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HOLISTIC HEALTH |
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A FEW HOMEOPATHIC REMEDIES SINUS AND FISTULA Opening of fistula or sinus varies in size and the surrounding tissue may show granulations or fibrosis according to the age of the lesion. Secondary fistulae may appear and connect with the main one. The purulent discharge my heal and then break out again once new deep seated abcesses mature. The pus which is discharged may be blood stained and is usually foul smelling TREATMENT Hepar Sulph. 200c Inflammatory symptoms accompany sinus. Tissues extremely sensitive to touch. Dose two hourly for four doses. mercurius Sol. 30c - Sinus discharge greenish, thin and pus streaked with blood. Surrounding tissues show small pimples or vesicles. Dose three times daily for three days. Kali Bic.30c - Pus is tough and stringy, yellow, expressed with difficulty. Dose three times daily for four days. Silicea 200c - chronic involvement pus thin and greyish, fibrous tissue forming. Dose once daily for seven days. Useful in recurrent outbreaks, Dose night and morning for seven days. Calcarea Flour. 30c - Sinus opening surrounded by hard elevated edges with swelling of skin. Pus thick and yellow. Dose night and morning for seven days. Externally the sinus tract should be irrigated with a solution of Calendula and Hypericum. (the term sinus implies and indolent tract of tissue which discharges puruIent material. Fistula implies a tract with opens on the surface of the skin from a deeper tissue. A sinus or blind fistula arises as a result of a deep wound or abcess discharging its material on the surface of the skin. Necrotic tissue deep in the wound can contribute to it along with poor drainage from deeper tissues. Sinuses and fistulae may be associated with specific disease such as Poll Evil, Fistulous Withers etc.) INFLAMMATION There are 4 obvious signs normally, heat, swelling, redness and pain although the 3rd is seldom recogniseable in a horse. TREATMENT Aconitum 6c - In all cases give early. Dose two hourly for four doses Belladonna 1 M - pronounced heat, with smooth skin, possibly dilated pupils and full pulse. Dose two hourly for four doses. Ferrum ph os. 8x - Local inflammation of vascular parts leading to congestion. Dose three hourly for three doses. Cantharis 6c - Blistery or vesicular inflammation where the guiding symptom is excessive pain and burning heat, sometimes associated with strangury. Dose two hourly for four doses. Rhus Tox. 1 M - Vesicular type inflammatory rash leading to severe puritis. Dose once daily for seven days. Arnica 30c - Superficial inflammation resulting from injury. Dose two doses two hours apart. Silicea 200c - In chronic inflammation, this remedy will help reabsorb fibrous tissue. Dose once daily for seven days. Hepar. Sulph 200c - In neglected cases, suppuration may occur. Dose night and morning for four days. ULCERS The term ulcer implies a wound which involves any destruction of tissue, superficial or deep and shows little tendency to heal. Ulceration may arise as a result of the presence in the wound of dead tissue resulting from deprivation of nerve supply. Weakness of blood supply may also contribute to the formation of an ulcer, which may be seen in the course of many specific diseases. The ulcer usually takes the form of a rounded area, either superficial or deep and may be raised above the level of the surrounding skin or level with it. There is usually an accompanying discharge which is at first serous bot soom becomes purulent as a result of secondary infection. TREATMENT Mercurius Sol. 30 - main ulcer is surrounded by small pimples. Ulcer yields a blood streaked greenish pus and is usually irregular in shape rather than rounded. Dose three times daily for four days. Calc. Sulph. 6c - Ulcer has yellowish crust, discharging creamy pus. Dose three times daily for four days. Athracinum 30 c - severe burning heat round ulcer. Skin blackish and hard. Discharge of foul material. Dose once daily for four days. Echinacea 3x - tends to return after healing. Associated lymphatic glands enlarged. Dose three times daily for three days. Flouric Acid 6c - Ulcers with red edges surrounded by vesicles. Puritis is common. Strong smelling perspiration. Dose three times daily for four days. Lachesis 30c - Ulcers associated with purplish or bluish discolouration of skin. Ulceration round veins. Dose three hourly for four doses Nitric acid 200c - Superficial ulcers which bleed easily. Sensitive and have indefinite edges. Dose once daily for one week. Hepar Sulph. 200c - Excessive sensitivity to touch. Foul smelling pus and in acute cases may contain blood. Older ulcers slow to heal and are accompanied by severe puritis. Dose two hourly for four doses. Silicea 200c - Chronic ulcer showing tendency to burrow deeply and form fistulae. dose once daily for seven days. Externally and lotion of Calendula will aid materially in the healing process. We will be adding to these regularly, so please return to this page Re-printed courtesy of: www.animalholistichealth.com |
A BEGINNERS GUIDEWhat is Homeopathy?
