Transcript Homeopathy: Something from “Nothing”? Lynn S. Peck, DVM, M.S. Gainesville, Florida

Homeopathy:
Something from “Nothing”?
Lynn S. Peck, DVM, M.S.
Gainesville, Florida
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Homeopathy for First Aid and
Trauma
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Learning Homeopathy
 Introductory
Courses
– National Center for Homeopathy (NCH)
 Professional
Level Courses (9-12 mos.)
– Professional Course in Veterinary HP
– Human Courses
 Continuing
Education
– Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy
– American Institute of Homeopathy
– NCH
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Get Training!
 Beginners:
First aid, basic applications
 Anything else: In-depth study needed!
– System of medicine
– Not a patchwork quilt
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Multiple Modalities
 Use
of HP with other modalities
– Conventional or CAVM
+ Nutrition, nutraceuticals, Bachflowers,
manipulation
- Chinese herbs, strong herbs,
acupuncture, energy-based therapies
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Additional Information
Using Homeopathy: First steps
 Know
basic principles
– Single remedy at a time
– Selecting potency*
– Assessing response
– When to repeat or wait
*In an emergency, the best potency
is the one you have!
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Dosing
 Not
based on body weight
 Medicines contact mucous
membranes
 1 pellet sufficient but easy to lose
 Small animals: 3-5 pellets
 Large animals: 8-10 pellets
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First Steps
 Learn
First Aid type remedies
– Acute trauma, post-op pain
 Study remedies: Materia Medica
– Keynote symptoms
– Compare remedies for similar
conditions
 Have some basic remedies on hand
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Repetition
 HP remedies
stimulate a reaction of the
Vital Force
 Like
key in car ignition:
-- Once the motor starts, no need to keep
turning the key.
-- If the motor stalls, turn the key again!
 Repeat when response has run its course
Repetition
 High
potencies
 Low potencies
longer effect
shorter effect
 Severe/life-threatening:
repeat frequently
– Every 10-15 min for high potencies
– Every 2-5 min for low potencies
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Repetition
 Acute:
 If
usually see response in 1-3 doses
no response, may be wrong remedy.
 If
response, then stops:
– Repeat remedy?
– Need higher potency?
– Need 2nd remedy?
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Care and Handling of HP Remedies

Homeopathic remedies remain potent for years
 Keep remedies away from:
– Radiation sources (sunlight); magnets
– Heat >120 °F
– Strong odors: coffee, menthol, eucalyptus,
essential oils (aromatherapy)
 Do not touch remedies w/ finger
– Pour into bottle or syringe cap, white paper
– Or dissolve in small volume of water
 Keep bottle tightly capped when not in use
Homeopathic Remedies for
Some Common Acute Conditions
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Trauma
ARNICA MONTANA:
 1st remedy in physical/emotional trauma.
 Excellent pain relief
–
–
–


Bruising/blunt trauma w/o lacerations
Broken bones
Head or spinal trauma
Oozing, passive hemorrhage
__ After surgical operations: equine castration.
May draw back when approached.
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Trauma
HYPERICUM*
 Injuries to area rich in nerve endings
–





fingers, toes, nails, coronary band
Crushing injuries, punctures, amputations
Head/spinal trauma after Arnica fully acts
Lumbosacral/coccygeal pain, after a fall
May treat tetanus
Preserves vitality of torn/lacerated tissues
almost entirely separated from the body.
Bleeding Problems
Bright red blood
 From superficial vessels:
– ACONITUM: esp from surgery; fear
– PHOSPHORUS: “small wounds
bleed much”
 Profuse,
gushing, bright red blood:
– IPECAC.
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Bleeding Problems
Oozing, passive hemorrhage
 Related to surgical operations: ARNICA*
– e.g., equine castration.

Venous/capillary bleeding: HAMAMELIS
– dark blood;
– weakness from loss of blood
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Post-Operative Pain
STAPHYSAGRIA
 Incisional pain
 Abdominal pain from surgery
 Especially if any symptoms of anger
BELLIS PERENNIS
 Deep tissue bruising (pelvic, abdominal)
 Post-partum pain after hard labor/dystocia.
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Post-Operative Pain: Orthopedics



Muscle pain: ARNICA
Bone/periosteal pain: SYMPHYTUM
– Speeds fracture healing
– Eye blunt trauma
Nerve injury/amputation: HYPERICUM
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Post-Operative Pain: Orthopedics
Joint/tendon/ligament pain:
 Better with motion:
– RHUS TOX
– RUTA GRAVEOLENS
-- esp. flexor tendons & carpus
-- Weakness; bruised feeling
 Worse with motion:
– BRYONIA
-- esp. if irritable/angry and thirsty
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Fear, Terror, Panic
ACONITE*:
 Animals who come into the exam or
waiting room terrified
 Injured animals in shock
 Sudden fear before going into the
show ring
 Corneal injuries
Humane Society study: Aconite and URI in cats
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Burns

