Through the ages

Important dates in the history of alternative and integrative veterinary careBowman ReportApril 2021

2500 BCE

Chinese Emperor Huangdi discovers and promotes the use of acupuncture.
1790s

Samuel Hahnemann, a physician in Germany, introduces the practice of homeopathy.
Late 1800s

In the United States, Daniel David Palmer, a self-taught healer, develops and begins using chiropractic while Andrew Taylor Still, MD, introduces osteopathy.
1970s

The countercultural revolution, with its embrace of mystical practices like transcendental meditation, leads to interest in ancient healing practices such as acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine.
1982

Dr. Carvel Tiekert and a small group of interested veterinarians create the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association after a conversation during the Western Veterinary Conference.
1992

U.S. Sen. Thomas Harkin, convinced his allergies have been cured by bee pollen, champions the creation of the U.S. Office of Alternative Medicine (OAM).
1999

The National Council of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM, formerly the OAM) becomes an independent component of the National Institutes of Health.
2001

The American Veterinary Medical Association releases its Guidelines for Complementary and Alternative Veterinary Medicine.
2004

A large, randomized study in human patients concludes that acupuncture is effective in relieving pain and improving function.
2014

Congress renames NCCAM the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, reflecting a continued move away from the word "alternative."

2500 BCE