An Introduction To Homeopathy

An Introduction to Homeopathy?

Homeopathy has today evolved as an acceptable, effective and safe method of treatment. Based on the practice of treating "like with like", the word homeopathy is derived from the Greek words homios, meaning like or similar, and italios, meaning suffering.

Homeopathy treats the animal in entirety rather than the illness alone. Homeopathy practitioners consider the patient as a whole, both physically and psychologically, taking into account various factors like physical appearance, nature, temperament and likes and dislikes.

Homeopathy offers a very customised and personalised form of treatment. Often animals suffering from the same illness are treated as absolutely different cases and given different medicines altogether.

How Safe Are Homeopathic Medicines ?

Homeopathic medicines are considered to be completely safe, non-addictive with no sideeffects. Till date there are no known cases of any side-effect's of any homeopathic medicine if given in the appropriate doses. What you have to remember is that any medication given in large enough quantities can prove dangerous. This also applies to homeopathy. Always consult a professional homeopath before giving the medication to your feline friend. Homeopathic medicines can be used even if other medicines are being used. However, their effectiveness can decrease if drugs, and other immune depressive chemicals are being used on the animal.

Homeopathy Versus Allopathy

H omeopathic medicine uses a specific treatment to treat mental, emotional and physical symptoms. Allopathic medicines, on the other hand, use suppressants - like antibiotics or painkillers. Homeopathy is a palliative form of medication, as it stimulates the body's immune system to fight a disease before it happens and, as a consequence, leaves the animal in an overall better state of health. In contrast, allopathic medicines are used to cure and thus are seldom preventive in their scope. Allopathic medicines can at times cause cysts or tumours in the pancreas or ovaries. This is very painful and can even push the cat into a state of induced coma.

How Does Homeopathy Work

Homeopathy is based on two principles: "like cures like" and that a substance that causes specific symptoms when taken in its raw form will alleviate those same symptoms when taken in its homeopathic form. Homeopathy is a curative technique that uses energy therapy to cure illnesses. While curing, it strengthens and rejuvenates a weakened electro magnetic field to revive the animal. In homeopathy, a substance taken in small doses can alleviate symptoms similar to those it causes at higher doses. Thus, the two cornerstones of homeopathy are that "likes are cured by likes," and that the remedies are properly diluted to eliminate or minimise their toxic effects. Thus a medicine can cure a sick animal only if it can cause a similar sickness in a healthy animal. As in the case of allopathy, the focus of homeopathy is not the disease or its combat but the natural healing mechanism of the body. Homeopathy encourages and stimulates the body's own healing processes in order to cure illnesses. It is an indisputable fact that all homeopathic medicines are totally free from harmful side effects. The science of homeopathy was developed by German physician and chemist, Dr. Samuel Hahnemann, in the early 19th century. Through numerous experiments, he developed the theory that "likes are cured by likes". Dr. Hahnemann then determined that the effects of the remedies he tested on himself were too toxic at the conventional dosage level. He found that when a remedy is properly diluted, healing is achieved without severe side-effects.

What Are Homeopathic Medicines ?

The substances that are used in homeopathic remedies come from various plant, mineral and animal sources. Besides being completely natural, most of the homeopathic remedies are available over the counter. Homeopathic medicines work in a very different way. They are not synthetic and are derived from natural sources. More than 60% of homeopathic remedies are prepared from vegetable or plant materials. Other remedies are also prepared from natural mineral substances, including metals, non-metallic substances, and mineral salts. Homeopathic medicines are made by obtaining the remedy in its most concentrated form, and then, through a long process of dilution, preparing a medicine whose potency is sufficient to effect a treatment. The potency is the measure of the dilution of the remedy and is denoted by the number which follows the name of the medicine itself. The potency indicates the number of times the remedy has been diluted and each dilution increases the strength of the remedy. The strength or potency is measured by an "X" ("D" in Germany), which is a tenfold dilution i.e. 3x (or D3) is a one to one thousand dilution).

Questionnaire For Homeopathic Consultation

What are the typical questions that you can expect from your homeopath ? The approach to diagnosis and treatment is very different in homeopathy as compared to other methods of treatment( including allopathy). You will find below the range and depth of questions that you can expect to be asked by your homeopath. Particulars of the Disease What can you detect as being wrong with your animal?

