Swami Dogananda
Patron of flea ridden homeless dogs who has vowed to stay in embodiment until all dogs are adopted into good homes.

To see more unusual greeting cards visit:
http://www.zazzle.com/planetcalamari

Oriental medicine is a very broad and complete system of holistic healthcare. Acupuncture is the most famous technique, but it also includes other modalities such as herbal medicine, tui na massage, cupping and moxabustion.

Moxibustion is the process of burning the herb Mugwort (Artemesia Vulgaris), over specific acupuncture points and channels. When treating dogs I use a moxa stick, which resembles a large cigar. It is lit and held about an inch or more away from the dog’s fur above the point or area to be treated.

Moxa is used to warm regions and acupuncture points with the intention of stimulating circulation through the points and inducing a smoother flow of blood and chi. It is especially effective relieving pain made worse by cold damp weather.

Dogs usually respond in a positive way to a moxa session. There are a few who do not like the smell or the smoke. … and sometimes their owners do not either!

The one unfortunate side effect of burning moxa during a house call is that it also smells very similar to an illegal substance once very popular in the sixties! The smell does not last a long time and can be eliminated quickly if there is an air filter in the home or if a few scented candles are lit during or after the session.

The smell of moxa may give this therapy a stinky reputation but the positive results are worth it!
If you would like to learn more about Traditional Chinese therapies used for people visit www.MyAcuDoc.com

If you or your dog are experiencing movement problems or pain, or you are just interested in preventative health, try acupuncture!

Acupuncture is a time-tested clinically effective solution to the stresses and health problems of you and your pets in our modern times. The effects of acupuncture and herbal therapy are gentle yet very effective for a wide range of health problems, and it is a cost-effective method to regain and maintain the health of your pet.

Jeanie Marie Kraft, L.Ac. is keeping tails wagging on the North Shore of MA with K9 acupuncture house-calls. Gift certificates are available for house calls or nutritional/herbal consultations for your dog. For more information please visit
FourPawsAcupuncture.com

Dogs…does your pet human need an acupuncture treatment? Gift Certificates are now available at The Acupuncture Center of Salem for acupuncture and/or herbal therapy. Visit the website at www.MyAcuDoc.com for more information.

Wishing you and your family a Happy Holiday Season,

Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Day is observed annually on October 24. It is designed to increase public awareness of the progress, promise, and benefits of acupuncture and Oriental medicine

To learn more about the theories and history of oriental medicine visit www.www.aaaomonline.org

For more information on how acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine can help humans stay healthy visit www.myacudoc.com. Visit the Four Paws Acupuncture website to see how Traditional Chinese Medicine is used for dogs.

Four Paws Acupuncture Clients receive 30% off your first acupuncture visit with Norm Kraft at the Acupuncture Center of Salem. Offer expires November 20, 2009

If you book an acupuncture appointment at the Acupuncture Center of Salem between now and October 24th, 2009, you can get 50% off a massage at Spirit Wellness Center of Salem.

Coupons and more information available when you come in for your appointment. Don’t miss out!

Treating Hip Dysplasia with Acupuncture

Canine hip dysplasia, is an abnormal development of the ball-in-socket joint that makes up the hip. In a dysplastic hip, the ball which is the head of the femur, or thighbone, and the socket known as the acetabulum, do not fit together properly. Therefore when the dog bears its weight on the joint, it leads to painful and damaging friction.

Kobe is a feisty 5 year old Collie mix who was diagnosed with hip dysplasia and arthritis in the winter of 2007. He is a very active dog who had been training in agility and free-style dancing. He is also a therapy dog.

Kobe’s owner began to notice that he was limping and seemed to be in pain after his training sessions. Conventional medicine was not easing his symptoms so she turned to Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Kobe began his acupuncture sessions in late winter of 2008. In addition to acupuncture, we changed his diet to a better brand of dog food which did not contain any wheat, corn or soy. These ingredients can exacerbate pain and allergies.

A few supplements such as Halo’s Hip Hip Hooray was added to his regime as well. A Chinese herbal liniment was used in conjunction with Tui Na (a form of Chinese massage). The liniment helped to ease his pain and reduced inflammation which seemed to be worse on cold damp days. Kobe seemed to enjoy his massage after each session.