CANTHARIS
– From Spanish Fly (cantharadin)

First and Second degree burns
– with blisters
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Case: Fox with Burned Feet
 Young
fox kit ~ 3 months old
 Rescued after forest fire
 Severe burns on paw pads
 Treated with aloe ~10-14 days with some
improvement but still couldn’t walk
 Cantharis 1M potency p.o. – 2 doses
 Next day walking comfortably
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Slow Anesthetic Recovery;
Debilitated Animals
CARBO VEGETABILIS
(“Corpse Reviver”)
 Extremities feel cold to touch/gums blue
 Patient is weak, cold
 Life force seems to be ebbing
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Lacerations

Sharp incision-type: STAPHYSAGRIA
 Infected wounds: HYPERICUM
 Very painful wounds: HYPERICUM
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Lacerations

Ragged/gaping or large surface
area wounds: CALENDULA*
–
–
–
–
Prevent infection/discourages proud flesh
Speeds granulation of wide, open wounds.
Do not use with puncture type wounds!
Note: the HERBAL TINCTURES (diluted) of
Calendula and Hypericum make an excellent
wound solution/wet dressing. Tingling/burning
sensation at first then tissue heals rapidly and
cleanly.
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Wounds: Puncture-Type/Bites
LEDUM
Bite wounds: Animal, insect; ticks
 Wounded parts are cold
 Will cause punctures to gape open (cleaning)
 May prevent tetanus if given shortly after
puncture wound.
(HYPERICUM* for painful/sensitive wounds.)
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Reproduction

Not accepting puppies: SEPIA
– Doesn’t take care of pups/wants to
destroy them
 Lactation: insufficient milk or not
drying up after weaning:
PULSATILLA.
 Uterine inertia during labor:
CAULOPHYLLUM
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ABSCESSES: Silicea

Painless abscesses
– Draining
– Recurring/not healing
– Foreign body?

Patient seeks warmth
 Nice or timid behavior
 Thirsty
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ABSCESSES: Hepar Sulphuris

Very painful abscesses
–
Not draining

Patient seeks warmth
 Irritable or nasty behavior
 Thirsty
 Helps prevent or treat cellulitis
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ABSCESSES: Mercurius vivus (Sol.)





Ulcerating, smelly, discharging abscesses
Very painful
Lots of saliva, gum problems, red gums,
bad breath odor
Sensitive to both heat and cold
Very thirsty
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Homeopathy for Wildlife Rehab
 WildAgain Wildlife Rehab (CO)
– Teach and use homeopathy extensively
– Preble’s meadow jumping mouse
 Endangered species (CO)/ USFWS supervised
– West Nile Virus in raptors, birds of prey
 Florida Wildlife
Care
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Other Homeopathic-Based
Therapeutics
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Nosodes

Made from disease products (discharges,
saliva, secretions, etc.
 Used prophylactically in times of epidemics
with good success
 Chris Day kennel cough
 Meningitis outbreak (Brazil 1998)
– 91% protection (n=90,000)

Substitute for vaccinations???
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Homotoxicology

Variation introduced by Reckewig
 Uses HP combination remedies and
“chords” (multiple potencies of single
remedy)
 Based on observations, theory of cell toxins
and progression of phases of injury from
disturbance to inflammation to degeneration
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Homotoxicology: Feline Hypertrophic
Cardiomyopathy

8 yr m/n DSH indoor only cat
 5/2003 dx’d Fe HCM
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Gr III/VI R systolic murmur
HR 197; L ventricle small
Echo: IVSeptum
7.8 mm
LVPW
d/s 7.8/9.4 mm
Minor mitral regurgitation
CBC, Chem,T4 WNL
Tx: homotoxicology only (6 formulations)
Palmquist et al, JAHVMA, 2006 25(1):30-37
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Homotoxicology: Feline Hypertrophic
Cardiomyopathy

12/2005
– HR 147 to 164 for last 22 mos.
– All chambers normal size
– Echo: IVSeptum
7.8
–
LVPW d/s 7.8/9.4
– Valves normal, no regurg.
7.2
5.4/6.8
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Bach Flower Remedies
 Edward Bach (British physician, 1930s)
– Devoted himself to study emotional
components of illness and their treatment.
– Identified 37 flowers whose extracts had
beneficial effects on emotions.
– Widely recognized and used around the
world in people and animals for 70 years.
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Bach Flower Remedies - Preparation
 Extraction
in water under sunlight
 Small amount of brandy or vinegar as
preservative
 No fragrance or taste except that of the
alcohol or vinegar.
 **Cats dislike the alcohol and are best
given either non-alcoholic or diluted
remedies if alcohol was used.
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Bach Flower Remedies - Preparation
 Remedies
given in small (1 to 4 drops)
volumes
 Act through nerve endings in the mucous
membranes of the mouth, nose, or eyes
 Can be absorbed through skin.
 There are no known side effects to the
remedies.
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Using Flower Essences
 Stock
solution: dilute without losing
effectiveness
 Single essence
– Put 4 to 6 drops of extract into one ounce of
water in a dropper bottle.
 Multiple
essences
– Mix up to 4 extracts at a time, as above.
– Agitate sharply several times before each use.
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Using Flower Essences

Put a few drops in the animal’s mouth.
– Cats: top of head and tips of ears.

