Jane Winslow
GV 26 Acupressure-wide
Diana Thompson applies acupressure to GV 26 on her horse Handsome.
As he gathered his equipment, however, the veterinarian discovered he didn’t have enough anesthetic to keep the mare sedated for the time it would take him to complete the operation and there wasn’t time to drive to his clinic and get more supplies. Carol decided to go ahead with the surgery. The alternative was to euthanize the mare without trying to save her.
With no one else at the stable to help, Carol held the mare’s head and manually operated the IV drip of anesthetic. She increased or decreased the amount of anesthetic going through the drip as was needed to keep the mare sedated and comfortable.
Carol also used acupressure and massage to calm the mare and provide extra pain relief. She applied acupressure to Governing Vessel 26, a point that’s located on the horse’s upper lip, and Er Jian, a point on the tips of the ears. She also massaged the mare’s ears.
Surgical Success
Carol’s veterinarian went to work operating to find the cause of the colic. He found and repaired a twisted intestine. The mare stayed sedated throughout the procedure despite receiving a reduced dose of anesthetic. In fact, the veterinarian finished the surgery with anesthetic to spare. The mare recovered from the colic surgery uneventfully and went on to perform successfully in lower level jumping events.
Carol summarized her use of acupressure in this situation saying: “This kind of bodywork allows me to be connected to horses in ways that are phenomenal. It is a profound communication. I knew the mare knew she was in good hands. She wasn’t scared by the process, despite the pain of the colic and the surgery. She was able to communicate with me when she needed more anesthetic and let me know when she could hang in there with less. I will never forget our experience.”
Governing Vessel 26
One of the points Carol used to help the mare during surgery was Governing Vessel 26 (GV 26). This point is known in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as a resuscitation point. It’s one of eight essential points I describe in my new book, Acupressure Methods for Horses, Calm Your Horse, Support Health, and Improve Performance with 8 Powerful Points.
Location Photo and How-To Video
Diane Thompson
D Thompson Acupressure
As shown in the photo, GV 26 is located in a hollow in the center of the horse’s upper lip. I’ve created a short video you can watch in order to learn how to locate GV 26 on your horse and carry out acupressure on the point. The video address is https://vimeo.com/291561604.
A resuscitation point is an acupressure point that helps revive a horse who has lost consciousness. Veterinarians say that in many cases GV 26 has the ability to restart the horse’s breathing (respiration) and the action of the heart when these functions stop due to many causes including shock, injury, respiratory distress, high fever, or heat stroke. The point also helps prevent the horse who is injured or ill from going into shock and losing consciousness.
A Strong Calming Point GV 26 also calms the horse. If a horse allows and enjoys acupressure on GV 26, it can be used to calm him, sharpen his mental focus, and improve his learning ability. It’s especially valuable for horses who have anxiety, agitation, and fear. It can help relax a restless, agitated horse who is overly busy with his mouth. This horse may chew on lead ropes and brushes, grind his teeth, or hold his tongue out of his mouth and move it around.
Caution: Some horses don’t want you to touch their upper lip due to previous injury with a lip chain or twitch. If your horse resists your efforts to touch the upper lip, move to a different point. The most important use of GV 26 is during injury or illness, however, and in these situations, I find most horses readily accept and benefit from acupressure on the point.
In his book, Alternative and Complementary Veterinary Medicine, veterinarian Dr. Are Simeon Thoreson writes of Governing Vessel 26: “It is the most important point for use in apnea (when breathing stops), shock, and emergencies in humans and animals.” He refers to GV 26 as an analgesic point, which means the point reduces or relieves pain.
Dr. Peggy Fleming is the author of the chapter titled, “Transpositional Equine Acupuncture Atlas,” in the book Veterinary Acupuncture, Ancient Art to Modern Medicine by veterinarian Allen M. Schoen. In this chapter Dr. Fleming lists the following Western medical indications for Governing Vessel 26: “Increases brain activity, increases heart and respiratory rates, epinephrine point, anesthetic apnea (apnea is when breathing stops), coma, facial paralysis, enterospasm (colic). A useful shock point in emergencies. Massaging this point stimulates respiration and circulation in newborn foals.”
Medical Disclaimer: If your horse is experiencing poor health, illness, or injury, call a veterinarian and follow his or her advice. Once medical help is on the way, use acupressure only as time and safety allows.
Summary
Because of its use in emergency situations, GV 26 is an important acupressure point for horse owners to learn to find and use. Acupressure is also valuable in non-emergency situations. If you apply acupressure to relatively healthy horses using the gentle, time-tested methods I teach in my books and programs, it will usually bring about a positive change in their emotional and/or physical health. If you apply poor technique to the point or make an incorrect point selection there won’t be any influence on the horse – positive or negative.
Article Copyright 2019 by Diana Thompson
Diana Thompson is a lifelong horse owner, professional horse trainer, college instructor, and award-winning author. She developed her skills during more than 30 years of studying Traditional Chinese Medicine and acupressure, training horses, and teaching horse owners. She provides step-by-step instructions in the healing art of acupressure in her new book: Acupressure Methods for Horses, Calm Your Horse, Support Health, and Improve Performance with 8 Powerful Points. You can view the first 15 pages of the book and instructional videos on www.dianathompson.com.