Acupuncture for Pets Now.

[DCal430]

So it seems people are getting acupuncture for their pets now too.

http://ucdavismagazine.ucdavis.edu/issues/sp12/news_notes.html#news_1

 

[Dr. Zaus]

I've alwase put needles in my pets: what's the big deal?

 

[Capt Caveman]

Hey, the OP learned something today.

 

[alkemyst]

yes folks, the very same medicine that works on humans can indeed work on other animals, especially those in the Chordata/Vertebrata Phylum.

who'd have thunk it.

 

[ichy]

yes folks, the very same medicine that works on humans can indeed work on other animals, especially those in the Chordata/Vertebrata Phylum.

Except that acupuncture isn't medicine and the evidence that it works is pretty weak.

 

[Capt Caveman]

I know that it helped one of my dogs in relieving back pain. I also know several people that used acupuncture to relieve back pain. One of them was a competitive runner and had to stop due to back issues, acupuncture allowed him to run again without pain.

Acupuncture doesn't relieve/remedy all ailments but the science is pretty simple, stimulate an area to promote additional blood flow to promote healing.

 

[waffleironhead]

I was pretty skeptical about this kinda medicine until my wife took one of our dogs to a weekend class on eastern medicine. My dog is a German Short Haired Pointer, and for anyone who does not know, these dogs a very energetic. We got her when we lived in the country and she a acres to run on. Now we live in town and while she gets walks and dog park time, she is still energetic and crazy. The Vet/instructor took one look at my dog(elektra) and proclaimed her to have an imbalance in her yin/yang. Elektra was spinning in circles and looking agitated. The instructor placed one needle on Elektra's forehead and the dog immediately laid down and went to sleep. She's been pretty mellow ever since the treatment.

 

[Bateluer]

Except that acupuncture isn't medicine and the evidence that it works is pretty weak.

Heh, been around for thousands of years so people people obviously get benefit from it.

Not sure how'd it work on animals though, they can't give any feedback. But, the chiropractic care on dogs and cats seems to be pretty successful.

 

[Gibsons]

Heh, been around for thousands of years so people people obviously get benefit from it.

Astrology's been around a long time too.

 

[ichy]

Astrology's been around a long time too.

Beat me to it. People have been doing retarded shit and calling it medicine for a looong time. Doesn't make quackery any less absurd.

 

[alkemyst]

Except that acupuncture isn't medicine and the evidence that it works is pretty weak.

It is a form of medicine, probably one of the oldest known to man. Whether you agree or not is irrelevant.

 

[ichy]

It is a form of medicine, probably one of the oldest known to man. Whether you agree or not is irrelevant.

What IS relevant is the fact that the supposed mechanism of action behind acupuncture is laughable, and the evidence of efficacy is weak. These are not just my opinions.

 

[jagec]

It is a form of medicine, probably one of the oldest known to man. Whether you agree or not is irrelevant.

Yup, the placebo effect IS the oldest form of medicine known to mankind.

Probably because it works.

 

[WelshBloke]

I know that it helped one of my dogs in relieving back pain. I also know several people that used acupuncture to relieve back pain. One of them was a competitive runner and had to stop due to back issues, acupuncture allowed him to run again without pain.

Acupuncture doesn't relieve/remedy all ailments but the science is pretty simple, stimulate an area to promote additional blood flow to promote healing.

I'd say if that is the science behind it they are on fairly shaky ground.

 

[alkemyst]

Yup, the placebo effect IS the oldest form of medicine known to mankind.

Probably because it works.

Placebo effect is the cry of the uneducated.

 

[alkemyst]

I'd say if that is the science behind it they are on fairly shaky ground.

Most things like laser and IR treatment are used to do exactly this.

 

[SaDiZTiKStyLeZ]

I've been doing acupuncture on my cats for years. Old school style.

Put cat in a cage. Puncture holes in kitty with a nail gun.

Bloody good time.

 

[WelshBloke]

Placebo effect is the cry of the uneducated.

Why? Theres a lot of credible evidence for the placebo effect.

 

[WelshBloke]

Most things like laser and IR treatment are used to do exactly this.

So sticking a very thin needle in the surface of your skin can stimulate the blood flow in a back injury?

 

[Mr. Pedantic]

It is a form of medicine, probably one of the oldest known to man. Whether you agree or not is irrelevant.

So was bloodletting. Whether it's old or not has nothing to do with whether it works or not.

Seems bizarre we don't bloodlet any more (apart from for haemochromatosis), but we still let people do acupuncture.

Yup, the placebo effect IS the oldest form of medicine known to mankind.

Probably because it works.

Depends on how you define 'works'. It'll make everyone feel better all round. But it won't really improve much.

I'd say if that is the science behind it they are on fairly shaky ground.

Acupuncturists don't even know if that's what happens. A lot of their studies are just anomaly hunting - let's look really hard at these people and try to pick out anything that might be different from people who don't get acupuncture. The problem is that they can't predict the anomalies and they disappear when they try to do any kind of rigorous study stating the anomalies prospectively; probably because the anomalies were due to chance anyway.

Placebo effect is the cry of the uneducated.

So that's where we are now. Americans are uneducated.

 

[Capt Caveman]

So sticking a very thin needle in the surface of your skin can stimulate the blood flow in a back injury?

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/acupuncture/MY00946

In contrast, many Western practitioners view the acupuncture points as places to stimulate nerves, muscles and connective tissue. This stimulation appears to boost the activity of your body's natural painkillers and increase blood flow.

 

[alkemyst]

This subject is far too broad and requires a level of knowledge base most are lacking here.

 

[WelshBloke]

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/acupuncture/MY00946

How does that stimulate things more than, say, rubbing some dirt on it?

 

[Capt Caveman]

How does that stimulate things more than, say, rubbing some dirt on it?

If you can't figure out the difference, I can't help you.

 

[Gibsons]

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/acupuncture/MY00946

From the same site

The benefits of acupuncture are sometimes difficult to measure, but many people find it helpful as a means to control a variety of painful conditions.

Several studies, however, indicate that some types of simulated acupuncture appear to work just as well as real acupuncture. There also is evidence that acupuncture works best in people who expect it to work.

Since acupuncture has few side effects, it may be worth a try if you're having trouble controlling pain with more-conventional methods.