History
The first recorded use of homeopathy was by Hippocrates in 400 B.C. who discovered that herbs given in a low dose tended to cure the same symptoms that they produced in a large poisoning dose.
In 1790 Samuel Hahnemann made similar observations and spent twenty years developing a medical system around this principle. The prescription of a particular remedy is based upon the totality of symptoms of the individual.
General observations including behavioral traits and changes are important. In addition, the occurrence of certain symptoms at specific times of the day or during certain environmental conditions (seasonal, storms, cold, heat, etc.) are also informative.
Limitations
Homeopathy does have limitations. Because it relies on the natural healing abilities of the body, advanced organ pathology such as cancer or crippling arthritis, which involve changes in the structure of the body, can rarely be fully healed or fully reversed .
The animals who suffer from such conditions will often however be helped to become stronger and more comfortable and have a better quality of life. In addition, surgical intervention is still required when appropriate (such as for traumatic diseases).
What Is a Homeopathic Remedy?
A homeopathic remedy is a single substance derived from a plant, animal or mineral. This is then subjected to a special procedure called potentization which brings out the medicinal properties of the original substance. There are currently about two thousand substances whose specific effects on the body have been carefully recorded on healthy individuals. Examples include minerals like sulphur, plants like poison ivy, and animal products like venom. The materia medica is a journal listing remedies, descriptions, articles and information related to homeopathic remedies.
Dr. Hahnemann made a key discovery that contrary to expectations, the effect of homeopathic medicines is strengthened
dramatically upon successive dilutions and vigorous shaking between each dilution. Several controlled clinical studies have documented the effectiveness of homeopathy in many diseases.
Homeopathy & Your Pet
Homeopathy aims to get at the root cause of illness. The key to finding the right remedy among thousands of options is that the totality of symptoms experienced by the patient
have to be known to prescribe the medicine.
For this reason, prescription for serious ailments is best handled by a professional homeopath and is as much art as science. And it is also why there may not always be a simple answer to “My pet has disease XYZ — which homeopathic remedy should s/he take?” In the course of an in depth interview a homeopath tries to formulate a complete picture of your pet’s current state, including revieiwing symptoms from past illnesses.
Homeopathic Prescriptions
The dilute preparations are called remedies, which were initially taken many years ago by healthy volunteers. These individuals then reported the physical, emotional, and mental symptoms they experienced to homeopathic physicians who accumulated these findings. Counterintuitively, it was found that the more diluted the remedy, that is, the more it was shaken and the more energy particles released - the stronger the remedy became, and the more profound the results. After enough volunteers reported their findings, books were compiled listing these symptoms and corresponding remedy pictures.
Thus, the science of homeopathy is based upon patient symptoms rather that the name of a disease. Homeopathy understands that illness and symptoms are the animals attempt to restore itself to health. The homeopathic veterinarian seeks to match the animal with a specific remedy picture.
Books that list physical, emotional, and mental symptoms with groups of homeopathic remedies that might be of assistance in balancing out an animals problems are called repertories. So, to use a repertory, you need to know the symptoms. Books that list entire symptom pictures of specific remedies are called materia medicas. So, to use a material medica, you need to know the name of a remedy and the personality of your patient.
For example, someone has arthritis in the knee. You look up knee in the repertory. Under knee you see different types of disorders. You look up knee pain. Several types of pain may be listed, including pains that worsen with motion, lying still, upon rising, at specific times of the day, or during cold or damp weather.
In addition, a number of remedies are listed, and the homeopath looks in the materia medica and matches the patient with one of these remedies. The materia medica will tell you the mental state of the individual who requires this remedy - irritable, sad, timid, and so on, and possibly some other physical symptoms the person may be exhibiting.
Professional homeopathic practitioners study these remedy pictures and are adept at matching a specific remedy to specific patient. As homeopathy is based upon the totality of the symptoms- mental and physical that an individual or animal is showing, a deep healing can occur when the two meet. This is known as constitutional prescribing and yields the finest results.