After his third acupuncture session Kobe chased a rabbit and after his sixth session, Kobe was able to return to his Freestyle dance class. His owner said “He still has a bad day every now and then, but those sad, pain filled eyes are gone and my happy, loving therapy dog Kobe is back!”

To read more about Kobe and other dogs who have been helped with Traditional Chinese Medicine, visit the Four Paws Acupuncture Happy Dogs page!

To learn more how TCM and acupuncture can help hip dysplasia and arthritis visit:
www.squidoo.com/canine-arthritis-acupuncture

The Golden Retriever is one of my favorite dogs to work with. They have an easy going disposition and are usually very happy dogs. They are cooperative during acupuncture sessions, love to be massaged and are very food driven.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

The Golden Retriever is a breed of dog, historically developed as a gundog to retrieve shot waterfowl and upland game during hunting. As such they were bred to have a soft mouth to retrieve game undamaged and an instinctive love of water. Their intelligence and versatility sees them employed in a variety of roles including illegal drug detection, search and rescue, as hunting dogs and as guide dogs. Its friendly, eager-to-please and patient demeanor has made it one of the most popular family dogs (by registration) in the world.

The temperament of the Golden Retriever is a hallmark of the breed and is described in the standard as “kindly, friendly and confident”. They are not “one man dogs” and are generally equally amiable with both strangers and those familiar to them. Their trusting, gentle disposition therefore makes them a poor guard dog. Any form of unprovoked aggression or hostility towards either people, dogs or other animals, whether in the show ring or community, is completely unacceptable in a Golden Retriever and is not in keeping with the character of the breed and as such is considered a serious fault. Nor should a Golden Retriever be unduly timid or nervous. The typical Golden Retriever is calm, naturally intelligent and biddable, with an exceptional eagerness to please

Health
The median life span for Golden Retrievers is approximately 10 to 12 years. They do very well in small living areas of at least 500 sq. feet. While the breed is recognized for its vitality, many retrievers are susceptible to specific ailments. A responsible breeder will proactively minimize the risk of illness by having the health of dogs in breeding pairs professionally assessed and selected on the basis of complementary traits.

Breeding Golden Retrievers can be profitable for puppy mills and backyard breeders. As a result of careless breeding for profit, Goldens are prone to genetic disorders and other diseases. Hip dysplasia is very common in the breed; when buying a puppy in the US the parents should be examined by the OFA or by PennHIP for hip disease.”

Most of the Goldens I treat with TCM and acupuncture suffer from arthritis and hip or elbow dysplasia. A change of diet along with regular acupuncture treatments and supplements such as fish oil are very beneficial to keeping these wonderful dogs healthy and happy in their old age.

www.MyAcuDoc.com

www.4pawsacupuncture.com

PLEASE NOTE: This information is for humans with allergies not dogs with allergies. I will be posting more information soon for dogs suffering with allergies.

Allergy season is almost here. If you suffer from springtime allergies try adding a little raw, unfiltered local honey to your tea every morning. Try to find honey that is made within 20 miles of your home.

The theory behind this remedy is that daily exposure to a small amount of an allergen can desensitize the body. This helps the body to resist the allergen in the long run.

Other ways to boost your immune system during this allergy season:

* Get more sleep.
* Take your vitamins.
* Soak in a warm bath infused with apple cider vinegar.
* Add garlic to your meals.
* Breath….Relax… Laugh!
* Get a massage.
* Get an Acupuncture Tune-Up
Visit the The Acupuncture Center of Salem for more information on acupuncture for people.

This is one of my patients, Nikki a feisty nine year old Schnauzer who just recently celebrated her ninth birthday. During the summer of 2005, Nikki somehow man-aged to injure her rear cruciate ligament.

You can read all about how traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture, a change of diet and a whole lot of love helped Nikki on www.squidoo.com/canine-cruciate-ligament

To read about more dogs who had positive results with acupuncture and TCM please visit the Four Paws Acupuncture Happy Dogs page.