naturalawakeningsmagazine--2020-03-27--Acupuncture For Animals: Needles Work Wonders on Pets

“ It ’ s a holistic approach that pinpoints the issues , unlike medicines that must go through the entire body , ” says C.J .
Schnier , coach for the University of Wisconsin women ’ s polo team .
The five thoroughbreds and a quarter horse on her Verona , Wisconsin , farm have a standing appointment every three weeks with a veterinarian that performs acupuncture for their injuries , arthritis , colic and immune systems .
Beyond the usual four-legged friends , acupuncture helps animals such as reptiles , rabbits and livestock as a complement to Western medicine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and speed recovery .
“ All animals can have acupuncture , ” says veterinarian Carol Jean Tillman , of the Animal Kingdom Veterinary Hospital , in Las Vegas .
She uses acupuncture for dogs and cats with musculoskeletal conditions such as lameness due to injuries , arthritis and paralysis , and also finds it helpful for allergies , immune system problems and digestive issues .
A 2016 review of veterinary acupuncture clinical trials published in the American Journal of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine concluded that it was safe and effective in treating a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hip dysplasia , pain from osteoarthritis and surgery , intervertebral disc disease , seizure disorders , vomiting , inflammatory bowel disease , cardiac and respiratory problems , and depression and anxiety .
Dry needle acupuncture is what most people recognize—the use of thin , solid , metallic needles inserted into specific meridian acupoints on a body .
There is also aquapuncture , that involves injection of a liquid , such as diluted vitamin B12 , into an acupoint to relieve muscle pain and discomfort .
Moxibustion is a technique used for joint stiffness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ herbal compound is applied to or held over acupoints .
Electrostimulation , sending an electrical current through pairs of inserted needles , takes less time and creates longer-lasting effects .
Results similar to acupuncture can be obtained without using needles .
Acupressure using hands , cupping therapy using special cups or cool laser stimulation using low levels of light can stimulate hard-to-reach acupoints or work for animals that are too restless for needles .
“ Depending on the severity of the condition , acupuncture treatment could be recommended daily for several days , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then as-needed or once a month , ” says Tillman .
Precise placement of tiny needles into an ailing dog or a massive horse seems fraught with risk , but the animals only need to be gently restrained and plied with treats during the first treatment .
They generally relax quietly for subsequent treatments .
Even Sienna , Schnier ’ s typically reactive thoroughbred mare , stands still for acupuncture around a swollen eye .
“ She knows it ’ s being done to help her , ” Schnier says .
And her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ placed in the sinus areas that helped it breathe better .
In a clinical setting , pets may be more apprehensive , but there are workarounds such as lasers or aquapuncture .
“ We provide a relaxing environment .
The lighting is dimmed , we play relaxing music and treats are encouraged , ” says Aleksey .
Needles make most pet parents cringe , but those used for acupuncture don ’ t hurt animals , they help .
They are what traditional Chinese veterinary medicine has used for thousands of years to enhance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and promote release of pain-relieving hormones in animals ranging from rabbits to horses .