Is there more than one complaint? If yes rank them in order of importance o When did the problem start? o Which factors ( time of day, weather, exercise, food, etc.) bring about a change in the disease( for better or worse)? o What was happening in the animal's life and the owner's life at this time? | o General Picture How is the appetite? o The thirst or lack of thirst? o What do you feed your pet? o What are the feeding utensils made of? o Does your pet prefer to be warm or cold and does this vary when he / she is ill? o Has your pet faced any health problems in the 6 weeks following any vaccination? (if yes what vaccination?) o What is your pet's sexuality like? If neutered, when? o How are their bowels? (refers to constipation or diarrhoea if any) o Does your pet have wind problem? o Is your pet currently on any treatment ? (If yes what ?) o Mental Picture o Does your pet have any fears? o Does your pet prefer solitude? Does your pet like to be petted when they are ill or otherwise? o Is your pet obstinate? o Would would best describe your pet, lazy or zealous?

Administering Homeopathic Remedies

Tissue salts can be used either with each other or together as a solution, neither of which decrease the effectiveness of the solution. Tissue salts are available as platelets while homeopathic medicines are essentially tablets or solutions in alcohol. They can be given as a solution in warm water or directly administered to your cat from the bottle, untouched by hand. Homeopathic remedies can be given directly, or by adding a drop or two of water to the solution. Doses can be frequent--- even within a gap of 10-15 minutes of each other.

Precautions In Homeopathy

Because homeopathy is an energy medicine, it is totally unlike taking a substance medication. It is a very fragile and the fragility of its essence is overcome and rendered neutral by exposure to other strong substances like :

Most herbs like onions and garlic Camphor Perfumes Strong smelling soaps and lotions.

Care in eating while taking homeopathic medications : Homeopathic medicines should be taken at least half an hour before or an hour after meals. Homeopathic medicines should not be touched by hand. Homeopathic medicines should be given in the precise quantity mentioned. The amount of homeopathy in medications is not as important as the potency and the frequency of taking. In other words the potency of the medicine decides the effectiveness of the medicine. Homeopathy Usage - Some important points Homeopathy almost always never gets instant results, the medicine is known to take time to bring the animal to its original state of health and well being. Treatment using homeopathy thus needs patience and commitment from both you and the vet as the transition is never overnight. Homeopathy medication is seen to be essentially palliative, it is better in preventing a sickness rather than completely curing it once it manifests itself. In such a situation allopathic medicines might remain a better solution.

Benefits From Homeopathy

Homeopathy works on protecting the body by developing a stronger immune system and as such can be effective replacement for vaccines (such as distemper). Homeopathy can help in curing paralysis and deranged central nervous system conditions. Homeopathy can help in reducing the chances of your cat contracting fatal diseases like Distemper. This if left untreated can lead to skin problems, endocrine and digestion deficiencies, allergies, and toxicity's of the liver, kidney and heart resulting in the failure of these organs. Cats can be medicated against Hepatitis, Leptospirosis and Corona and Leukaemia. Homeopathy also reduces the chances of the subsequent generations getting hip dysphasia, wobblers, bloat, colic, inter-digestion pyoderma, elongated soft palates and hypothyroidism.

The following is a list of feline conditions that can benefit from homeopathy. Alimentary Chronic Stomatitis Fussy eaters Food intolerance's Chronic Diarrhoea/Vomiting Recurrent Diarrhoea/Vomiting Liver disease Behavioural Aggression Excessive Timidity Suckling . Cardiovascular Chronic Haemorrhages Heart conditions

Weight loss Musculoskeletal Arthritic / Rheumatic Problems Cruciate damage

Reproductive System Infertility Miscarriage Genital Tract Infections Urinary Kidney Disease Incontinence Recurrent Cystitis Bladder stones Blood in the urine

Respiratory Asthma (Feline) Chronic Nasal Discharges Chronic Cat Flu Chronic Sneezing

Skin Hair Loss - Alopecia Flea allergy Food Allergy

Homeopathy Versus Vaccinations

The flaws of vaccination are the strengths of homeopathy. Vaccines decrease the immune system of the body and make the cat more susceptible to infections. Sicknesses like Hepatitis and Leptospirosis require only one homeopathic vaccine for immunity for life without the need for yearly boosters. Homeopathy is a more humane option to injections and boosters that are painful. Homeopathy vaccines can be used both for the treatment and prevention of the targeted disease entity. Some homeopaths have successfully used the Parvo Homeopathic Vaccine Nosode to treat the disease caused by the Parvo virus as well as to prevent the disease.