Dosage in homeopathy is exactly opposite to what we understand in Western medicine. Giving less is better. So give the remedies as indicated, and re-dose only when your animal seems to need them again.
Sample Pet Homeopathy Treatment
Let’s say your young bulldog has been lethargic, depressed, and not eating well the past few days. He has never been sick before. He is usually active, extroverted, and gobbles all of his food. He has green-yellow pus coming from both eyes, and has a hacking cough first thing in the morning and when going outside. After coughing he will often spit up a little yellow phlegm.
The dog is given a homeopathic remedy which produces the same symptoms in a healthy pet. In a few days he becomes more active, regains his appetite and wants to go out and play again. There is still some coughing, but over the next week or two that symptom gradually diminishes. Notice that the natural healing process is gradual, unlike drugs which rapidly suppress an individual symptom. And the healing is generated by the body, by strengthening the body's defense mechanism against a very weak opponent and guiding the body's immune defense.
What Issues Exist With Homeopathic Treatments for Pets?
Homeopathic remedies are extremely safe because of their highly diluted concentrations.
However, frequent repetition of a dose without the advice of a professional is not
recommended.
Remedies should not be taken together with food because this will interfere with their action. Give them at least one hour before or after feeding.
Do not handle the remedy. Touching the remedy will immediately change the energetic properties of the remedy. Open the vial and shake the pill directly onto the back of your pet’s tongue. If necessary the remedy can be mixed with a small amount of water or milk and administered with a dropper.
Initial Worsening Of Symptoms Can Occur In Pets
It is very common to observe a worsening of your pet’s symptoms initially upon starting the homeopathic treatment. This initial aggravation is usually a good sign and indicates that the body is responding to the remedy. Although the physical symptoms might get worse for a short period of time, in general your pet should start to feel better almost immediately. The homeopathic aggravation will subside quickly followed by recovery.
Combination Treatments
Do Not give any other medications unless your veterinary homeopath has approved
them. This includes topical treatments (for ears, skin or eyes) because these may suppress important symptoms and interfere with the remedy.
Other homeopathic remedies present in combination natural products, acupuncture and magnet therapy can also interfere.
Bach flower remedies, natural vitamins, some herbs, and chiropractic care work well with homeopathy.
Vaccinations Not Compatible with Homeopathy
During active homeopathic treatment, your pet will not be vaccinated. Vaccines create their own imbalances within the body, and will interfere with the effect of the remedy.
Pet Diets & Homeopathy
It is strongly recommended that you feed your pet a fresh, natural diet and also provide sufficient exercise.
What to Expect From Homeopathic Remedies for Pets
•Your pet experiences an immediate and dramatic improvement within hours-days.
•Your pet experiences gradual improvement over time weeks-months (the speed of
recovery depends in part on how long your pet has been sick).
•Your pet may not have any, or only a partial improvement and may require a different potency or remedy.
Side Effects from Homeopathy
Good news - Homeopathy has no side effects and is a safe form of treatment in that there are no chemicals or drugs in the remedies. There may be temporary initial aggravations after taking the remedy.
While no owner enjoys seeing his/her pet symptoms get worse, it is generally a very positive sign and a temporary part of the healing process. It is best to let the prescription run its course as this leads to the quickest cure.
In many cases, there may be discharges or other changes. This is particularly common where there has been some form of suppression in the past. The problem may be physical, e.g. diarrhea, eye, ear, nasal or skin discharge, or it may be behavioral, e.g. change in sleeping location, new fears etc. These are generally good indications and a sign that your pet is getting rid of accumulated “toxins”. It may be difficult to watch, but interfere with it as little as possible.
Homeopathy addresses the root cause.
After successful constitutional therapy, the body often goes back and “cleans up” old problems that have never been properly resolved. Old complaints may resurface briefly, in reverse order from which they appeared. It is very important not to interfere with these symptoms. Doing so will stop the curative process.
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My dog is a true best friend. Our pets give us so much joy. Take the time to try and figure out what they are telling you.
If advice you receive on the internet or otherwise does not seem right, then don't trust it.