Wait a few minutes and repeat as needed.
 Acute: Effects last only a few minutes (enough
time to take a blood sample or give an
injection).
 Use daily (4 drops 4 x day or put in drinking
water) for chronic situations
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Rescue Remedy™
 A combination
of 5 flower extracts
– also sold as Calming Essence™ or 5
Flower Remedy
 General
remedy for stress, anxiety,
trauma, fear, grief, pain, shock.
 Scared, traumatized, or difficult to
manage animals
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Rescue Remedy: Uses
 Emergencies: Administer
a few drops
orally, topically, or via atomizer,
repeating every 5 min. until effect.
– Animals in shock, newborn puppies or
kittens that are weak; before or after a
seizure.
 Post-Op
recovery: helps wake
unconscious animals; reduce pain, calm
anxious states of mind.
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Rescue Remedy: Uses

Terminally ill animals for pain, stress,
restlessness.
 Animals (and people) grieving.
 Before a household move: cats and nervous dogs.
 When adopting a new animal
 Travelling: Give one or more doses by mouth
starting 20 min before departure. Repeat as
needed.
 Long road trips: start dosing several days before
departure, and continue several times daily as
needed during the trip.
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Rescue Remedy Study

Effects on shipping stress in lab rats
 Two groups of 20 S/D rats
– Newly arrived at Animal Care Services

Controls: normal food and water
 Treatment: Rescue Remedy in water (free
choice)
 Housed in same room, 2/cage
 Weighed animals, food, water daily for 8
days
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Rescue Remedy Study1
Actual Mean Weight Change 1Wk
Mean Food Intake
p = 0.002
grams
30.0
Trt: 56.4 +/- 2.0 g
Ctl: 51.9 +/- 5.7 g
p = 0.06
20.0
10.0
0.0
Mean Trt
Mean Ctrl
Rescue Remedy Study 1
Actual Mean Start &1-Wk Ending Wts.
Rescue Remedy Study 1
Individual Rat Wt. Gain 8 days
275.0
250.0
225.0
200.0
175.0
150.0
125.0
100.0
75.0
50.0
25.0
0.0
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Mean
Trt
Mean
Ctrl
grams
grams
30
10
0
-10
Start
Finish
Trt d8-0 gain
Ctrl d8-0 gain
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Other Bachflower remedies:

For Fear:
– Aspen: non-specific fears
– Mimulus: specific fears
– Rock Rose: terrified, panic-stricken

Thunderstorm anxiety: Use these 3 in
combination; 4 drops of mix 4 times/day.
Aspen gives a sense of fearlessness to
disregard danger or difficulties, so Rescue
Remedy is a better choice for scared animals in
the clinic.
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Reproduction

Not accepting puppies: SEPIA
–
Doesn’t take care of/wants to destroy them

Lactation: insufficient milk or not drying
up after weaning: PULSATILLA.
 Uterine inertia during labor:
CAULOPHYLLUM.
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Wounds: Puncture-Type/Bites
 Wounded
parts are cold: LEDUM
– May prevent tetanus if given immediately
after puncture wound.
– Will cause puncture wounds to gape open
 HYPERICUM
for wounds that are
more painful/sensitive than appearance
indicates.
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Lacerations

Sharp incision-type: STAPHYSAGRIA
 Ragged/gaping wounds: CALENDULA
–
–
–
–
–
Bleeding wounds/Large pieces of flesh torn
Prevent infection/discourages proud flesh
Speeds granulation of wide, open wounds.
Do not use in puncture type wounds!
Tingling/burning sensation at first then tissue
heals rapidly and cleanly.
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HYPERICUM
 Very
painful or infected lacerations
 Preserves vitality of torn and lacerated
tissues when almost entirely separated
from the body.
 Tincture or gel: excellent wound
dressing for painful wounds and burns.
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Vaccinations and Chemicals

Chronic Disease resulting from or ill
effects after vaccination: THUJA
–
–

Chelsea and jaw mass/pain
Rabies Vaccine-related: LYSSIN
Chemical effects: NUX VOMICA
–
–
Acute post-ketamine blindness in cats
Detoxification in general
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