Evidence-Based Application of Acupuncture in Theriogenology

Abstract

Historical evidence of acupuncture predates written history. It has been a component of Traditional Chinese veterinary medicine for many generations and is officially recognized in recorded history for treating equine disease in the Zhou Dynasty, circa 1050 BC. Drawing from a range of searchable databases, we present the use of veterinary acupuncture related to theriogenology. We touch on human-based medicine only as an introduction to current uses within veterinary medical acupuncture. This review is confined to the use of acupuncture encompassing dry needle, electroacupuncture, aquapuncture, and the few reports of laserpuncture. Starting with acupuncture's influence on the master organs of reproduction, the hypothalamus and the pituitary glands, and the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, we then review reports specific to the gonads-ovaries and testicles-and then its influences on the uterus. From there, we review reports on the influence of acupuncture on pain associated with reproductive surgery, and finally, on the use of acupuncture for maternal lactation. Based on published reports, we conclude that acupuncture has been shown to be effective in many situations as a treatment for infertility and/or reproductive tract disfunction, resulting in improvements in both female and male patients.

Keywords: acupuncture; aquapuncture; electro-acupuncture; laserpuncture; theriogenology.

Figure 1

XXH-IIA Acupoint Diagnosis and Therapeutic Instrument used in this study; the white arrow points from the 1.5 cm diameter surface electrode probe to a diagram of the 9 sub-electrodes embedded in the probe head used to detect the area of lowest resistance within the acupoint; the probe on the left is the reference electrode; in this study an alligator clip electrode was used at the reference acupoint Wei-ben (used with permission).

Figure 2

Location of acupoints Yan-pang, Shen-pang, Luan-chao, and Wei-ben used in this study and their relationship to other classical acupoints of cows. The new bovine acupoint Yan-pang (red circle) is located by identifying Bai-hui at the lumbosacral space on the midline and moving cranioventrally to the muscular depression at a line parallel to the cranial edge of the transverse processes of the 5th lumbar vertebra (left and right pictures). The other new bovine acupoint Shen-pang (red circle) is located by identifying Bai-hui at the lumbosacral space on the midline and moving caudoventrally, along the popliteal groove of the gluteus medius to the depression at the intersection of the grooves of the gluteus medius and the biceps flexor cruris (left and right pictures). The classical acupoint Luan-chao is located at the craniolateral edge of the transverse process of the 4th lumbar vertebra in line with Yan-pang (right picture). The classical acupoint Wei-ben is located on the ventral side of the tail between the 5th and 6th caudal vertebrae (left picture). (Used with permission).