Battle Ground Veterinary Clinic, P.C.

Integrative Care

Traditional Chinese and Integrative Medicine

What is Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine? Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) is based on the premise that organs and systems of the body are interdependent, thus when there is a problem in one area it will affect the others. These relationships are often conceptualized by the Five Elements and the balance of Yin and Yang. According to Chinese philosophy, disease is an imbalance of energy in the body. Disease diagnosis is made by pattern differentiation to determine the nature of the disharmony. Western diagnostic methods are often used in conjunction with eastern observation techniques to arrive at the most accurate possible diagnosis.

What treatment methods are used in TCVM?  Acupuncture is just one therapy based on balancing the energy and correcting the flow of energy, thereby healing the animal. TCVM involves several possible modalities for maintaining or achieving balance in an animal’s body.  Herbal medicines, Tui Na (bodywork), food therapy, and Feng Shui are useful tools in maintaining optimal health.

What is Qi? The ancient Chinese discovered that the health of the body depends on the state of Qi (pronounced chee). Qi is the life force or vital energy comprising of two opposite forms: Yin and Yang. Physiologically, Qi flows throughout the body 24 hours per day, maintaining a balance of Yin and Yang. When the flow of Qi is interrupted by any pathological factor (such as virus or bacteria), the balance of Yin and Yang will be lost and consequently a disease may occur. Pain is also interpreted as the blockage of Qi flow. Acupuncture stimulation works by resolving these blockages, freeing the flow of Qi and enabling the body to heal itself. Homeostasis is restored when Yin and Yang Qi are in balance.

What is integrative medicine? Because no method of medicine has all the answers are there are advantages and disadvantages to each, multiple methods can be integrated for diagnosis and treatment of the whole being.

      Western medicine is excellent at arriving at a specific diagnosis. However, it often does not address the whole patient. Treatments are generally standardized and not easily tailored to individual needs. Medications used to treat one disease may cause problems in other areas.

      TCVM looks at the whole being. Diagnosis begins with careful observation of Shen (spirit and mind) followed by different evaluation techniques to identify disharmonies in the body. A pattern differentiation diagnosis is made and treatment is initiated to assist a nuatural return to normal balance. Health is balance of mind, body, and spirit.

      Western diagnostics are invaluable in assisting in a TCVM diagnosis. Western medications often have pronounced TCVM properties and can assist in a more rapid recorvery. When integrating these two methods, the veterinarian is awarded a hugely diverse array of tools to treat each individual patient.

Information courtesy of Dr. Shen Huisheng Xie and The Chi Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine