An Overview of Acupuncture Dosage in Veterinary Medicine

Abstract

Acupuncture is subject to dosage considerations, similar to pharmaceuticals, that significantly influence therapeutic outcomes. In instances where the initial diagnosis is confirmed to be accurate, and results are suboptimal, consideration should be given to augmenting the acupuncture dosage and technique used. Veterinary acupuncture dosage includes size of acupuncture needles, depth of needle insertion, frequency/duration of the treatments, and type of acupuncture technique used. Larger needle size generates stronger stimulation and studies indicate that acupuncture points can have specific effects on the body based on depth of stimulation (i.e. length of needle). Optimal therapy also depends on the frequency of treatment and will vary dependent on the clinical condition and acupuncture technique. In cases where clinical improvements remain absent after 4-6 sessions of dry needle acupuncture therapy, it is prudent to reevaluate both conventional and TCVM diagnoses, as well as acupuncture dosage. Adjustments in acupuncture dosage can include the use of longer needles, the incorporation of additional acupoints or the addition of other needle stimulation techniques. The use of advanced acupuncture modalities, such as electro-acupuncture, aqua-acupuncture, acupoint embedding and scalp acupuncture, may significantly enhance therapeutic efficacy. This paper aims to explore and elucidate the various factors influencing the dosage of acupuncture in a variety of species across ten commonly used acupuncture techniques, thereby providing insights into how they can be optimized to enhance treatment efficacy.