Acupuncture Techniques - Gold Bead Implantation

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic by 7 people | Log in to rate

Ranked #1,708 in Animals, #37,691 overall

The Gold Bead Implantation Technique for Veterinary Acupuncture

Gold bead implantation is a modern application of acupuncture, one of the five branches of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Modern research has proved that acupuncture does indeed have health benefits, and gold bead implantation combines ancient acupuncture theories with modern surgical techniques. Implantation of gold beads at acupuncture points allows constant stimulation, and therefore maintenance of acupuncture's positive effects in treatment of varied conditions. Read on to discover more about this technique for animal acupuncture, what conditions it can benefit, evidence that it works and more!

Why Implant Gold Beads? 

Gold bead implantation was developed by an American veterinary surgeon, Terry Durkes. He saw that many animals with chronic conditions benefited from acupuncture, but needed regular 'top-up' treatments to maintain the effect. He reasoned that if some method of providing constant point stimulation could be found, the improvement in the animal's condition could be maintained without these 'top-up' treatments.

Dr Durkes therefore developed a technique for implanting small gold beads at acupuncture points. The beads continuously stimulate the acupuncture points, but are not large enough to irritate the animal.

Gold is used as it is an inert metal and has no toxic effects on the body. The beads are very small (2-3mm, or less than a tenth of an inch), and so do not cause irritation or interfere with the movement of an animal.


The main conditions where gold bead implantation is used are:

- Epilepsy
- Degenerative joint conditions and arthritis

Gold Bead Implantation is a Modern Application of the Ancient Art of Acupuncture 

How is Gold Bead Implantation Done? 

Gold bead implantation is a surgical procedure, carried out under general anesthesia. There are therefore all the risks associated with a general anesthetic, however, for a healthy animal or an animal with a condition not affecting the major organs, the risks are minimal.

A small incision is made over the acupuncture point, and sterile, gold beads are precisely inserted. This is a minor surgical procedure, and animals recover very quickly.

Dogs are the Main Species Treated with Gold Bead Implantation 

Gold Bead Implantation for Treatment of Canine Hip Dysplasia and Hip Arthritis 


Pain from hip dysplasia and hip arthritis in dogs is one of the most common conditions treated with gold bead implantation. Gold beads are generally inserted into acupuncture points around the hip joints, although other locations may also be used.

Numerous studies have confirmed that gold bead implantation benefits dogs with hip dysplasia and hip arthritis. For example, Jaeger et al (2007) studied a group of 78 dogs in pain from hip dysplasia. 83% of dogs who received gold bead implantation improved, in contrast to 60% of those who had a placebo procedure. The improvement in the gold bead dogs' condition remained over the two years of the study.

Another study, on people with knee osteoarthritis, found that those who had gold beads implanted in their knees had greater improvement in knee function and stiffness (assessed by a surgeon and self-assessed) than a control group (Nejrup et al, 2008).

Gold Bead Implantation for Treatment of Canine Epilepsy / Seizure Disorders 


In canine epilepsy, gold bead implantation can be used to reduce seizure severity and frequency. There is limited published research on gold bead implantation for canine epilepsy, as it is still a relative new treatment. However, there are many studies that show that acupuncture has beneficial effects on epileptic dogs.

For example, Kilde et al studied epileptic dogs who had not responded to even high levels of anti-convulsant drugs. All the dogs treated with acupuncture had decreased numbers of seizures and the effect was maintained for at least 5 months.

Acupuncture and gold bead implantation are particularly useful in treatment of epileptic dogs as there is no perfect anticonvulsant drug. Dogs on anticonvulsants often need regular liver tests, as the drugs can be toxic, and drugs will also often not completely control the dog's seizures.

Read More About Acupuncture for Dogs in my eBook 

Would you like to learn more about gold bead implantation and other acupuncture techniques for dogs? Drawing on my experience as a veterinarian running a specialized acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine practise, I have written an eBook so that more dog owners can learn about acupuncture, and more dogs can benefit from its effects. I have seen so many dogs, which modern medicine had given up on, improve with acupuncture treatment.

In this eBook you will learn about the history of acupuncture, how it works, what conditions in dogs can benefit, how to find a qualified veterinary acupuncturist for your dog, actual case studies of dogs treated in my practice and much more!

Don't let your dog miss out! Click here to find out more about my eBook today!

Check out my Other Lenses for More Information on Holistic Medicine for Animals 

More Lenses About Acupuncture for Different Species 

Canine Acupuncture - All about acupuncture for dogs

Feline Acupuncture - All about acupuncture for cats

Equine Acupuncture - All about acupuncture for horses

Rabbit Acupuncture - All about acupuncture for rabbits

Cow Acupuncture - All about acupuncture for cattle

Find out more about Acupuncture with these Books 

The Web That Has No Weaver : Understanding Chinese Medicine

Wonderful introduction to Chinese medicine and its philosophy - detailed yet accessible. Highly recommended

Amazon Price: $14.93 (as of 11/10/2009) Buy Now

A Manual of Acupuncture

Detailed textbook for those wishing to study acupuncture and become practitioners

Amazon Price: $146.25 (as of 11/10/2009) Buy Now

Four Paws, Five Directions: A Guide to Chinese Medicine for Cats and Dogs

Great book about Chinese veterinary medicine, by university professor

Amazon Price: $19.77 (as of 11/10/2009) Buy Now

Kindred Spirits: How the Remarkable Bond Between Humans and Animals Can Change the Way we Live

Wonderful book about the relationship between animals and their humans, by leading holistic vet

Amazon Price: $10.85 (as of 11/10/2009) Buy Now

Veterinary Acupuncture: Ancient Art to Modern Medicine

Essential book for vets wishing to learn about acupuncture, required text for many acupuncture courses

Amazon Price: $108.00 (as of 11/10/2009) Buy Now

Guestbook 

Please let me know how you liked this lens. You do not have to be a member of Squidoo to do so!

eft_training wrote...

this is a great info about acupunture love this stuff thanks for sharing on the vital parts that needed to be acupunctured. as an eft practitioner i can use this squidoo to help me to distinguished on where to tap the vital parts that i needed to use along with my eft because both has the same procedures but with a different technique. I've learned also a lot of this through eft training
.

ReplyPosted September 03, 2009

banbarak wrote...

Thanks for sharing the information about modern application of acupuncture.Really good lens to learn about different applications.Check out more here the accupuncturequest blog

ReplyPosted November 25, 2008

sisterra wrote...

Very interesting lens!

ReplyPosted October 12, 2008

starlitparlit wrote...

this is extremely interesting. I have never heard about it before. Thank you for enlightening me.

ReplyPosted September 25, 2008

tdove wrote...

Thanks for joining G Rated Lense Factory!

ReplyPosted September 18, 2008

view all 7 comments

by LucyVet

Dr Lindsey Wedemeyer trained as a veterinary surgeon at Cambridge University in the UK and holds degrees in Pharmacology and Veterinary Medicine. She... (more)

Explore related pages

Create a Lens!