Homeopathic Guidelines
by Theresa Wirth
The term "homeopathy" is often misused when people are discussing "holistic." They are not interchangeable terms, as holistic is an umbrella term to define an approach to mind/body healing that encompasses a variety of treatment avenues, including acupuncture, herbal, chiropractic, diet etc.
Homeopathy is a singular practice within that group that uses specific remedies and potencies of these remedies to effect a "cure" on the body. It is the "law of similars" and I like to think of it as a "key" that unlocks the right window in the immune system's computer program of healing. For instance, apis is made from bee venom, so when administered after a bee sting, it reminds the body as to which "program" to run to heal the resulting trauma, rather than a whole body response which creates the swelling and inflammation and pain associated with the sting. Similar to opening a door lock with the right key (apis) or blowing it up with a grenade (over stimulated immune response.) Both create an opening to walk through, but one is far less damaging!
Within that paradigm are two types of homeopathic treatment: constitutional and acute. Constitutional healing requires a lengthy process of history taking, note taking, observation; basically attempting through information as disparate as food cravings, temperature preferences, tongue color, respiration, habits, etc to a medical "biography" of injuries, traumas, pharmaceuticals, diseases etc. It is clear how long and involved this process can be and usually requires multiple follow-ups and very close monitoring of the patient. The goal is a total body healing, wherein the patient no longer experiences those "nagging" symptoms like sinusitis, recurrent uti's up to and including something as serious as cancer remission.
Acute practice simply attempts to offer symptomatic relief ie: apis for a bee sting or arnica for bruising or aching muscles, rhus tox for chronic arthritis pain relief or ruta for tendonitis.
It is important to realize on a certain level, though, that some symptoms are signs of a deeper disease process. Professional Homeopaths believe, for instance, that the body manifests disease in the least "damaging" method; therefore, skin disease is a HEALTHY body's attempt to discharge an imbalance through the "safest" organ, the skin, and drive it away from the deeper, and to the body, more important organs of the body.
A homeopathic given for severe itching may relieve those symptoms, but produce others. This can be simply a way for the body to "unlayer" all of the previous manifestations of disease that were sublimated by drugs or other immune suppressing methods. This is why it's important to have the person keep in touch regarding their dog or cats' reactions, to understand that an aggravation of symptoms may appear for 24-48 hours as the body detoxes and heals and that a previous issue may reoccur…rather like an onion as diseased "layers" are peeled off.
This can be a great indication that the right remedy has been chosen…however, aggravations that last more than 48 hours should more than likely be antidoted, as the body is not responding positively. This is pretty rare (in fact i've never had it happen) when sticking with the lower potencies (below 30c).
There are as many approaches to homeopathic methods as there are remedies, so I'm just going to share what I was taught and what I have learned and had success with, but as comfort levels rise you may find a different approach that works for you. I believe homeopathy is as much intuitive as it is based in the Materia Medica, so listening to your own "voice" as well as research and remedy knowledge will offer the best results.
A 30c is a good choice for an acute condition - for instance, a pulled tendon that renders a dog lame or limping. It can be administered for as little as one dose/one time to as much as 4 doses per day or up to two weeks.
a 6c is a good choice for a chronic condition – using the same scenario, a limp that continues to reoccur, comes and goes intermittently, after initial injury. I have had the best success using this once daily for as much as 30 days.
In both cases, it is advisable to DISCONTINUE the remedy if improvement or absence of symptoms occurs, even if they haven't used it for the full term of days. In this respect it is totally 'anti' antibiotic – the animal will NOT build up a resistance to the remedy, but cessation of symptoms means the job is done for the time being.
Sometimes, there is improvement but it doesn't "hold" which can mean that the right remedy but wrong potency was used, or that there is a similar, but in this case, better remedy to do the job.
200c is, in my opinion, only to be used with arnica…the higher the potency, the deeper and longer lasting, with the resultant impact on the body, and is best left to a professional homeopath.
Arnica tincture cannot be used topically on an open wound…it HURTS…it said it on the bottle and in my books but I decided to try it anyway just to prove it to myself. They were right.
- Remedies should not be touched.....administer using the cap of the bottle or a spoon or?
- Remedies should not be added to food.....and food should be withheld for 15 minutes pre or post administration.
- A remedy CAN be dissolved in a little bit of milk to get an animal to take it if other methods are not successful.
- Adding a remedy to water and stirring will potentize the remedy.
- Remedies can be antidoted (whether intentionally or by accident) by using a competing remedy, a different potency, a strong smelling shampoo or coat spray (especially those containing anti flea essential oils or tea tree oil,) coffee, mint…etc.
- Remedies can cause a 24-48 hour aggravation of symptoms
- Remedies can ameliorate the initial symptom(s) being treated and cause a reoccurrence of an older health issue with a different set of symptoms. Animal Guardians need to be aware of this possibility and willing to work through it with us.
- Remedy should be discontinued if aggravations continue more than 48 hours or if no improvement is seen in 72 hours.
Homeopathy is an amazing, almost miraculous, avenue for treatment when it works. I've been lucky enough to see it many times over the years and the best part of using it with animals is that there is no placebo effect. We can't talk them into believing it will relieve their pain, itching, trauma, etc. It just does.
It can also be frustrating and infuriating and disappointing trying to FIND that "right" remedy. It's been 15 years and I am still learning new applications and combinations that I had never thought to use in a certain condition (thanks to Retta and Canoe for a new use for ledum).
There are also as many books with as many different applications as there are remedies, so it can really get confusing. However, the "victories" can make it all worth it.