Kristi Sowers is a 2009 graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine. She is originally from Winston-Salem, NC & has called Asheville her home since 2013. Dr. Kristi was in emergency medicine for 10 years then completely shifted gears when she discovered the powerful healing of acupuncture. With acupuncture, she saw improvements in her own health as well as her dogs. Dr. Kristi received her acupuncture training at the Chi University, graduating in 2017. She then opened her own part time mobile animal acupuncture business & worked part time in an integrative veterinary clinic until purchasing Asheville Animal Acupuncture in 2023.
Dr. Kristi is passionate about all aspects of Traditional Chinese Medicine & has received special training in Chinese herbal medications, Tui-na (medical massage) & food therapy. She focuses more on natural healing modalities including essential oils, laser therapy & nutritional supplements. She also believes in the power of integrating both natural remedies and western medicine treatments.
In her down time, Dr. Kristi enjoys hiking with her two dachshunds, dancing, snowboarding & yoga.
What is Veterinary Acupuncture?
Acupuncture may be defined as the insertion of needles into specific points on the body to produce a healing response. Each acupuncture point has specific actions when stimulated. This technique has been used in veterinary practice in China for thousands of years to treat many ailments. The Chinese also use acupuncture as preventative medicine. Acupuncture is used all around the world, either alone or in conjunction with Western medicine, to treat a wide variety of conditions in every species of animal. Clinical research has been conducted showing positive results in the treatment of both animals and humans, and the use of acupuncture is increasing. Acupuncture will not cure every condition, but it can work very well when it is indicated.
For which conditions is acupuncture indicated?
Acupuncture is often used for musculoskeletal and nerve problems. It can also be helpful with allergies, behavior issues, and many other conditions. I have the best results with:
Hip dysplasia/arthritis
Intervertebral disk disease
Knee pain (especially cruciate injuries)
Elbow arthritis
Spondylosis (fusing of vertebrae)
Spraying (in cats)
Post-surgical pain
Anxiety/fear issues
Megacolon (in cats)
How does Acupuncture work?
Although acupuncture has its roots in ancient times before modern scientific methods were available with which to study it, many important studies have been done to indicate how acupuncture works and what physiologic mechanisms are involved in its actions. Using functional MRI (fMRI), to examine 15 different points, the basic tenets of acupuncture have been proven. Those are that acupuncture is based upon the point selected, the method of stimulation, and the duration of stimulation. Stimulation of these points results in specific changes in the central nervous system. It was shown that acupuncture points that have pain-relieving properties associated with them tend to activate specific pain-association brainstem regions. The National Institute of Health developed a consensus statement about acupuncture and its efficacy. NIH said that there was compelling evidence that acupuncture was useful in the management of osteoarthritis and musculoskeletal pain.
In western medical terms, acupuncture can assist the body to heal itself by affecting certain physiological changes. For example, acupuncture can stimulate nerves, increase blood circulation, relieve muscle spasms, and cause the release of hormones, such as endorphins (one of the body’s pain control chemicals) and cortisol (a natural steroid). Although many of acupuncture’s physiological effects have been studied, many more are still unknown. Further research must be conducted to discover all of acupuncture’s effects and its proper uses in veterinary medicine.
Is Acupuncture safe for animals?
Acupuncture is one of the safest forms of medical treatment for animals when it is administered by a properly trained veterinarian. Side effects of acupuncture are rare, but they do exist. An animal’s condition may seem worse for up to 48 hours after a treatment. Other animals become lethargic or sleepy for 24 hours. These effects are an indication that some physiological changes are developing, and they are most often followed by an improvement in the animal’s condition.
Kristi Sowers is a 2009 graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine. She is originally from Winston-Salem, NC & has called Asheville her home since 2013. Dr. Kristi was in emergency medicine for 10 years then completely shifted gears when she discovered the powerful healing of acupuncture. With acupuncture, she saw improvements in her own health as well as her dogs. Dr. Kristi received her acupuncture training at the Chi University, graduating in 2017. She then opened her own part time mobile animal acupuncture business & worked part time in an integrative veterinary clinic until purchasing Asheville Animal Acupuncture in 2023.