According to ancient Chinese medical philosophy, disease is the result of an imbalance of chi, or life force, in the body. Acupuncture is believed to balance this energy and thereby assist the body in healing from disease.
In Western terms, acupuncture helps the body to heal itself by affecting certain physiological changes. These changes can include: nerve stimulation, an increase in blood circulation, muscle spasm relief, and the release of hormones, such as endorphins (one of the body’s pain control chemicals) and cortisol (a natural steroid).
Although many of acupuncture’s physiological effects have been studied, there are many more potential uses still unknown. Further research must be done to discover all of acupuncture’s effects and its proper uses in veterinary medicine.
