Evidence Based Veterinary Acupuncture Small Animal Certification Course

Level One: Acu-Alphabet 

Online Session One: Neurophysiology of Acupuncture and Points

1. Understanding acupuncture science: Neuromodulation Fascial physiology Anatomy basics Myofascial kinetic chains and Reflex loops
2. Understanding channels and channel-based arrangement of core acupuncture points: LU, LI, ST, SP PC, TE, BL, KI HT, SI, LR, GB Unpaired channels Paraspinal Points Extra points 
3. Introduce the layers of acupuncture research behind core acupuncture points: physiological studies, clinical studies and (occasionally), randomized controlled trials

Session One Objectives:

Understand the neurophysiology behind the practice of acupuncture and start memorizing the most basic points that can be safely used to treat most pain-related small animal cases. 

Session One Learning Outcomes:

1. Prepare an "elevator speech" for why you would like to add acupuncture to your pain management protocols. 
2. Be able to identify at least 30 acupuncture points based upon anatomic landmarks. 
3. Identify different levels of treatment along cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral and coccygeal spinal regions, and when it would be appropriate to use these points. 

Online Session 2: The physical exam through an acupuncture lens

1. Review major palpatory landmarks in dogs 
2. Learn how to assess fascia, and how to perform the JAM exam (Joint, Acupuncture and Motion)
3. Become aware of how to communicate to clients and associates about acupuncture, and record the findings from a JAM exam, and an acupuncture treatment.  Understand the legal considerations around acupuncture practice. 

Session Two Objectives:

Learning the techniques introduced through the JAM exam (joint, acupuncture and motion) will revolutionize a practitioner's diagnostic ability and their approach to ALL cases, whether they are presenting for acupuncture or standard medical practices.

Session Two Learning Outcomes:

1. Understand the components of a JAM exam and begin to develop the tactile awareness to gently inquire about pain and other medical conditions in patients. 
2. Learn to identify myofascial strain patterns, and link these roadmaps to common medical conditions. 
3. Capture the nuances of an acupuncture treatment in a simple form for medical recordkeeping and client education.

Online Session Three: Acupuncture tools and treatment plans

1. Design logical acupuncture treatment combinations using: paraspinal acupuncture anatomy, large motor-group points, peri-articular appendicular points, distal, neuro-immune vascular points, homeostatic points, lymphovascular points, and neurologically rich points. 
2. Familiarize yourself with the tools of acupuncture: needling basics, electrical stimulation, tools of fascial input, mechanical tools (hands, massagers) Sound waves (tuning fork, shockwave), light therapy. 

Session Three Objectives: 

Bridging the vocabulary of points with the grammar of an elegant JAM exam, practitioners will arrive at a comprehensive acupuncture treatment plan, and feel empowered to learn and modify their approach with each subsequent treatment. 

Session Three Learning Outcomes:

1. Design an acupuncture protocol for a specific type of case, with specific findings from a JAM exam. 
2. Understand alternatives to your established plan, so that your approach may be limber enough to accommodate changes based upon patient tolerance and response. 
3. Discuss other modalities that can be added to the acupuncture needling practice to expand the treatment, or modify it over time.

A Virtual real-time check in with Faculty and Students will be required the weekend before arriving to in-person course. All online material must be completed before starting the in-person course. 

Evidence Based Veterinary Acupuncture Small Animal Certification Course

Level Two: Acu-Athlete & Integrative Pain

Online Session One: Expanding the alphabet: Acupuncture Points, Channels and Regions

1. Expand upon the points learned in Level 1 to include additional points of interest, especially those relating to athletes, pain and mobility considerations. 
2. Take a deeper dive into understanding the channels, and the advantages (and limitations) of treating along channels
3. Learn variations in acupuncture points and treatment in cats compared to dogs. 

Session One Objectives:

Increase the size of your acupuncture “alphabet” of points and expand indications for using these points. Add clarity to the channels contribution to point locations.

Session One Learning outcomes:

1. Increase your lexicon to at least 75 acupuncture points based upon anatomic landmarks.
2. Consider when grouping of points along a channel, region or myofascial kinetic chain makes the most sense, versus distributing points widely. 
3. Be able to recognize points that have a more motor-based effect versus a more neuromodulatory, homeostatic effect. 

Online Session Two:  Vocabulary: Deepening the Scientific Database Behind Acupuncture Science

1. Basic Sciences Deep Dive:  Pain neurophysiology, fascial physiology, proprioception, long and short reflex loops, lymphatic physiology, mechanotransduction, pharmacology, photon and sound-wave non-pharma, motion in non-pharma, diet and supplements.
2. Literature Review:  Acupuncture research and planning, the complexity of placebo effect in complex interactions, complexity theory. 
3. Understanding divergent perspectives in acupuncture:  How can people treating ghosts, dampness, wind and grandparent misbehavior have comparable results in patient outcomes?

Session Two Objectives:

With some basic cases under your belt, session 2 should strengthen the breadth and depth of your acupuncture acumen and knowledge.  It also sets the stage for understanding other pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions that can be added to patient care plans. 

