Search Results for: tcvm

The Entourage Effect: Science or Folk Belief?

While pre-scientific folk medicine traditions have always relied on trial-and-error learning passed down through generations, most have also had underlying theoretical frameworks used to explain the origins of disease and to guide the choice of treatments. In this blog, and … Continue reading

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WSAVA Adds Chinese Medicine Pseudoscience to Continuing Education Conference Held in China

The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) regularly sponsors a continuing education conference, as many such veterinary membership organizations do. This year is the first time the conference is being held in China. This is also the first time the conference has … Continue reading

Posted in General | 5 Comments

Evidence Update: Yunnan Baiyao- Where are we Now?

One of the longest running subjects for posts here has been the Chinese herbal product Yunnan Baiyao (YB). Purported to help stop or prevent bleeding, this stuff seems to be pretty commonly used in veterinary medicine, mostly for dogs with … Continue reading

Posted in Herbs and Supplements | 1 Comment

Science, Science Denial, & Drug Development- A response to Dr. Judy Morgan

As I’ve mentioned previously, in the last four years I have continued my clinical practice while also working for Loyal, a biotechnology company pursuing FDA approval of drugs to extend health lifespan in dogs. There is little overlap between my SkeptVet … Continue reading

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Herbalists try again for medical specialty status.

In 2017 and 2018, I covered extensivelythe efforts of the American College of Veterinary Botanical Medicine (ACVBM) to achieve recognition as a medical specialty by the American Board of Veterinary Specialties (ABVS). I opposed recognition for several reasons: Prescribing of herbal … Continue reading

Posted in Herbs and Supplements | 4 Comments

Herbal Medicine Will not be a Recognized Medical Specialty

For over a year now, I have been covering the petition from the American College of Veterinary Botanical Medicine (ACVBM) seeking recognition as a medical specialty from the American Board of Veterinary Specialties (ABVS). I have argued that the discipline … Continue reading

Posted in Herbs and Supplements | 6 Comments

SkeptVet Gets Hate Mail 2018

It will come as no surprise to readers that I receive a steady stream of hate mail in the form of email and comments on the blog. Occasionally, someone calls me up at work, sends me a snailmail letter, but … Continue reading

Posted in Humor | 20 Comments

Discussion of the ACVBM Application for Specialty Status for Herbal Veterinary Medicine

About six months ago, I reported on the application of a group of veterinarians belonging to the American College of Veterinary Botanical Medicine (ACVBM) for status as a medical specialty group. I explained the main reasons why, despite the potential … Continue reading

Posted in Herbs and Supplements | 5 Comments

Chinese Herb vs Metronidazole for Diarrhea in Dogs: An Example of the Problems with Alternative Medicine Research

Not everything that looks like science really is science. I’ve written about the faux science of some alternative medicine publications, such as the Integrative Veterinary Care Journal, which often publish articles that are held up as scientific evidence for alternative … Continue reading

Posted in Herbs and Supplements | 7 Comments

Does Injection at Acupuncture Sites Work Better Than Needling Alone?

Introduction I’ve recently seen a couple of patients who were treated by Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) vets at other hospitals. The records from these vets include the usual pseudoscientific nonsense describing their conditions, such as “Rebellious Spleen Chi” or … Continue reading

Posted in Acupuncture | 3 Comments