Homeopathy

When Dr. Samuel Hahnemann developed homeopathy as a system of medicine, he stressed in 1813 that its principles should be the same as in humans. Boenninghausen continued to develop veterinary homeopathy. In the UK, George Macleod (1912 - 1995) was a very well-known veterinary homeopath. In 1982 the British Association of Homeopathic Veterinary Surgeons (BAHVS) was formed, as a focal point for homeopathic vets and those vets and students interested in veterinary homeopathy. The first veterinary courses commenced at the Royal London Homeopathic Hospital. In April 1986, the International Association for Veterinary Homeopathy (IAVH) was founded in Luxembourg, with Christopher Day as its first President. Among other work, this organisation has produced a Veterinary Materia Medica. That organisation created the post of Veterinary Dean in 1988, in order to oversee education and examinations in veterinary homeopathy and, in 1991, the first Veterinary Fellow of the Faculty (VetFFHom) was elected. In 2001, the first examination and qualification in basic (first-year) homeopathy was established [LFHom(Vet)]. There is now a thriving homeopathic vet community. The list of homeopathic medicines now available to the homeopathic vet runs into several thousand.

 

Homeopathy has been used in pets to farm animals, from horses to wild animals, from birds to fish. Organic farmers rely upon homeopathic medicine as an effective, safe medicine which does not give rise to drug residues in meat, milk or eggs.

 

Recurrent ophthalmia, head shaking, hip dysplasia, bone cysts, pasteurellosis (pasteurella), chlamydia, pneumonia, meningitis, mastitis, ringworm, epilepsy, pyoderma, eczema, dermatitis, eosinophilic myositis, eosinophilic granuloma, rodent ulcer, miliary eczema (miliary dermatitis), kidney problems, liver problems, cystitis, skin disease, arthritis, auto-immune disorders, bowel disease, epilepsy, heart problems, kidney disease mastitis, and behavioural conditions are frequent callers for the homeopathic vet.

 

Homeopathy stimulates the organism’s immune system so that the being under treatment can go on and heal itself.

 

This Homeopathic Remedy Guide will provide you with the most commonly used remedies. However this list should be used as a quick reference only! Please, read up on each remedy if possible as symptoms must match the remedy for Homeopathy to work.

 

Please do not attempt to treat chronic problems on your own! Seek professional advice of a Homeopath and a Veterinarian to prevent any harm to your animal. Even though there are no side-effects to using Homeopathic medicines, you can confuse the situation to the point that even a good Homeopathic doctor will not be able to help.

 

If, after giving a Homeopathic medicine four times, there is no reaction, stop administering and seek help from a Homeopath. You may have the wrong remedy or potency. However, if you have given the remedy and there is a reaction, either the symptoms get better or worse, seek help from a Homeopath for further instructions.

 

Commonly Used Remedies

 

ARNICA - Injuries, bruises, head traumas, first remedy to give in injuries of any kind including shock. First remedy to give wherever there is trauma or injury especially head injuries. Can prevent blood clots therefore may be very useful in preventing strokes etc.

 

ACONITE - Inflammation, sudden onset, anxiety and restlessness, dry mouth. Check ears for heat or coldness.

 

APIS MELLIFICA - Allergic reactions, hives, swelling/closing of throat due to allergy.

 

* ARSENICUM ALBUM - Colic with vomiting/diarrhoea, food poisoning, sepsis, anxiety, restlessness especially at night, thirst for small quantities but often.

 

* BRYONIA - Colic, all symptoms worse with motion and better by resting or staying perfectly still, thirst for large amounts of water, vomiting bile after eating, constipation.

 

* CALCAREA CARBONICA - For old injuries after giving Rhus-tox for some time. A muscle tonic. Aids the body in utilizing Calcium and making it more bio-available. Get more information on Calcarea Carbonica

 

* CALENDULA CREAM - For speeding up healing of wounds (do not apply if drainage is still necessary – Calendula will close a wound quickly and therefore trap infectious material that may need to drain. Wait to apply if infection is present)

 

* CHAMOMILLA - Teething, irritability, colic, wants to be carried, capricious.

 

* HEPAR SULPHUR - is a superb remedy for infections. It is used for respiratory inflammation, sinusitis and abscesses. Whether the infection is in the eyes, ears, the lungs or skin, Hepar-sulph when indicated can help heal like no other remedy. Great for really bad colds/flues that causes hoarseness and loss of voice, or a rattling wet cough. This remedy is also often used for cold-sores with much success.

 

* HYPERICUM (St. John’s Wort) - Prime importance in the treatment of lacerated wounds where nerve endings are damaged. An important nerve remedy in back/neck and especially coccyx (tail bone) injuries.

 

* MAG-PHOS (6 x Tissue Salt) - Cramping colicky pains, better bending double/curled foetal position and better warm applications flatulent colic, cramps. Combine: Nux-vom & Mag-phos when you can see constipation, swollen abdomen and gassy – lots of cramping.

 

* NUX-VOMICA - Colic, constipation with urging, sinus infections, cramping, looks bloated, digestive remedy patient is chilly, from over-eating or eating of ‘bad’ food.

 

* PULSATILLA - Colic, ear infections, yellow discharges.

 

* RHUS-TOX - Where pain & weakness in muscles/tendons/joints gets worse during rain or humidity and wears off when the patient moves & limbers up. Leading remedy for arthritis type symptoms.

 

* RUTA - Best used for bruises to bones, cartilages, tendons, the insertion of tendons & even the cartilages around the joints (over-exertion of fibres such as the flexor tendons).

 

* SEPIA - Chronic cystitis, female uterine problems, mood swings due to hormone imbalances. Also given to mothers that reject their young.

 

* SYMPHYTUM/COMFREY – for bone breaks.

 

* TEA TREE – wound cleaner, anti-septic, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal. Tea tree has a long history of traditional use. Australian aboriginals used tea tree leaves for healing skin cuts, burns, and infections by crushing the leaves and applying them to the affected area.

 

Maneka Sanjay Gandhi

 

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