Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) is a system developed over 3,500 years ago to treat animals using ancient Chinese techniques. It’s derived from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), which includes acupuncture, herbal medicine, Tui-na (medical massage), food therapy, meditation and exercise, although, in the veterinary world we focus on the first four.
TCVM focuses on the balance of the organism and the patterns of disease. This means that if an imbalance is found prior to the resulting disease, we can use these techniques as a preventative measure to keep individuals healthy. Western medicine shines with sudden or extreme conditions, ie. infection, broken bones; Eastern medicine fills in with the long term or ongoing problems, such as arthritis, allergies, neurologic conditions, IBD. Together, they can help patients stay healthy, or get back into a healthy state.
The system begins with the balance of Yin-Yang and the Five Element Theory. Yin-Yang is a phenomena of opposites: cold vs. hot, deficiency vs. excess, in vs. out. Using the image of a Yin-Yang, you can see that there is a little Yin within Yang, and vice versa, when perfectly in balance. Yin-Yang create and control one another, there is no such thing as heat without cold, and both will mutually destroy the other if one is stronger. This leads us to our diagnosis of imbalances within the body’s natural Yin or Yang properties, and our treatment principles to return the body to balance. The Five Element Theory includes Earth, Metal, Water, Wood and Fire. Each element is associated with organs within the body and their associated jobs. Earth is comprised of the spleen/pancreas and the stomach, and performs digestion. Metal is comprised of the lungs and large intestine, and performs respiration and elimination. Water is comprised of the kidneys and urinary bladder, and performs the urinary plumbing/waste. Wood is comprised of liver and gall bladder, and performs toxic processing. Fire is comprised of the heart, small intestine, triple heater and pericardium, and performs circulation of the blood, hormones and nutrients. You can find more information in our blogs!
With an understanding of these theories, one can diagnosis and treat and prevent disease for any organism using tools such as acupuncture, Tui-na, food and herbal therapies.
Overall, as our Western medicine continues to evolve, as does the Eastern counterpart. More research is performed to study the techniques and their effects and modifications to practice are made. Both Eastern and Western medicines have their limitations, but together, they promote a healthy, happy, and long life for the patient.
Find out how TCVM can help your pet spend more quality time with its owners here.
Written with Love and Qi- Dr. Sharon Cubelo