Dr. Rachel Trenkamp is certified in Veterinary Acupuncture. For those who are curious, here's a little more information. Integrative medicine is a combination of Western medicine and Alternative medicine. Western medicine is what is considered normal practice by most people in the US. This includes vaccines, diagnostics(bloodwork, urinalysis, X-rays, Ultrasound), preventative care(flea/tick/heartworm/intestinal parasite control) and medication. But unfortunately the Western Medicine is not always an option or doesn’t have a complete response to the disease/injury that we see which is when you can add in or replace with Eastern medicine. Alternative medicine includes Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine(TCVM), laser therapy, Essential oils and Chiropractic care. TCVM has four parts: Acupuncture, herbal medicine, food therapy and Tui-na(massage).
Acupuncture has been around for thousands of years with the oldest written text dating back to 659 B.C. There have been recent studies to verify the
effects and locations of the acupuncture points. Acupuncture works through the insertion of sterile needles into specific points. These points have a
high density of nerve ending, mast cells, small arteries and lymphatic vessels. When these points are stimulated they release many
neurotransmitters including beta-endorphins and Serotonin to release internal blockages and let Qi(internal energy) flow through the body.
Each Acupuncture treatment is tailored to each individual's need based on their Constitution(Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water), their current
issue/need, how long the issue has been going on and how long the patient accepts the session to continue for. In general, most sessions last 20-60
minutes. Depending on the severity of the case and how quickly we see results there will be 1-2 sessions a week for a few weeks then tapered from
there. In more chronic cases it can take 3-5 sessions to see a notable response to treatment.
Acupuncture can be used for many cases:
- Helps with pain relief, promotion of tissue healing, regulation of GI motility, Anti-inflammatory effects, Immune response, hormone/ reproductive
regulation.
- Musculoskeletal problems: arthritis, back pain, sprains/strains, degenerative joint diseases
- Neurological disorders: seizures, IVDD(Intervertebral Disc Disease) Laryngeal hemiplegia, nerve paralysis GI disorders: diarrhea, vomiting, inappetence, and gastric ulcers
- Other: Urinary incontinence, Kidney disease, eye issues, asthma/cough, behavior problems, infertility, endocrine disease Quality of life care for cancer and hospice patients.
Dr. Trenkamp received her Certification in Veterinary Acupuncture From the Chi Institute in 2018. She also has some knowledge in herbal medicine, food
therapy and Tui-na through the Acupuncture program. Feel free to call the clinic if you have further questions or are interested in scheduling an appointment!