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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine?

Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM), although relatively new to the Western world, is a medical system that has been used to treat animals in China for thousands of years. It's an adaptation and extension of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), which is used to treat humans. Speaking broadly, Chinese Medicine is a complete body of thought and practice grounded in Chinese Daoist philosophy. Though it can be traced back over two millennia in recorded history, it, like any medical system, continues to evolve today. Current research on acupuncture and herbal medicine is beginning to shed light on its mechanism of action.

What are the Four Branches of TCVM?

Though the terms Chinese Medicine and acupuncture are often used interchangeably in Western societies, acupuncture is actually only one modality or “branch” of TCM and TCVM. There are actually four branches of TCVM – Acupuncture, Herbal Medicine, Food Therapy and Tui-na. 

Acupuncture is a treatment that involves the stimulation of points, achieved through the insertion of specialized needles into the body. Acupuncture points typically lie along the body’s Meridian Channels where Qi flows. Most veterinary acupuncture points and Meridian lines are transposed to animals from humans, however, we are fortunate to have knowledge of some species-specific “classical points” from ancient times.

dogHerbal Medicine, as the name suggests, utilizes herbal ingredients listed within the Chinese Herbal Materia Medica to treat specific disease patterns. Herbal formulas are administered orally and are typically given in powder form to horses and other large animals and in tea pill or capsule form to cats and dogs.

Food Therapy is the use of diet to treat and prevent imbalance within the body. This therapy utilizes knowledge of the energetics of food ingredients to tailor diets for individual animals.

Tui-na is a form of Chinese medical massage in which different manipulations are applied to acupoints and Meridians to promote the circulation of Qi and correct imbalances within the organ systems.

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