OVERVIEW OF HOMEOPATHY
HISTORY, PRINCIPLES AND USE
Dr. Christina Chambreau
ESSEX COMMUNITY COLLEGE
VETERINARY TECHNICIAN PROGRAM
2012
Although formally conceived by Samuel Hahnemann, MD, a brilliant German physician
in 1800, the roots of homeopathy go back to Hippocrates, Paracelsus, the Mayans,
Chinese, Greeks, Indians (Asian & American), and Egyptians.
All used the
philosophy of like cures like. Hippocrates and other Greek physicians observed that
if a person chronically ill with one disease was infected with a more severe disease
that had similar symptoms - the chronic disease would disappear upon recovery from
the acute, stronger disease. All older medicinal systems that have persisted through
the ages share recognition of an underlying energy component to the individual
describes as Pranna, Chi, Spirit & other names.
Hahnemann was the first to combine the spirit like principle and the principle of like
cures like to create a well organized system of medicine capable of treating most
ailments, even treating the underlying tendency to become ill. The Organon, his book
explaining the principles and philosophy of homeopathic practice, is still the primary
text for homeopathic students today. Though based on human work, homeopathic
medicine works excellently with animals.
What can be cured with Homeopathy?
There is a great book, What to expect: 101 cured cases by De Beukelaer with cases
from all species of animals. These cases are intended to give you an idea of the
breadth of conditions that can be successfully treated by following homeopathic
principles.
Baby, a 9 year old cat, had been receiving Depo Medrol injections for 8 years at an
ever-increasing frequency, up to every 6 weeks, to keep the Feline Endocrine
Alopecia under control. She was treated homeopathically for 9 months before the
skin on her abdomen was free of lesions. She had no skin lesions from then until her
death at 17 years.
Felix, a 5-month-old puppy, had a prolapsed rectum. Within two hours of receiving
the remedy, the rectum was normal, and the next day he was as playful and friendly
as ever. Over the next 3 years of follow -up, the rectum did not prolapse again.
Gus, a 4-month-old pug, had one testicle that had been retracted for 3 weeks. 2
weeks after the homeopathic remedy, the testicle descended.
Freya presented in 1997 as a seven-year-old Schnauzer with lymphosarcoma of
the brain confirmed by a spinal tap at a specialty hospital, treated with prednisone
and Phenobarbital and given no time to live. Within 5 weeks of homeopathic
treatment, the Phenobarbital and prednisone had been discontinued; and within three
more weeks of treatment, she was symptom free. In addition, her yellowed teeth
became as white as when she was a puppy. By 2002, she was still healthy with no
neurological symptoms. Her few remaining problems resolved with different
homeopathic treatments.
Flip, a 4 year old mare, had to be muzzled to allow her first 2 foals to nurse.
When she began this behavior on the third foal, homeopathy turned her into a great
mother who did not attack her foal.
Many dairy farms eliminated mastitis with careful homeopathic treatment and
management.
One 5 year old dairy cow presented with posterior paralysis for a pre-slaughter
death certificate. One dose of a homeopathic remedy cured her. She remained the
highest volume milker for 8 more years.
Isis had chronic coughing since 6 weeks of age that was non-responsive to
conventional treatment, yet in the face of this ill health her vaccines were continued.
Six hours after getting her annual boosters at age 5, she had to be admitted to the
hospital for oxygen with a severe asthma attack. With conventional treatment of 3-4
medications, she continued having asthmatic respiration with occasional
hospitalizations for the next 2 years. Thuja, given carefully while she was withdrawn
from drugs, resolved the asthma problem and she had no conventional drugs, no
asthmatic breathing and less coughing until she died at age 18. She was treated every
6 months or so to work at permanently curing her cough and a few minor skin issues.
She had a rodent appear and disappear twice, then some skin issues, as the body
worked through different remedies.
“Dudley” Derecola is a 15 year old neutered male Yorkie with kidney problems. In
June of 2001 he had diarrhea and vomiting every 2 hours while at the same time
drinking tons of water. The emergency hospital administered IV fluids and antibiotic
shots. Blood values: were Creatinine 1.77, BUN 36.9, Phos 10.36. He was discharged
on “senior” dog food. During the next few months he worsened: drinking tons of
water, urinating very often, not eating, loss of 2 pounds, very incontinent during the
night, eyes watery, shivering early a.m. and sometimes early p.m., good energy on dog
walks, overall does not feel well, dark black lumpy mole under right arm. An initial
prescription of Natrum muriaticum resolved the incontinence but nothing else.
