Page 604 - The Veterinary Care of the Horse
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Figure 14.1 Inserting the acupuncture needles; this is known as ‘dry needling’
There are other types of acupuncture which include the following.
• Electroacupuncture. This is most commonly used for treatment of chronic pain.
Electrodes from a battery-operated unit are attached to the inserted needles and the points
are stimulated electrically causing muscle contraction. It is effective for treating chronic
neck, back or lumbosacral pain (Figure 14.2) and particularly useful for treating
neuropathic pain caused by nerve damage or malfunction of the nervous system. An
example of the latter is trigeminal neuralgia which causes headshaking in horses.
• Injection of vitamin B12, local anaesthetic or homeopathic medicines into acupuncture
points with hypodermic needles. This is known as aquapuncture.
• Implantation of gold beads or wire into an acupuncture point to give long-lasting
