Pharmacopuncture in the Yin Tang acupoint and sedative effect on animals – literature review

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to review the use of pharmacopuncture in the Yin Tang acupoint to tranquilize animals, emphasizing its importance as a tool for the veterinary practitioner in his daily routine. The aim of the acupuncture is to achieve a homeostatic effect, restoring the balance of altered organic functions. Pharmacopuncture has been used to produce sedation in dogs. The Yin Tang acupoint is a sedation point located between the eyebrows that produces sedation in humans and animals upon stimulation. Several studies have shown that administration of a subdose of acepromazine and xylazine in this acupoint effectively induces sedation in dogs comparable to that of the therapeutic dose administered by conventional means, without causing serios side effects. We hereby suggest that new drugs should be testes with this technique for the clinical practice in animals.