By:
Ajda Konjedic, DVM
Phone: 0038631440502
Abstract:
With acupuncture therapies I successfully treated Icelandic sport horse’s osteoporosis and bone split pain without using analgetics and antiinflamatories which have secondary effects.
The horse needed a few dry needle acupuncture therapies to feel better. A Moxa cigar was used to warm needles during the first two sessions. I prescribed him the Chinese herbs Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan. Sölvi had four acupuncture dry needle therapies (one per week).The fifth and the sixth treatment were done two weeks apart. Afterwards he got treated every third week. Currently I am doing acupuncture therapies every two months.
At the moment, Sölvi is happily running with his horse friends in a field without problems. The owner decided to retire him and is now using him as a school horse only.
That being said, it is undoubteful that the acupuncture therapies combined with Chinese herbs have been very beneficial for the horse with musculo-
skeletal problems and have improved his quality of life.
History:
Sölvi, Icelandic sport horse, male, castrated, 16 years old, was presented for an acupuncture consultation on the 8th of January 2016 with 2 months history of kaheksia, no apatite, no muscle volume and difficulties with standing up (rear limbs were trembling). At the age of 7 when his owner bought him, he was diagnosed with bone split (based on radiographs). In November 2015 the osteoporosis of carpal joints was diagnosed (based on radiographs). The blood tests showed no abnormalities.
Clinical signs/diagnostics/diagnosis-conventional (western):
At the time of clinical examination Sölvi was underweight and laying all the time. When the owner approached him, he stood up with difficulties. His caudal back area was weak. Caudal back muscles were poor in volume and trembling. Two large decubitus were present on his back left leg. There was very little not well formulated stool found in his stable. The owner started to notice that his stool changed by the end of summer 2015. There was a green-yellow discharge coming out of his nose and eyes. He did not eat anything and seemed to be in serious pain.. He was diagnosed with bone split and osteoporosis based on clinical signs, his history and Western diagnosis (radiographs) done previously.
Clinical signs/diagnosis TCM (Eastern):
Solvi has a very beautiful character, although he is a litte bit fearful sometimes. He is a water type constitution. During TCM exam back shu points of kidney, spleen, liver and gall bladder were sensitive. Mu points at the position of kidney, spleen, liver and gall bladder were also sensitive. Kidney Ting point was very reactive. His coat was very dry and a lot of hair was falling out. The ears, back area, tail and extremitetes were cold. Tongue was sticky and pale with yellow tongue coat. His pulse was really weak. The owner noticed that recently the horse started to eat a lot of soil.
A diagnosis of Bony Bi sindrome with Yang deficiency was made based on the history of pain, cold extremitetes, ears and tail, lose of weight and weakness in caudal back area.
Western treatment:
Osteoporosis of carpal joints was treated with the injection of horse own trombocits. He did not undergo any Western tretments for bone split.
Treatment with TCM medicine:
Treatment principle:
-relieve pain and improve mobility
-reinforce Qi
-Benefit Blood
-tonify Yang with moxa
-tonify Kidney, Liver and Spleen
During all acupuncture treatments dry needling 0,26x 25mm was used for 20 minutes. During the first two acupuncture therapies needles were warmed with moxa cigar (Artemisia Vulgaris). Chinese herbs Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan 8gr. per day were prescribed.
- acupuncture session 8.1.2016
Kd3 (Ran Gu)
-in the depression on the medial aspect of hock area, in the middle of the webbed area cranial to the calcaneal tendon, at the level of the tip of tuber calcanei
–Earth, Source and Shu-stream point, tonifies Kidneys and benefits the Essence and the Kidney function of dominating Water metabolism, strenghtness the caudal back, local problems in the hock area, caudal back pain
Ht7 (Shen Men)
-in the depression on the caudal aspect of carpus where the two tendons of insertion of the extensor carpi ulnaris depart from one another, just proximal to the dorsal aspect of the accessory carpal bone.
-Earth, Sedation, Source (Yuan) and Shu-Stream point, local point for carpal problems
St 36 (Zun San Li)
-in the depression just lateral to the tibial crest, in the muscular groove between the tibialis cranialis and he long digital extensor muscle, 2 cun distal to the proximal edge of the tibial crest.
-Master point for the abdomen and gastrointestinal tract, earth, He-Sea point and Horary point, benefits the Spleen function of transformation and transportation, tonifies Qi and Blood, all gastrointestinal problems, immunostimulation, anorexia
Li10 (Shou San Li)
-in the depressionin the muscolar groove between extensor carpi radialis and the common digital extensor of the forelimb , 2 cun distal to the transverse cubitalč crease.
