Acupuncture for Animals

[Photo Credit]

"Acupuncture has been used on animals for over 4000 years. Legend has it that veterinary acupuncture was discovered when lame horses used in battle were found to become sound after being hit by arrows at distinct points. In any event, there is evidence that Chinese "horse priests", the caretakers of the army's horses, practiced acupuncture during the Zang and Chow Dynasties around 2000-3000 BC. Numerous texts on veterinary acupuncture and old engravings of cows and horses, on which acupuncture points have been marked, are dated back to as early as 221 BC. During the Zhou dynasty (1122-770 BC), veterinary acupuncture was designated as a separate branch of traditional Chinese medicine.

The study of veterinary acupuncture had reached Europe by the 17th century. It gained popularity in the United States during the Nixon era with a special symposium entitled, Acupuncture for the Veterinarian held in the United States in 1974." [Information Credit]

My sister, the dog lover, fosters several dogs. About this time last year, she picked up a 9-month-old dachshund mix named Frank. Frank has been battling a skin condition since his rescue and he has some digestive issues. Frank has been from vet to vet getting shots, medications, and biopsies to try and figure out what is causing his symptoms. For the last two to three months, Frank has been getting regular acupuncture treatments along with his allopathic treatments. Since his acupuncture treatments began (along with Chinese herbal treatments), his skin has been breaking and bleeding less, he has some hair growth in his formerly bald areas, and his digestion has become more stable. 

Of course, veterinary medicine can be exceedingly difficult since animals can't tell us exactly what symptoms they're having. This is where Chinese Medicine and acupuncture can be very useful. The diagnostic tools in the acupuncture vet's tool bag are different than those of a regular vet. 

If your pet suffers from issues that are being treated with regular veterinary medicine, consider finding a vet that also practices Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). It might just be the treatment that your best bud needs.

In My Medicine Cabinet

Here are a few of the items that I always have handy in my medicine cabinet. 

Pure Body Clear 

This is, hands down, one of the best supplements I've ever encountered. "Pure Body Clear may be recommended to maintain normal liver functions and offers gentle support for the primary pathways of elimination." It helps support the liver and gently assists with urination and defecation. Honestly, I use this supplement anytime I drink alcohol. Even if I just have one alcoholic beverage, I take 3-4 of these capsules before bed and feel fine in the morning. I also take it if I'm just feeling "out of sorts." 

Wellness Fizz

This is a great formula that acts in a similar way to Emergen-C or Airborne. They are fizzy little wafers that are based on an ancient Chinese Medicine formula. I take it when I start to feel like I'm coming down with a cold or if I've been around sick people, on airplanes, or in close quarters with people. 

Methyl B-12 Liposome Spray

Many vegans don't get enough Vitamin B-12, nor do many other people for that matter. This is either due to improper diet or poor absorption of the vitamin. I get my B-12 from this fantastic little bottle. It is a sub-lingual (under the tongue) spray that should be taken one time (spray) per day. It has a nice fruity flavor and is more absorb-able if taken under the tongue. 

Bi Yan Pian*

This supplement is a patent Chinese Medicine formula that mixes many ancient Chinese herbs. It is great for me whenever I get a cold or allergy attack. It really helps to drain the nose and "release the exterior," which basically means it will induce sweating to push the disease out of the body.

An Mien Pian*

This is my go-to sleep formula, another patent Chinese Medicine mix. If I'm ever having a tough time falling asleep or staying asleep, this formula will definitely knock me out. It is really simple with only six herbs and I've found it to be the best sleep aid for me.

Greening Power

This formula comes in a powder form and capsule form. I like both. Sometimes I'll add the powder to a smoothie or take the capsules with water. It is a great mixture of superfood greens with some tonic Chinese herbs mixed in. I take this formula whenever I feel like I haven't eaten enough green foods that day. 

Yunnan Bai Yao (not pictured)

Another patent Chinese Medicine formula, that is a pain reliever and helps stop bleeding. I have taken it to alleviate the pain from menstrual cramps, or headaches. I always keep some in my kitchen because it can be applied topically to cuts to stop bleeding from those times that I am not so graceful with a knife. 

*Always consult a knowledgeable practitioner before taking any of these supplements.

On My Radar: March 2014

I spend some time each week reading articles either for the pure sake of learning or for entertainment. This blog is mainly dedicated to veganism and Traditional Oriental Medicine, but I find other topics to be relevant for this blog as well. In my efforts to educate myself to become the best health practitioner I can be, an integral part of healing is educating my patients and community as well. 

This monthly blog series will consist of news stories and articles regarding things that are "On My Radar."

Integrating Oriental Medicine and Western Medicine
Some major hospitals in the US have employed Licensed Acupuncturists for many years now, but this is the first time I've heard of Chinese Herbal Medicine being utilized in a hospital/Western medicine setting. Combining medicine from the East and West will ultimately provide better care for patients. "Dr. Melissa Young, an internist and integrative medicine specialist at the [Cleveland] Clinic [says] 'The beauty of it - it's so complementary. As an integrative medicine physician, to have more tools to benefit patients really optimizes patient care.'" To read the full article, click here.

