Acupuncture for atopy

14/12/2011

In experimental studies acupuncture appears to have a modulating effect on immune function. This may be via endorphin release and similar to the effects of exercise.

Atopy and pruritus in general causes such significant suffering in dogs (especially) that it would be useful to know whether acupuncture can really have an effect on this condition and if so, what proportion of patients may respond and how quickly?

In my pain clinic population I do not see cases that are presented with atopy as the primary complaint, but some patients being treated for chronic pain have concurrent atopy. Patients that appear to respond to acupuncture in terms of pain relief do not always respond in terms of relief from their atopy, but sometimes they do. Recently, at my clinic in Stirling (Broadleys Veterinary Hospital) I started treatment of a little dog who has been suffering with atopy for years and is still suffering despite autogenous vaccine. This year she has been particularly affected and has licked the hair off both carpi (must make a note to do before and after photos!) – the attached photo shows where the previously areas are starting to grow back. Over four weeks, the owner has observed a gradual but significant reduction in her licking. We are now starting to reduce the frequency of her treatment.

It is my intention to treat a series of these cases to get an impression of whether further study is warranted.

Any comments positive or negative from colleagues in general practice would be appreciated.

5 Comments

Teeny

14/12/2011 02:11:01 pm

It would be interesting to see a study done. Many clients ask if acupuncture would help.

I also wonder, when acupuncture helps, WHY does it help? Is there a stress element which compounds the allergy problem?

David Lee

4/8/2012 09:21:03 pm

My 8 yrs golden suffering HIP and ATOPY recently. He has been on acupuncture for few years. So far, he was responded well on HIP but seems no luck on Atopy.

Samantha Lindley link

5/8/2012 03:46:42 am

We have observed this phenomenon in several cases - the patient responds well to the treatment for pain but not at all in terms of the atopy, although some do respond in terms of both conditions.
Whilst we are fairly confident about many of the mechanisms through which acupuncture works for pain we do not know how it works for itch/atopy (indeed if it does beyond case series evidence).
It may be that individuals are not sensitive enough to the treatment to to produce the kind of generalised modulation of immune function needed to help atopy even though they can respond by winding down the pain. Additionally of course it may be that they DO respond but that the patient is exposed to overwhelming allergens.
This patient mentioned above has been unusual in my experience in that she has responded but we have needed to keep the treatment up through the high risk period (for her) of early summer and it has not abolished the itch completely but they have not have to resort to steroids.
A trickier conundrum is the one where the patient appears to respond to the treatment for atopy but NOT to the treatment for musculoskeletal pain.

Jo vet

19/1/2015 01:23:10 pm

Hi, I have a client who is keen to try acupuncture on her atopic dog. Which points are you using? I have only used for OA and pain so keen to know what points could work for atopy!

20/1/2015 01:06:53 am

If you did our Foundation Course you can have a look at the notes and exercises we did on atopy in the second two days.
There are no specific points, but we tend to pick points in each limb - ones that are easy to stimulate; there is some rationale for going to Li11 and ST 36 and circle any especially problematic areas. However you MUST be cautious about concurrent pyoderma - the skin in which you put the needles must be healthy and clean., so some atopic patients will not be appropriate.

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Acupuncture for atopy

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