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,

Here is a wonderful article explaining the use of Chinese herbs.

Understanding Chinese Herbal Medicine
Part 1
By Jingduan Yang, M.D.

Chinese herbal medicine is one of the major clinical healing modalities in the ancient Chinese medical system. It is not as well-known as acupuncture, possibly due to its complexity and lack of immediate effects compared to acupuncture, which can reduce pain quickly.

Chinese herbal medicine is not quite an accurate description of this modality because it employs herbs or plants, minerals, insects (silkworm skin, for example), sea creatures (oyster shells), and animal products.

People who seek help from a practitioner of Chinese herbal medicine are very often confused by what medicines might do to them, how they work, and how they are prepared.

One of the common misperceptions of Chinese herbal medicines is that they are chemical agents like other medications or vitamins. Indeed, there are a lot of chemical agents in each of the individual herbs. Sometimes, they contain extracts, which are particular chemical components that are made into medicines.
To read more of this article Click Here

Four Paws Acupuncture offers nutritional and herbal phone consultations Click here for more info

Medicinal Mushrooms Help Dogs with Cancer

Many of my dog patients diagnosed with cancer have been taking the K-9 Immunity formula by Aloha Medicinals Inc. This product contains several medicinal mushrooms used in Traditional Chinese Medicine herbal formulas to boost the immune system.

The formula is organic and 100% made in the USA.
• Agaricus blazei
• Cordyceps sinenis hybrid
• Lentinula edodes
• Grifola frondosa
• Ganoderma lucidum
• Coriolus versicolor

I highly recommend this formula to all those dogs who have been diagnosed with cancer. I believe it is one of the reasons many of my dog patients diagnosed with cancer are still alive and doing well.

Please note that this is not the only company that makes an excellent mushroom formula! There are several others out there. Ask your acupuncturist to recommend a formula best suited for you dog’s needs.

www.alohamedicinals.com/k9immunity

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

One of the most popular breed of dogs here in New England is the Labrador Retriever. They are smart, fun and food obsessed. I love treating labs. They are usually good natured and very well behaved for their acupuncture sessions as long as there is food involved. It is very important to maintain a balanced and healthy diet for labs since they can become overweight.

This information is from Wikipedia

The Labrador Retriever (also Labrador, Labby, or Lab for short) is one of several kinds of retriever, a type of gun dog. The Labrador is the most popular breed of dog (by registered ownership) in the world, and is by a large margin the most popular breed by registration in the United States (since 1991), and the United Kingdom. It is also the most popular breed of assistance dog in the United States, Australia, and many other countries, as well as being widely used by police and other official bodies for their detection and working abilities. They are exceptionally affable, gentle, intelligent, energetic and good natured,and Labradors are generally considered good companions for people of all ages (including a high level of patience and tolerance for children), making them both excellent companions and working dogs. With training, the Labrador is one of the most dependable, obedient and multi-talented breeds in the world

There are three recognized colors for Labs: black (a solid black color), yellow (anything from light cream to gold to “fox-red”), and chocolate (medium to dark brown). There are no such things as silver or golden Labradors, a common mistake for the Yellow variant. There is also a black-and-tan coat type, but this coat color is the least popular as it renders the Labrador un-showable except in the UK.

Inherited disorders

* Labs are somewhat prone to hip and elbow dysplasia, especially the larger dogs, though not as much as some other breeds. Hip scores are recommended before breeding.
* Labs also suffer from the risk of knee problems. A luxating patella is a common occurrence in the knee where the leg is often bow shaped.
* Eye problems are also possible in some Labs, particularly progressive retinal atrophy, cataracts, corneal dystrophy and retinal dysplasia. Dogs which are intended to be bred should be examined by a veterinary ophthalmologist for an eye score.
* Hereditary myopathy, a rare inherited disorder that causes a deficiency in type II muscle fiber.
* There is a small incidence of other conditions, such as autoimmune diseases and deafness in labs, either congenitally or later in life.”

Many of the ailments that labs suffer from can be treated with acupuncture and Traditional Chinese medicine for relief of painful symptoms. For more information on acupuncture for your lab please visit www.fourpawsacupuncture.com