Ever had a critical episode in your life when a loved one was running out of options? Your mind wandered through the list of every treatment you tried from A to Z until the realization hit you hard that you’re at a deadlock. Your senses went dull. The same is true for pets. Once you hear that your pet doesn’t have much time left, your mind just shuts off. But at the back of your mind, something bugs you about alternatives until you stumble upon a guide to Eastern medicine in pets.
Watch this video about Eastern Medicine practiced in today’s veterinary industry:
It is in these dire situations where hope blossoms unexpectedly. In fact, a number of pet parents had a mindset shift when faced with overwhelming tragedies.
But what exactly about Eastern medicine resulted in this mindset shift? Surely, it couldn’t be a hoax as you’ve seen positive reviews about the practice from various websites and social platforms.
This article will introduce you to Eastern Medicine in pets. So keep an open mind, and get ready for that dramatic shift in your life.
Eastern Medicine in Pets: How it Differs from Western Practice?
Eastern Medicine in pets, also known as Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM), revolves around the philosophy of Daoism. It’s an ancient practice, but it can still be seen in a modern day veterinary clinic setting.
While Western veterinary practice is far advanced (and still is advancing), its system remains incomplete. In contrast, TCVM takes a look into the past to compensate for the blind spots of modern-day veterinary treatments.
The key difference between the two practices lies in how an animal is being diagnosed and treated.
Western medicine focuses on a particular condition and then treats it. On the other hand, Eastern medicine in pets considers the whole constitution of an animal. Consequently, the practitioner curates an encompassing treatment that not only heals the root condition but can also bring some symptom relief.
The Daoist Philosophy of TCVM
The ancient Chinese had this notion that human beings are microcosms of the cosmos. As cosmos have phases, we too mimic this cyclical change, which they call Wu Xing (translates to Five Phases or Five Elements). According to Taoist scholars, the five elements include wood, fire, earth, metal, and water.
The cycle goes like this: Wood generates Fire, which turns to dust (Earth), which promotes the development of Metal, which gives rise to Water, then back to Wood, and so on.
Moreover, everything in the universe corresponds to the vital life force called Qi (pronounced Chi). If you’re familiar with the concept of Yin-Yang, then you probably already have an idea about Qi.
This vital life force manifests in two states, namely Yin and Yang. The two are polar opposites yet somehow complement one another (night/day, man/woman, hot/cold, light/dark, weak/strong, hard/soft). Hence, there is balance.
Once a catalyst upsets this balance (which is normal), then you’re most likely going to be Qi deficient or have Excessive Qi. Simply put, in the context of medicine, something is wrong in your body.
TCVM is a medical practice that aims to restore this balance or harmony. In doing so, the pets’ bodily system returns to its normal state.
Think of it like this: Whenever your pet is stressed, his body releases stress hormones in an unusual amount. His stress level rises up (Qi excess). To relieve the condition, you apply Eastern medicine which regulates his system to normalize his stress level.
It’s natural to feel depressed if your pet is sick and aging. But you should remember yu can always learn about more options to help him improve his quality of life, prevent age-old diseases, and increase his longevity.
Five Fundamentals of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine
There are five fundamental branches in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to regain harmony: Acupuncture, Herbal Medicine, Food Therapy, Tui Na, and Qi-Gong. The last branch, however, is not applied in TCVM.
In this section, we’ll dive deeply into these fundamentals and discover how TCVM can influence your outlook on your pet’s health.
1. Acupuncture
Animal acupuncture made its way into the veterinary field in recent years. It created massive headlines all over the media due to its unique concept of promoting healing.
“So how does acupuncture help my sick cat?”
In living organisms, when your pet is sick, it’s because there is an imbalance in Yin and Yang. This procedure targets specific acupressure points to affect the functions of internal organs. In doing so, it regulates the flow of Qi and thus corrects any excess or deficiency in Yin and Yang.
Although oftentimes used as a sole treatment, this can also serve as a highly successful complementary treatment when paired with Western veterinary procedures and surgery.
Is Animal Acupuncture Safe?
“Okay, but is it safe? Plus, I’ve seen it done in movies where they put a lot of needles into a person’s body. I can tolerate pet injections, but acupuncture..? It includes lots of needles!”
It is a tried and tested method and is a completely safe procedure. A few side effects can be noticed but nothing severe that affects your pet’s daily functions. Usually, your pets may feel lethargic for a day or two because a physiologic change is occurring in its body – the healing stage.
Moreover, the needles are ultra-fine and the procedure does not require sedation.
How Frequent Should I Take My Pet for Acupuncture?
The frequency and session duration depends on the pet’s condition. Chronic conditions usually require 30-minute sessions one or more times per week. Your vet will gauge your pet’s improvement and then decide when to taper off.