4) is effective in most situations.
Homeopathy was developed bt Samuel Hahnemann (1755-1843). It is
The law of similars: Any substance which can make a healthy person
ill (produce symptoms), can promote a curative reaction in a person
suffering from The Minimum Dose: Only use the minimum strength (potency) and the
least
Before attempting to prescribe a homeopathic remedy for your dog do
bear in Note carefully all the relevant symptoms of the dog. Characteristics e.g.. cough is dry or is rattly, or diarrhoea is
watery or soft What makes he symptom worse? or better? e.g. weather, rest, movement, When is the symptom worse or better? e.g.. worse at night, or worse
in When did it start, and what was happening then? Did it start suddenly
or did How long did the dog have this symptom? Select the remedy with the closest symptom match. Having noted the symptoms, you need to find the remedy that lists all
or most Select the appropriate potency. Potency means strength of action on the patient. Decide the frequency of dosage. If the symptoms are violent repeat the remedy at 15 minute intervals
up to a If the symptoms are mild, or the problem is of long standing, use
remedy twice
Tablets: Tinctures: Remedy Sources Copyright 2000 www.animalholistichealth.com |
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HOMEOPATHIC
COLIC REMEDIES ACONITE...sudden ailments, violent and painful; fear of death;
restlessness, tossing, flushing and/or palpitation; acute inflammatory
complaints; ailments from exposure to cold, dry wind or after shock or
fear. Frequently used alternated with Belladonna for flare-ups of
chronic complaints where there is suddenness of symptoms, violence of
symptoms, fever, bounding pulse, shining eyes, when this happened after
cold, dry winds, anxiety as may be seen in sudden onset of colic. Better - fresh, cool open air; being fanned; sleep; passing
flatus or firm stools. LYCOPODIUM...gastrointestinal disturbances..poor digestive power,
full of gas, inflated distended abdomen, passing of flatus ameliorates,
loud rumbling and gurgling gut sounds especially while walking. Colic
accompanied by hard slimy stools. Digestive and urinary symptoms
occurring simultaneously. Tenderness over liver region. Lack of vital
heat, has poor circulation and cold limbs. Symptoms mainly right sided,
or move from right to left. Tend to be subservient to the their owners
or the boss horse but bully others. Worse - cold, drafts; uncovering; right side, lying on right
side; water; touch; periodically; night; exhaustion. Copyright © 2000 - Tanya Nolte. All Rights Reserved "Whispering Horse Therapies" P.O. Box 22, Nimbin. NSW 2480, Australia http://whisperinghorsetherapies.50megs.com/ altcare.@lis.net.au
Please bear in mind that the suggestions offered in this script are for educational purposes and in no way replace veterinary advice or treatment! Always call your veterinarian when serious events arise and use the above as a first aid measure only. Should a veterinarian have made a diagnosis and you, the client, desire to follow a holistic path then I would recommend that you obtain approval from your veterinarian to seek the professional services of a qualified classical homoeopath or other certified holistic healthcare practitioner! |
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COMPANION HERBAL HANDBOOK By Jessica Wheeler Herbs for Animal Health No one knows when man first used a herb to soothe a wound or relieve pain. It follows that when relief was obtained for himself/herself that mankind then turned his attention to treating his animal companions. We can trace ancient herbal systems of healing back to references in ancient Sumerian texts, the Chinese Yellow Emperor who lived around 2500 B.C., Ayurvedic texts from the same time period, and the Romans to name a few. During the Middle Ages the church played a major role in cultivating and introducing herbs and with the invention of the printing press knowledge spread from the cloister to the general public complementing household herbal remedies and folk medicine. In almost all cultures healing with herbs was frequently combined with religious ritual. In our day and age scientific technology provides us with validation for the many properties ascribed to herbs used as medicine. This first article will describe some basic herbal terminology and methods of preparation. Herbal remedies are so popular now that you can find them in most drugstores. Commercial preparations are packaged as teas, tablets, capsules, and extracts. However, to really appreciate where these remedies come from there is no substitute for growing, harvesting and preparing them yourself. A later article will give instruction on growing a small medicinal garden.When you do have a minor ailment to treat you can turn to your own garden. Now let's have