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Southeast Equine Monthly
My Introduction to Complementary Veterinary Medicine By Susan Rifkin Ajamian
Dear Fellow Horse Lovers - All of us look for ways to enhance our horse's health, happiness, and well-being. This article will introduce you to some therapies that can help your horse (and you!) maintain good health, and also support body, mind and spirit during stress, trauma, illness or injury. Some may be new to you, even though they have been used successfully for thousands of years.
Complementary/Collaborative/Concurrent Therapies We want to give you an overview of many complementary therapies available, including chiropractic, acupuncture, hoof and mouth balancing, and body work. We will explain what they are, suggest when they can help, and how to find a competent practitioner (with some training you may be that person). Some call this array of therapies "alternative" medicine. This incorrectly implies that you must choose between these and what you already use. These therapies can be used concurrently with other treatments, and they may help your horse so that conventional medicine is more effective. There are a growing number of holistic veterinarians who follow their conventional training with additional specialties in complementary medicine. You can often find these veterinarians through organizations such as: American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association (410-569-0795,www.AHVMA.org), American Veterinary Chiropractic Association (309-658-2920, www.animalchiropractic.org), International Veterinary Acupuncture Society (970-266-0666, www.ivas.org), American Academy of Veterinary Medical Acupuncture (970-491-8509, www.aavma.org; or "Alternative, Complementary and Holistic Veterinary Medicine" (www.altvetmed.com).
You can find other holistic therapists through an organization such as International Alliance for Animal Therapy and Healing (www.iaath.com). Or as authors or advertisers in periodicals such as: Holistic Horse - 610-326-5252, www.holistichorse.com; or Natural Horse - 800-660-8923, www.naturalhorse.com.
Veterinarians, Therapists, or You This is an introduction to using these therapies for your own horse. We do not discuss the legality of offering your services professionally to others. States vary in both the wording and degree of enforcement of the laws regulating what is considered "practicing veterinary medicine without a license". Some of these therapies are safe and require little training - such as using flower essences , essential oils, reiki, or acupressure. For many other therapies you can learn enough to help your own horse by attending a day, or a few days, of training. But chiropractic, which can severely injure a horse if done incorrectly, should be practiced only by Doctors of Veterinary Medicine (DVM or VMD) or Chiropractic Medicine (DC) with extensive knowledge and training specifically in animal adjusting.
My Introduction to These Therapies After reading the "abridged" version of my horse's use of many collaborative therapies before and after his successful cancer surgery you may be wondering how a person with a science background (my degree is in physics) ended up using a lot of different therapies. In fact - you might think some of them sound "weird". First of all, like many people, I first ventured into this out of desperation rather than idle curiosity. More than 10 years ago my conventional veterinarians suggested that I contact a local holistic veterinarian to have an acupuncture treatment for Richie's sore back and mysterious lameness, since their therapies were not sufficiently helpful. I was totally clueless about acupuncture, and my trainer was vehemently against my using the recommended veterinarian. Now it is easier to find good sources of information, such as, "The New Equine Sports Therapy" by Mimi Porter, or "Healing Your Horse - Alternative Therapies" has chapters on Acupuncture, Chiropractic, Homeopathy, Massage and Herbs- by Meredith Snader, VMD, Sharon Willoughby, DVM, D.C., Deva Kaur Khalsa, VMD, Craig Denega, BA, Ihor John Basko, DVM. The periodicals Natural Horse and Holistic Horse have good articles from sources all over the world, and many advertisements of books, videos and other resources for learning more about these therapies. Conventional horse publications also have articles on these topics. After I met some of the veterinarian's happy clients I watched one's videotape of her horse before, during and after an acupuncture and chiropractic treatment. This was a big help, because I could see the horse standing quietly in the barn, untied, and happily accepting the treatment. When you want to check out a new therapist, ask around, get their credentials, and talk to some clients. Also watch them work. Most importantly, watch how the horses respond to them.
