The following is an inquiry into the phenomenon of “Spirit” and its relation to the practice of locating an acupuncture point. In this context of Traditional Chinese Medicine, which finds its roots in Taoist tradition, the aspect of Spirit shen is understood as being inextricably inter-related, inter-dependent and inter-connected with the Body and Mind aspects of this triune. Eight practitioners agreed to participate in a taped interview describing the experience of locating an acupoint. Although each practitioner described an experience which was unique, four threads emerged which are similar: (1) the practitioner focuses a body mediated awareness inward; (2) this awareness is then extended to the patient; (3) then there is the experience of movement toward the point both with intention and a palpating finger; and (4) when the point has been located there is a pause, followed by the sensation of arrival of the patient’s qi at the acupoint.

Previous studies with pharmacopuncture in dogs showed its advantage for sedation, minimizing undesirable effects. The use of pharmocopuncture with xylazine in Yin Tang acupoint of dogs is investigated. Eight dogs were randomly submitted to four different treatment protocols according to a Latin Square double blind design: 1) 0.01 mL/kg of saline injected into Yin Tang acupoint (aquapuncture), 2) 1 mg/kg of xylazine injected subcutaneously at the dorsal region, 3) 0.2 mg/kg of xylazine injected subcutaneously at the dorsal region and 4) 0.2 mg/kg of xylazine injected into Yin-Tang acupoint (pharmacopuncture). Rectal temperature, heart and respiratory rates, arterial blood pressure, oxygen hemoglobin saturation and pulse rate and degree of sedation were measured before and at 5, 10, 30, 40, 50 and 60 minutes after treatments. Sedation was observed in xylazine and pharmacopuncture groups while saline injection and sub -dose of xylazine did not induce sedation. Both xylazine and pharmacopuncture induced reduction in respiratory rate, heart rate and arterial blood pressure. In conclusion, pharmacopuncture and the conventional dose of xylazine produced similar sedation in dogs. The results indicate the potential application of pharmacopuncture in dogs. Further studies could elucidate the optimal doses, drugs and acupoints to achieve the best effect. / Acupuntura é uma técnica terapêutica milenar reconhecida pela OMS (Organização Mundial de Saúde) que consiste na inserção de agulhas em pontos específicos do corpo. A farmacopuntura é uma importante área da acupuntura que consiste no uso de fármacos injetados em acupontos para potencializar seus efeitos. Um exemplo é o uso de sedativos como a Xilazina, uma droga agonista a2- adrenérgico, muito utilizada na rotina clínica em animais, que promove sedação, analgesia e miorrelaxamento dose-dependentes. O trabalho objetivou investigar o efeito sedativo da farmacopuntura com xilazina, bem como da aquapuntura no acuponto Yin tang em cães, além de verificar se este efeito é suficiente para realização de pequenos procedimentos clínicos e cirúrgicos. O experimento consistiu em quatro tratamentos (T1: controle da droga (Xilazina 1mg/kg) (Xil), T2: controle da subdose (0,01mL/kg Xilazina no subcutâneo) (1/5 Xil s.c), T3: controle do estímulo mecânico do ponto (0,01mL/kg solução salina no Yin tang) (AquaAP), T4: teste (Xilazina 0,2mg/kg no Yin tang) (FarmacoAP), em oito cadelas, distribuídas em um quadrado latino com intervalos de sete dias, de forma que todos os animais passaram pelos tratamentos. O grupo FarmacoAP apresentou efeito sedativo semelhante ao grupo controle Xil, porém a duração deste foi menor, demonstrando que a farmacopuntura funcionou e potencializou o efeito da droga. / Mestre em Ciências Veterinárias