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The Logistics On Holistics
Lynn Whittaker
Owner, Bow Wow U
There are few buzz words we hear often in terms of health, like organic, green, wholeness and holistic. Today, I am going to talk about the word "holistic" in healthcare. Holistic healthcare is concerned with the whole body; it focuses on maximizing the body’s own healing resources. The primary elements of holistic healthcare are nutrition, exercise, lifestyle, stress management and the natural ability for the body to heal itself. More and more people are taking a closer look at holistic care not only for themselves, but for their pets.
One specific form of holistic care is chiropractics. Chiropractic care is based on the premise that spinal joint function and placement can directly interfere with the nervous system and thus result in many different maladies with respect to health. Dogs that have joint, muscle, or nerve issues can be evaluated by a chiropractor who will look for where the nerves are pinched by a rotated joint or by a tight muscle; the term they use is subluxation. A dog will be seen, depending on the severity of condition, for a period of several visits. The dog will be monitored and reevaluated each visit to see if any changes have occurred. If no improvement is noted, your regular vet may be called in for further diagnostic tests. Chiropractics are used regularly in dogs, from those who lead active lifestyles, especially those who compete in agility, to those that have debilitating arthritis or neurological disorders. Chiropractors treat animals ranging from birds, to horses to even giraffes.
Another important form of holistic treatment is acupuncture. Many vets who specialize in chiropractic may also practice acupuncture. Acupuncture comes from a 3000 year old Chinese health care system. The theory is that tiny needles inserted in the body can influence or balance the "qi" (pronounced chee"); the life force of the animal. By influencing the life force, it is believed that health can be restored. Acupuncture has a variety of uses ranging from treating allergies, to neurological disorders and bone and joint conditions. The number of needles inserted in the body can range from a few, to over a dozen. The needles are virtually hair like in their thickness and when inserted they are left in for 10 to 20 minutes. Treatment may take several visits to show effect.
One needs to examine the diet, activity, and lifestyle in order to treat the dog as "whole-istacally" possible. If you are seeking such treatments for your pet, please visit The American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association (AHVMA) on the web at http://www.holisticvetlist.com.
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