Acupuncture is the insertion of needles into the body to treat disease or injury and maintain health. Traditional Chinese medicine uses acupuncture as a tool to maintain health and treat various ailments.

Principles such as chi (life energy) as well as yin and yang (opposites within the body) are used. The concept of meridians combined with precise acupuncture points, allows the Chinese acupuncturist to aim for balance and a healthy function of the body.

In veterinary medicine in the western world, acupuncture tends to be an adapted science. The veterinarian makes a ­"western" ­diagnosis according to familiar ­scientific ­principles. He or she then treats this ­condition with ­techniques adapted from Chinese ­acupuncture.

Principles behind the points

• Acupuncture interrupts the pain ­pathway. Chronic pain means that the brain is ­bombarded with the same pain message down the same neural pathway. ­Placing a needle in or near the affected area, ­produces a short sharp noxious ­stimulus. This ­stimulus does not cause major ­discomfort, but becomes a "competing" pain. Thus the brain recognises the painful area afresh, ­re-assesses it and modulates its response
• Using needles causes endorphin ­release. Animals frequently doze off during treatment or sleep afterwards. Most animals willingly come into the consulting room after a couple of sessions, as if they know the needles will make them feel good
• Wounds are treated with a technique the Chinese call "fence the dragon". Needles are placed all the way around the wound. This results in improved blood supply to the wound edges, and thus, improved ­healing times.

It therefore follows that acupuncture cannot "over-stimulate" a nerve or muscle. It cannot make it better than its best natural function. It is more like hitting the reset button on the computer – the original settings (perceptions) are re-installed and the pain re-evaluated. But what common conditions can be treated through acupuncture?

Osteoarthritis can occur as a result of wear and tear on the joints (age, hard work) or as a result of old injuries. Surgery can result in short-term results with long-term side effects such as uneven weight bearing and muscle contraction.

Drugs such as phenylbutazone are generally used to treat pain. However, when they do not work, or the horse no longer responds to increased doses, then acupuncture can play a role in reducing pain and relaxing muscle spasms around painful areas.

Slow-healing wounds can cause prolonged periods of discomfort as well as posing a ­management problem. Keeping wounds clean and bandaged, requires constant vigilance and hours of time. Acupuncture, close to the wound edges, has been shown to improve the rate of healing in surgical and chronic wounds.

Sacro-iliac problems can result in back pain, uneven strides and reluctance to work on both reins. Acupuncture evens out the ­tension around the sacro-iliac joint, resulting in a ­surprisingly quick return to work.

Horses that are resting, very often due to ­another injury, often end up with a ­locking stifle. Acupuncture stimulates the big ­muscle ­masses that control the patella, and in ­combination with controlled lungeing, ­resolves the locking stifle within a couple of weeks.

Sore or "cold" backs have many ­underlying causes but, very often, acupuncture brings rapid relief to the horse in pain.

Muscles can be injured, in spasm or not responding physiologically due to atrophy or pain. Direct needling of an injured muscle results in rapid relaxation of the muscle and quicker return to function.

Scar tissue can cause discomfort and ­restricted movement. Acupuncture of scarred areas, whether they are as a result of surgery or trauma, results in reduced pain and increased range of movement.

There are many other treatable ­conditions. Individual assessment is crucial before ­ascertaining if the condition will benefit from acupuncture treatments.

Acupuncture treatments

Acupuncture can be used in conjunction with other treatment regimes, such as non-­steroidal anti-inflammatories (phenylbutazone) and physiotherapy. Horses can be exercised as normal, within their limits, within an hour of receiving acupuncture treatment. Our aim should always be the welfare and comfort of the horse, not to advocate one treatment ­method over another.

Usually an animal responds within three to four sessions. The sessions are usually four to seven days apart, and last five to 20 ­minutes. Often, as treatment progresses, the horses ­become more tolerant and the needles can stay in longer, or be manipulated more ­vigorously for maximum response.

Usually sedation is not necessary. ­Occasionally, in very painful conditions, ­sedation is used and does not interfere with the treatment other than increasing the cost of the treatment per session.

Acupuncture on animals has to be ­performed by a registered veterinarian. Good knowledge of anatomy and physiology is not only critical to the correct placing of ­needles, but also minimises the risk of ­damaging vital ­structures.

In cases of disease or injury, referral from the treating veterinarian is essential to ­allow quick and accurate follow-up ­treatment with the acupuncture. A report is then ­returned to the treatment veterinarian, once the ­acupuncture treatments are completed, ­allowing ­continued holistic treatment of the horse. Regular t­reatments for the prevention of injury and maintenance of health can then ­follow on from the original referral.

Here are some case studies that emphasise the effectiveness of acupuncture:

Dr Edda Pohlandt Buttle is with the Equine Vets and Acupuncture Clinic. For more information on acupuncture, write to her at PO Box 268 in ­Dullstroom, or contact her at 013 254 0434 or e-mail edda@gyr-tec.com