Animal Health - Homeopathy

• Homeopathy: The founder

  • Dr Samuel Hahnemann - German Physician
  • published book 'The Chronic Diseases'
• Homeopathy: Concept

  • Philosophy of healing:
  • restore health rapidly, gently & permanently
  • remove & destroy the whole disease in shortest, surest and least harmful way
• Homeopathy: Nosodes:

  • earliest studies in 1827 - 33 by Hering
  • used Miasmic (poisonous) agents for healing - from snakes and spiders
  • used Psorinum (from scabies) on himself
• homeopathy: Nosodes: Hering

  Defended 4 rules of homeopathy:

  • similars cure similars
  • single remedy
  • minimal dose
  • potentized remedy
• Homeopathy: Herings 7 uses of similars:

  1. poisons from insects + snakes
  2. remedies from miasmas (nosodes)
  3. potentized miasmas & morbid secretions
  4. organs, tissues + secretions
  5. potentised miasmic nosodes to prevent infection
  6. chemicals & nutrients needed by humans
  7. potentized genus groups
• Homeopathy: potentized genus groups:

  • seed of weed or dangerous plants to destroy those plants
  • insect or animals to remove infestations of dangerous species
• Earliest nosodes: Vaccines

  • John Lux treated Anthrax (1831) using:
  • blood from infected animal + nasal mucous of a cow with plague
  • prepared a 30 C potency of this mix
• homeopathy: current position:

  • US FDA approved safe over counter therapy
  • DTI accredited British institute of Homeopathy
• Homeopathy: Principle + exmample

  like treats like = law of similars

  • e.g. = sick animals treated with substance which, if given to healthy animals, induces similar symptoms
• homeopathy: principle + example

  Potentization = stepwise dilution of active ingredient in excess solvent to increase power of the material

  e.g. = coffee induces insomnia in some, homeopaths treat insomnia with coffee based remedy
• homeopathy: patient history is essential:

  humans:

  • diet, hygiene, genetics & family
  • life style, career & faith
  • personal successes and failures
• homeopathy: patient history is essential:

  animal: info obtained from:

  • owners
  • observing behaviour
• homeopathy: main steps in making drugs:

  • select raw material + grind
  • identify a substance
  • make solution = substance + alcohol / water solvent, mix while agitating with lactose
  • prepare potencies = serial dilution with alcohol / water + succession = vigorous agitation after each dilution
  • use blank pellets with liquid potencies
  • dry medicated pellets + pack in vials
• potency of a drug = remedy

  achieved by potentization = dilution + succession
• benefits of potentization:

  • vital to make an effective remedy
  • removes toxicity and enhances potency
  • target organs for ultra-diluted & diluted substances
  • stimulate body by working at energetic levels
  • prepare body for self healing
• some carbon remedies:

  • graphite
  • petroleum
  • acetic acid
  • benzoic acid
  • carbolic acid
  • gallic acid
  • oxalic acid
  • picric acid
• treatable animal conditions:

  • cancer
  • feline leukaemia
  • aids
  • inflammatory bowel disease
  • diabetes
  • asthma
  • skin allergies
• animal acupuncture:

  • involves needles = invasive
  • manipulative therapy so only vets with training can do it
• acupuncture: origin

  • practised since old civilisations
  • from China to Europe in 17th century
• acupuncture: belief:

  • normal health = continuous energy flow called Qi in the body
  • interruption causes imbalance in the body
  • acupuncture re-establish normal energy flow
• Acupuncture: Qi

  • flows through body along 14 pathways called 'meridians'
  • 12 meridians: duplicated on each side of body + in dorsal and ventral mid lines linked with 'Yin-Yang' balance
• acupuncture: internal organs groups:

  Chinese group 12 organs into 2 categories:

  • Yin = Lung, spleen, heart, kidney, liver, pericardium
  • Yang = intestine, stomach, bladders, triple warmer
  • Yin works continuously of not =chronic disease
  • Yang works sporadically if not = painful condition
• acupuncture: state of mind + internal organs

  • Fear, anxiety + excitement = effect heart
  • anger, depression, grief = effect liver
  • grief, over-thinking, anxiety = effect spleen
• acupuncture: target points:

  • target points are tender to touch
  • correctly placed needle penetrates tissue easily & without pain - can stay for 10 mins
• Acupuncture: western medicine views:

  • controversial
  • most vets convinced on pain killing effect
• acupuncture: scientific explanation:

  • stimulation of acupuncture points trigger sensory receptors - pain, temp, pressure, touch
  • receptors transmit impulses from outer body via CNS to hypothalamic - pituitary system
  • HTP glands release neurotransmitters & natural painkillers
• acupuncture: natural painkillers

  • opium - like (endorphins & enkephalins)
  • act as morphine to suppress pain as natural painkillers
  • can: increase circulation, relieve muscle spasm, stimulate nerves
• acupuncture: example: racehorses

  • chronic back pain that didnt respond to conventional treatments improved in 2 - 8 weeks in 13 / 15 horses
• aqua therapy & others: sheep

  • sheep = medicated bath for ectoparasites + foot rot
• aqua therapy + others = companion animals

  • hose pipe - simple, labour intensive, less effective
  • swimming pool = expensive, communal
  • others - ice cup, crushed ice, frozen peas
• Other therapies:

  • animal chiropractic
  • animal physiotherapy
  • aromatherapy
• legality: protection of animals act 1911:

  if a sick animal is not treated and suffers or dies as consequence, the owner will be prosecuted
• veterinary surgeons act 1966:

  • vet can legally treat animals and only those with further training can prescribe other therapies