Biomechanics Shortly after I met the holistic veterinarian's clients, I attended Dr. Deb Bennett's weekend workshop on equine biomechanics. I learned that I could analyze the symmetry by taking one of Richie's legs and move it gently through the range of motion, and then compare this with the range of the opposite leg. This also applies to the range of motion to the left and right of his head and neck. I went back to the barn, and discovered that there was a BIG difference in Richie's range of movement from one leg to another. So, I realized he needed the veterinarian who did chiropractic and acupuncture. Chiropractic One of the reasons I am happy using complementary therapies is that I often see rapid results. In the case of my horse, his range of motion increased and became symmetrical after his chiropractic treatment. The veterinarian explained that she was "straightening his hardware" so that his nervous system would function better. Proper alignment also affects the body's ability to heal itself. And she also explained the relationship between where he needed adjustments and why I had been unable to get him "on the bit". (He needed a chiropractic adjustment, NOT the draw reins his former trainer secretly tried!). The next day he was happily practicing his new neck exercises on his own! The holistic veterinarian reminded me that Force equals Mass times Acceleration. This is why a small person who moves very quickly can adjust an animal as large as a horse. This is also why someone can badly injure a horse. So, chiropractic is NOT a do-it-yourself therapy. Nor is it one you can learn to do safely at just a weekend seminar. Watching a chiropractic treatment is like entering a new reality. I wonder how I ever got along without this therapy. The insights into the horse's biomechanical functions are often so straightforward. It explains why malfunctions in one place can cause a problem somewhere else due to the horse's compensation. For example many horses have hind suspensory problems due to a problem at their head or neck, such as a skull fracture or flipping over and injuring their withers. Balanced Feet The holistic veterinarian explained that a horse's health is related to the healthy balance and biomechanical function of his feet. To analyze a foot you need to look at its underside, the part he walks on. It is important to have the feet function symmetrically. For example, the time it takes one front foot to leave the ground should be the same as the other front foot. If the front toes are too long, the horse feels as if he is standing on an incline, so he stands with his front legs angled under him. This angle strains his legs. Some "overuse" injuries blamed on work are actually due to the strain from the longer hours the horse spends standing on a foot that is not properly balanced. And this abnormal leg angle adversely affects a horse's ability to sleep standing up normally. So he suffers from sleep deprivation, including emotional changes and immune system stress. One resource for additional information is Hoofcare and Lameness: The Journal of Equine Foot Science. It is intended for veterinarians and farriers, but it is also a source of up-to-date information for owners. See www.hoofcare.com, or call 978-281-3222. Acupuncture The acupuncture for Richie's "software" followed his chiropractic adjustment. The veterinarian used very fine needles (some veterinarians inject saline homeopathics or Vitamin B12) and inserted them into points along a system of energy channels called meridians. The purpose is to restore a healthy balanced flow of energy with no excesses or blockages. The list of problems helped by acupuncture is endless, and includes allergies, tendon injuries, cancer, arthritis, and muscle pain. She also showed me how to run my finger along some of the meridians and apply mineral ice where he reacted. Many people learn to treat the points with finger pressure (using acupressure or shiatsu), laser, or heat from burning moxa (the herb mugwort). The veterinarian recommended reading The Web That Has No Weaver : Understanding Chinese Traditional Medicine bu Ted Kaptchuk. Other resources now available include: Acupuncture Points of the Equine - with Judith M.Shoemaker, DVM, (2-part videotape, 1-800-942-lite); Equine Acupressure - A Working Manual - by Nancy Zidonis and Amy Snow (888-841-7211, www.animalacupressure.com); Equine Acupressure - First-Aid with your Fingertips - by Ron and Linda Briel (610-641-8660). Balanced Dentistry Sometimes I would balk at the price of some recommendations, until I learned enough about their results to understand their value. This happened with the "mouth balancing" or "performance" equine dentistry. I thought that floating the molars was proper care. I did not understand the value of spending a lot more for the incisor reduction or mouth balancing by the new dentist my veterinarian recommended. Then I read an article about the importance of the incisors (the front teeth). Richie's teeth resembled the article's BAD example. When his teeth were properly aligned he not only stopped drifting right on left turns, he also stopped dripping with sweat after even a short trailer ride. After my friend had the dentist and veterinarian balance her horse's mouth he stopped scrambling in the trailer - in fact he shipped badly to the appointment, and quietly all the way home. The horse's jaw and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) are major balance mechanisms for the horse. If there is a problem with them, the horse gets erroneous information. If their incisors and molars