Acupuncture, Tui Na, Herbal Therapy, Food Therapy
About TCVM and Dr. Katie Ralston
Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) practice started with horses thousands of years ago, and we have adapted techniques to practice on many other species. TCVM includes acupuncture, Tui-na (therapeutic massage), herbal therapy, food therapy, and exercise. TCVM practitioners recognize disease as an imbalance in the body and view the body is an integrated, energetic structure. The disturbance of energy flow creates disease in the whole animal, which is diagnosed based on a specific pattern. When a disease pattern is identified, balance and health can be restored by helping the body regulate itself using specific TCVM treatments. The TCVM part of my exam includes evaluation of tongue and pulse qualities and palpation of specific points on the body. I will also perform a complete western physical exam. The goals of TCVM and Western Veterinary Medicine (WVM) are the same; both hope to promote health and prevent disease. The integration of the two systems brings better results than either one alone.
I began practicing WVM in 2008, and I have spent my entire career practicing in central and south Texas. I started out working with large animals, participated in an equine internship, then transitioned into small animal emergency work. Throughout my years of practicing, there have been many cases where I wanted to do more for a patient, especially as a hospitalist in the ER. In 2021 I started studying TCVM, and it has given me so many more treatment options for improving performance and enhancing quality of life in our horses, dogs, and cats. (It works for all types of critters - I just prefer to work with these 3 currently!) TCVM allows me to diagnose and treat the root causes of illnesses, prevent deleterious side effects from some of the common “bandaid” medications used for chronic disease, and dramatically improve overall health. At this time, I am only offering TCVM treatment sessions, and I encourage all of my clients to maintain a close relationship with a conventional WVM veterinarian. I look forward to working with you and your pet’s entire team in an integrative approach to balance their body and optimize health, performance, and longevity.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture techniques provide stimulation to specific points on the body to release areas of stagnation (pain), direct Qi (energy flow), and re-balance organ systems. The main therapeutic effects of acupuncture occur by stimulating nerve fibers near the acupuncture points. The points on the body are located on a meridian (aka channel), and the meridian system is a pathway through which Qi (energy) and blood circulate. The meridians form a network of communication and connection amongst all the tissues and organs linking them into an organic WHOLE. These acupoints are stimulated with techniques including dry needling, electro-acupuncture, aqua-acupuncture, and/or hemo-acupuncture.
Tui Na
Tui-na is a form of therapeutic massage used for preventing and treating disease. Tui-na practitioners use various manipulations applied to acupuncture points (acupoints) and meridians, as well as special limb-stretching movements to prevent and treat disease. It is especially well-suited for fractious or anxious patients, those with aversion to needles, and geriatric and pediatric patients due to its potential for gentle application. Tui-na techniques have been successfully used for the treatment of musculoskeletal conditions, neurological disease, internal medicine disorders, enhanced performance, and disease prevention. In addition, it is a tool that can be taught to pet parents to enhance the human-animal bond and provide manual therapy in between treatment sessions.
Herbal Therapy
Herbal supplements are taken daily and stimulate the body to restore balance. They can be thought of as daily acupuncture. They are commonly used for pain management, IVDD, seizures, chronic internal medical conditions, promotion of life quality for cancer and geriatric patients, and many other uses when conventional medicine fails. Most pets are on these supplements for an average of 3 months, but length of supplementation is always determined by the individual’s specific needs. The herbals are usually tolerated very well, and most are safe to use with many of the commonly prescribed western pharmaceutical drugs.
Food therapy
Food therapy is commonly used along with acupuncture, herbal medicine, and Tui-na in daily TCVM practice. The main principle of TCVM food therapy is to clear Heat patterns with cool/cold foods and to dispel Cold patterns with warm/hot foods. It can be used to cure skin conditions, promote general health and prevent diseases, and also as an adjunct therapy for other medical conditions including cancer, chronic GI and respiratory diseases, and endocrine and liver disorders. We will work together to select food ingredients to feed your pet based upon their inborn tendencies (constitution), age, species, geographical location, personality, current disharmony or disease process, and your grocery store options and budget. I will formulate recipes for home-cooked meals that are balanced to meet your pet’s energy and vitamin/mineral needs, and I will provide you with cooking instructions to ensure each ingredient is optimally prepared.
Common Conditions for Treatment
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Neurological
IVDD (Paresis/Paralysis)
Seizures -
Physical
Acute pain
Chronic conditions
Arthritis -
Immunity
Allergic dermatitis
Otitis
IBD -
Urinary & Renal
Incontinence
UTI Crystals Stones
Renal failure -
Recovery
Ongoing wellness
Post surgery
Quality of life
My Goals for Your Pet
Comfort
BALANCE
Longevity
Frequently asked questions
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TCVM treatment sessions range from $75–$175. Each TCVM treatment is one session, and each session includes acupuncture (dry needles, electroacupuncture, aquapuncture, and/or hemo-acupuncture) and Tui-na. Herbals vary in cost, and are not included in the cost of the TCVM treatment session(s). It’s always cheaper for dog and cat owners to come to my studio for treatment. I travel to all horse clients, which incurs a travel fee. Please see my pricing page for a more detailed menu of my services and offerings.
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Acupuncture is generally not painful and many pets find it to be a relaxing experience. If your pet has a specific condition you're looking to treat or any concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out.
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Studio A is located on the far west side of Dripping Springs, otherwise known as Henly. Here, each patient is seen individually and is the only patient on site for the entirety of the visit and treatment session. Studio A is a simple, inviting indoor environment that allows pets to explore freely and get comfortable prior to their treatment session. Pet parents play an integral part in their pet’s treatment session, which provides a truly hands-on approach to pet care. Pet parents will leave the studio session with homework exercises that they can perform daily to enhance the overall well-being and health of their pet and further promote the human-animal bond.
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Food therapy consults include hands-on examination, records review, extensive discussion on ingredients, 2 recipes with cooking instructions, and weekly check-ins with recipe “tweaking” based on pet’s taste preferences. Most recipes that I generate require you to purchase a vitamin and mineral supplement from BalanceIt.
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Once I arrive to your home, we will find a comfortable spot indoors to sit and review pet history and records. I will then do your pet’s exam in their home where they are most comfortable, followed by their treatment session.
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My treatment sessions usually last 1 -1.5 hours. You should expect the first session to be ~ 1.5 hours long due to the initial consult, history taking, review of records, time spent getting your pet comfortable with me, and time needed to perform the treatment. Subsequent treatment sessions usually take no more than 1 hour. The pet parent or trainer must be present for TCVM treatments.
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Usually 3-6 treatments are needed 1-2 weeks apart to make a significant improvement in chronic conditions. Acute conditions tend to respond quicker. Once we get your pet’s comfort restored and body balanced, maintenance sessions can be done monthly or quarterly. I usually let the patient tell us what is needed based on their response to decreased treatment frequencies.
Still have questions? Reach out!
