Dr. Christina Showler has been certified in acupuncture by the Chi institute and the China National Society of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM). She is excited to integrate her education in traditional Chinese medicine with her solid foundation in western medicine to improve her capacity to treat disease and give the performance horse that extra “edge”.
TCVM has been used to treat animals for over 3,000 years. It is a treatment system combining acupuncture and herbal therapy, originally developed to treat and maintain horses which were so critical to early Chinese society. Even today, after the introduction of western medicine to China, ancient Chinese techniques are often combined with modern medical practice.
The combination of western medicine and TCVM provides an increased capacity to prevent and treat disease that would not be possible using one system of medicine alone. Therefore, it is crucial to integrate conventional western practices such as physical exams, lameness evaluations including diagnostic nerve/joint blocks and other diagnostic modalities including blood work, radiographs, ultrasound, nuclear scintigraphy and MRI.
The objective of TCVM is to restore balance and health by helping the body regulate a disease pattern. In a state of disease, Qi (vital energy) flow is disturbed along Meridian lines found on the exterior of the body. Meridians regulate the physiological activities of internal organs and acupuncture points are located along these lines.
Application: Acupuncture therapy can be beneficial in a variety of clinical situations from the performance horse, the neonate foal to the geriatric horse. The following are some of the more common disorders effectively treated with TCVM:
- Musculoskeletal disorders: Performance enhancing, lameness, muscle/back soreness, tendon/ligament injuries and joint inflammation/pathology
- Neurologic disorders: facial nerve paralysis, wobblers, laryngeal hemiplegia (roarers)
- Reproductive disorders: anestrous, uterine fluid retention and infertility
- Gastrointestinal disorders: colic, diarrhea and gastric ulceration
- Endocrine/Metabolic disease: Cushing’s disease, EPSM and renal failure
- Other chronic conditions: ocular disease, behavioral disorders, COPD/RAO (heaves), geriatric weakness and preventative medicine
Treatment: Most horses tolerate acupuncture very well. There is no sedation and only minimal physical restraint may be required. Acupuncture is safe when performed by a trained veterinarian. Stimulation of the acupuncture points may include the use of dry acupuncture needles, electroacupuncture, aquapuncture or hemoacupuncture.
Frequency: Depending on the chronicity and the disorder, your horse may initially be treated every 1-2 weeks for a total of 3-4 consecutive treatments. Some conditions might resolve entirely and others might require maintenance treatments every 4-6 weeks.
Another critical component to TCVM is the use of herbs. Herbal therapy is frequently used short term and can be combined with your horse's regular supplements and medications. The advantage of herbs is that they can act like daily acupuncture treatments in restoring your horse's health.
Dr. Showler offers her services in the Greater Sacramento and Sierra regions.
Please call 916.599.0769 to schedule an appointment or if you have any questions about how your horse can benefit from acupuncture.
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