a look at the different methods of preparing herbal remedies. Infusions are made the same way as a cup of tea. Water is boiled and put into a receptacle and the loose herb is added and allowed to steep for 10 or 15 minutes. The tea is then strained and the dregs are discarded. This method is primarily used with aerial portions of herbs, in other words, those portions that grow above ground and usually consists of leaves and flowers. Harder materials such as roots and barks are decocted. This means that water is boiled first, the material is added, stirred, a lid is placed on the pot, the heat is turned down to its lowest setting and it is allowed to simmer for 15 to 20 minutes. After removal from heat a decoction is allowed to cool before being strained. The plant material is then discarded. I throw all my dregs into my compost. Herbal extracts come in several different forms. Tinctures are made by adding plant material to a solvent such as water, alcohol, vinegar, or glycerin. Extracts will vary in potency depending on the ratio of solvent to plant material. Extracts are left to steep for different lengths of time depending upon the constituents being extracted. Tinctures usually refers to extracts made with alcohol or vinegar where as fluid extracts generally refers to extracts made with water or glycerin. Some material is best extracted with alcohol while others are best extracted with water. For example, resins are best extracted with alcohol. An intimate knowledge of plant constituents is necessary in order to make the best choice of solvent in order to maximize release of the desired medicinal properties. In later articles when particular herbs are discussed I will recommend the most appropriate extraction medium for those of you who would like to try making your own extracts. Herbs are also made into ointments and lotions. They are usually made by gently simmering herbal material into a cold pressed vegetable oil such as sweet almond, sunflower or grapeseed, strained and then thickened with beeswax. An antibiotic herbal extract can be added to prevent the growth of bacteria. Since some herbs require heat to release actives, taking them in capsule form is sometimes futile. Likewise tablets. On the other hand capsules are a good way of taking herbs that taste quite nasty and of course when dealing with animals it is sometimes easier to give them capsules then to have them drink tea. However, it pays to be creative and the milder herbs in tea form can be given in the water bowl. I prefer to use fluid extracts that are made with water and just enough alcohol to preserve it. Thus you avoid giving animals alcohol that their systems cannot handle. Extracts are especially handy when treating cats. Herbal terminology is not too complicated to master and for the sake of simplicity when an article contains a lot of the language of herbs I'll include a brief glossary of the end of those articles. For now we'll have a look at the terminology used to describe the properties of herbs. Every herb contains hundreds of biochemical constituents that may have an effect on the body. These constituents are described according to their physiological effects. For example many herb plants contain tannins and are described as astringent and plants that contain aromatic essential oils are called diaphoretic, carminative, or stimulant. Here we will look at the most frequently considered herbal properties. Alteratives are used as blood purifiers, gradually altering the condition of the body in a favorable manner. Commonly they are used to treat toxicity, arthritis, skin conditions, cancer and infections. Choosing the most appropriate alterative depends upon matching the properties of the herb with the condition being treated. Alteratives are also used to help the body eliminate waste products and to assist in the assimilation of nutrients. Analgesics are herbs that are used to relieve pain without causing a loss of consciousness. Some relieve pain by reducing muscle cramps while others affect nerves directly by reducing pain signals to the brain. Antacids act by neutralizing excess stomach acid and most also have demulcent properties which act to soothe and protect the lining of the stomach. Antiasthmatic herbs help to relieve asthma symptoms. Some do this by dilating the bronchials or by breaking up mucus. Antibiotics inhibit bacterial growth or actually destroy bacteria and viruses. Several herbs interfere with mechanisms by which bacteria and viruses replicate or in some cases prevent the release by bacteria of chemicals that weaken cells and allow invasion. However their primary action is to stimulate the body's own immune system. As with pharmaceutical antibiotics, overuse will result in the destruction of beneficial bacteria. It is always wise to take acidophilus when