are not properly aligned, it affects the TMJ movement and function. Like foot balance problems, incorrect balance information can affect their ability to sleep properly standing up. My veterinarian explained that dentistry is probably the single most important management practice we provide for our horses. Properly done it can prolong their useful life, dramatically improve performance, improve many body functions, prevent disease, and have a greater effect on the horse's quality of life than any other care we give them. Mouth problems and poorly-done dentistry cause more pain, more lameness, and neurological imbalance than any other illness, injury, or poor management practice. Many dentists serve an apprenticeship without formal training, and some schools and associations offer formal education. These include The Academy of Equine Dentistry (208-366-2550) the World Wide Association of Equine Dentistry Inc. (403-933-2036), and the International Association of Equine Dentistry (www.iaed.org). It is a good idea to find a certified dentist to do advanced work, as this is complex and requires a long- term plan. (See Southeast Equine Monthly, Jan 2002, p. 47 for an article about how to safely check a horse's teeth. Body Work Shortly after Richie began getting chiropractic and acupuncture treatments, a friend offered to do muscle therapy on him. She had studied Jack Meagher's book "Beating Muscle Injuries for Horses", used his technique on her own horses, then attended his workshop. She wanted to start having clients and offered to work on Richie if I would give her feedback on her people skills. I agreed to try it since this was a safe, non-invasive therapy, and she was knowledgeable about horses. Within three sessions she fixed so many old muscle knots that Richie moved like a different horse. The barn owner's foxhunter stopped rearing after he got relief from the knots in his hindquarters. (Eventually my friend's clients included a trainer who had her work on his horses before their big races - even a Breeder's Cup winner.) In his book, Meagher writes, "It is usually assumed that muscles will eventually take care of themselves. Nothing could be further from the truth. Until it is realized that the muscular system (60% of the horse's total body weight and the system responsible for motion) is a predominant cause of motion problems, many things will remain a mystery that should not be mysterious at all". Horses are very sensitive to and reflect the body function of their rider or driver. So it is very important that we correct both their mechanical problems and our own! For example, in one riding lesson I was at the far end of the ring, with my back to my Centered Riding instructor. But she could tell that I was clenching my jaw, by the way Richie was moving. There are many kinds of bodywork. In her Holistic Horse article (summer 1996), editor Karen Tappenden introduced acupressure, shiatsu, myofascial and transverse fiber friction, sports massage, reiki and TTOUCH. Karen recommends that people have appointments for themselves so they experience different techniques. This gives insight into how it feels to the horse, and can help you decide which ones you prefer.
The Learning Process My veterinarian explained that she started studying chiropractic and acupuncture after she found that there was not always a direct correlation between her surgical patient's recovery and the quality of the orthopedic repair. So she knew there had to be other vital factors involved and set out to discover them. She introduced me to chiropractic, acupuncture and balanced feet more than 10 years ago, so I've had plenty of time to learn about additional therapies. You do not need to try everything at once. My process of learning about new therapies evolved. Some the holistic veterinarian told me about, others I learned about through friends who used them successfully. And for many years, I organized educational lectures for a large horse club, so I met many therapists and learned about different techniques and resources.
Additional Complementary Therapies This article introduces you to some of the therapies available. Others we'll briefly mention include:
Animal Communication is also known as inter-species telepathic communication. Many good horse handlers do this already. You can develop your own ability to send and receive messages. A first step is to assume the animals can read your mind, and be careful to picture what you want them to do. You can also have a phone consultation to ask your horse how he feels, how equipment fits, or many other useful questions. Interspecies telepathic communication specialist Penelope Smith, author of Animal Talk, has a website www.animaltalk.net with a directory of animal communicators. Other books include Animal Wisdom - by Anita Curtis, The Animal Connection - A Guide to Intuitive Communication with Your Pet - by Judy Meyer; You Can Talk to Your Animals -- Animal Communicators Tell You How - by Janine Adams; Communicating With Animals - the Spiritual Connection between People and Animals - by Arthur Myers
Aromatherapy is a safe, gentle, non-invasive and effective therapy you can begin using with a little knowledge. Even aromas too subtle to be consciously detected can have significant effects on the central nervous system. Aromatherapy can help with emotions, muscle soreness, infections, and more. Resources include "Herbs & Aromatherapy for Horses" a video with Mary Ann Simonds, (800-942-lite), "Equine Raindrop Therapy" a video with Heather Mack, VMD (760-731-9949), and Horse Scents by Catherine Bird.
