About acupuncture

Acupuncture is the practice of using tiny needles inserted into the body at specific points to elicit a healing response. Acupuncture points are found all over the body in specific arrangements called channels or meridians. Which points are used depends on a patient's individual diagnosis, needs, and tolerance of needle placement

Acupuncture helps promote healing and relieve pain by:

• Relieving inflammation, increasing blood flow, and reducing muscle spasms where a needle is placed
• Altering and interrupting how nerves communicate pain signals
• Triggering the release of endorphins and other hormones that promote pain relief and relaxation

There are likely other mechanisms that are not yet understood, and acupuncture continues to be studied.

I have used acupuncture to treat pain more than anything else, but it can be effective in treating any condition where inflammation is a component. This may include::

• Arthritis pain (hips, back, knees)
• Acute muscle strains/sprains
• Chronic muscle spasms/trigger points
• Intervertebral disc disease
• Age-related changes in mobility (general stiffness, "slowing down")
• Chronic pancreatitis or inflammatory bowel disease
• Cancer pain
• Back pain (especially senior kitties!) 

Think of acupuncture as a complementary rather than an alternative treatment; it should be used alongside rather than as a replacement for appropriate surgical or conventional medical care.  

Acupuncture is extremely safe and has few side effects Patients with blood clotting disorders should not be treated with acupuncture. Some acupuncture points are found near large nerves and may need to be avoided in individual patients who find their use uncomfortable. 

Acupuncture needles are extremely small and are solid, so they push through tissue rather than cutting it. As such, patients tolerate needle placement extremely well and many do not notice at all. 

This varies depending on the patient and what we are treating.
 

For acute injuries such as muscle strains/sprains or post-surgical treatments, I recommend once to twice weekly until we see desired improvement, which is often 3-4 weeks. After that, some pets do not need any additional treatment and others need ongoing but less frequent treatment. 

For chronic conditions such as arthritis, I generally recommend once weekly for 3-5 treatments, then start to taper the frequency. There is a lot of individual variation, but most patients with chronic conditions maintain on treatments once every 3-6 weeks.