using antibiotics for any length of time. Anticatarrhals are used to eliminate or prevent the formation of mucus. When using anticatarrhals, herbs should also be used that aid in elimination through other body systems. Antiseptics are usually applied to prevent the growth of bacteria. Antispasmodic herbs are used prevent or relax muscle spasms and are applied externally or taken internally. Most herbal formulas contain an antispasmodic to assist the body in relaxing to allow it to use its full energy for the healing process. Astringents constrict tissue and are usually used to stop hemorrhages or excessive excretion/secretion by the body. They are also used to reduce swelling. Astringents are applied externally and also taken internally. Carminative herbs are taken to relieve gas and griping. Cholagogues promote the flow of bile into the small intestine. They also act as laxatives because the bile will stimulate elimination. Demulcent herbs are soothing usually containing mucilage and are taken internally to protect tissue that is inflamed or damaged. In herbal formulations demulcents are used with diuretics to protect the kidneys and the urinary tract especially if stones or gravel are present. They are also used as absorbents in formulas for the intestinal tract. Diaphoretics induce sweating. Sweating tea should be taken hot; if used cold they act as a diuretic instead. Diuretics are used to increase the flow of urine when water retention, obesity, nerve inflammations, and swelling of the lymphatic system are present. They can be used for infections of the urinary tract, skin eruptions, and kidney stones. Demulcent herbs are often added to diuretic formulas to act as a buffer when the diuretic contains irritating substances. Emetics are used when it is desirable to empty the stomach of its contents. Emollients are substances that soothe, soften and protect the skin. Expectorants assist the body in a spelling mucus from the throat and lungs. They can be used in a steam bath to help loosen mucus. Galactagogue herbs increase milk flow. Hemostatic herbs are used mainly to stop hemorrhage and include astringent herbs and those that affect the coagulation of blood. Nervines calm the nervous system, reduce nervous tension, and nourish the nervous system. Oxytocic herbs stimulate uterine contractions to assist and induce labor. Parasiticide substances destroy parasites on the skin and also in the intestinal tract. Rubefacient herbs produce redness where they are applied by increasing the flow of blood to the surface of the skin and by doing so draw inflammation and congestion from deep within. They are used extensively in the treatment of arthritis and other joint problems as well as for sprains. Sedatives are stronger acting than nervines, acting quite strongly on the nervous system. Antispasmodics and some nervines are examples of sedatives. Tonics act to promote the functions of different body systems. Most of them have a general effect on whole body and some a marked effect on a specific area. Vulneraries promote the healing of wounds by promoting cells to grow and repair. It is my intent in these articles to group the herbs according to their properties; for example, to look at diuretic herbs as a whole rather than dealing with individual herbs. In this way when you're looking for a particular action, having knowledge of herbs according to their properties makes easier to choose substitutes when certain herbs are not available. This or subsequent articles may not be reprinted without permission of the author. Copyright © 1998 J. Wheeler -- all rights reserved All graphics Copyright © Critter Chat |
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NOSODES AND ORAL VACCINES
CARE OF REMEDIES
There are no side effects when using homoeopathic oral vaccines a reaction may sometimes be observed, as also occasionally with remedies but such reaction is transient and soon passes. Treatment of Horses by Homeopathy George Macleod |
PRE-POST SURGERY HOMEOPATHIC REMEDIES
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PRE-POST SURGERY HOMEOPATHIC REMEDIES When your pet needs to have surgery, after trying checking all
possible avenues to heal instead of cut out!! If pet is showing fear, especially if given pain killers, and looks disillusioned and confused, give a dose Aconite 200C. PET STERILISATION The following remedies below that match surgery should be given one
hour after the last dose of Arnica 1m or 200C, for two to three days
unless otherwise stated by Homeopath: SPECIFIC AILMENTS AFTER SURGERY Bleeding Trauma to Tissue: Wound Infection External Applications: Constipation: If improvement is not obvious after 24 hours, consider another
remedy. In case of Emergency ie poisonings, car/accidents/injuries etc. always take your Pet to Vet Surgeon immediately.
