History Of Acupuncture
Stone needles recovered in Mongolia are believed to be the oldest evidence of the practice of acupuncture, dating from the Neolithic period approximately 8,000 years ago. The first text on veterinary acupuncture, Bole Zhenjing, was written by Sun Yang (aka Bole), veterinarian to the Chinese emperor’s horses, sometime between 659 to 621 BC.

Acupuncture was introduced into North America in the 1800s, but didn’t really take off until the 1970s. The turning point occurred when New York Times reporter James Reston, traveling with President Nixon to China, was treated with acupuncture after an emergency appendectomy. Reston was so impressed with the pain management he received that he wrote about it upon returning to the United States. Nixon, also intrigued, helped to initiate an exchange program between medical practitioners in China and the US. Acupuncture was officially recognized by the NIH (National Institutes of Health) as a viable treatment option in 1997.

How Does Acupuncture Work?
From a Western perspective, acupuncture works by stimulating specific points on the body that have both decreased electrical resistance and increased electrical conductivity.  These points also have a high density of free nerve endings, arterioles, lymphatic vessels and mast cells.  Therefore, stimulation of these points activates nerve endings, sending a message to the brain, which then tells the body to make different chemicals and hormones to help the body heal.

From an Eastern perspective, energy, known as qi (pronounced chi), flows through the body on highways, known as meridians. An overabundance, an insufficiency or any blockage of energy along these highways can lead to pain or general imbalance causing illness or pain/lameness. Stimulation of acupuncture points simply helps to restore a normal flow of energy.

What Is Acupuncture Good For?
Acupuncture  is perhaps best known for its use in pain relief. In fact, studies have shown increases in endogenous opioids in the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) and serum, as well as β-endorphin, both of which are potent pain mediators.  In horses, one of the most common signs of pain is lameness.  Lameness is often treated successfully by Western medicine with glucosamine/chondroitin supplements, anti-inflammatories and joint injections.

Acupuncture is very effective when used in conjunction with these treatments to increase the interval between joint injections or to treat joints such as hips and shoulders, which are difficult to inject. It can also be used to treat soft-tissue injuries, foot pain (such as laminitis and navicular syndrome) and back pain.
In addition, acupuncture can be used for general performance enhancement by localizing minor areas of soreness or energy imbalance. Through identification and treatment of these areas, more serious problems can be prevented before they result in lameness or poor performance.  Other uses for acupuncture include treatment of colic, reproductive disorders, endocrine problems, anxiety/stress issues, immune regulation and skin diseases.  In general, if you follow the basic Eastern philosophy, physical ailments are caused by some underlying imbalance, and if this can be addressed, the body will heal the outward manifestation of the imbalance.

Are There Any Contraindications Or Risks?
In horses there are no absolute contraindications; however acupuncture should be used with caution on pregnant, very ill, or very old horses. Risks are very minimal when performed by a trained acupuncturist but do include infection and puncture of a vital organ. However, again, both are very unlikely with a trained acupuncturist using sterile disposable needles.

What Does A Treatment Look Like?
Generally, an acupuncture exam and treatment will last from 45 to 90 minutes. Initially, a detailed history of the horse is taken, including information on its personality, current problem, past problems, and medications. An exam is then performed including palpation of the jugular pulse, evaluation of the tongue and scanning the body for point sensitivity. After this, a plan is made and needles are placed. Needles used in acupuncture are solid and much smaller than hypodermic needles. Most horses tolerate them well; many even seem to become somewhat sedated or fall asleep as treatment proceeds.

Besides placement of “dry” needles, most treatments include electro-acupuncture, which involves attaching leads to the needles and passing a small electrical current between them.  Electrical stimulation is kept to a low level that seems to relax most horses, however, occasionally a “blockage” is suddenly removed causing horses to react by kicking out or startling.

Three other acupuncture treatment types that may be used include brief insertion of a hypodermic needle into an acupuncture point to allow it to bleed; injection of vitamin B12 into acupuncture points; or burning of the mugwort herb known as Moxa on the end of the needle to add heat into the point. Prescription for a Chinese herbal medication based upon the specific patient’s needs may also be recommended to further enhance and prolong the acupuncture treatment.

How Often Should Horses Be Treated?
The simple answer is that it depends.  More complex or chronic cases may need to be seen as frequently as once a week, though more often we recommend treatments every two to four weeks for a total of three to five visits. Some acute cases may resolve after only one treatment. As preventive medicine, acupuncture is best employed three to four times a year when the seasons change. For performance enhancement, it is best applied about a week before competition.

Are There Any Exercise Restrictions Pre- Or Post-Treatment?
If you plan to ride your horse the day of treatment, please plan to do so before treatment.  We also recommend it either be given the following day off or receive only a light workout.

Can I Combine Acupuncture With A Regular Visit?
Acupuncture can be combined with a regular visit, but preferably not with one that will require sedation (such as teeth floating or joint injections), as this will decrease the efficacy of acupuncture by 30 to 40 percent.