Dr. Karen Collins, Langhorne, PA, is Certified in Veterinary Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine and practices Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine.

Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) is an ancient form of Holistic medicine.  It has evolved over several thousand years. It has a long and fascinating history. For example, a book called The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine was written over 2000 years ago and documented basic theories that are still in use.  Detailed books were written about equine and animal medicine as early as 502 AD and the first known animal hospital was established in China in 1007.

Naturally, this system of medicine has grown and evolved through the centuries, but its basic principles remain valuable today. Those concepts help determine a diagnosis and  effective treatment.

By its very nature, TCVM is holistic. It views the animal as a whole being and that individual in relationship with others and the environment. 
There are 5 branches of TCVM as it is taught today.

• Food therapy-indiviualzing diet and supplements based on an animal's constitution, medical concerns and season
• Herbal medicine-using plants in very specific groupings or formulas to treat many imbalances or illnesses in the body
• Acupuncture--using fine needles at specific points on the body to influence changes. It is valuable for pain relief, immune regulation, neurologic problems, renal disease, gastrointestinal disease, cancer treatment, vestibular disease, ligament and tendon problems
• Tuina-a form of body work or massage that utilizes the acupuncture points and meridians
• Exercise-valuable for mind and body

TCVM is beneficial for both maintaining health and treatment of a variety of problems. It can be used as a sole method of healing or in conjunction with other modalities, including western medicine.