Diana Hayes DIHom Dip Veterinary Homeopathy
13 - 9 Brentham Street Phone 08 9444 7379 Fax 08 92010282 International Fax : + 61 8 92010282 Copyright 2000-2001 |
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DOSING SCHEDULE FOR EQUINES
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TELLINGTON TOUCH – WAITING FOR THE VET
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TELLINGTON TOUCH – WAITING FOR THE VET
TTEAM Colic Techniques If you think your horse is sick, first take the temperature, pulse and respiration, listen for gut sounds, and check his gums for color and capillary refill time. If you do these things before calling the veterinarian, it will help the vet determine the urgency of his or her arrival. Knowing your horse's normal resting pulse and respiration will give you a more accurate evaluation of the situation. Normal Ranges
If you have your horse boarded or in the care of others, post a chart with your horse's normal ranges where they can be easily seen and used if you are unavailable. After calling the veterinarian, start working on your horse's ears. Start at the base of the ear, fold the ear on itself with your fingers on one side and thumb on the other, and slide along the length of the ear. When you reach the tip, rub it between your thumb and fingers to activate the shock point. Keep repeating the slide and the rub of the tip. You can also make circles or rub around the base of the ear, where it joins the head, to activate the acupuncture point for digestion and respiration. Working the ears in the case of colic, or any other situation where shock is a factor, helps to balance an animal's system and bring, or keep, him out of shock. Working each ear individually, rather than both at the same time, usually is more effective. Also, you can stroke an ear while walking the horse if the horse seems to prefer moving. If the horse is standing or lying and not trying to roll or to thrash, do the TTouch techniques without walking. Consider that the horse might be tired or exhausted from hours of discomfort and might need to rest. The TTouch can relieve many of the horse's symptoms without added stress. Working the ears is most important since it affects the entire system of the horse, but there are other helpful techniques. Rub or circle the muzzle between the nostrils, or directly on the gums, as this is an acupressure point for pain. Since the area over the croup often swells in cases of severe colic, gently work this area with the circular TTouch. Abalone circles on the flank and loin and abdomen are comforting. Gently pull the top hairs of the tail or rub the very end of the dock. Rub or make circles on the skin above the anus, a point that releases gas. The belly lift is very helpful for "gassy" horses. Use a towel (folded six to twelve inches wide) or girth, or hold hands with your partner, under the belly of the horse. Start near the elbows and work back as far as you can. Lift slowly, hold 6 - I 0 seconds (longer with some colic depending on the horse's response), and release more slowly than the lift. After each release, move the towel, girth or hands back about six inches. Remember that the flank is often tight or distended in colic so the pressure of the lifts should be adjusted accordingly. Each lift can be guided by one of the lifters. For example: "Lift, 2,3,4; Hold,2,3,4,5,6,; Release, 10,9,8 ... 3,2, 1." Notice that the release takes longer in order to insure a soft, gradual lessening of the pressure. Using hot towels has proved effective for some horses (or in cold weather - a Thermo-pad folded into a towel could be used). In many cases gut sounds become more active and the horse is able to pass gas after a few sets of lifts from elbow to flank. Work within the comfort zone of the horse. You won't know what type of colic the horse is suffering until your veterinarian makes his diagnosis, but the lifts cannot harm the horse even if it is more than gassy colic and can provide relief from pain as well as release gas. You can do belly lifts by yourself. Place your hands and forearms under the horse's belly and lift, hold and slowly release. If a horse is lying down and someone is at his head and the horse is very quiet but in a lot of discomfort you could stand behind his back and reach over and place your hands and arms along the abdomen and lift toward his spine. Caution: in this case, as with all ways of helping a distressed animal, be aware of your safety. Be safe, not sorry. Make sure that you can stay in balance while doing something and that you can move out of the way of danger quickly and quietly. A second way of doing belly lifts alone, is to use a long towel or piece of cloth or a sweatshirt or jacket. If you are standing on the left side of the horse, with your right hand, hold one end of the towel on the left side about four inches below the top of the spine. The towel drapes over the spine and down the right side. With your left hand, reach under the horse's belly and bring the towel to the left side. While holding the towel in this