This was revealed by Dr. Jezie A. Acorda during his SEARCA Professorial Chair lecture Role of Acupuncture in Increasing Productive Efficiency of Water Buffaloes, on 22 February 2016 at the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of the Philippines Los Baños.
Speaking before an audience of predominantly veterinary medicine students and faculty, Dr. Acorda said that in the Philippines, the potential of water buffaloes for meat and dairy has not been maximized because of low fertility and low milk production.
Since there is a growing trend for a more natural system of production and because acupuncture is relatively cheap and environment-friendly, Dr. Acorda believes that acupuncture can find a niche in improving the productive and reproductive performance of water buffaloes, particularly by smallholder raisers in the Philippines.
Acupuncture used in the production of analgesia and therapy of various disorders have been extensively studied in other ruminants, particularly in dairy cattle, beef cattle, sheep, and goats. Aside from the more popular conventional needle acupuncture, other methods of acupuncture such as aquapuncture, cupping, electroacupuncture, microwave acupuncture, and moxibustion are now being practiced by licensed veterinarians.
On the other hand, research on the use of acupunture in water buffaloes is quite limited, mostly conducted by Dr. Acorda himself.
His investigations showed that hypodermic needle acupuncture and the use of herbal solutions for aquapuncture, can help prevent respiratory and digestive diseases in water buffaloes. It can also be used to complement conventional medical procedures.
“More research is needed to see how acupuncture can address reproductive and productive efficiencies in water buffaloes. While arguments against the use of alternative medicine remain, to smallholder livestock raisers, what is important is that these methods can bring a cure,” Dr. Acorda emphasized.
The SEARCA Regional Professorial Chair is an annual grant that aims to recognize outstanding Southeast Asian experts in the academe who have championed inclusive and sustainable agricultural and rural development (ISARD) in Southeast Asia. The study areas include, but are not limited to, social sciences, marine and fishery sciences, environmental sciences, economics, and rural development-oriented fields. Since 2012, SEARCA has awarded a total of 16 professorial chair grants.