More Acupuncture Mechanics

Electrical stimulation is a crucial part of my practice, especially in cases where pain is present. Electro-acupuncture consists in the usual insertion of needles and then connecting them via tiny electrodes to an output channel of an electrical stimulator.

This may sound scary but the stimulators I use are no bigger than my palm, and an electrode is a clip no bigger than a Christmas light bulb. I have not had one animal yet be fearful of this process. I even treat cats with electrical stimulation. Since the desired effect of electrical stimulation is to relieve pain, animals usually love it and often relax very deeply. Some even fall asleep.

Once everything is connected, an alternating current is passed through the skin, and the frequency, waveform and intensity are adjusted to give maximal benefit. This is analogous to manipulating acupuncture needles manually (100 twirls a minute) and allows more than one point to be continuously stimulated at the same time.

Many of my patients are seniors and sadly, many of them have already been suffering from severe arthritis and/or other crippling conditions for many years. Electro-acupuncture, to my knowledge, is the most effective adjunctive tool that can be offered.

On this note I'd like to add that one of my goals is to be able to treat more and more animals who are just starting to be affected by such conditions. Acupuncture, above all, is a preventative tool. There is no need to wait around until your pet becomes so severely crippled that he or she can barely walk anymore. We need to intervene much before.

Dempsey