Avian acupuncture

Abstract

In both ancient and present-day China, avian acupuncture has been used in domestic fowl kept as food animals only. For the progressive western veterinarian, there is a place for acupuncture as a complement to the practice of conventional avian medicine. The nature and origin of the class Aves render them more responsive than mammals to traditional acupuncture techniques. When acupuncture is appropriately applied, the response is positive and rewarding. A working familiarity with avian anatomy and taxonomy is a prerequisite to location and manipulation of avian points. A descriptive text of currently documented avian acupoints is presented.