In modern veterinary acupuncture, multiple systems of treatment are used. These include the classical needle alone, needle used in conjunction with electrical stimulation, or stimulation using a specific type of laser. Gold beads, surgical staples, or magnets are sometimes put into acupuncture points to provide permanent stimulation. Many western theories exist to try to explain the reported effects of acupuncture, however no one theory explains all the effects. In humans, acupuncture is most commonly used for the treatment of pain, paresis, and paralysis.
Acupuncture helps provide short-term relief of pain.
In some human studies, long-term relief has occurred as well. Patients may show a better response after each treatment or a good response which lasts for a short period of time and increasingly longer on each subsequent treatment. Acupuncture should not be expected to cure an underlying problem. Human research is underway to determine for which physical problems acupuncture works well. These research studies have not yet been performed in animals.