Veterinary Acupuncture Essay

Veterinary acupuncture is an ancient art practiced and refined in China for thousands of years.

Acupuncture has been used on animals for over 4000 years. Legend has it that veterinary acupuncture was discovered when lame horses used in battle were found to become sound after being hit by arrows at distinct points. In any event, there is evidence that Chinese "horse priests", the caretakers of the army's horses, practiced acupuncture during the Zang and Chow Dynasties around 2000-3000 BC. Numerous texts on veterinary acupuncture and old engravings of cows and horses, on which acupuncture points have been marked, are dated back to as early as 221 BC. During the Zhou dynasty (1122-770 BC), veterinary acupuncture was designated as a separate branch

It gained popularity in the United States during the Nixon era with a special symposium entitled, "Acupuncture for the Veterinarian" held in the United States in 1974.

Similarly, the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society (IVAS) website claims ,

Acupuncture may be defined as the insertion of needles into specific points on the body to cause a desired healing effect. This technique has been used in veterinary practice in China for at least 3000 years to treat many ailments. The Chinese also use acupuncture as preventive medicine against such problems as founder and colic in the horse.

Other sources, like Dr. David Ramey, contrary to that,

The history of veterinary acupuncture has been almost completely distorted by advocates of veterinary acupuncture. Emerging historical evidence shows that veterinary acupuncture is a recent invention, and NOT part of the historical practice of veterinary medicine in China. Furthermore, “Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine” (TCVM), as presented by these same advocates, is nothing more than historical fiction.

In 2004, Dr. Ramey and Dr. Paul Buell, Ph.D., published one of the first articles in the veterinary literature on a factual history of veterinary acupuncture.

ACUPUNCTURE AND ‘TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE’ IN THE HORSE