Brain Integration (or brain repatterning) is an adaptation of a human therapy for animals, and can be used over a distance. Ideally, logic is mainly processed on the left side of the brain and emotions are processed on the right. Horses who have their brain functions on the wrong side have difficulty learning and are very reactive. The re-patterning appointment is inexpensive, non-invasive, takes about an hour, and improvements are often immediate. The only animal practitioner I know about is Chris Treml, (717-485-0333, www.konnectionsonline.com).
CranioSacral Technique therapists use extremely gentle and sensitive touch to evaluate and balance the craniosacral system, which extends from the head to the tail. The therapy addresses the fascia, and the cerebrospinal fluid that surrounds and protects the brain and spinal cord. For more information contact the Upledger Institute, Inc., at 800-233-5880.
Energy Medicine, or bioenergetic medicine, refers to the therapies that use an energy field such as electrical, magnetic, sonic, acoustic or infrared to screen for or treat a health condition by detecting or correcting imbalances in the body's energy field.
Flower Essences, also known as vibrational remedies and subtle energy formulas, are very safe, and inexpensive. Mary Ann Simonds of Mystic Horse has conducted scientific studies on their effectiveness. Their use is easily studied through articles, books or courses. The essences derive their beneficial powers from the inherent life force within the flowers, not from any physical substance. They can be used topically or orally to help balance emotions. "Rescue Remedy" is a blend of five essences recommended for stress or emergencies. Other blends are prepared and sold for common emotional situations such as bonding, weaning, training, or competing. Single essences are sold through many health food stores. Sources of blends for horses are "Natural Vibrations" from Mystic Horse Productions (800-616-0450, PT) and "EquiEssences" from The Botanical Animal at www.equilite.com or 800-942-LITE. Dr. John J. Lengel of USA Equestrian Equine Drug and Medication Program said, "Water containing the etheric pattern of flower essences is permitted by USA Equestrian Rules".
Herbal Therapy, also called phytotherapy or botanical medicine, works like conventional pharmaceutical drugs by using the chemical properties of the ingredients. With any pharmacological substance there is a danger of side-effects, although herbs may have fewer adverse affects. You should not assume that something is safe just because it is natural. Herbs should be acquired and used with help from knowledgeable sources.
Homeopathy is a low-cost, non-toxic system of medicine used for both chronic and acute conditions. You can purchase remedies without a prescription. But selecting the correct remedy requires training and analysis of the horse's physical, mental, and emotional status. Contact the Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy (866-652-1590, www.acadvethom.org) for veterinarians trained in homeopathy, some will do phone consultations.
Light Therapy, or Phototherapy, uses red light from low level ("cold") lasers or light emitting diodes. This therapy helps with pain relief and trauma, and stimulates the natural healing process. These can be used safely by a person with a little training. Sources of these include Respond Systems, Inc. (800-722--1228, www.respondsystems.com), BioScan, Inc. (800-388-2712,www.bioscanlight.com), and Centurion (800-387-8326,www.centurion-systems.com).
Magnetic therapy improves cellular function by increasing blood circulation and oxygenating tissues, and therefore relieves pain and inflammation. Magnetic therapy devices can be either permanent magnets, such as those from Norfields (800-344-8400, www.norfields.com), or the pulsing magnetic field therapy in which the magnetic field is generated by a pulsed electrical current. The pulsed magnets are stronger and work more rapidly. Manufacturers of these include Respond Systems, Inc. (800-722--1228, www.respondsystems.com) and Centurion (800-387-8326,www.centurion-systems.com).
Oxygen therapy includes ozone therapy (a mix of O2 and O3 gas injected via a tiny intravenous needle) and hydrogen peroxide therapy. Both use oxygenation and oxidation. A healthy body uses oxidation to remove weak and devitalized cells and to kill pathogens and abnormal cells. Oxygenation increases oxygen in the blood or tissues and can help kill cancer cells. Millions of Europeans safely use it, but it is rare in the USA. Those US veterinarians who use it treat such problems as infected bones, founder and Lyme disease. For more information see Holistic Horse, Issue #20, Winter 1999.