-having powerful Qi and Blood tonic effect, gastrointestinal point
Bai Hui
-in the depression on the dorsal midline in the lumbosacral space
-point at which all Yang meridians merge, local problems, any problem in the hindquarter area such as musculoskeletal, neurological, gastrointestinal problem
GV14 (Da Zhui)
-in the depression on the dosal midline between the spinous processes of the 7th cervical and 1st thoracic vertebrae
-meeting point for all Yang meridians, tonifies Yang and regulates Nutritive and Defensive Qi
2. acupuncture session 16.1.2016
Horse started to get up and has mora fecal. He had still cold extremitetes, tail and ears.
Bl40 (Wei Zhong)
-in the depression at the midpointof the transverse crease of the popliteal fossa, between the caudal devision of biceps femoris and the semitendinosus mm.
-master point for caudal back
Sp2 (Da Du)
-in the medial site of the rear leg in the level of second phalangae
-Yin-brook, fire point, promotes digestion
Lu7 (Lie Que)
-in the depression of the medial surface of the radious, 1,5 cun proximal to the most medial prominence
-stimulates Wei Qi
SI 3 (Hou Xie)
-in the depression on the lateral side of the foreleg, distal to the end of the 4th metacarpal (lateral splint) bone and proximal to the fetlock, on the palmarolateral border of the 3rd metacarpal (cannon) bone.
-benefits sinews
Bai Hui
– in the depression on the dorsal midline in the lumbosacral space
-point at which all Yang meridians merge, local problems, any problem in the hindquarter area such as musculoskeletal, neurological, gastrointestinal problem
GV14 (Da Zhui)
-in the depression on the dosal midline between the spinous processes of the 7th cervical and 1st thoracic vertebrae
-meeting point for all Yang meridians, tonifies Yang and regulates Nutritive and Defensive Qi
3. acupuncture session 23.1.2016
Horse got better, started to gain weight and apatite. Ears, tail and extremitetes had normal temperature.
Kd7 (Fu Liu)
-in the depression 2 cun proximal to the most medial prominence of the medial malleoulus of the tibia, just cranial to the calcanean tendon
-Jing-River point, tonifies Kidneys, strenghtness caudal back, caudal back problems
Ht7 (Shen Men)
-In the depression on the caudal aspect of carpus where the two tendons of insertion of the extensor carpi ulnaris depart from one another, just proximal to the dorsal aspect of the accessory carpal bone.
-Earth, Sedation, Source (Yuan) and Shu-Stream point, local point for carpal problems
Bai Hui
– in the depression on the dorsal midline in the lumbosacral space
-point at which all Yang meridians merge, local problems, any problem in the hindquarter area such as musculoskeletal, neurological, gastrointestinal problem
Bl 11 (Da Zhu)
-in the depression just cranial to the craniodoral border of the scapular cartillage, 1,5cun lateral to the dorsal midline, over the cervical portion of the trapezious m,
-Influential point for Bone, tonifies Qi, nourishes Blood, soothes sinews and eases pain, all bone problems, generalized muscle pain, contracted tendons
Th5 (Wai Guan)
-in the depression in the groove between the tendons of the lateral digital extensor and common digital extensor mm., at the level of the midportion of the cranial border of the chestnut
-Luo-network point, opener of the yang linking vessel (yang wei mai), pain in the forelegs
Bl40 (Wei Zhong)
-in the depression at the midpointof the transverse crease of the popliteal fossa, between the caudal devision of biceps femoris and the semitendinosus mm
-master point for caudal back
4.acupuncture session 30.1.2016
He started to walk outsite, gaining weight. Owner started to walk horse for longer period. He stopped eating earth.
Bl60 (Kun Lun)
-in the depression on the lateral aspect of the hock area, in the middle of the webbed area cranial to the calcaneal tendon, at the level of the tip of the tuber calcanei (calcanean tuber)
-relaxes tendons, strenghtness the caudal back and hock and alleviates swelling and pain throughout the body
Sp2 (Da Du)
-in the medial site of the rear leg in the level of second phalangae
-Yin-brook, fire point, promotes digestion
Lu7 (Lie Que)
-in the depression of the medial surface of the radious, 1,5 cun proximal to the most medial prominence
-stimulates Wei
SI2 (Qian Gu)
-in the lateral site of the front leg in the level of second phalangae and a.,v. digital palmaris communis
-Ying-brook point, water point, moves Qi along channel, pain in the foreleg
Bai Hui
– in the depression on the dorsal midline in the lumbosacral space
-point at which all Yang meridians merge, local problems, any problem in the hindquarter area such as musculoskeletal, neurological, gastrointestinal problem
GV14 (Da Zhui)
-in the depression on the dosal midline between the spinous processes of the 7th cervical and 1st thoracic vertebrae
-meeting point for all Yang meridians, tonifies Yang and regulates Nutritive and Defensive Qi
5.acupuncture session 15.2.2016
Solvi was running a few metres with his horse friend. He started to be happy. His fecal is normal and he is eating all. He started to gain muscles at the caudal back area.
