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Within the two centuries since Louis Pasteur and Joseph Lister revolutionized medical practice with vaccination, sterilization, aseptic surgical techniques, and other remarkable breakthroughs, the fields of human medicine and surgery have continued to advance, with veterinary science hot on their heels. A transparent divide developed between what was recognized as modern Western medicine and the more traditional, natural methods of the East.
Traditional Chinese medicine, commonly known as TCM, was virtually rendered obsolete in many of the Western world. Those that practiced it were dismissed as superstitious witch doctors, and anyone wishing to explore TCM as an option was treated to a condescending smile and told to keep on with science.
In an interesting twist of irony, many individuals are turning away from modern medicine and searching toward more natural, homeopathic ways to treat certain ailments and improve their overall health. Even doctors, nurses, and veterinarians are starting to acknowledge the potential advantages that TCM can offer, realizing that science and TCM may be used together, with promising results.
Let’s take a more in-depth take a look at what traditional Chinese veterinary medicine is and the way it could actually help your cat.
What Is TCM?
Traditional Chinese medicine has been around for over 3,000 years, and its foundation is within the flow of the vital life force, often known as Qi (pronounced “chee”). Illness is believed to be the results of blocked or disrupted Qi, so the principle of TCM is in restoring its flow, which might take many forms, including:
- Acupuncture
- Acupressure
- Moxibustion (burning herbal leaves on or near the body)
- Cupping (using the vacuum created in a warm glass jar to suction points of the body)
- Massage
- Herbal remedies
- Movement and concentration (e.g., tai chi and meditation)
What’s interesting about most of those treatments is that there could be very little in the best way of dangerous risks or unintended effects; where the perceived danger lies is when treatments based on scientific evidence are discarded in favor of unproven methods.
Equally, the reverse is true, and TCM shouldn’t be dismissed without substantial evidence that it’s ineffective or harmful. In spite of everything, there’s a reason these remedies have been practiced for several millennia, and on condition that China has the third highest life expectancy on this planet, perhaps we needs to be being attentive, regardless of what your personal views could also be.1
Image Credit: Ekaterina Kuzovkova, Shutterstock
What TCM Is Not
It is kind of common for alternative therapies to be all lumped together, and TCM is usually considered synonymous with homeopathy, which it just isn’t.
Homeopathy relies on using extremely diluted substances to treat plenty of ailments, following the principle that “the more dilute the substance, the greater the consequences.” Considering that a few of the common ingredients utilized in homeopathic treatments include poison ivy, belladonna (deadly nightshade), arsenic, and stinging nettles, dilute would definitely be preferred! Nevertheless, many studies have shown that, much of the time, the treatments are so diluted that they’re essentially just water, and if not diluted enough, have the potential to cause more harm than good.
Homeopathy is mostly not recognized or really helpful by doctors or vets, whereas TCM is becoming increasingly used and prescribed.
How TCM Can Help Your Cat and Varieties of Treatments
You possibly can probably guess that certain TCM techniques should not going to be appropriate for our feline friends. Cupping and moxibustion are each impractical and unsafe to be applied to cats, and although most cats appear to spend much of their time engaged in contemplative meditation, convincing them to have interaction in tai chi may be taking things a bit far!
You may, nevertheless, be surprised to learn that acupuncture, acupressure, massage, and certain herbal remedies may be used to assist treat plenty of feline illnesses, some with quite remarkable results.
Acupuncture
Cats are surprisingly tolerant of this needling treatment and are known to reply well to treatments, much more so than dogs. It’s mostly used to treat pain, but acupuncture has also been found to be effective in managing plenty of conditions, including:
- Soft tissue injuries
- Neurological disorders
- Healing wounds
- Osteoarthritis
- Respiratory disease (feline asthma, for instance)
- Gastrointestinal and urogenital problems
- Stress and anxiety
One in all the major benefits of using acupuncture in cats is that it could actually be used alongside most medications and health conditions and may be extremely helpful in managing arthritis in elderly cats with kidney disease.
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Acupressure
It is a technique that follows the identical points and principles as acupuncture but uses pressure as an alternative of needles. The good thing about that is that anyone can learn how you can do it, so you’ll be able to treat your cat at home while they sit in your lap!
Massage
Much like acupressure but without targeting specific points, massage will help improve circulation, mobility, and lung capability, and, if nothing else, can strengthen your bond together with your cat!
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Herbal Remedies
There are many supplements and remedies that may be safely utilized by humans but may be deadly in your cat, so that is an area that you really want to explore together with your vet.
Herbal remedies are mostly used to assist manage feline stress, anxiety, and arthritis.
What Are the Advantages of TCM for Cats?
One in all the major advantages of incorporating TCM into your cat’s healthcare is that it relies on a “whole body” view, fairly than on a particular disease or body part. TCM works on overall health by aiming to enhance movement, exercise, digestive health, mental health, circulation, cardiac and respiratory health, and immunity, which is why the term “holistic treatments” is usually used.
One other huge advantage of using TCM in cats is that it poses minimal risk to organ systems and may be used to interchange or reduce the doses of medication that may cause harmful unintended effects, similar to non-steroidal anti-inflammatories for arthritis.
TCM for cats can only be delivered by a professional veterinarian, which suggests that your cat can be receiving care from someone who’s aware of all elements of veterinary medicine, which just isn’t at all times the case with human TCM.
What Are the Problems Associated With TCM for Cats?
There are plenty of potential downsides related to using TCM in cats, including:
- It just isn’t an alternative to surgery
- Some herbal remedies might be dangerous
- Not all vets are pleased to include TCM into their treatments
- Could possibly be dangerous if owners stop using other treatments and only use TCM
The Takeaway on TCM and Cats
There’s a specific amount of irony within the incontrovertible fact that modern medicine, having distanced itself from Chinese medicine prior to now, is beginning to embrace many elements of TCM. This shift in perception is helpful to us and our pets, because it has opened up an array of other treatments that had previously been rejected out of hand. While there are some health conditions for which TCM just isn’t appropriate, many others might be improved by incorporating traditional methods into modern treatment plans.
We don’t recommend taking an either/or position with regard to TCM, but we do recommend exploring different options together with your vet. In spite of everything, if we will mix modern medicine, herbal remedies, and acupuncture to administer arthritis, inflammatory bowel, or feline asthma to present the best and safest results, why wouldn’t we?
Featured Image Credit: Ekaterina Kuzovkova, Shutterstock