Animal studies of acupuncture are always interesting as they are a reasonable way of removing the placebo effect (to some degree) out of the healing equation.  In the American Jounral of Chinese Medicine researchers recently conducted a study to look at acupuncture for pain from a disc hernation.  Within this study 80 paraplegic dogs were treated with either electroacupuncture and conventional medicine, conventional medicine alone (prednisone) or electroacupuncture alone for pain resulting from a thoracolumbar intervertebral disc herniation.

Results were analyzed by rate to ambulation, urinary function and other factors.  Treatments utilized local points along with standard points for musculoskeletal issues such as GB 34.  Generally the study found that a combination of electroacupuncture, acupuncture and prednisone brought about much better results than conventional medicine alone.  Acupuncture and electroacupuncture outperformed conventional medicine, but together the results were much improved.