Acupuncture
This modality is well established and has an independent special interest group of the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA), the Australian Veterinary Acupuncture Group (AVAG). There are many vets who belong to both the AVAG and Integrative Veterinarians Australia (IVA) of the AVA, but as there are a number of vets whose only natural therapy in practice is acupuncture the groups exist separately.
This modality has its base in traditional Chinese, Japanese and Indian medicine. It involves the insertion of needles, application of pressure, or heat and/or cold application to documented points on the body of an animal. These points are part of chains of points called meridians.
Conditions which can respond particularly well to acupuncture include back pain, spinal disc prolapse, feline sinusitis, hip and stifle arthritis, incontinence and cystitis. Many other conditions also show good to excellent response.
The skeptics association believe that this effect is a placebo effect only, however there is much research supporting the view of its efficacy. Full text papers on acupuncture OR acupoint OR moxibustion OR moxa are at Pubmed (5100 results on Feb 2012)
For more information about the AVAG or to locate a veterinary acupuncture practitioner in Australia use the following link; Australian Veterinary Acupuncture Group