way, keep your back straight and knees bent and then lift. Your knees become straighter and the lift comes from your body and not only from your hands or arms. Depending on your height and the height of the horse, you might be able to have your right hand on the right side oft he horse's body, especially with a pony. However, having the towel over the spine does not cause pressure on the spine. Reassure yourself of this fact by practicing on a horse sometime and have someone place a hand between the towel and the spine. It is very easy to slip a hand under the towel. Holding the towel in this fashion insures that the lifter can stand in a balanced way and can lift her body and is able to be completely aware of the body language of the horse. This way of doing belly lifts also makes them very easy to do as maintenance for pregnant mares, in particular maiden mares, of for horses who seem prone to digestive upsets, or who are cinchy. In the flank area, use the Abalone Touch (flat hand) to move the skin in gentle, large circles. Or with the flat hand, starting with the hand at 6 o'clock, move the skin in a quarter circle to 9 o'clock, pause and then return the skin back to 6 o'clock and then release. You can also use the Abalone on the underside of the horse's belly. Since several ways of using TTEAM have been explained, you might wonder what to do first, second etc. Since ear work is useful for injury, illness, stress or nervousness, start with the cars. Doing belly lifts on a horse that needs to move or is kicking is out of the question. In each case you'll find the right combination for that particular horse with his unique symptoms. You have several tools; better yet, you have a way that you can help your horse in an emergency while you are waiting for the veterinarian. TTEAM has many case histories of colicky horses helped with the TTouch. If you have used these techniques, please write. You might discover additional ways of applying these techniques. IMPORTANT POINT: TTEAM is NEVER intended to replace the care of a veterinarian. It does, however, give you positive, helpful suggestions you can do while waiting for the vet or in situations where it is not possible to get one, such as while packing in the mountains or out on a distant trail. For Other Animals, too! Many of these suggestions for colic can be applied to other animals including humans. Dogs, cats, cows, llamas, goats can also suffer from gastrointestinal disorders. Using the belly lifts, ear work and TTouch can benefit these animals as well. by CA Lang TTEAM Instructor copyright 2000 Linda Tellington Jones |
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C.O.P.D My
own horse suffered badly with COPD. It was generally considered that
this was originally started by the fact that he had a very weak Immune
system and became ‘supersensitive’ to his surroundings. All his
problems were caused by Vaccines and over use of anti-biotics, so this
horse suffered from many illnesses and had to be kept as naturally as
possible. It
is important with a horse suffering from this that the stable is large,
airy and has a through draft. In my case, I even went so far as to put
an Ionizer in his stable which I have to say left the air clear of dust
and ‘Alpine Fresh’ as I described it. Without doubt it made his
breathing a lot easier. These are not expensive to buy or to run and can
be fitted into a normal light socket but kept safely away from the reach
of the horse obviously. I
would find mucus in his food bucket and around the door area, but always
felt it was better out than in. Before I got into the Holistic ideals, I
had gone the Veterinary route of drugs but all they did was basically
halt for the progress for the period he was on them. To me this was not
acceptable. So I decided that Stable Management, building a good strong
Immune system and Homeopathy was the way to go. I
ensured his stable was very spacious. It was in fact 16’ x 17’ and
very high. Plenty of ventilation. I never had a top door on so he always
had access to clean, fresh air. Hay
was soaked. I was taught several methods of doing this. One of the best
for us was to get a large black bin, cut holes in the bottom. About half
an hour or so prior to him being fed Hay, I would put his net in the
bin, pour on boiling water, put the lid on and let it steam. This meant
the spores would at least stay in one place and not waft around or get
lodged in his airways. That was the theory and as I said, for this
horse, it worked. We had tried the different types of artificial hay but
they would actually get eaten far too quickly which left him without
anything to nibble on through the night, which is not good for any
horse; and it could actually ferment in his stomach which could and did
cause Colic. So we abandoned these methods and just stuck with old black
bin. His hay net was fixed at a level that meant he could eat without
fear of bits of hay or seeds falling into his ears/eyes. A Company in
the Everything
was made so that his head was down rather than up to encourage drainage.
