Basic Principles (courtesy Holistic Horsekeeping) Video: Dr John Perdrizet showing how he does diagnostics with Chines Medicine at Ohana Farm

In addition to the commonly known systems of the body such as the cardiovascular and nervous systems, the body also has an energy system. Energy, or “Qi” (also often spelled “Chi”), as it is known in Chinese medicine, traverses the body through invisible pathways called meridians. It is these meridians which are regulated by acupuncture points. There are six main pairs of twelve different meridians and two unpaired meridians:

• LUNG – LARGE INTESTINE
• HEART – SMALL INTESTINE
• PERICARDIUM – TRIPLE HEATER
• LIVER – GALL BLADDER
• SPLEEN – STOMACH
• KIDNEY – BLADDER
• GOVERNING VESSEL
• CONCEPTION VESSEL

Acupuncture points are located on meridians, and it is these points that control the flow of energy. Dysfunction occurs when the energy flow is blocked or imbalanced, with one meridian containing too much energy and another too little. Imbalances in the meridians can originate directly from blockages in the meridian itself or indirectly from problems in the related organs. The goal of acupuncture is to remove blockages and balance energy flow throughout the entire body.

The Bladder Meridian is one of the most often treated meridians on the horse. It is located along each side of the spine and contains some of the most important Acupuncture points in the body. For example, the Lung and associated Large Intestine Meridians may be affected in a horse recovering from a respiratory infection. These meridians run down the inside and outside respectively of the front leg, therefore, energy blockages in these meridians may cause front leg lameness. The Lung Association point is located on the Bladder Meridian immediately behind the shoulder blade and soreness at this point may cause resistance to tightening of the girth. The Large Intestine Association point is located on the Bladder Meridian in the Middle Gluteal muscle and soreness of this point may result in hind leg lameness.

Acupuncture Points can be stimulated by several methods:

• Acupuncture needles
• Aqua puncture – injecting fluid into point
• Electro-acupuncture – electrical stimulation of points
• Moxibustion – use of heat on points
• Cold laser – use of light on points
• Ultrasound
• Gold beads – implanted surgically
• Magnets

The use of Acupuncture to balance energy in the body is based on the Chinese principle of Yin and Yang. For the body to function at optimum levels it must have a balance of Yin and Yang just as the Earth needs a balance of day and night,summer and winter, etc. Traditional Chinese medicine does not consider viruses or bacteria as causes of disease, instead they recognize External Environmental Pathogens that imbalance our systems allowing these organisms to multiply.

Examples of such pathogens include:

• WIND
• COLD
• HEAT
• DAMP
• DRYNESS
• FIRE

These pathogens can invade at the level of the meridians on the surface of the body or deeper in the body to cause serious disease. Example: Invasion of the Stomach Meridian by Cold would cause stiffness as Cold causes contraction. Since the Stomach Meridian runs over the stifle joint stiffness in this area early in a ride before the horse warms up might be the presenting symptom. Example: Heat invading the Lungs would present as a fever, cough with thick yellow discharge.

These symptoms suggest a systemic or internal imbalance rather than a localized or external one.

Conditions Treated with Acupuncture:

• Lung problems
• Chronic cough
• Allergic bronchitis
• Pneumonia
• Reproductive problems
• Infertility
• Ovarian pain associated with heat cycles
• Scars
• Internal medicine problems
• Organ weakness
• Digestive tract problems
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Excess gas
• Neck problems
• Pain and stiffness
• Nerve inflammation
• Neurologic disorders
• Wobblers
• Nerve damage
• Behavior problems
• Many problems related to pain or energy imbalance
• Chronic pain
• Musculoskeletal disorders
• Navicular
• Arthritis
• Laminitis – acute and chronic
• Tying up or azoturia
• Colic (acute and chronic)
• Acute and chronic conditions