Traditional Chinese medicine approaches disease very differently than Western medicine. In particular, in Chinese medicine, there is a “pattern” of energy in the body. This pattern unifies all the animal’s symptoms. Rather than attempting to treat individual symptoms, the goal of Chinese medicine is to eliminate the underlying imbalance that creates many different symptoms. The pattern is determined based on the history, symptoms, examination, and palpation of the animal. For complicated cases, Dr. Bickel can consult with experts in Chinese medicine from the university she studied at, including Dr. Xie who has written many of the textbooks on Chinese Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Xie holds an appointment at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine.