“It’s a holistic approach that pinpoints the issues, unlike medicines that must go through the entire body,” says C.J. Schnier, coach for the University of Wisconsin women’s polo team. The five thoroughbreds and a quarter horse on her Verona, Wisconsin, farm have a standing appointment every three weeks with a veterinarian that performs acupuncture for their injuries, arthritis, colic and immune systems.
Since the founding of the Boulder, Colorado-based International Veterinary Acupuncture Society in 1974, the number of certified animal acupuncturists has grown from 80 to about 1,800, making the specialty more accessible worldwide.
Treating the Ark
Beyond the usual four-legged friends, acupuncture helps animals such as reptiles, rabbits and livestock as a complement to Western medicine or other body work to alleviate pain and speed recovery. “All animals can have acupuncture,” says veterinarian Carol Jean Tillman, of the Animal Kingdom Veterinary Hospital , in Las Vegas. She uses acupuncture for dogs and cats with musculoskeletal conditions such as lameness due to injuries, arthritis and paralysis, and also finds it helpful for allergies, immune system problems and digestive issues.
A 2016 review of veterinary acupuncture clinical trials published in the American Journal of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine concluded that it was safe and effective in treating a wide range of medical conditions like canine hip dysplasia, pain from osteoarthritis and surgery, intervertebral disc disease, seizure disorders, vomiting, inflammatory bowel disease, cardiac and respiratory problems, and depression and anxiety.
The Many Methods
Dry needle acupuncture is what most people recognize—the use of thin, solid, metallic needles inserted into specific meridian acupoints on a body. There is also aquapuncture, that involves injection of a liquid, such as diluted vitamin B12, into an acupoint to relieve muscle pain and discomfort. Moxibustion is a technique used for joint stiffness or allergies in which a heated Chinese herbal compound is applied to or held over acupoints. Electrostimulation, sending an electrical current through pairs of inserted needles, takes less time and creates longer-lasting effects.
Monika Wisniewska/Shutterstock.com
“Electrostimulation is very effective for treating neurological conditions such as radial nerve paralysis, facial nerve paralysis, disc disease and any condition that requires strong stimulation,” says veterinarian Bernadette Aleksey, at the Adorable Pets Veterinary Center , in Haddam, Connecticut. She regularly treats dogs, cats and horses for arthritis, neck and back pain, as well as neurological and gastrointestinal problems.
Results similar to acupuncture can be obtained without using needles. Acupressure using hands, cupping therapy using special cups or cool laser stimulation using low levels of light can stimulate hard-to-reach acupoints or work for animals that are too restless for needles. “Depending on the severity of the condition, acupuncture treatment could be recommended daily for several days, then spaced out to every week, then as-needed or once a month,” says Tillman.
Precise placement of tiny needles into an ailing dog or a massive horse seems fraught with risk, but the animals only need to be gently restrained and plied with treats during the first treatment. They generally relax quietly for subsequent treatments.
Even Sienna, Schnier’s typically reactive thoroughbred mare, stands still for acupuncture around a swollen eye. “She knows it’s being done to help her,” Schnier says. And her 17-year-old cat held still for tiny needles placed in the sinus areas that helped it breathe better.
In a clinical setting, pets may be more apprehensive, but there are workarounds such as lasers or aquapuncture. “We provide a relaxing environment. The lighting is dimmed, we play relaxing music and treats are encouraged,” says Aleksey.
Pet parents can search for a certified veterinary acupuncturist through the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society
Julie Peterson writes about pets, health and environmental issues. Connect at [email protected].
Needles make most pet parents cringe, but those used for acupuncture don’t hurt animals, they help. They are what traditional Chinese veterinary medicine has used for thousands of years to enhance blood circulation, balance the nervous system and promote release of pain-relieving hormones in animals ranging from rabbits to horses.


naturalawakeningsmagazine--2020-03-27--Moving Through Chronic Pain: How Exercise Can Heal What Hurts

For those suffering from conditions like rheumatoid arthritis , fibromyalgia and low back pain , the thought of moving may be uncomfortable , and even the sight of stairs may trigger pain signals .
But walking up just one step can give the brain new information .
“ If it ’ s possible to do a movement one time without pain , the brain starts to change , the door to movement reopens and we begin to end the chronic pain cycle , ” says Annie Forest , a fitness trainer who specializes in the neurology of pain at Forest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The muscle pain that occurs in everyone starting a new exercise regime—known as delayed onset muscle soreness—typically lasts only a day or two , and is a sign the body is slowly gathering strength , say physical therapists .
It ’ s best—and probably the only thing possible for those in chronic pain—to start slow .
“ Walking is one exercise that gets your body moving , blood and fluids circulating , and if done outdoors , can take you out into nature to offset the amount of time spent indoors , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of ActiveCare Physical Therapy , in New York City and Mumbai .
Slow stretching , especially if it involves holding positions up to one minute , and gentle versions of yoga , including chair yoga , have also proven helpful .
A study of 228 people with chronic back pain published in the Internal Archives of Medicine found that both approaches reduced symptoms within 12 weeks and lowered the use of pain medications , and that results lasted at least six months .
Tai chi , an ancient Chinese practice that involves breath @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , has been shown to benefit people with osteoarthritis , rheumatoid arthritis and tension headaches , among other chronic conditions .
In a study in the New England Journal of Medicine , people with fibromyalgia taking tai chi classes twice a week for 12 weeks reported less pain and depression and better sleep than another group taking wellness classes and stretching sessions .
Chi kung ( qigong ) , another slow-moving , mind-body exercise , supplies similar benefits , concluded a February study published in the journal Holistic Nursing Practice .
Compared to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lower back pain , “ Pilates may be more effective for pain and disability because exercises are more targeted to the muscles of the pelvis and trunk , ” concludes a recent Brazilian study .
Aqua therapy , also known as water aerobics , reduces pressure on aching joints while still providing enough gentle resistance to build strength , plus a heated pool can relax the whole body .
Swimming was shown in a 2013 study in Clinical Rehabilitation to ease the lingering pain of cancer survivors better than land exercises ; studies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ results .
It ’ s also key to have goals—even as simple as cooking a meal without pain .
“ I ask people to envision a pain-free life and imagine what that would look like , what they would do if they didn ’ t hurt , ” says Forest .
“ If you say , ‘ I ’ m a softball player and a mom who picks up her kids , ’ then your brain wants to head in that direction .
Having a target is really important.
” When our body @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s been that way for a long time , it ’ s natural to want to snuggle into pillows with a good movie and move as little as possible .
And for many years , that ’ s the kind of rest that doctors recommended for the 20 percent of American adults suffering from chronic pain .
But with a plethora of studies showing that exercise can reduce pain severity , enable better physical functioning and boost morale with virtually no adverse side effects , that advice is fast changing .
“ Exercise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the body ’ s natural painkiller chemicals , ” explains Rumki Banerjee , M.D.
, medical director of Apex MD , in Glen Allen , Virginia