I
also did his bed with dust blown white Shavings. Although I never did
lift his bed to the ground upon cleaning out, to avoid creating dust and
to give him a firm bed to lie on, his stable never smelled of
urine/ammonia. I would skip out at every opportunity and we had taught
him to urinate on a signal so he was actually a very clean horse. I
believe this helped him enormously and he had the best deep litter
shavings bed ever seen. So much so, his stable was always shown to new
arrivals on the yard as an example of just how good, dry and clean a
shavings bed could be kept. He was not permitted into his stable for at
least an hour after his new clean bales of shavings had been put down
again, to avoid any dust aggravation. Whilst all this may sound laboured
believe me, it was a very small price to pay for his final result. Depending
on the symptoms, he would get Pulsatilla, Bryonia, Kali.Bich and huge
doses of herbal Echinacea, amongst several other remedies. As
his symptoms changed so did his remedies. Quite often rather than wait
to give them one at a time, I would give them in one go, as I had been
taught to do by the owner of the Stud I got the horse from. Naturally,
the symptoms had to fit but when one is dashing off to work and dosing
has to be done, this is as efficient a method as I could find and I
still work this way today if I have to. Although
when he first started to cough on exercise and I would give him a rest
day or even a week sometimes, I began to realise that getting this
phlegm off his chest was rather akin to having a child with Asthma, so
if he did cough, the exercise continued, probably more gently than
normal but he never did have a day off work once I had decided to treat
him in this manner. The more he moved around, the more phlegm would come
up from the lungs. In time, this became almost non-existent. The
coughing stopped totally and all he had was the occasional discharge
from the nose, but this could also have been caused by Allergies, which
is another story. The main thing was, keeping him out in the open as
much as possible, not stressing him to the point where he was struggling
to breathe and the all important Stable Management. As
the months and years wore on, his Stable Management, coupled with
healthy treatments progressed, his COPD seemed to bring itself under
control. His feeds were often mixed with boiled water which contained
organic honey. Apart from making his food taste better, Honey is a
natural cleanser, good for the chest and a boost for the Immune system. I
was even taught a rather unusual ‘trick’ which is not unlike the
treatment used by vets and those masks I see many horses wearing. This
was to put clean Hay into a small sack, mix Vapour rub into a Pint of
boiled water, which was then poured onto the hay, and to hold this
around the nasal area. It encouraged the release of phlegm and in no way
harmed my horse nor was he distressed in any way by my doing this. A lot
of my methods are old fashioned, that is all I had to work with a lot of
the time, but I have learned never to knock the old fashioned ways, they
had their place in horse keeping many years ago, and to some extent,
there is nothing wrong with using them today. I can’t say to anyone
else ‘do this’ but this was my horse and it seemed logical and made
sense as many things did, so I did it. When
I was doing all of this, there was no Internet, no Homeopathic Vets,
people thought the use of Homeopathy was ‘freaky’ and it wouldn’t
help, but I truly believe it did. There were no Homeopathic books so I
used human illness and health books and got what little advice I could
from those. I believe what I did worked for him and I wish more people
today,with all the information they have on hand, would still think
about a horse problem in ‘human’ terms as it makes the whole thing
so logical, or it did for me and I am just passing on my thoughts. If
I had to go back in time, with my knowledge of Homeopathy now, I feel I
would treat slightly differently. Using different Detoxes, Cough/Asthma
remedies and do this now as a matter of course on horses who do suffer
with COPD. I think the treatment of this in simple terms, is really just
good Stable Management, Exercise and help from a good Holistic
Practitioner who, like myself, has been through this. Nothing beats
experience. Copyright: www.animalholistichealth.com 2004 |
TISSUE SALTS AND OTHER HOLISTIC MEDICINES
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TISSUE
SALTS AND OTHER HOLISTIC MEDICINES BECOME
INFORMED
This
website is also a wonderful source of all things Holistic – go take a