Bryonia, repeated when needed at increasing potencies, resolved all this dog’s
problems. Tinkle Tonic (herbal) was used daily for the first few months, then
discontinued. The owner switched to a fresh food diet, did not vaccinate and learned
how to not worry so much. As of June 2002, he has been eating well, eyes are clear
for the most part, mole is basically gone, drinking and urinating are normal, good
energy every day, sleeps well, not restless, no tummy aches and his blood values are
back to normal.
“Heidi” Dow was a 14 year old spayed female with a growth on her right eye that
looked red and angry (local vet said “cancerous”.) It was attached to the third eyelid,
covered ½ the eye. It bled easily when rubbed or even touched gently. It was very
sensitive to touch, causing this nice dog to growl. There were 2 firm growths on Rt.
paw and in the middle of the chest. The owner gave Thuja 200c in July when it was
first noticed and there was no change. She repeated Thuja 200c in August to no
avail. She then gave Thuja 1M (date? In Aug) and the next day the tumor was more
swollen and was dripping blood. She has been deaf since1998. I prescribed Nitric acid
200c on September 8. From 9/14 to 9/18 had normal hearing. By 9/24 there was no
blood and the tumor was smaller, though varied in size and shape, and she was back to
normal energy and appetite. An LM potency of Nitric acid was given for the next 3
months, then a 10M Nitric acid. By April, she has been behaving like a young dog
(Almost knocked the husband over which she has not done in years), woofing and
pesky and pushy and sits and bounces up and down. Now doing 4 mile walks with
running, leading and being adventuresome. The tumor is completely gone, there is no
eye discharge, the ears are clear, there is no snoring and her appetite is fine.
WHAT IS HOMEOPATHY?
Dr. Samuel Hahnemann began the science of homeopathy in the early 1800s and
his understanding and guidelines have been followed since then. From his
observations of sickness and recovery, he posited a vital force that would produce
symptoms in the body to heal its energetic imbalances. He realized that symptoms
are good - they are the attempt of the body to heal itself (Fevers increase white
blood cell production and interferon). They are also good as indicators to evaluate
the health status of this unseen energy field. The goal then is to treat the vital
force so it no longer has to produce uncomfortable symptoms and can live a long,
happy life. Dilutions of herbs, minerals and body substances were, and are, given to
healthy people (Provings). The provers take repeated doses until they experience any
different sensations, feelings, aches, pains, and any other changes at all. These are
carefully recorded by the “prover” and compiled with detailed questioning by the
doctor conducting the proving. When an ill person or animal enters the examination
room, the doctor asks about the current complaint in great detail, about any previous
ailments, and also about the life, past and present, of the individual. This includes
preferences, personalities, fears and more. The homeopath looks for a theme or
essence that ties all of these symptoms together. She then studies the proving of
the remedies to find a remedy that, when given to healthy individuals, stimulated the
production of the same set of symptoms, or the same essence as this ill individual.
Like cures like is the basic principle, for when you successfully find the correct
match, the animals is cured.
To recap,
1. Symptoms and individual characteristics are our tool to identify what the vital
force needs to become healthy.
2. Dilutions of a substance are tested on healthy people (provings) and the
details about what symptoms the medicine produces are recorded in Materia
Medicas.
3. An ill person or guardian of the animal or infant is questioned in detail.
4. The symptom picture of the ill animal is matched to the medicine that causes
that same pattern of symptoms in the provers - like cures like – using
repertories and materia medicas.
5. The best potency, administration method and frequency is individually
determined.
6. We then wait for the body to react and evaluate if the right remedy was
chosen.
7. The remedy itself does not heal - it stimulates the body to heal itself.
How do these principles apply in veterinary practice, especially in a currently
conventional one? The key shift that must be made is to treat the individual animal,
not merely the disease. Even when treating an acute problem, and using a list of 2 10 remedies, we will have difficulty choosing from the list of 1500 remedies if we
forget to find something unique about the patient to match to one of the remedy
choices. Then, if the first selection does not help the animal, we can either say, “Oh,
homeopathy does not work because the animal is worse,” or “I need to look again for
what is unique about this animal, what new symptoms have appeared and choose a
different remedy, go to another modality or conventional drugs.”