Reiki is an energy therapy that is easy to learn. You can start with a 1-day workshop, and your instructor does not need to know anything about horses. Reiki is gentle, non-invasive and safe to use. It eases pain and encourages the body to heal itself. It works on all levels of the body _ physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. When using Reiki the healer acts as both a conductor and a source of the universal life force energy. Recipients of Reiki describe it as feeling like heat, cold, a vibration, a tingling, a cool breeze, or a sudden cessation of pain. Practitioners include lay people, veterinarians, and surgeons.
Soul Retrieval is an ancient practice to repair the spiritual damage from emotional or physical trauma. It is inexpensive, non-invasive and can be done by telephone from a distance. The people who use it notice increased vitality in their animals (and themselves). The only animal communicator I know who is trained to do this is Donna Lozito, at www.animalchatroom.com.
Availability of Resources If you live "in the middle of nowhere", there are still many therapies available to you. You can get telephone consultations with veterinarians or animal communicators. Other therapies are safe enough to try yourself after a little training through books, articles, or videotapes.
SIDEBAR Successful Collaboration for Colic Surgery An example of collaborative therapies in action is the story of my own horse, Richie, a thoroughbred gelding who recently celebrated his 23rd birthday. In August of 1999 the prognosis was that if he managed to survive the 5-hour very difficult colon re-section, and the possible complications of that surgery, then the rare cancer they discovered would kill him within 2 months. (For details see Natural Horse, Volume 3, issue 8, www.naturalhorse.com; 800-660-8923). Leading up to that surgery Richie had 60 colic episodes over 9 months. The holistic veterinarians, several therapists, and I helped maintain his overall health with the following complementary therapies: proper farrier and dental care, herbal supplements, homeopathics, acupuncture, acupressure, chiropractic, reiki energy therapy, colloidal silver, massage, flower essences, and animal communication. Despite his age and the stress of the colic episodes, Richie was shiny and easily maintained his weight. My conventional veterinarian commented that Richie was "the healthiest looking sick horse in my practice". Only a few of his colic episodes required a barn call from a veterinarian (although I always called them to put them on notice that I might need help), and only the last episode appeared to need surgery. The actual surgical repair he needed far exceeded the preliminary diagnosis. The first surgeon thought he was going to quickly correct a "simple displacement". So Richie's surgery was postponed to work on more urgent cases first. At the end of the day when Richie's operation began, the surgeon discovered it would be far more difficult. A tumor had reduced the colon's opening to a small fraction of the normal size. So the night surgical team took over and spent 5 hours doing a "very complicated" re-section. Before the new team took over, I had to make an instant decision whether or not to continue the surgery. The first surgeon estimated Richie's chance of surviving the re-section at less than 50%. There could be complications from the anesthesia, fever, founder, colic, adhesions, abscesses, the sutures not healing, or the intestine's peristaltic motion not resuming. My holistic veterinarian explained to me that those low odds were based on horses who were not as healthy as he was, thanks to all the holistic care he received. When Richie went into surgery he was a healthy horse with a localized problem, rather than a "sick" horse. (An analogy is keeping your car vacuumed and polished, tuned, oiled, lubricated, tires rotated and balanced, and aligned. If you have a problem with the fuel line you have a car in good condition with a repairable problem.) After surgery he recovered rapidly, with only a brief low fever which is normal after surgery. He received reiki, acupuncture, chiropractic and laser treatments, brain integration, and prayers, along with conventional veterinary and nursing care. And after only 6 days he was discharged to a therapy facility where two veterinarians told me he looked as if he were two weeks post-surgery. There he received laser treatment of his incision site, acupuncture, chiropractic to help realign him (after 5 hours on the surgical table), homeopathics for pain and to prevent adhesions, colloidal silver, and papaya along with his prescription ulcer medication. He also had close supervision and hand walking. A month after surgery he was back at his regular barn in a small paddock, and getting steadily increasing turnout time with his friends. We began treating his cancer with intravenous ozone, herbs, and Vitamin C. He even had a soul retrieval done. I wished I had known a year earlier for my own surgery what I learned about collaborative therapies for Richie's. For More Information Contact: |
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