4 months (wrote this blog in April but publishing only now in July) into the Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist (CVA) course at Chi University, I am finally updating about it! Amazed, intrigued, empowered, in awe… There’s so much that I’ve experienced and learnt that I still can’t find the right words to describe this whole experience. In short, I just realised the power and beauty of TCVM.
How it started
It started with a conversation I had with a classmate I met during our vet school orientation. We started talking about why and what we wanted to pursue with this veterinary degree. Therapy, palliative care, non-invasive treatment and… TCVM! I forgot who mentioned ’TCVM’ first, but both our eyes lit up at the same time.
She went on to explain about a veterinary acupuncture certification course available to veterinary students, which her veterinarian in France recommended to her. My eyes lit up even more! Being in close contact with TCM and even TCVM growing up in Singapore, I never knew about the possibility of studying it while being a vet student — let alone in English. Not that having it in Mandarin meant I won’t take it, but it’ll be harder for me and I was aiming to improve my Mandarin before embarking on it. Hence, it has always been at the back of my mind, not realising that coming to an Eastern European country, Romania, will bring me closer to this possibility.
What is TCVM?
TCVM is in short for Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine.
In existence and practice from thousands of years ago, this medical approach is becoming backed by more and more scientific research in this day and age.
WVM + TCVM ⇒ holistic care
Differences
Western veterinary medicine (WVM) believes in control while TCVM believes in balance. WVM is more mechanistic while TCVM is more energetic. When a disease occurs, WVM practitioners are very familiar with analysing a disease process to discover its specific, fundamental and physical cause. Whereas, TCVM practitioners recognise disease as an imbalance in the body. They understand that the body is an integrated, energetic structure, and that disturbance of energy flow creates disease (Pattern) in the whole organism. When a disease Pattern is identified, one can restore balance and health by helping the body regulate itself.
WVM adds diagnostic tests such as radiographs or blood tests. On the other hand, TCVM includes palpation of pulse and Shu points.
WVM practitioners may recommend treatments such as surgery, antibiotics, steroids, anti-fungals, anti-inflammatory etc. Whereas, TCVM practitioners may recommend treatments like acupuncture, herbs, manual therapy (Tui-na) etc.
WVM is great at treating herd health problems compared to TCVM that has a more individual nature. Acute disease are more quickly treated and better dealt with by WVM. Whereas, chronic diseases can be better handled by TCVM, especially those that western medicine can only control and not cure.
Similarities
Both rely on medical history and physical examination for diagnosis or Pattern identification.
Both hope to promote health and prevent disease. Just two very different schools of thought and belief. But when used together, we can take advantage of each of their strengths while minimising their weaknesses.
Why TCVM?
Being fortunate enough to be brought up in an environment which believes in TCM, I am able to witness its positive effects. That led to my curiosity and interest in TCVM. Additionally, in this journey, I found own reasons to pursue and practice it. Here are some ideas and beliefs of TCVM that resonate a lot with me.
Giving pet owners and clients more options
Not only pet owners/clients, but it’s also for the animal patients and myself.
When “everything else seems to not be working”, this will be my “looking deeper” option. Especially for chronic illness or when invasive treatment approach is not what the clients want for their pet. In a way, it’s targeting the same illness but with a completely different school of thought.
In another way, it’s supplementing conventional medicine. To go about treating the illness in the most individualised way possible. Because…
Each patient is unique
Two patients of the same breed, age and sex, with the same western diagnosis — showing the same symptoms, will each have a different set of treatment in TCVM. Because in TCVM, we take into account other factors like the dog’s temperament/behaviour, acupoint sensitivities, lifestyle, diet, colour of tongue, pulse etc to determine the Pattern identification (TCVM diagnosis).
This makes each specific question I ask the client important in my final Pattern identification. This is where the beauty of this medicine comes into play — connection — client-patient-vet relationship.
“You never know what comes through the door.” — I resonate so much more with this statement.
The idea of balance
In TCVM, any form of illness is regarded as an imbalance in the body.
The 8 principles of Pattern identification are: Excess/Deficiency, Cold/Hot, Interior/Exterior, Yin/Yang. Excess is balanced with Deficiency. Cold is balanced with Hot. Interior is balanced with Exterior. Yin is balance with Yang.
A balanced individual = a healthy individual.
This whole idea can be difficult to grasp at the start. But I’ve come to really rely on it to determine the Pattern in order to prescribe the right acupuncture points for treatment.
“Your patients will tell you when they’d enough”
Getting Fear Free certified has always been a part of my plan. Although I’m not Fear Free certified now, this idea is the closest I can get to allowing my patients to feel as comfortable as possible. Respect them.
The philosophy of TCVM is not to force it. To treat each patient with grace and patience. When the patient is not ready, don’t do it yet. That’s why our very first acupuncture point for each treatment, is the ‘permission’ point of GV-20 or Bai-hui. And starting from less sensitive areas of the back and head to the most sensitive areas at the ends of the limbs.
If the patient is too sensitive to needles, we look for other options — moxibustion (heating/warming the acupoint) or acupressure (putting pressure on the point without needling), herbals, nutrition etc.
That’s the beauty of TCVM — options. If one way doesn’t work or that the patient doesn’t allow it, we believe in looking for other options.
Practice, practice, practice
“It just takes ONE acupuncture point to help a patient.” — Dr Xie Hui Sheng (Founder of Chi University)
Since the start of the course, the instructors have always advocated to put our knowledge to practice. Do what we know. It just takes ONE acupuncture point to help a patient feel better. And finally, with each acupoint, needle it with good intention.
At first, I didn’t know how a first year vet student like me can ever have the opportunity to practice. Then I realised I just needed to look for it. I reached out to animal shelters in the city I’m currently studying in and fast forward to now, I’ve done 4 weekly acupuncture sessions for a few patients there!
What I’m looking forward to
Using the beliefs of TCVM in my daily life
Everything seems to be aligning — TCVM, acupuncture, vipassana meditation, love and giving. I can see the beliefs of TCVM being applied to my daily life. To give, to try, to have good intentions. To act rather than react.
Practicing and seeing the benefits unfolding before my eyes
There is still so much I have to yet to learn about TCVM. I’ve only barely touched the surface of it and am already seeing how it has helped so many animal patients (even my human friends — yes I did some acupressure on a few of my friends 😆)
Creating a Veterinary Integrative Club in my vet school
Being awarded the TCVM ambassador scholarship by Chi University for this certification, I am honoured to have the opportunity create a TCVM/integrative veterinary medicine club in my vet school. With the support from Chi University and my vet faculty, I’m excited to officially register this club to start organising TCVM events! Because good things are meant to be shared!
Being officially certified
It’ll take some time (after 6 years of vet school) before I’m officially certified as it requires that I graduate from vet school in order to get the certification. But for now I’m looking forward to passing the difficult exam at the end of this year to ‘lock in’ my certification. I’ve got lots to study but I’m excited to see how much I’ll grow as a baby vet acupuncturist by the end of this year.
Using it in my future practice as a vet
When I completed the 10-day Vipassana meditation course, I redefined my purpose to become a vet (before accepting my place in my current vet school). And yes I almost planned to turn away this opportunity and take up a local engineering degree instead.
My purpose: a commitment to lovingly ensure the health and well-being of animals through veterinary medicine and maintain a healthy and balanced human-animal bond.
The beliefs of TCVM — balance and good intentions — will most definitely keep me walking on this path.