Sometimes treating the pathology or disease (Dexasone injection or homeopathic
Apis or a combination homeopathic remedy for a bee sting reaction) will make the
symptoms disappear and not further weaken the energy field. At best with this nonindividualized treatment, the pathology and the symptoms resolve but can reoccur in
the future. At worst, the symptoms resolve but the animal is weaker overall and
develops more serious ailments. More beneficial effects are possible by treating the
energy field that is causing the pathological changes that are causing the symptoms.
When we can find the remedy whose energy pattern (as seen from the provings and
described in the materia medicas) is very similar to the energy pattern of the
individual we are treating (as seen by the symptoms of the disease and the
idiosyncrasies of the patient and the historical problems), the susceptibility to
become ill in this way (and often in any way) is eliminated or changed so the animal
remains healthy - or becomes more and more healthy.
Animals successfully treated with homeopathy or other holistic approaches
usually stay alert, agile, interactive and relatively symptom free until they have a
final illness and die within a short time. This is our goal.
The basic principles of homeopathic practice are:
1. Knowledge of disease: The sum total of all the symptoms, past and present
represents the underlying imbalance that needs to be corrected.
2. Knowledge of medicines: Homeopathic preparations of herbs, minerals and
body substances are tested on humans who report all changes occurring as a
result of taking the homeopathic remedy.
3. Ability to match the remedy to the individual in the right strength (potency),
amount and frequency.
4. Knowledge of obstacles to recovery: For each individual, learning what
practices are detrimental to continued health. The major obstacles in animals
include poor nutrition, over-vaccination, environmental toxins, other drugs,
changes in life style or people in their life, etc.
5. Knowledge of the possible outcomes of treatment
The basic tools we use in homeopathic practice are:
1. Materia Medicas - books reporting the symptoms from the provings and from
clinicians’ clinical experience.
2. Repertories - indexes of the Materia Medicas. These are lists of symptoms
with the remedies known to impact on those symptoms.
3. Remedies - purchased from reliable pharmacies.
4. Clinical judgment - from veterinary training, or by working with a veterinarian,
from many years experience with a particular species.
5. Study, courses, reading, and learning, learning, learning.
To summarize: Use questioning, Materia Medicas and repertories, to select a
homeopathic remedy that you feel is similar to the energy imbalance in the animal, in
a potency that matches the level of energy (vital force), avoid obstacles to cure and
know how to evaluate the response of the animal to your treatment to know what to
do next.
Provings
The potentized (diluted and succussed) medicines are tested on healthy people and
the details about the symptoms produced are recorded in Materia Medicas.
Hahnemann proved 106 remedies in his life. Currently many people are conducting
provings, including David Reilly and Jeremy Sherr. Jeremy’s provings are all double
blind. Many follow new drug approval guidelines. All provers’ cases were taken prior to
the proving, symptoms recorded for a week or more before the remedy was taken
and a professional homeopath supervised the prover daily. We have the symptoms in
the prover’s words and the observations of the supervisor. Provings conducted in this
way give a picture consistently accurate and reliable for prescribing.
The goal of a proving is to give us enough information to accurately select a remedy
for an individual. It does not have to be right the first try. The response of the
individual will guide us to a better remedy, if needed. The accuracy of these human
provings has been demonstrated in adults, infants, animals, fish, birds and even
plants. If a human prover develops right-sided symptoms, a fear of the rain,
thirstlessness and yellow discharges, that remedy will cure any living thing with those
characteristics (if enough of other symptoms match, as well). The remedies are
effective in all species of life.
The information from the provings is collated in Materia Medicas. There are many
modern and old Materia Medicas. They are used equally in modern practice. Those
with the symptoms listed directly from the provings are more useful when treating
animals, but the interpretations of the remedies are useful for learning.
Indexes of the symptoms in the Materia Medica are called repertories. After taking
the case, one looks up the symptoms in the repertories and chooses several remedies
that have symptoms matching the ill animal. Then one reads in detail about those
remedies in the Materia Medicas (more than one is often needed) to choose the best
match. The correct potency is chosen and given. After waiting an appropriate time,
the response of the vital force is evaluated and further treatment is given.
Obstacles to cure such as poor nutrition or concurrent medication must be
eliminated, as well.
Preparation
How are homeopathic medicines prepared, stored and administered? When Dr.
