A comparison of the traditional Chinese versus transpositional zangfu organ association acupoint locations in the horse

Abstract

The traditional Chinese (TC) and transpositional (TP) methods of animal acupoint location result in different acupoint charts. Representative TC and TP equine zangfu organ shu-association acupoint charts are compared to each other and to a human chart. Despite their differences, practitioners of both methods appear to achieve equally effective therapeutic results--a phenomenon termed "traditional Chinese/transpositional equal efficacy" (TTEE). Common veterinary acupuncture practices, traditional Chinese medical theory, spinal cord anatomy, and a preliminary equine "association segment" chart are proposed to explain TTEE. The differences between the charts indicate that all documented animal acupoint locations should be explicitly described.