Mild conditions may be corrected after one session, depending on your vet’s assessment. Expect that it won’t take long, and there’s a great possibility that a second or third session is no longer required.
What Are the Benefits of Acupuncture for My Pet?
- Stimulates blood flow
- Drug-free pain relief
- Alleviates stiffness, muscle pain, and mobility problems
- Improves digestion
- Aids in treating respiratory problems
2. Herbal Medicine
Remember when grandma grabbed a lemon and honey tea each time you caught a cold? Surprisingly, your condition got better without having to take any pharmaceutical drugs! Herbs work wonders, and that’s not news.
Same goes for herbal medicine in pets. These natural remediesaid both humans and animals. This is the reason why herbal medicines made their way into veterinary practice.
In fact, both Eastern and Western practices use herbs in treating animals. However, these two schools of thought have different ways of using the rich, complex compounds found in plants.
Eastern Herbal Medicine
The concept of Eastern healing lies in the body’s overall aspects to restore its balance. A TCVM veterinarian diagnoses a pet based on a “whole” picture:
- Symptoms
- Causes of the disease
- Duration of the disease
- Emotional temperament
- Overall body constitution
Let’s put it into practice, shall we?
Imagine your pet is having a stomach problem right now. There are various factors that could have resulted in this situation. Your TCVM vet will custom-fit an herbal formula, taking into account the symptoms, causes and duration of the disease, 
emotional temperament, and overall body constitution.
Subsequently, TCVM vets will handpick an herb’s healing properties to directly combat the condition according to its criteria.
In other words, not all pets with stomach problems will have the same formula.
Western Herbal Medicine
In stark contrast, Western herbal medicine treats conditions using single-herb formulas. Practitioners opt for herbs when treating symptoms, not the core condition itself.
For example, you administer an echinacea-based formula when your dog has a cold.
In comparison to Eastern herbal medicine, a patient with stomach problems could be treated with a common formula. Further, the objective for Western herbal medicine is to alleviate symptoms rather than going directly to the root cause of the condition.
3. Food Therapy
Our fast-paced world has influenced the food industry gravely. Processed and instant food have been a long-standing trend, almost pushing food therapy to a point of insignificance.
As a caring pet parent, you have to remind yourself that food plays a vital role in your pet’s survival and overall health. So, introduce healthy meals to your pets as soon as possible.
Food can either nurture health or destroy it completely; it can be health-promoting or disease-causing. The thing is you have a choice, and you can begin as soon as the next meal.
Being conscious about your pet’s diet can go a long way. We have this saying that goes “age starts at 40”. That’s the age where the wasted, unhealthy years finally catch up to us. Like us, pets can also get certain diseases at a certain age if they had unhealthy food intake in the past.
By sticking to a healthful diet, you help prevent certain health conditions that come as your pet ages.
Start your pet’s journey to optimal heath with PET | TAO meals. The brand combines both the philosophy of Eastern and Western veterinary medicine to help your pet maintain or attain balance.
The company also offers natural pet treats and supplements that your pets will surely love. However, don’t just rush into buying pet feeds. It’s important that you know your pet’s constitution.
4. Tui-Na
Ever felt sick and decided to get a massage? How did it feel afterwards? Relaxed and relieved from pain, I bet.
Tui-na (pronounced as twee-naw) is a form of therapeutic massage that targets acupressure points. By stimulating pressure points through pinch and pull, the Yin and Yang harmonize, thereby, restoring the body to its healthy state.
This procedure is a lot like acupuncture minus the needles. Tui-na can be a great alternative. It is important to note, though, that different acupressure points have different amounts of pressure to move the Qi.
Benefits of Tui-Na
There are a lot of benefits to reap from this procedure. The better news is that you can learn this with the guidance of your vet. So when your dog falls ill, you can treat him using this procedure at home. That’s right, you will be able to heal your pet with your very own hands when you follow this path.
Check out how your pet can benefit from Tui-na:
- Manage acute or chronic pain (joints, muscle, skeletal system)
- Reduce pain (neck, shoulders, hips, back, legs)
- Therapeutic (arthritis, pain disorders, sciatica, muscle spasms)
- Alleviate stress-related disorders (insomnia, constipation, digestive upset, respiratory problems, reproductive issues)
Tui-na focuses on restoring balance in physical, mental, and emotional health. If you feel uncomfortable with injecting needles in your pets, try asking your vet’s opinion about Tui-na.
Conclusion
When it comes to the health of your pets, it’s imperative you are aware of all options so that you never have to come to a dead end. No more episodes of your mind shutting off just because you don’t know any better. You have empowered yourself with research, and you are now ready to take on anything with your beloved pet.
Being knowledgeable in both Eastern and Western veterinary medicine and pairing them altogether (when appropriate), guarantees a maximum range of medical care.
Your pet’s life matters. So give him all options necessary so he may live all his days to the fullest – and healthiest!