Hahnemann first started prescribing according to the law of similars and giving crude
medicines, people would become much more ill before recovering. He experimentally
diluted the medicines and found them to be as efficacious with only slight
aggravations. The United States Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia gives exact directions
for the preparation of the tinctures (different for every remedy) and the
subsequent potentization (the same for every remedy), that are followed by the
homeopathic pharmaceutical companies. Around 1,500 remedies are manufactured
from herbs, minerals & body substances. A few examples include sand, oyster shell,
snake venoms, club moss, saliva from a rabid dog, poison ivy, lava, bee, wind flower,
trees, spiders, sand, nutmeg and dog’s milk.
There are 3 dilution forms – centesimal or c, decimal or x, and LM or Q. The
centesimal potencies are made as follows. One drop of the tincture is diluted in 99
drops of diluent (water or alcohol) and shaken (succussed). This makes 1c potency.
One drop of this is diluted in 99 drops of diluent and shaken to make a 2c. One drop
of the 2c is diluted in 99 drops of diluent and shaken to make a 3c, etc. Commonly
available potencies are 6c, 12c, 30c, 200c, 1M (1,000c), 10M, 50M, CM. A 1M potency
of a remedy has a very strong energetic effect on the body compared to the milder
potency of 6c. The decimal dilutions are produced by diluting one drop of the tincture
with 9 drops of diluent (instead of 99) and shaking to make 1x potency. The process
continues, producing common potencies of 3x, 6x, 12x, 30x & 200x. The LM (Q) are
made by diluting a 3c with 50,000 parts diluent.
By the time the dilution is at 12c there are no molecules of the original substance
remaining. This dilution is 10 to the minus 24th, which is more than Avogadro’s #,
beyond which there are no molecules from the original substance. The amount of
potential energy (strength) of the solution is dependent on the number of dilutions
and succussions, and the direction of the therapeutic effect is determined by the
energy pattern of the original substance. In this way, we can make inert substances
very potent medicines and can make toxic substance safe and effective medicines.
The remedies keep getting stronger and more powerful with subsequent dilutions.
The potency must match the energetic level of the ill animal to be most effective and
least likely to cause stressful aggravations.
All 2,000 remedies, in all the potencies are dispensed in only a few forms: alcoholic
dilutions of 20%, 40% & 87%, and milk sugar globules #10, #12, #20, & #35 (poppy
seed sized to BB sized) & triturate or compressed tablets. I prefer the #10s or
#12s for ease of administration to animals. Remedies are purchased from the
pharmacies in brown glass bottles or plastic tubes. They should be stored in dark,
medium temperature places, such as desks or linen closets. They are very stable and
it is difficult to inactivate the remedies. Possibly high temperatures, very smelly
substances such as perfumes, DMSO, eucalyptus, and electromagnetic forces can
inactivate remedies in the bottle, but never throw out a remedy before testing it or
using it in a non-critical animal.
Potency Guidelines
The most important part of choosing potency is to evaluate the vital force, or energy
level of your patient. Just because they can perform (run a long time, track all day,
produce milk) does not mean their vital force is strong. They need to be alert,
curious, interactive, and not showing too many of the previously mentioned subtle
signs of illness to need the higher potencies. An equally important evaluation is risk
of death or severe debility from reaction to the remedy. If there is tissue damage
such as a kidney that is not functioning, or diabetes, asthma where inflammation
could cause serious problems, more care must be given. Much reading and practice is
needed to become skilled at this part of the homeopathic prescription, so the
following are merely brief guidelines. As a beginner it is best to stay at 30c or lower,
except for seizures or very acute conditions.
The lower potencies (3x, 6x, 6c etc.) are more material, less energized and less
powerful. They have a “broad spectrum” effect, and can improve the health of an
animal even when not the correct remedy. As you go higher, the improvement may
cease and you need the more appropriate remedy. The higher potencies (200c, 1M,
10M, etc.) work at a much deeper level. They are more like a laser and need to be
more accurately prescribed to be effective. When accurate, the response of the
vital to the remedy can be very long lasting to permanent.
-
LOWER potency - Give more frequently. HIGHER potency - Give less frequently.
OLDER animal - Give lower potency less frequently.
YOUNGER animal - Give higher potency.
HEALTHIER animal with more vitality (even with one serious symptom) - higher.
DEBILITATED animal, especially with severe tissue changes - lower potency.
