Welcome to Acu in Practice! Today I’m posting live from Las Vegas at WVC 2019 where I am representing IVAS, teaching and learning while also having some fun!
The focus today is on gastrointestinal inflammation and irritable bowel disease (IBD), which can happen with food and drink that are too “rich.” In veterinary patients, that means inflammatory components in the diet such as corn, wheat and soy. This is an example of an external trigger. Internal triggers can include stress, immune mediated disease, congenital weakness and chronic latent pathogens such as tick borne disease microbes.
No matter what the root pattern, the result is acute or chronic intermittent gastrointestinal inflammation with vomiting and/or diarrhea, known in TCM as Damp Heat in the Intestines and/or the Spleen.
Successful management or cure relies on diagnosing the underlying pattern as well as treating the resultant Damp Heat.
Acupuncture points for Damp Heat in the Intestines/and or Spleen:
SP 6, SP 9, LI 11, BL 25, BL 27, ST 36, CV 12, GV 1
During IVAS member Dr. Signe Beebe’s lecture today, we also covered two herbal formulas for IBD:
Xiang Lian San (modified coptis) (Jing Tang) – for moderate, intermittent symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea, may be used long term.
GI Care (Evergreen herbs) – for acute, severe IBD symptoms with evidence of long standing Yin deficiency. For short term use (then transition to Xiang Lian San followed by a Spleen nourishing formula).
Not surprisingly, in addition to herbs and acupuncture, a diet change that excludes inflammatory components and high moisture is key to success for these patients.
Acupuncture + Herbs + Food Therapy = improved patient quality of life!
This post is created for informational use, not to replace veterinary medical advice.
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