Providing Holistic Veterinary Services

Veterinary Acupuncture and Alternative Therapies

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can be broken into Five Branches:

           Acupuncture

           Herbology

           Tui-Na

           Food Therapy

           Exercise (including Qi-gong and Tai Chi)

 

           Most people are familiar with acupuncture, but the four other branches are equally important for not only treating disease but maintaining balance within the body. TCM teaches the idea that a well balanced body (and mind) will be immune to disease, whether it arises from internal or external causes. It teaches one not only how to treat a sick body, but how to maintain the body in a balanced state and avoid disease in the first place. There is also little distinction between the body, mind, and spirit. These three elements are intimately inter-twined, and inbalance in one will negatively impact the others. Consider Tai Chi—this form of exercise helps maintain muscle tone and suppleness through fluid movement and challenging one’s balance. It is also an extremely difficult workout for the mind; it requires a quiet and focused mind to maintain the flow of the movements. This form of exercise challenges body and mind to help keep them both in top shape. Many people are turning to TCM for treatment because of its emphasis on the body as a “whole” entity instead of just parts that work in chorus. Addressing all aspects of disease, the emotional and spiritual aspects as well as the physical, is one of the many strengths of TCM. 

 

          

What is Tcm?