RULE OF THUMB: start low. You can always go higher.
REMEDIES ARE NOT TO BE GIVEN CONTINUOUSLY, FOREVER. The owner must
be reporting to the homeopath when symptoms return or new ones develop or when
the overall health and vitality are not improving.
If you have to repeat 30c every 7 days, or 200c more than every 3 weeks, or 1M
more than every 6 weeks, and give more than a few times, you are probably palliating
or suppressing.
The liquid dosing methods will repeat remedies more frequently, still observing the
effect of each dose. This can be the 30c added to water or the LM potencies. Even
they will not be given forever and will only be repeated if there has been good effect.
Administration of remedies:
Hahnemann’s instructions as to dosing changed over his years in practice. The first
method used was giving dry doses. This is the method that most people have used
until the last 10 years and many still dose this way. Then he began diluting a pellet in
water and shaking before each dose. In the final edition of his teachings (not
published for decades after his death) he created a new form of dilution that was
both powerful and gentle, the LM form. It is also shaken, and then diluted before
each repetition.
While many feel that dry dosing is barbaric and old, many practitioners for people
and animals are still having great success with all three methods. In a google search
on “homeopathic dosing” the first page was all dry dosing.
Dry Dosing:
1. Measure out the dose:
The tiniest granules, #10s, are the easiest to give to animals because they
stick to the tongue. Pour 5 to 10 of the #10 onto a folded piece of paper.
Any larger size, tablets or bigger globules, need to be crushed to a powder.
Cut the corner off an old envelope, put in 2 pellets, fold the corner over to
make a pouch, and crush with something hard on a hard surface (beware of
doing this on an expensive wood table as it may dent.).
In my practice I have been using the dry dosing approach since 1982. I have
never had a negative result, then given a larger quantity and had improvement
in the case, nor have I seen severe aggravations from a larger quantity. I have
some clients giving 1 of the #10 granules, and some giving ½ teaspoon. If the
potency is very low (3C and less) use a tiny amount. Since Hahnemann is very
specific in the Organon, I am now using the following liquid dosing or LM for
most of my cases.
2. Administer it:
BEST: Gently open the animal's mouth a tiny bit and pour the remedy onto
the tongue or any place in the mouth. Hold the mouth shut for a few seconds.
They may spit out some of the remedy, but enough will have been dissolved
already. It can also be put into the pouch in the corner of the mouth. The
remedy dissolves on mucus membranes.
ALTERNATIVES:
a. The remedy can be diluted in good water and given with an eyedropper.
b. The crushed remedy can be put into a tiny amount of milk or cream.
d. Food is least preferable. If you have the correct remedy, little will
inactivate it, but may make evaluation more difficult if a single dose were
given a month before and there has been little response. Wrong remedy?
Inactivated? I have treated feral cats to good effect putting the remedy
in the food, so it can be done. When remedies are being given daily, you can
try food and if there is no response, put directly in the mouth. Rule of
thumb – put in a clean mouth.
e. For very fractious animals, like the cats hunkered at the back of the cage
ready to attack, the remedy can be diluted and put in a syringe and
squirted onto their face/open mouth.
To dilute: put one dose in a small amount of water (1T to 1C) and stir or
shake a few minutes. Even if not dissolved, the water has the remedy
characteristics.
Split dosing (liquid that is succussed and diluted):
a. Hahnemann felt that giving the same potency repeatedly caused problems,
so he recommended the following: Put one pellet of the #10 granules (I
have used the bigger ones as well) into water. I use 1C at this time, he used
from 4-10 ounces of water. Add a small amount of alcohol to preserve it
(not needed if it will be used up in a few weeks). Hahnemann first wrote to
dose the person according to weight from this bottle, shaking it hard
(succussing) one or two times before each administration. Since one pellet
(the dose) was used he did not consider it multi dosing, rather split dosing.
Later, in his Paris case books, he showed that he was shaking the stock
bottle, then adding the dose to a glass of water (I use 1/4C to 1C,
depending on the sensitivity of the patient), then dosing from that.
LM dosing:
a. Purchase an already diluted stock bottle of the LM potency from the
homeopathic pharmacy. (In a practice, you may purchase the LM pellets,
putting 1 #10 pellet in a 1 ounce bottle, with a small amount of alcohol
(brandy, vodka, everclear) and filling with water.)
b. Shake the stock bottle a specific # of times, take a specific # of drops
and put them into a specific amount of water in a glass, stir and give a
specific amount to the animal. You can change the previous parameters
depending on the vital force level and degree of pathology of the animal.
