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Cooling from Within: Using Cold Laser & Acupressure for Horses with Anhidrosis


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When the summer heat climbs, most horses begin to sweat as their natural cooling system kicks in. But for horses with anhidrosis, that system doesn’t work the way it should. These horses sweat very little — or sometimes not at all. Without sweat to cool the body, they can quickly become overheated, anxious, and fatigued.


Beyond being uncomfortable, anhidrosis may also point to underlying metabolic issues, especially in older or overweight horses. My own 18-year-old Paint, who carries a few extra pounds, showed me this connection firsthand when he began struggling with the Florida heat.


Traditional management helps — fans, shade, misting, electrolytes, and adjusted turnout schedules. But as a holistic practitioner, I also turn to energy-based tools: acupressure and cold laser therapy.


Why Combine Acupressure with Cold Laser?

Acupressure works by stimulating specific points along meridians to restore balance in the body. Cold laser adds a gentle, focused light energy that penetrates tissue, reduces inflammation, increases circulation, and helps regulate cellular activity.

Together, they can:

  • Encourage the body’s natural cooling mechanisms.

  • Support lung and skin function (important in sweat regulation).

  • Improve circulation and relaxation.

  • Address metabolic imbalances that may underlie anhidrosis.


Key Points for Anhidrosis & Metabolic Support

These are the acupressure points I use with cold laser to support horses struggling with anhidrosis and underlying metabolic issues. Apply gentle fingertip pressure or a low-level cold laser (30–60 seconds, pulsed or constant, depending on your horse’s comfort):

  • LI 4 (Large Intestine 4 – “Union Valley”)Location: Between the 2nd and 3rd metacarpal bones, just above the fetlock, medial side.Benefits: Regulates skin and sweating, clears heat, balances fluids.

  • LU 7 (Lung 7 – “Broken Sequence”)Location: On the medial forelimb, ~1.5 cun above the wrist (proximal to the styloid process of the radius).Benefits: Opens the Lung meridian, regulates sweating, supports respiration.

  • BL 13 (Bladder 13 – Lung Shu Point)Location: On the back, 3 cun lateral to the spine at the 3rd thoracic vertebra, just behind the withers.Benefits: Strengthens Lung energy, supports the sweating mechanism.

  • BL 20 (Bladder 20 – Spleen Shu Point)Location: On the back, 3 cun lateral to the spine at the 11th thoracic vertebra.Benefits: Supports digestion, metabolism, and transformation of fluids.

  • BL 40 (Bladder 40 – “Middle of the Crook”)Location: In the center of the popliteal crease, behind the stifle.Benefits: Clears heat, supports circulation and systemic cooling.

  • TH 4 (Triple Heater 4 – “Yang Pool”)Location: On the dorsal carpus, in the depression between the extensor digitorum communis and lateralis tendons.Benefits: Regulates fluid metabolism and temperature balance.

  • GB 14 (Gallbladder 14 – “Yang White”)Location: On the forehead, ~1 cun above the midpoint of the eyebrow arch.Benefits: Clears heat from the head and face, helpful for horses with facial sweating imbalance.

  • KI 7 (Kidney 7 – “Returning Current”)Location: On the inside of the hind leg, just in front of the hock, 2 cun above KI3, behind the medial border of the tibia.Benefits: Regulates sweating directly, balances fluid distribution, supports Kidney function.


A Real-Life Example

I noticed my horse having issues with labored breathing and not being able to sweat like he should. In the past, I had given him Killian’s beer — which actually helped him sweat — and always made sure he had access to a Himalayan salt lick and plenty of water. But with the hot and humid Florida weather, he still struggled.


I remembered seeing someone demonstrate cold laser therapy on acupressure points and decided to give it a try. After the very first session, he began to sweat. Encouraged, I repeated the treatment a second time. Since then, he’s been doing better, though I know he’ll also need more ongoing work — especially helping him take off the extra weight that contributes to his metabolic stress.


Important Notes

  • Always check with your veterinarian if your horse shows signs of overheating or anhidrosis.

  • Acupressure and cold laser are supportive tools, not replacements for medical care.

  • Watch your horse’s body language — softenings (lick, chew, sigh, drop of the head) are good signs. If they pin ears, walk away, or resist, stop and try another point later.


Closing Reflection

Anhidrosis is more than just a sweating issue — it’s the body’s way of telling us there’s an imbalance that needs care. By combining cold laser with acupressure, we can offer our horses both physical and energetic support, helping them adapt to the heat and stay comfortable. For older or overweight horses, this approach also opens the door to addressing the deeper metabolic patterns that may be at play.

With compassion, patience, and a willingness to look at the whole horse, we can help them find balance — even under the summer sun.

 
 
 
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