Are Herbal Prescriptions Safe?
This article does an excellent job of describing that Chinese Herbal Formulas (and single herbs) are extremely safe, contrary to the belief of many medical doctors and others in the western medical field. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioners will prescribe herbal formulas, and either soon after starting the formula or sometime into taking the formula, the patient may experience some adverse reactions. In many cases, the patient or doctors in the medical community will quickly blame the adverse reactions on the herbal formula. This article explains that not only are the herbal formulas safe, but in almost every instance of an adverse reaction, further investigation proves that the reaction was due to some other condition or event.

Air Purifying Plants
Here is a list of the 10 best air purifying plants! I know that many of the people reading this blog already lead a healthy lifestyle, but there are many toxins floating around in our environment...even in our homes! Living within one mile of a major thoroughfare can cause an excess of smog build-up around and in our homes, not to mention the chemicals in our everyday household cleaners. Add one or more of these plants to your living and working space to detox the air you spend most of your time in.  

Meat as Bad as Smoking?
Watch this video from Fox News and listen to Dr. Marc Siegel describe an in-depth study that shows the negative effects of a high animal protein diet in middle aged people (ages 50-64). Dr. Siegel notes that the study shows a strong correlation between large amounts of animal protein (20%+ of daily calories from animal protein) and cancer. The cancer risk is actually three times higher for people eating high amounts of meat and dairy. He advocates adding more fruits and vegetables to each meal for people of all ages.

Good Food Combos - Info-Graphic

Check out this great info-graphic to see some helpful plant-based food combinations. It has become known in food and in Chinese Herbal Medicine that the whole plant helps with the synergy of absorption and integration of the beneficial constituents. Isolating the constituents (i.e. Vitamin C) isn't always as useful as consuming the whole plant that contains the constituent. 

Vegan Quesadillas

These quesadillas are very good, easy to make, and can be modified to suit your fancy. Add or subtract your favorite veggies and ingredients as you wish.

Total time: 20 minutes
Servings: 8

Ingredients:
1 bunch of green onions, chopped
2 - 3 bell peppers (multiple colors if you would like), chopped
2 handfuls of baby spinach
1 (15 oz) can block beans, drained
Vegan cheese, I prefer Daiya (pepper jack)
12 - 16 corn or flour tortillas
1 Tbsp. olive oil

Directions:
Saute the onions and bell peppers in olive oil over medium heat for a few minutes. Add black beans until they are almost heated through (about 2 minutes). Add spinach until wilted. Set aside in a bowl, or prepare another skillet with either a small amount of oil or non-stick spray. Place one tortilla in the skillet, add veggie mixture and vegan cheese. Place another tortilla on top and brown each side. Garnish with salsa, avocado, vegan sour cream, etc. Serve with your favorite sides.

[Photo Credit]

Vegan Enchilada Casserole

This dish is very easy to make and it is SO GOOD! It was enjoyed by vegans and non-vegans alike. Check out the notes below for some modification ideas.

Total time with brown rice¹: 60 minutes

Total time with pasta/tortillas: 30 minutes

Servings: 1 (2-quart) casserole dish, about 6 individual servings

Ingredients:

1 cup uncooked brown rice¹

1 tsp olive oil

1 onion, chopped

1 medium jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped²

3 bell peppers, chopped. Mix up the colors if you like, food should be a rainbow of color.

1 packet of taco seasoning mix³

1 (15 oz.) can black beans (or 2 cups cooked), drained and rinsed

1-1/2 to 2 cups enchilada sauce 

1/3-1/2 cup of your favorite non-dairy cheese⁴

1 cup chopped green onions

20 tortilla chips (about 2 handfuls), crushed

Avocado, salsa, non-dairy sour cream, or your favorite garnishes

All ready for the oven, before the cheese

This image is displayed with vegan cheese and dairy cheese

Instructions 

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Bring 2 cups of water and 1 cup brown rice to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer for 40 minutes or according to package instructions. 

2. In a large skillet, sauté the chopped onion, jalapeno, and peppers in the olive oil over medium heat for about 7-8 mins.

3. Add the taco seasoning, drained and rinsed black beans, and 1 cup of the enchilada sauce. Stir well and cook for another 5 mins.

4. Stir in the cheese, brown rice, and chopped green onion. 

5. Spread 1/2 cup of enchilada sauce over the bottom of the casserole dish. Scoop on the skillet mixture and spread out evenly. Spoon the rest of the sauce on top and sprinkle with cheese.

6. Bake for 15-20 mins at 350F until heated through. Sprinkle with crushed tortilla chips, chopped avocado, salsa, and sour cream if desired just before serving. Serve with your favorite side dish.

Garnished with tortilla chips and avocado

Delicious!

Notes:

1. You can substitute pasta (8 ounces dry) for the brown rice or use corn tortillas at the bottom of the casserole dish.
2. Use care not to touch your face after chopping the jalapeno pepper. The oils reside on the hands and can cause burning (I've learned this the hard way). Use gloves to chop the jalapeno if possible.
3. Be sure to read the ingredients of the taco seasoning mix. Many taco seasonings are made with mono-sodium glutamate (MSG), which is an unfriendly addition to processed foods.
4. Consider making a creamy-cheesy nut cheese to mix in with this recipe as a substitute for the Daiya or vegan cheese.

Slightly modified from the original: http://ohsheglows.com/2011/12/13/naughty-nice-vegan-enchilada-casserole/#ixzz2v1CdGN1L