General comments on remedies:
Labels: Only the name and potency of the remedy have any meaning on the
label. All the rest is FDA requirements or pharmaceutical company
agreements. Quantity and frequency are different for every animal. Remedies
do not treat one thing only. Remedies never expire. We are still using remedies
Hahnemann made, and I have seen the kit of remedies made by James Kent in
the early 1900s. People were going to Lutyes pharmacy until it moved in 2002
or so, and requested their remedy from Dr. Kent’s kit. If it is there and not
almost used up, they can take that 100 year old remedy. They have reported
great success with those hundred plus years old remedies of Dr. Kent. Pass
your remedies down in your will.
Evaluation of Response to a remedy
The goal is to see a deep improvement in energy and emotional levels with a slow
resolution of symptoms. If symptoms go away without an overall improvement (as
often happens with drugs) then a cure has not happened and future illnesses will
probably occur.
Much reading is necessary to be able to fully understand the reaction of an animal.
Recording the list of original and past symptoms, then how they have changed with
the treatment is key to evaluation. Healthy Animal’s Journal makes tracking
symptoms very easy.
The 4 main responses are:
1. No apparent change and you waited an appropriate length of time.
2. Palliation – temporary improvement.
3. Suppression – current symptoms resolve quickly and the animal becomes
more seriously ill.
4. Cure – the symptoms slowly resolve and the animal becomes healthier. The
symptoms never return unless obstacles to cure happen, although there
may be temporary illnesses from which they recover easily.
CAN YOU START NOW?
While the real healing power of homeopathy lies in prescribing for the chronic
disease problems, it can also be very useful for acute problems and to evaluate the
health of animals treated with other modalities. These steps are guidelines to learn
enough to begin working with your veterinarian to prescribe homeopathic remedies.
This is from a talk given to veterinarians, so you will not have the same latitude in
prescribing. You are such a sharp class that I wanted you to really understand how
homeopathy works in practice. You may decide to learn it yourself and advertise that
you can work with a veterinarian to bring homeopathy into her practice as an
additional income stream.
1. Study. Read the notes in this lecture. Take an overview course or two (Drs.
Chambreau, Epstein, Young and others), then a course with one primary teacher that
extends over at least 1 year (human or animal). At this time the year long (20 day)
veterinary homeopathy course is only available to veterinarians, but at some point it
may be available to veterinary technicians. You can attend AVH conferences, AHVMA
conferences with homeopathy talks, reading the AHVMA and AVH journals, attending
advanced course by Drs. Levy, Chambreau, Loops and others. Most of these are
available to technicians as well as veterinarians. Also there is now a plethora of
human oriented conferences to attend around the country.
2. Decide what category(ies) you will be treating and study ahead of time.
a. Learn some remedies to help with routine problems in your practice that your
veterinarian may wish to address such as slow recovery from anesthesia, nervous or
panicked individuals, traumatic injuries, prolapsed rectums, dystocia. While you will
individualize some, you are prescribing more on the condition. If the animal doesn’t
respond well, you will now realize that you have not individualized well enough and
refer to a homeopathically trained veterinarian or treat conventionally.
b. Choose which remedies you want to start prescribing, and study them, so you
will recognize a patient needing that remedy, regardless of the illness.
c. Choose what conditions you want to treat, write out all the symptoms you have
seen in many animals, choose 2-10 remedies that most fit the generic problem, and
learn some of the differentiating characteristics of these remedies. If the
presenting animal matches one of your selected remedies, you can offer homeopathic
treatment. If it does not seem a clear match, treat the way you normally would.
d. Use homeopathy when a client requests it, even while acknowledging your
inexperience. There are now many homeopathic veterinarians to whom you can refer
the client if you do not make progress in the case. Contact AVH for a referral
veterinarian list. (www.theAVH.org)
3. Order remedies and books. If you are already sure you will be practicing
homeopathy for many years, you can save money by ordering kits of remedies, better
books and programs. The Repertory: a tutorial, by Dr. Chambreau and Karen Allen is
invaluable to help you learn the repertory AND how it applies to animals.
