By Sari Reis
Do you have a dog or cat at home that has an illness or disease that seems to continue regardless of the treatment, surgery, remedies, etc. offered by traditional medicine? Have you spent a lot of time, money and energy taking your pet to different veterinarians and specialty hospitals and he is still suffering? There is an alternative path that may be helpful.
Homeopathy has been around for a very long time and was practiced by the ancient Greeks. The modern system was introduced in the 19th century by Dr. Samuel Hahnemann, a German scientist. Homeopathy is a natural system of medicine which gives relief based on the practice of treating like with like. A holistic approach, it is based on treating the whole individual rather than just treating the disease. Today, it is widely accepted as an alternative and effective medical treatment method that works as effectively on animals as humans. It plays an important role in both curative as well as preventive care.
The concept behind the approach is to use homeopathic remedies that stimulate and encourage the body’s natural healing abilities. Because homeopathic medicines contain very, very small quantities of “potencies,” specifically prepared, the high dilutions avoid undesirable side effects while enhancing their ability to cure. They are non-addictive and even safe to administer to babies.
There are over 2,000 different homeopathic medicines that are prepared as granules, tablets or liquids. They are prepared with the highest quality standards in modern scientific laboratories and are easy to administer. All medicines are created from pure and natural animal, vegetable or mineral substances.
A large number of holistic veterinarians as well as pet parents use homeopathy remedies to help heal their pets of various mental, emotional, and physical problems. The basic difference between conventional drugs and homeopathic remedies is that drugs treat the symptoms by suppressing them, and homeopathy treats the cause of the symptoms.
“Homeopathy teaches us that symptoms are a response to imbalances in the body,” says Andrea Kraft, a board-certified homeopath. “Instead of suppressing symptoms, homeopathic remedies work gently to stimulate balance and healing.”
Homeopathy practitioners prescribe remedies according to the whole picture of the individual patient, not just looking at symptoms but also lifestyle, environment, emotional and mental states.
Homeopathy is supported by worldwide clinical research. Some major medical schools including Yale and Harvard currently offer homeopathy as part of their medical curriculum. In 2006, the World Health Organisation stated, “Homeopathy is the second largest form of medicine and fastest growing around the world.”
That being said, it may not be a cure-all but homeopathy appears to be a viable alternative to traditional medical treatment and certainly one you should consider if you still don’t have the answers and the results you are seeking for the long-term well-being of your “furry kid”.
— Sari Reis is a Certified Humane Education Specialist and the owner of Mission Valley Pet Sitting Services. For more information, you can reach her at 760-644-0289 or missionvalleypetsitting.com.
