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Acupuncture bridges a gap
between medicine and surgery. In China, it is often used as the primary
treatment before conventional medicines and surgery. In
small animals, including exotics, and large animals, acupuncture is most
commonly used for: musculoskeletal problems (e.g. arthritis), skin
problems, nervous disorders, reproductive disorders, respiratory problems,
poor immunity and internal medicine problems such as heart (cardiac) and
kidney (renal) disease, etc. Acupuncture is now known to affect all major
physiologic systems including the musculoskeletal, hormonal, and
cardiovascular systems.
Acupuncture increases
circulation, causes a release of many neurotransmitters and neurohormones
(some of which are endorphins, the “natural pain-killing” hormones),
relieves muscle spasms, stimulates nerves, and stimulates the body’s
defense system, among many other beneficial effects. Acupuncture is not a
“one-time fix”, nor is it a cure-all. It is not uncommon for owners to
observe improvement in their pet’s condition after the first acupuncture
treatment. Depending upon the severity of the disease, some pets may not
show any signs of improvement until the sixth or eighth treatment.
Effectiveness should not be assessed until after three to four treatments.
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