HOMEOPATHY

HOMEOPATHY, A SYSTEM of medical practice developed by Dr. Samuel Hahnemann in 1790, is the science of “like curing like.” With conventional medicine, drugs are used to reduce symptoms or allow the body to cure the disease. Homeopathy uses the energy of dilute solutions to help the body heal.

          Homeopathy is based on the belief that the same substances that cause a disease can, in a diluted form, cure the disease. The more dilute the homeopathic compound, the stronger it is the treatment of the disorder.

           To those who are hearing about homeopathy for the first time, I know this concept sounds quite strange. As a doctor trained in conventional medicine, I too was overwhelmed when I first heard about the concept of “like curing like.” In homeopathic compounds, there is often no trace of the original ingredient. It may seem that all we’re giving the pet is water and alcohol, which are the carriers for the original compound. And we certainly know that pets can’t get better drinking water and alcohol.

           Yet many do get better. While it’s not 100 percent effective in every pet, homeopathic remedies do work. The idea is that even though the original substance may be gone because of multiple dilutions, the energy these compounds released when prepared stays in the solution and helps the pet heal.

          Skeptics may point to a placebo effect. Certainly placebo effects are powerful in human medicine. You want to get better, you want the treatment to work, so it works,. However, the placebo effect is all but impossible to reproduce or observe in pets. You can’t tell your dog that the homeopathic remedy he’s taking will make him stop itching, so he just decides to stop scratching! Either the treatment works or it fails.

          You must be open-minded and have a lot of faith when attempting homeopathic treatment for the first time. Often, pet owners think that homeopathy sounds bizarre and farfetched, so it is their treatment of last resort. Only after seeing side effects from drugs and going through all the other options will some owners consent to homeopathy. I understand. I’ve been there, too. When I first started learning about homeopathy, I thought it sounded too good to be true, and certainly it didn’t make any sense from a Western scientific perspective. Yet after trying it a few times and seeing some impressive results, I became convinced that for some pets, homeopathy is a viable alternative or supplement to conventional treatment.

          One of the good things about homeopathy is that it is virtually devoid of side effects. The substances are usually so dilute as not to cause any harm.
 

Effectiveness of Homeopathy  
Many of the pet owners who bring their animals to me swear that homeopathic remedies prescribed by their doctors have helped them in their own illnesses. I have seen a number of pets improve with homeopathy as well. As with any therapy, however, there are those cases for which no treatment is effective. Additionally, I rarely practice “pure” homeopathy, which means using only one or two homeopathic remedies as the treatment. I prescribe a number of therapies in addition to homeopathic remedies for my patients since these pets have chronic, often severe conditions, when they respond, it is impossible to say which particular therapy was effective. In many cases, there is probably a positive effect from the combination of treatments.

            Some studies have shown positive effects in patients treated with homeopathic remedies when compared to placebos.

            In Dr. Rosenfelds Guide to Alternative Medicine, author Isadore Rosenfeld, M.D., quotes a study reported in the medical journal. The Lancet that showed that asthmatics taking homeopathic remedies had a 30 to 40 percent improvement in their breathing when compared to those patients taking placebos. Another double-blind study showed that patients with hay fever who took homeopathic remedies required only half the dosage of antihistamines needed by patients taking placebos. Other studies quoted in his book showed no difference in patients taking homeopathic remedies when compared to patients taking placebos.

            Dr. Rosenfeld’s conclusion, which I agree with, is that homeopathy can help some patients, but more research is needed to understand the usefulness of homeopathy in treating allergic dogs.  

Using Homeopathy
Since many homeopathic remedies are available for purchase over-the-counter (OTC), which means without prescription. You might be tempted to skip a visit to the veterinarian and try using homeopathy on your own. Before trying any of these therapies on your pet, do see a holistic veterinarian and a get a diagnosis. There is no one right remedy, and a thorough examination, history, and laboratory tests must be performed to assist the homeopathic veterinarian in selecting the correct remedy or remedies.

            I recommend prompt and correct diagnosis, and using OTC homeopathic remedies only for the most minor clinical signs, such as mild itching and sneezing. If your dog (with even minor signs) does not improve 2 to 3 days of treatment with an OTC remedy, take him to your veterinarian for proper evaluation of his condition.

            Many OTC remedies are combination remedies rather than a single one. As mentioned above, traditional homeopathy identifies the one or two remedies the most closely match your pet’s constitution and symptoms.

            OTC remedies are the least dilute and least potent remedies that can be used to treat your pet. While not harmful, the more powerful prescription remedies available through your doctor are more likely to be effective.

            Most important, all pets with itching are not necessarily allergic. Failing to seek medical help and trying home remedies can delay necessary treatment of a more serious condition. While homeopathy can be helpful, you should only treat pets with homeopathic remedies under a doctor’s supervision.

            Since I believe in treating the pet, not just the disease, I never use homeopathic remedies without also making sure the dog has a proper diet and giving him nutritional supplements.

            Some homeopathic remedies that can help the atopic dog include:

Arsenicum album: This popular homeopathic remedy is used for pets with dry, scaly skin and harsh, dry coats.

Antimonium crudum: This is often recommended when the skin lesions are more pronounced on the back, neck, and limbs. The lesions often begin as red papules that ooze a yellow secretion and then form scabs.

Cortisone: As with traditional corticosteroids, homeopathic cortisone can be prescribed when itching and inflammation occurs. Unlike conventional steroids, there are no harmful side effects with homeopathic cortisone.

Hepar sulpburis: Prescribed for any condition involving pus, this remedy can help dry up the pus-filled pustules in a skin disorder complicated by secondary bacterial infection.

Hypericum: Often recommended for nerve injuries, this remedy is useful for pets whose allergies and skin conditions worsen with exposure to sunlight. 

Lycopodium: This remedy is used when the skin condition involves hair loss. Homeopathic veterinarians prescribe this remedy to help stimulate the growth of hair, if the disease has not progressed so far that the hair follicles have been permanently damaged.

Rhus toxicodendron: This is a good general remedy for a variety of disorders. Pets whose skin symptoms are aggravated by dampness and who seem stiff when moving, but then feel better after a few minutes of movement often respond to this remedy. It is also prescribed for skin that is red and itchy, and shows papules and pustules.

Staphylococcinum: A homeopathic bacterial nosode, this product functions as a homeopathic “vaccine,” targeting the most common bacterial invader of your pet’s diseased skin. This remedy is used with other homeopathic remedies for pets with secondary bacterial infections, and can be tried in cases of mild infection before or with antibiotics.

Sulphur: This is one of the most commonly prescribed homeopathic remedies for pets with skin disorders, including atopic dermatitis. It is used to treat read and itchy skin that worsens with heat. It is also indicated for pets with secondary infections or fleabites, as indicated by the presence of papules or pustules. Many homeopathic doctors prescribe sulfur in conjuction with other more specific skin remedies to enhance their actions.

Thuja: Not specifically for skin diseases (other warts), this remedy is often recommended as an “antidote” for immune systems overwhelmed by repeated and often unnecessary vaccination. Many holistic doctors are concerned about vaccinations often suggest a cleansing remedy such as Thuja to decrease any contribution of vaccinations to the skin and other disorders.