Holistic Care
Holistic care emphasizes care and healing that considers the whole animal, body, mind, and environment, and strive to prevent sickness through preventative care.
We provide personal attention to the unique concerns of each pet and owner using integrative medicine, including acupuncture, laser therapy, and herbal medicines.
Chinese Food Therapy
Chinese food therapy dates back as early as 2000 BC. The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine, also known as the Huangdi Neijing, which was written around 300 BC, was most important in forming the basis of Chinese food therapy. It classified food by four food groups, five tastes and by their natures and characteristics.
Food Philosophy
The principles of yin and yang are used in the sphere of food and cooking. Yang foods increase the body's heat (e.g. raise the metabolism), while Yin foods decrease the body's heat (e.g. lower the metabolism). As a generalization, Yang foods tend to be dense in food energy, especially energy from fat and starch, while Yin foods tend to have high water contents, are low in energy and low on the glycemic index. The Chinese ideal is to eat both types of food to keep the body in balance. An animal, or person eating too much Yang food might suffer from bad skin, be over excitable and be hot most of the time while an animal, or person eating too much Yin food might be cold, lethargic or anemic. The yin yang type and dominant element of each individual determines how susceptible the person is to these effects of food. A neutral individual is generally healthy and will have strong reactions to these effects only after overconsumption of certain kinds of food. A yang type individual usually can eat all yin type food with no ill effect, but may easily get a nose bleed, anger easily, develop hot spots or develop anhydrosis with a small amount of yang type food. A yin type individual is usually less thrifty, tired and is reactive to either yin or yang food. Boosting or nourishing types of food are needed to bring a yin individual back into balance.
Each of the 5 elements of TCVM, (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water), also have particular food items that can enhance or strengthen their inherent qualities and adds more dimensions to consider when selecting a diet that works well for that particular patient and their condition. A veterinarian trained in 5 element theory methodology can easily recognize the patients pattern needs based on these ancient theories. Excesses and deficiencies can then be addressed through proper food choices and adjusted as needed.