For those suffering from conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia and low back pain, the thought of moving may be uncomfortable, and even the sight of stairs may trigger pain signals. But walking up just one step can give the brain new information. “If it’s possible to do a movement one time without pain, the brain starts to change, the door to movement reopens and we begin to end the chronic pain cycle,” says Annie Forest, a fitness trainer who specializes in the neurology of pain at Forest Coaching Studios, in Madison, Wisconsin
Conquer Your Chronic Pain: A Life-Changing Drug-Free Approach for Relief, Recovery, and Restoration. A good first step is to consult an expert. “If your doctor approves, take advantage of the knowledge and expertise of a movement expert. Physical therapists, occupational therapists, Pilates trainers and yoga teachers are trained to help others move safely and more effectively,” says Peter Abaci, M.D. , medical director of the Bay Area Pain and Wellness Center, in Los Gatos, California, and author of
The muscle pain that occurs in everyone starting a new exercise regime—known as delayed onset muscle soreness—typically lasts only a day or two, and is a sign the body is slowly gathering strength, say physical therapists.
It’s best—and probably the only thing possible for those in chronic pain—to start slow. “Walking is one exercise that gets your body moving, blood and fluids circulating, and if done outdoors, can take you out into nature to offset the amount of time spent indoors,” says physical therapist Karena Wu , owner of ActiveCare Physical Therapy , in New York City and Mumbai.
Slow stretching, especially if it involves holding positions up to one minute, and gentle versions of yoga, including chair yoga, have also proven helpful. A study of 228 people with chronic back pain published in the Internal Archives of Medicine found that both approaches reduced symptoms within 12 weeks and lowered the use of pain medications, and that results lasted at least six months.
Tai chi, an ancient Chinese practice that involves breath control combined with slow, fluid movements, has been shown to benefit people with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and tension headaches, among other chronic conditions. In a study in the New England Journal of Medicine, people with fibromyalgia taking tai chi classes twice a week for 12 weeks reported less pain and depression and better sleep than another group taking wellness classes and stretching sessions. Chi kung (qigong), another slow-moving, mind-body exercise, supplies similar benefits, concluded a February study published in the journal Holistic Nursing Practice.
Compared to aerobics, especially for older people with lower back pain, “Pilates may be more effective for pain and disability because exercises are more targeted to the muscles of the pelvis and trunk,” concludes a recent Brazilian study.
Aqua therapy, also known as water aerobics, reduces pressure on aching joints while still providing enough gentle resistance to build strength, plus a heated pool can relax the whole body. Swimming was shown in a 2013 study in Clinical Rehabilitation to ease the lingering pain of cancer survivors better than land exercises; studies of arthritis and fibromyalgia patients showed similar results.
It’s also key to have goals—even as simple as cooking a meal without pain. “I ask people to envision a pain-free life and imagine what that would look like, what they would do if they didn’t hurt,” says Forest. “If you say, ‘I’m a softball player and a mom who picks up her kids,’ then your brain wants to head in that direction. Having a target is really important.”
Julie Peterson writes from rural Wisconsin. Reach her at [email protected].
When our body keeps hurting, especially if it’s been that way for a long time, it’s natural to want to snuggle into pillows with a good movie and move as little as possible. And for many years, that’s the kind of rest that doctors recommended for the 20 percent of American adults suffering from chronic pain. But with a plethora of studies showing that exercise can reduce pain severity, enable better physical functioning and boost morale with virtually no adverse side effects, that advice is fast changing. “Exercise helps to release endorphins, which are the body’s natural painkiller chemicals,” explains Rumki Banerjee, M.D., medical director of Apex MD, in Glen Allen, Virginia