Session Two Learning Outcomes:

1.  Grasp the scaffolding of basic science underpinning acupuncture effects.
2. Explain the bumpy road to evidence-based medicine as it applies to acupuncture, and how it has started to resolve within the last 10 years.
3. Be able to assess “new” and popular approaches to acupuncture through the lens of science, and understand how to translate colorful concepts into practical, scientifically palatable treatment options. 

Online Session 3: Composition: Formatting the points, JAM exam and scientific background into a comprehensive treatment approach 

1. Explore commonly encountered conditions relating to pain, mobility and athletic performance. 
2. Design a theoretical approach to their treatment but understand that this will FIRST be dictated by your specific JAM exam for each patient. 
3. Musculoskeletal and myofascial conditions discussed will include: neurological conditions, geriatrics, osteo-arthritis, specific joints (hip, stifle, hock, shoulder, elbow, carpus), tendons (iliopsoas, shoulder, achilles), sacro-pelvic disease and working dogs. 

Session Three Objectives:

In this session you will learn to compose an elegant treatment plan for various conditions, which will be implemented with attention to the JAM exam, the principles of medical acupuncture, and the cooperation of your patient.

Session Three Learning Outcomes:

1. Understand the tenets of treating geriatric dogs, with attention to caregiver burden, quality of life, and balance of pharma and non-pharma.   
2. Consider your approach to dogs that are planning to return to athletic activity, including types of treatments, timing of treatments, and return to sporting strength and function.   
3. Recognize the integration of multiple techniques for managing complex Musculo-skeletal and neurological cases and be fluent in how to triage interventions in specific cases. 

Three canine (or feline) cases must be completed between Level 1 and Level 2. At least 2-3 visits per case are required, and a case report (as presented in person at Level 1) will be required for each case. 

A Virtual real-time check in with Faculty and Students will be required the weekend before arriving to in-person course. All online material must be completed before starting the in-person course. 

Evidence Based Veterinary Acupuncture Small Animal Certification Course

Level Three: Acu-IM (internal medicine) and more species

Online Session One: Expanding the alphabet: Acupuncture Points, Channels and Regions

1. Learn the named Bladder Line points along the spine, and how they relate to back (Shu) points, and front (Mu) points.
2. Learn additional points that offer diagnostic and homeostatic effects without integrating as closely with known scientific constructs
3. Learn points on the head. Reinforce the sometimes aligned, and sometimes contradictory goals of treating along acupuncture meridians versus treating along myofascial kinetic chains.

Session One Objectives:

Increase the size of your acupuncture “alphabet” of points and expand indications for using these points. Add further clarity to the channels’ contribution to point locations and be comfortable following channels from beginning to end.

Session One Learning outcomes:

1. Have basic knowledge of the entire lexicon of transposed (and some named) acupuncture points.
2. Demonstrate comfort in following channels from beginning to end
3. Describe somato-visceral reflex loops and identify which acupuncture points are reported to engage somato-autonomic long-loop reflexes to identify and modify organ disease.

Online Session Two: Internal Medicine Paradigms for point formula

1. Review the neuro-immune function of the parasympathetic nervous system and the global effects of the vagus, as well as visceral pain embryology and common points that stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system.
2. Learn sensible approaches to a variety of internal medicine conditions (while continuing to base all treatments on what is found in your JAM exam)
3. Acupuncture treatments for the following conditions will be presented: immune system diseases, gastro-intestinal conditions and nausea/vomiting, laryngeal and respiratory conditions, special sensory systems- hearing, vision, taste, Urinary and Reproductive conditions, metabolic conditions, anesthesia augmentation, dental and orofacial pain diseases, cancer, animal behavior, ophthalmic conditions and palliative care.

Session Two Objectives:

This session introduces a whole new world for the blossoming acupuncturist- adding a diversity of diagnostic and treatment possibilities that formerly might have seemed unreachable. Recognizing the cross-talk between the touchable and un-touchable body systems will permanently transform your medical practice. 

Session Two Learning Outcomes:

1.  Learn about pathophysiology and acupuncture for various medical conditions, and conditions of the head.
2. Note how internal medicine conditions often correlate with JAM exam findings, and why this might be the case.
3. Refine your application of point formula to minimize needles, but treat points that overlap with several of the objectives in your exam and treatment.

Online Session 3: Expanding the Boundaries

1. “Deepening” needling techniques and exploring TCVM personality traits as they relate to acupuncture
2. Balancing cost and quality in veterinary acupuncture
3. Translating and transposing: how to apply basic small animal acupuncture skills to other species.

Session Three Objectives:

In session three the practice of acupuncture has become skilled, and it can now be applied through various types of individuals, clinical and socio-economic settings, and even in less common species.

Session Three Learning Outcomes:

1. Explain how to treat various internal medicine conditions with acupuncture
2. Prepare comparative acupuncture and integrative medicine plans for families from three divergent economic locale, and evaluate the advantages of each
3. Pick a species of your choice and consider how you would transpose points, as well as approach this patient for acupuncture treatment.

Three canine (or feline) cases must be completed between Level One and Level Two. At least one sports medicine/mobility and one internal medicine cases should be included.  Case reports are required for all three. 

A Virtual real-time check in with Faculty and Students will be required the weekend before arriving to in-person course. All online material must be completed before starting the in-person course.