Complementary therapies :

"The mind works like a parachute - it is best when it is open"

Acupuncture

How does it work?

Acupuncture involves the stimulation of specific points in the body by the insertion of very fine stainless steel needles. This leads to the body's release of natural painkillers and the modification of the pain pathways to the brain and the spinal cord. In Chinese medicine, the state of health is seen as being in balance, with energy Qi (Chee) flowing smoothly through the body. Disease and pain are a state of imbalance, a sign of blocked Qi. Acupuncture can help to restore the body to it's equilibrium.

What happens?

During the first consultation, Stephanie will take an in depth history of you pet followed by an examination and a pulse check. Needles are inserted, and left in place for 10 - 20 minutes. The placement of needles will depend on each individual case, points may vary from treatment to treatment, depending on the response from the patient.

In the hands of a properly trained acupuncturist, your pet will not feel any discomfort at all. Inserting the needles to the proper depth and angle, manipulating them during the treatment and removing them all are techniques that can be achieved only through training and extensive practice.
This is why it is so important to consult a properly trained veterinary acupuncturist.

Some animals will show a dramatic improvement after only one treatment, although on average 4 - 6 treatments are required to achieve the desired effect.

Top up treatments are usually required, but the long term goal is to reduce these to a minimum.

Conditions Treated

* Arthritis related pain and stiffness
* Hip dysplasia
* Urinary / Faecal incontinence
* Lick granulomas
* Chronic infections
* Chronic kidney failure
* Paralysis
* Immune disorders
* Epilepsy
* Asthma
* Skin problems
* Diarrhoea
* Vomiting

The cost is covered by most insurance companies!

Ancient art to modern medicine

The origins of Acupuncture began in Asia over 5000 years ago and evidence has been found of its use in the stone ages. For animals it became an important treatment in India and China. So as a form of healing, Acupuncture has had field tests spanning 5000 years and an application on a sizable segment of the worlds population, this makes Acupuncture arguably the most widely practised and thoroughly tested technique in history.

Acupuncture has been particularly successful in the management of chronic pain and disease. It has become increasingly accepted as a useful addition to conventional medicine.
It is also currently used in several veterinary colleges in the UK for post-operative pain management,

Our Acupuncturist - Stephanie Lange-Cook MRCVS

I have been practising Acupuncture for over a decade now. Why? you may ask! as a new graduate I found out quickly that there are real limitations to conventional treatments. The lack of treatment options for chronic and often debilitating conditions lead me to Acupuncture.

A short weekend course opened a whole new world of treatment and medical concepts, which left me with the need to learn more.

In the years 2000 and 2001 I completed the modular course of IVAS (International Veterinary Acupuncture Society), which helped me to understand some of the basis of Acupuncture and Chinese medicine - 10 years on and I'm still learning!

Acupuncture has given me a better understanding of disease and the role our environment has on us and our pets.

It is another tool in the box, often more subtle and effective than others, never to be seen as a miracle cure and always used in conjunction with conventional medicine.