4. Be clear on how to evaluate the response to a remedy and how you will decide to
wait, repeat the same remedy or choose a new remedy or potency. Remember that
waiting is usually the best thing to do.
5. Learn obstacles to being able to stay healthy or to be cured. Vaccination,
nutrition, emotional and environmental factors can hinder a cure, as can a client who
demands that symptoms go away fast and cannot be patient. The vaccinations seem
the most harmful, so read the many articles and books available. Definitely do not
vaccinate while an animal is under treatment. Nutritionally, a fresh diet is ideal - raw
meat and bones, grated or pureed vegetables and fruits, and maybe overcooked
carbohydrates.
Once you have done your homework (studied, ordered a few books and remedies)
you are ready to treat your first case. Even from the beginning, train yourself to look
at the whole animal, not just the presenting complaint.
1. How is the animal acting now? Ask the owner how she normally acts when not sick.
2. Notice any odors, discharges, and temperature of the skin on torso and
extremities.
3. Record a complete physical exam done by the veterinarian.
4. Characteristic symptoms are ones that make you hesitate, that do not fit the
picture that is contrary to what you would expect. Examples include gastritis that is
better from eating a large meal, itching eruption that gets better with scratching, a
lameness that is better with exercise or better from cold damp weather, or
symptoms that occur periodically (every 7th day, every 4PM, annually), etc. They
make you say, “What? Really?” The more experience in a practice you have, the more
you will recognize these special symptoms. Your veterinarian will help you know what
is common.
5. General characteristics (traits) of the patient include: temperature preferences,
moods and personalities, affected by seasons or weather conditions, mental
aberrations, tendency to discharges, swellings, suppurations, appetite tendencies.
Look for these and other in the list of “Symptoms that indicate ill health”
6. Common symptoms that will not be as helpful in the remedy search would be itching
red skin, vomiting hairballs, food or clear froth, being a "nice" animal, blood tests,
stiffness, liking a certain brand of food, description of the tissue pathology, etc.
7. List all the symptoms with their quantification.
8. Use the repertory (index of symptoms with the remedies that can cause those
symptoms), abbreviated homeopathic veterinary books, and/or my remedy and
disease notes that follow, to select 3-5 possible remedies.
9. Read about these in the materia medicas (descriptions of the remedies) and
choose the
one that fits the most characteristic symptoms of this animal.
10. Decide what potency this individual case warrants and administer.
11. Schedule a follow-up appointment, even if this is your own or a staff person’s
animal. Be sure to write down what you do and why.
The first patient of the night has been hit by a car and is lying on the table. The
first thing you notice is that as you approach, the dog looks in a friendly way towards
you, but as you draw near, he growls, or shrieks, or withdraws - clearly indicating an
aversion to being touched. When you see this characteristic symptom and there is
history of trauma, give a dose of Arnica. Then proceed with your examination and
treatment.
When you walk into the next room, this dog is cowering and seems terrified of
you, and the owner says that ever since being left in the basement accidentally, she
has been that way. There you might start with a dose of Aconite.
The next 3 patients are cats with bite wound abscesses. The first is timid and
does not mind you palpating the area, which seems to be painless and has been oozing
serum. You would start with Silica. The second cat seems fine until you touch the
abscess, when he freaks out with the pain, so you give Hepar sulph. The third cat is
drooling, and has red gums. The abscess is painful to the touch and has a foul odor.
This cat might respond well to treatment with Mercurius vivus.
Interspersed with these "clear cut symptom" patients who have characteristics
and generalities that seem to match one remedy, are many animals where you cannot
select a remedy that you have confidence in, or where you realize immediately that
there is not a clear cut picture with no characteristic symptoms and indistinct
generalities ("well, she is sort of nice, occasionally mean & no temperature
preferences & sometimes thirsty and has a doggy odor"). Initially, do not treat these
homeopathically unless the owner requests, then be ready to refer if there is not a
good response.
Remedies for First Aid Problems
Rescue remedy can be used along with the homeopathic treatments. Give the diluted rescue
remedy (2 - 4 drops in a 1 oz bottle of spring water, kept in the refrigerator) or straight. Give
this as soon as you realize there is a problem and, if it seems to relax or ease your companion
animal, continue giving it as often as you feel necessary. You may need it, too!
