With all of today's advanced veterinary technologies, why are so many horse owners and veterinarians traveling back in time and utilizing the ancient Chinese practice of acupuncture? When used in conjunction with conventional veterinary medicine, this holistic therapy can be an effective technique for relieving pain and improving function in horses.

Acupuncture, which originated from traditional Chinese medicine, is the healing science of putting needles in specific points on the body in order to treat disease or relieve pain. It is based on the principles of Yin and Yang and strives to restore balance and harmony to the animal. From a position of harmony and balance, the horse's body is better able to deal with insults and stresses, and can return itself to normal.

The theories behind acupuncture were developed thousands of years before modern science identified the function of internal organs as they are currently understood. Therefore, a disconnection exists between the modern understanding of organ function and disease pathology, and the traditional Chinese medicine view. For example, unlike in Western medicine in which consciousness resides in the head, in Chinese medicine, consciousness resides in the heart. Clearly, the sophisticated understanding of how the body operates in health and disease was lacking in the earliest acupuncturists, who date back as far as the Neolithic period of 12,000-2000 BCE, but these healers saw results and eventually developed the techniques that we use today.

Acupuncture is performed by applying pressure to acupoints, which are specific locations on the surface of the skin that affect the channels on which "Qi," defined as life force and energy, flows through the body. Many acupoints correspond to a local area, a regional area and/or a specific organ and channel. Stimulating these acupoints, which are sometimes located far from the site of symptoms, helps the animal's body to heal itself by balancing its own vital energies.

Prior to initiating the acupuncture therapy, the horse's medical history is recorded and a physical exam is performed that includes the palpation of points. Point selection is unique to each horse and is based upon the results of the initial exam as well as the desired goal of treatment. Unlike in Western medicine in which multiple horses presented with the same apparent disease would receive exactly the same conventional treatment, in Eastern medicine, these horses may receive very different acupuncture treatments based on their individual makeup and personality.

After the initial examination, the acupuncturist selects from among many methods to stimulate the points. These options include "dry needling", in which small steel needles are used; aquapuncture, which involves injecting fluid into the point; and electroacupuncture, which consists of electrical stimulation being delivered through a dry needle attached to an electroacupuncture machine. Moxibustion, in which an herb called Moxa is burned at 400 degrees Fahrenheit and placed near the acupuncture point, can also be used, as well as bleeding, which involves inserting and removing a needle from a point in order to allow the release of excess blood.

The frequency and duration of additional sessions are based on the horse's condition and the goal of the therapy. There has been much debate among scientists as to if and how acupuncture works. The Western thought is that the treatment stimulates the internal pain inhibitory system which alters the processing of harmful stimuli through the release of endorphins. These endorphins block the transmission of pain from the nerve endings through the spine and on to the brain. The pain is still occurring, but the signal is not being transmitted so the animal does not feel it.

From a traditional Chinese medicine perspective, acupuncture does more than relieve pain -- it restores balance by freeing the flow of Qi which circulates along a predetermined path through the body three times per day. Pain is believed to be due to an interruption in this flow either as the result of a blockage or an inability to circulate. Acupuncture can reduce or eliminate the pain resulting from the disruption by facilitating movement along the channel and reestablishing harmony.

So how can acupuncture help your horse? Acupuncture is very good at restoring function. It has been shown to be effective in treating chronic pain and musculoskeletal disorders such as lameness and is also beneficial for colic (although it will not fix a surgical colic), eye problems, respiratory disorders, anhidrosis (an abnormal deficiency of sweat), behavior problems, anxiety, neurological issues and immune-related conditions. It is sometimes difficult to predict exactly how a western-diagnosed disease will react to treatment as the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches are different, but acupuncture can be a very helpful technique for maintaining the health of your horse and improving its quality of life.

To schedule an acupuncture appointment or consultation at the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center, call (703) 771-6800.

Dr. Smith is a clinical assistant professor in anesthesia at Virginia Tech's Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center. She can be reached at smithaa@vt.edu. To view her online profile, visit www.equinemedicalcenter.net. Virginia Tech's Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center is a premier full-service equine hospital located in Leesburg, Va., that offers advanced specialty care, 24-hour emergency treatment and diagnostic services for all ages and breeds of horses. One of three campuses that comprise the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, the center and its team of equine specialists are committed to providing exceptional treatment to patients, superior service to clients and cutting-edge research.