treatment for Vomiting
Acupuncture and herbal medicine treatments for common vomiting patterns
Author: Dr. Ronald Koh/Monday, April 01, 2013/Categories: TCVM Articles, TCVM Newsletter, 2013 Spring Issue
The Stomach and Spleen occupy the central position in the Middle Burner (Zhong Jiao) and are at the center of all Qi pathways of other organs. The Stomach controls the ‘Rotting and Ripening’ of food, which paves the way for the Spleen to extract the Gu Qi (food Qi) and refined essence from food. Stomach also sends the food down to Small Intestine for further separation. The Spleen is the central Organ in production of Qi. Its most important function is ‘Transporting and Transforming’ food and fluids. Food Qi and fluids are then transported upward to the Lung in the Upper Burner (Shang Jiao) for distribution to the entire body. Therefore, in the body, Stomach Qi descends or moves downwards whereas Spleen Qi ascends or moves upwards.
A failure of the smooth flow of Stomach Qi results in Stomach Qi Stagnation or Stomach Qi rebelling upwards. This disrupted function often leads to nausea and vomiting. The common causes of rebellious Stomach Qi can be categorized as Excess or Deficiency patterns. Excess patterns include Cold or Heat invading the Stomach, Food Stagnation, or Liver Qi Stagnation. Deficiency patterns include Spleen Qi/Yang Deficiency or Stomach Yin Deficiency. Acupuncture and herbal meTable 1 (at the end of the page).
How to Treat Skin Problems with TCVM
by Lauren Frank, DVM, CVA, CCRT
Author: Chi Institute/Tuesday, November 01, 2011/Categories: TCVM Articles, TCVM Newsletter, 2011 Winter Issue
Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. 2013 Jan;43(1):189-204. doi: 10.1016/j.cvsm.2012.09.002.
Alternative therapies in veterinary dermatology.
Author information
Abstract
This article presents an overview of alternative therapies for skin disorders including traditional Chinese medicine (acupuncture and Chinese herbs), homeopathy, and Western herbs and plant extracts. The medical and veterinary literature on the aforementioned modalities will be reviewed with a focus on reduction of inflammation and pruritus of the skin and ear canal in the canine species. Clinical application and potential adverse effects will also be included when available.