Th5 (Wai Guan)
-in the depression in the groove between the tendons of the lateral digital extensor and common digital extensor mm., at the level of the midportion of the cranial border of the chestnut
-Luo-network point, opener of the yang linking vessel (yang wei mai), pain in the forelegs
Bl60 (Kun Lun)
-in the depression on the lateral aspect of the hock area, in the middle of the webbed area cranial to the calcaneal tendon, at the level of the tip of the tuber calcanei (calcanean tuber)
-relaxes tendons, strenghtness the caudal back and hock and alleviates swelling and pain throughout the body
Kd10 (Yin Gu)
-in the depression between the semitendinosus and gracilis mm., at the level of the popliteal fossa
-He-Sea and Water point, tonifies Kidney Yin
GV4 ( Ming Men)
-in the depression on the dorsal midline between the spinous processesof the 2nd and 3rd lumbar vertebrae.
-benefits the Kidney function of Dominating Water metabolism, benefits Yang, especially Kidney Yang, benefits the lumbar area, strenghtness
Bl 11 (Da Zhu)
-in the depression just cranial to the craniodoral border of the scapular cartillage, 1,5cun lateral to the dorsal midline, over the cervical portion of the trapezious m,
-Influential point for Bone, tonifies Qi, nourishes Blood, soothes sinews and eases pain, all bone problems, generalized muscle pain, contracted tendons
6. acupuncture session 2.3.2016
He gained more weight and muscles.
Bai Hui
– in the depression on the dorsal midline in the lumbosacral space
-point at which all Yang meridians merge, local problems, any problem in the hindquarter area such as musculoskeletal, neurological, gastrointestinal problem
GV14 (Da Zhui)
-in the depression on the dosal midline between the spinous processes of the 7th cervical and 1st thoracic vertebrae
-meeting point for all Yang meridians, tonifies Yang and regulates Nutritive and Defensive Qi
Bl40 (Wei Zhong)
-in the depression at the midpointof the transverse crease of the popliteal fossa, between the caudal devision of biceps femoris and the semitendinosus mm
-master point for caudal back
Kd10 (Yin Gu)
-in the depression between the semitendinosus and gracilis mm., at the level of the popliteal fossa
-He-Sea and Water point, tonifies Kidney Yin
Li11 (Qu Chi)
-in the depression in the transverse cubital crease, just cranial to the lateral epicondyle of the humerus, between the extensor carpi radialis and common digital extensor mm.
–Earth, Tonification and He-Sea point, regulates Nutritive Qi and Blood, benefits the sinews and joints, immune stimulation
PC6 (Nei Guan)
-in the depression just cranial to the cranial border of the chestnut, midway between the proximal and distal ends of the chestnut
-regulates Qi, suppresses pain, harmonizes the Stomach, problems of the stomach and carnial abdomen
Discussion:
Sölvi started acupuncture treatment in the beginnig of January 2016 because of pain (due to the osteoporosis diagnosed in November 2015 and bone split diagnosed at the age of 7), lost of apatite, kaheksia, fecal production and difficulties with standing up due to weakness in the caudal back area. Additionally, two large decubitus on back left gluteal muscles, discharges from eyes and nose and dry hair which was falling out were seen. Also his extremitetes, tail and ears were a little bit cold.
After analisis of all the simptoms in Tradicional Chinese medicine (tongue, pulse, Back Shu and Mu points, hair, body temperature) I made a TCM diagnosis. The TCM diagnosis for this horse was Bony Bi syndrome with Yang deficiency. My treatment principle was to relieve pain and improve mobility, reinforce Qi, benefit Blood, tonify Yang with moxa cigar and tonify Liver, Spleen and Kidney.
Sölvi underwent four acupuncture treatments (one every week), fifth and sixth acupuncture treatments were done two weeks apart. After this we did acupuncture treatments every third week. Now, we are doing dry needle acupuncture every two months. A Moxa cigar was used in first and second terapy to warm acupuncture needles. Chinese herbs Qi Ju Di Huang Wan were prescribed after 1st acupuncture treatment.
Sölvi is now happily walking and running without problems and pain in a field with his horse friends. His weight, apatite and muscles are normal. I think this would not be possible without the use of acupuncture. Besides this acupuncture does not have negative side effects unlike analgetis and antiinflamatories. The owner decided to retire him from active sport career. He is working as a school horse only.
References:
-Veterinary acupuncture for small animals Christina Matern
-IVAS acupuncture course 2014-2015 in Belgium
