Fourth year veterinary student Shannon David combined the University’s veterinary medicine and study abroad programs when she travelled to Chongqing, China to study veterinary acupuncture in May. David accompanied students from different parts of the United States, China and Australia on a program sponsored by the Southwest University in China, and the Chi Institute of Chinese Medicine in Florida to earn an elective credit toward her Doctor of Veterinary Medecine. Attending lectures and acupuncture labs in which students practiced on small animals and other students, David also took the first step in becoming an acupuncturist. “There are five modules that need to be completed before you can become certified in acupuncture,” David explained in a School of Veterinary Medicine news release. “With this course, I have completed the first module, which included lessons on the five elements, yin and yang, and 40 points on the meridians (body areas used in acupuncture).” David was studying in a foreign place, but one of her teachers wasn’t a Chinese native. Larry McCaskill received his DVM from the University in 1981 and became a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist in 2009 after attending the Chi Institute. McCaskill travelled across seas to serve as a teacher for this course, which involved instructing acupuncture labs and lecturing on his clinical experience. McCaskill became interested in acupuncture after seeing how practical and useful it was as a medicine. He was exposed to the practices during his previous work in China and furthered his interest during his studies at the Chi Institute with professors like Huisheng Xie, who also helped instruct this abroad program. “I was hooked because they were showing cases of animals that I, myself, as a vet, see many times,” he said. “I couldn’t do for them what he’s been able to do.” Most of McCaskill’s veterinary work now involves integrated medicine – combining western medicine and traditional Chinese medicine together appropriately to cater to a patient’s needs. While acupuncture differs slightly from humans to animals, McCaskill said much of the underlying techniques remain the same. “It’s about being able to have the blood pump better, the nerves work better, the whole total energy of the body function better,” he explained. “It tries to increase the body’s mechanisms to overturn the problem much more quickly than traditional medicine.” McCaskill said he usually sees these medicines supplement western medication if patients are still having functional problems like chronic pains. However, much of Chinese medicine stems from acupuncture. “Acupuncture has been in Chinese medicine for thousands of years, and it’s still the mainstay of Chinese medicine,” he said. “When you go back thousands of years to when they didn’t have MRIs, how these guys figured all this stuff out is totally amazing.” While McClaskill taught for the program, he said he always has something new to learn when he hears other professionals speak about this medicine. “Every time I sit down and listen to anyone talk about it, I learn more,” he said. “It’s an ongoing program. If you’re not learning, you’re not doing it right.” After seeing the medicine’s benefits during the course, David also expressed her intentions to pursue more studies in acupuncture. “I knew that acupuncture training was something I wanted to pursue, but after this training, I know that I’m going to get certified,” she said. 
 
____ Contact Austen Krantz at [email protected]