Struggling with Luo treatments in animals

[Amy Matthews]

Hi everyone,

I’ll introduce myself by saying that I am a veterinarian exploring using the classical techniques as taught by Ann in mostly dogs and cats. I recognize that there may not be a lot of animal experience on here, but then again, some of you may have treated your pets, or have some general insights to help guide me. I have a lot of questions I’ve been burning to put out there.

(1) I have not yet seen or appreciated anything like spider veins or varicose veins in dogs and cats, perhaps due to their dense coats, though even when older animals have been shaved down for surgical reasons or when hairless breeds have been presented I have not appreciated any such tortuous vessels. However, am I mistaken in thinking that what counts as spider veins in the arms of humans are much more subtle tortuosities and less blue/purple than those seen in the legs? If so, I wonder if I should be looking (when I get the chance) for more subtle changes.

I do think the Luo vessels are relevant in animals. I had an osteoarthritis patient present who had lipomas along the stomach meridian and who was no longer responding to medical acupuncture offered at another clinic, and I decided to try treating for Emptied Stomach Luo. After that single treatment, this dog’s chronic anxiety immediately dramatically changed (and has not returned to the original level), and his arthritis signs improved. After several Emptied Luo treatments, his lipomas were starting to shrink, but his arthritis signs were no longer responding as dramatically so we changed tactics.

At the moment, when I treat Luo vessels, I am primarily treating Emptied Luo as indicated by series of lipomas along a channel, because these signs are so much easier to identify and are not uncommon. However, no other cases have been as obviously successful as my first.

(2) One of my practical difficulties is obtaining blood. In my most obviously successful case mentioned above, I actually used a large gauge venipuncture needle to finally successfully obtain a drop of blood. Since then, I have tried both 21ga lancets and 18ga single-use lancets, and I can often get the tiniest of drops of blood using these. Does it matter how much blood is obtained?

(3) Finally, when I do get blood, it never seems as dark as the blood obtained from human spider veins in class. Should I expect emptied luo blood to still be dark like that? If I am not finding that, could it mean that I am missing the precise location?

(4) I am also trying treating dermal mast cell tumors in dogs as Emptied Luo signs. Dermal mast cell tumors in dogs are oddly recurrent, meaning if one tumor is surgically removed it is pretty common for new ones to develop that are often far distant from the one removed – though in my small number of recent cases they seem to develop on the same meridian. Most of these patients have had their mast cell tumors removed, so it is difficult to know the effectiveness. One patient has and is still developing mast cell tumors, and I am still trying to determine whether I think the Luo approach in my hands is doing any good. Some of her mast cell tumors are being stable or even shrinking a little, but a few new ones have popped up in different meridians, so I fear I am missing something key, if this is indeed a viable option.

(5) If something at the Luo level has penetrated to an internal organ (possible examples including chronic sterile cystitis or inflammatory bowel disease in kitties), are there any remaining external signs? Would this be treated as an empty Luo, or just a Luo treatment?

Please feel free to respond with advice, thoughts, experiences, and creative ideas. I really appreciate having a community to share this with, as when I struggle on my own it’s so haphazard whether I get the feedback or awareness I need to continue fruitfully!

All the best to everyone,
Amy

[Ann Cecil-Sterman]

Hello Amy,

Lots of questions there.
Answering out of order, no, it doesn’t matter if you only get a tiny amount of blood. This is quantum medicine, not measurable medicine and so what we’re looking for is a release of qi from the eying level to thee wei level. The conduit is blood, and even a speck will suffice.

Emptied luo blood can be lighter because the pathology is no longer flooding the luo vessel. It has moved to the interior.

Yes the arm luos tend to be less blue or dark than the leg luos, although the PC luo does come up blue quite often.

4. Removal of the mast cell tumors is removal of a latency action and the channel will simply build another one to replace it. Bleeding the luo point begins the removal of the pathology to which the tumors are responding and actually treats the root inflammation. But the dog would need a lifestyle change (more relaxed environment or usually much better food so that there is less inflammation in response to that trigger. It all boils down to EPFs and IPFs.

5. For organ issues use emptied luo treatments. Sometimes there are other S&S that are more external because the luo is neither full nor emptied, but in between.

I love your story about your treatments, Amy.

Thanks for being here. xoAnn

[Amy Matthews]

Thank you so much for sharing your clarity and encouragement, Ann!! I do love this acupuncture!

Amy

[Lois Nethery]

Hello Amy!

It was really interesting to read your post about using classical treatments in animals. I’m an acupuncturist for humans but recently have been spending time with horses and have really enjoyed using energy work and acupuncture with them. On the one hand, it’s challenging because they can’t give verbal information about their experience but on the other hand, it’s very rewarding and humbling because their non-verbal communication is so clear and honest, especially when there is pain and relief from pain or release of stress.

I’ve only been doing very basic acupuncture with the horses but so curious to learn more. They seem to respond so well.

I look forward to reading more of your posts about animal acupuncture 🙂

Lois

[Amy Matthews]

Hi Lois! Horses are pretty amazing to work – I sometimes think of them as being crystalized spirit! Plus they are incredibly musculoskeletal in their function, so they are very responsive muscle and fascia AND energy work. So glad you are getting that experience. Nice to know that there are others doing animal work.

I would be curious if you ever get a chance to do divergent work for acute infections. I saw 2 kittens who had a rough start and had terrible upper respiratory infections when very young, which were turning into chronic coughs when I saw them. I used the LU Divergent treatment SDS and the coughs disappeared – it was so gratifying!

Amy

[Lois Nethery]

Hi Amy, apologies for this extremely late response!

I haven’t done the Divergents weekend yet, and knowing the risk of causing harm, I think I would wait before trying this with horses (have only done UB DSD on humans when it seemed indicated). It’s fascinating to hear how you applied this treatment for these kittens – very inspiring and impressive. I hope you continue to post cases here!

Your description of horses is beautiful. They are amazing teachers. It’s really struck me that they have the same spectrum of sensitivity as humans – some are relatively not-sensitive and love deep massage and musculo-level work. Those on the other end of the spectrum often don’t even need to be touched, just connect on an energetic level and do the work there (so rewarding to see yawns, licking/chewing, cocking leg etc as “proof” that “something is happening”). Then the slightly less sensitive love shiatsu and needles, etc. I have to admit I prefer working with those along the more sensitive end as it’s so fascinating to see how much they can receive through such minimilast intervention. I feel as though horses resonate on a similar emotional wavelength as humans, using human-frequency emotional “pressure” to move each other and so on. My preference definitely is to work with them in the herd, where the herd dynamics are at play and others participate in the treatment, sometimes “referring” a friend for treatment and so on! Anyway, didn’t mean to hijack your thread, just loving having my toe in these waters and really looking forward to learning more from you.

P.S. Any tips on colic would be welcome. We’re in severe drought at the moment and lost one pony to sand colic last year, I’m nervous for them…

[Author]

Posts