A Preliminary Study on the Transposition of Meridians and Acupuncture Points from the Canine and Equine Species to the Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)
Connie L. Clemons-Chevis
Institute for Marine Mammal Studies, Gulfport, MS and Alternative Medicine for Pets, Bay St. Louis, MS
Abstract
Acupuncture has been successfully used in many species1, 2 and should be a beneficial therapy in marine mammals. Many medications and treatments have been extrapolated from other species and used in dolphins. At this time, there have not been any meridians or acupuncture points mapped out on an Atlantic bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). The purpose of this study was to develop charts showing where the acupoints in an Atlantic Bottlenose dolphin should be located. The points were extrapolated from equine3 and canine4 acupuncture charts and applied to anatomy drawings, radiographs and photos of an Atlantic bottlenose dolphin.5,6 In addition, a handheld acupoint detector was used to locate lower galvanic skin resistance acupoints on a live dolphin. These points were marked using zinc oxide ointment. Fifty-six points and descriptions of their locations were proposed.7
Acknowledgements
The author thanks Cheryl Ladner for taking the photographs and the personnel at Institute for Marine Mammal Studies for their support and help.
References
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