Frequency for giving homeopathic remedies depends on the potencies you have available and the
severity of the injury. If life threatening, or very severe, give the indicated remedy every 5 to
10 minutes until there is a response or for 4 doses (3x to 30x or 3c to 12c). If you have 30c,
200x or higher, give every 15 minutes for 2 doses. The liquid split dosing is excellent here. If no
change at all, re-evaluate your choice. If the problem needs veterinary care, give the rescue
remedy and the indicated remedy while driving to the hospital. There are many cases where the
animal is cured, or significantly better on arrival. If less critical, give the remedies less
frequently.
ACONITE - PANIC, FEAR, EYE TRAUMA
#1 EYE TRAUMA REMEDY
Use anytime there is panic, or a super fearful response to an event.
Use when there is a history of abuse, shock, fear. (i.e. Gate toppled over on puppy)
ARNICA- SOFT TISSUE INJURY # 1 TRAUMA REMEDY
Use it anytime there is trauma - falls, hit by vehicles, stepped on, injured with
blunt instruments, fractures, bruising from bite wounds that had pressure as well
as puncture, any bruising or injury. Sore, bruised, lame feeling - as if they had
been beaten. They do not want you to touch the injury, or even approach them.
May be restless due to soreness. Bleeding into the soft tissues, including into the
eye conjunctiva, retina. After parturition - promotes proper contraction to
cleanse, and stop soreness. Dislocated joints - helps the healing after
replacement of joints.
CALENDULA - topical or internal to promote healing of WOUNDS, and prevent
Infection. Good for torn or wide open wounds. Do not use on punctures, as they will heal too
rapidly and seal in infection. Put 1/2 teaspoon in 1 cup water.
Stops hemorrhage, prevents infection.
Internally good for exhaustion from loss of blood and excessive pain.
HYPERICUM - NERVE INJURY
Arnica of the nerves. Crushed, mashed fingers or toes (i.e: stepped on or slammed in door)
Injuries from punctures.
Injuries to nerves, especially hands, feet, fingers, toes, nails, coccyx, gums (dentals)
Spine very sensitive to touch. Back injuries, disc protrusions.
Slightest motion of arms or neck causes crying out.
Abcess from punctures, early punctures - 1/2 teaspoon tincture in 1 cup water.
LEDUM - PUNCTURES #1 FOR INSECT BITES OR NEEDLE PUNCTURES
Another good remedy for sharp puncture wounds, especially when the skin
around the injury seems bluish.
Feels better from cold.
Bruises that are not completely healed with arnica.
Swelling, easily injured carpus or tarsus.
RHUS-TOXICODENDRON - RUSTY GATE
Muscle injuries from overexertion.
Sprains, strains, torn ligaments, and tendonitis.
Key is that there is pain and stiffness on initially moving and then as
they gently move around and limber up, they move easily and freely.
RUTA GRAVEOLENS - TORN LIGAMENTS
Torn or wrenched tendons or ligaments.
Use after the initial swelling and pain has decreased.
Often needed if Rhus-tox did not work, or there is NOT improvement on continued motion.
SILICEA - PAINLESS ABSCESS, SPLINTERS
Helps finally heal an abscess when less painful and inflamed.
Can help the body expel foreign bodies (splinters, plant awns, etc).
Often a shy, chilly, thirsty, nice animal.
SYMPHYTUM - BONE HEAL
Give for fractured bones, AFTER they have been re-aligned.
Speeds up bone healing by large amount.
These are only a few of the remedies used to injuries and abscesses. You will need to read more
to be ready for the crises.
Give flax seed oil to birds when they look as if they are going to die.
Further Study and Resources
Bowie, MD – summer of 2012 may offer a week long class – email timsaffell@usa.net to confirm.
Philosophy Books: The Organon by Samuel Hahnemann, the beginning parts of Homeopathic
Treatment of Small Animals by Christopher Day and Homeopathic Care of Cats and Dogs
by Don Hamilton, Textbook of Veterinary Homeopathy by Saxton and Gregory,
Homeopathy: What to expect - 101 cured cases by De Beukelaer, Radical Healing by
Rudolph Ballentine, Homeopathy: Beyond Flat Earth Medicine, by Tim Dooley, Science of
Homeopathy by George Vithoulkas, tapes and notes from Dr. Richard Pitcairn and Dr.
Christina Chambreau
Animal Treatment books: Day, Hamilton, Saxton, DeBeukelaer, MacLeod, Chapman.
Date of this edition: 1/2012