Gastrointestinal effects following acupuncture at Pericardium‐6 and Stomach‐36 in healthy dogs: a pilot study

Abstract

Objectives To quantify changes in gastric and intestinal emptying times in the conscious dog following gastrointestinal acupoint stimulation. Materials and Methods In a randomised, blinded crossover study, six dogs were fed 30×1.5 mm barium‐impregnated polyethylene spheres and underwent: (1) no acupuncture (Control); (2) stimulation of target points PC6 and ST36 (Target) and (3) stimulation of non‐target points LU7 and BL55 (Sham). Abdominal radiographs were assessed immediately after feeding the spheres and every hour for 12 hours and their number in the stomach and large intestines was counted. Results The number of barium‐impregnated polyethylene spheres found distal to the stomach was less in the Target group compared to the Control and Sham groups between hours 2 and 4, but no differences between groups were seen for the remainder of the treatment period. The number of spheres found within the colon/rectum was less in the Target group compared to the Control and Sham groups between hours 4 and 6, and compared to the Sham group only at hour 7 but no differences between groups were seen after hour 8. Clinical Significance Acupuncture targeted at the gastrointestinal tract of dogs was associated briefly with slowed gastric emptying and gastrointestinal transit time. This foundational study lays the groundwork for additional studies of acupuncture effects associated with altered physiologic states.

The Emperor’s New Clothes—An Epistemological Critique of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Acupuncture

“…However, the study fails to consider that results may be due to differences in drug route administration (subcutaneous injection on the head versus gluteus muscle injection) instead of any relevant effects of acupuncture. A pilot study of gut mobility of 6 dogs found tenuous and transitory effects on the use of dry needle acupuncture when compared to a control [46]. Researchers found that acupuncture prolonged, rather than decreased, gastric emptying times for a short time period.…”

Effects of acupuncture at Pericardium-6 and Stomach-36 on nausea, sedation and gastrointestinal motility in healthy dogs administered intravenous lidocaine infusions

“…Similar to previously published studies [13, 25], six young adult beagles (3 males, 3 females; 7–12 months old) with mean body weight 8.4±1.6 kg (mean±SD) were studied in a blind, crossover design. They were deemed healthy by physical examination, no clinical signs of GI disease (inappetence, vomiting, diarrhea), and normal packed cell volume, total protein, and blood urea nitrogen (Azostix; Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc., Tarrytown, NY) values.…”

“…Similar to previously described techniques, dogs were held off feed 12 hours prior to the study then fed half of their resting energy requirements (0.5 X 70 X [body weight in kg] 0.75 ) in kibble with 30 barium-impregnated polyethylene spheres (BIPS; Med I.D. Systems Inc., Grand Rapids, MI) in one teaspoon of baby food dispersed throughout [13, 25, 27, 28]. Immediately following feeding, they were scored for nausea and sedation; one investigator performed nausea scoring and a second performed the sedation scoring independently at baseline and throughout the experiment to reduce inter-scorer variability.…”

“…Acupuncture specifically directed at visceral acupoints such as Pericarium-6 (PC6) and Stomach-36 (ST36), is used to treat multifactorial nausea and GI dysmotility in both human and veterinary medicine [15–17, 19–24]. In addition, acupuncture at PC6 and ST36 transiently slowed GI transit in conscious, healthy dogs [25] and reduced nausea and vomiting associated with opioid (hydromorphone) administration [26]. However, other hypothesis-driven investigations that address the use of acupuncture to reduce nausea and vomiting associated with other clinically used pharmacologic agents are absent.…”

Efeito da eletroacupuntura sobre a motilidade e trânsito intestinal de equinos

“…Levando-se em conta que a acupuntura promove efeitos mais intensos em indivíduos doentes ou com deficiência de alguma função (TAKAHASHI, 2011), a não utilização de animais em quadro de hipomotilidade, fosse ela induzida ou em decorrência de alguma enfermidade, não permitiu com que o aumento de motilidade intestinal fosse ainda mais intenso. Alguns estudos demonstram ausência de efeito procinético com o uso da acupuntura em animais saudáveis (RADKEY et al, 2019). Em contrapartida, uma série de estudos também indicam que é possível se obter resposta ao estímulo pela acupuntura ou eletroacupuntura mesmo em indivíduos sadios (MURAKAMI et al, 2019;OUYANG et al, 2002;TATEWAKI et al, 2003).…”