look. Copyright:
www.animalholistichealth.com
2004 |
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MUD
FEVER
One
of the worst problems our horses suffer can be Mud Fever. To combat this
I take the following steps: Clip
the hair in the heel area, keep it down as much as possible on all 4
legs and always check upper leg and belly as mud has a habit of finding
it’s way up there when the horse is galloping round a muddy field. I
also suggest the same treatment when bringing horses in from a Sand
Paddock or Sandy Grazing as this is also an irritant whilst not causing
quite the harm Mud Fever does When
the horse comes in from the field, have a bowl of luke warm water with a
bacterial soap ready. Wash the mud thoroughly from the lower leg, making
sure you get deep into the heel. Rinse well and dry with a towel Put
some Vitamin E Oil or Calendula Cream into the heel area, place a piece
of ordinary kitchen paper towel on that area and bandage. Leave
overnight In
the morning, remove any scabs, put a thick layer of petroleum jelly on
the lower leg and into the heel to protect it from mud sticking Please
remember to also thoroughly wash the front of the hooves up to the
pastern as mud will find its way there also If
you repeat this short procedure every night, this will ensure the horse
does not get Mud Fever. If it has Mud Fever, this will clear it within a
week at most I
know the old way was to brush the mud off when it has dried but this is
not very effective as it is quite time consuming and people rarely
manage to get right down to the skin which is how the problem
progresses. Whilst the above routine may seem long, it really only takes
about 10 minutes morning and night but the result is well worth that
little bit of extra time and will most certainly stop your horse from
suffering Homeopathically
I give a Bacterial Remedy, Immune System fortifier or herbal Immune
remedies, whatever suits you, but keeping the Immune system up will
definitely pay dividends. There are numerous individual remedies you can
choose from like |
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HOOF
ABSCESS When
my horse was unfortunate enough to get a nail stuck in his foot, apart
from the infection and swelling, there was little to see. However, once
we removed the nail, I washed then poulticed the foot every night to
draw out any Infection. I would then wrap the Poultice with vetwrap and
proceed to secure this by using a disposable diaper and then wrap that
in a polythene bag. I did a homeopathic Detox on him and used a
combination of homeopathic remedies to combat infection as well as
giving him a very high dose of Ledum and Tetanus, a bacterial remedy and
as he had some heat, I used a homeopathic anti inflammatory remedy, but
perhaps you could use Devils Claw which does have excellent properties.
I also massaged that leg, going downwards to encourage the blood flow
and hopefully the removal of any infection as his leg was swollen from
the hoof into the groin area. Due
to the fact he was already ill through being vaccinated he was not
allowed to have any injections or anti biotics so it had to be done as
naturally as possible. I
ensured he had high quantities of Echinacea in his food, herbal
additive, not homeopathic. During the day, as our ground was flat and
dry at the time luckily, I removed all the Poultice and put him out
wearing an Equiboot. I found with him, if he was out and about and
things appeared normal to him, he appreciated it. By doing this I also
felt that his walking would remove any pus as the hole was free to
release same, and keep his circulation going which is important. I read
that using Stockholm Tar would help keep the foot clean so he would get
that sprayed onto the foot also. Each night I would check the boot for
discharge, sterilise it and repeat the whole operation. It took all of 5
days to get him totally sound. Having talked to other people who used
other methods, this problem could last up to 10 days so I felt using
natural methods had made a huge difference and of course, it meant I
didn’t further harm his already compromised Immune system. If
I could add advice onto what I did then it would be to do a Lymphatic
Detox if the infection spreads into the groin area and as a matter of
course, I would probably do that anyway along with the Detox which
cleanses the Kidneys and Liver. I am sure people feel it’s a lot
easier to just get the vet to whack in an anti biotic but as this is how
I had to learn to treat my horse from the day I got him, to me, although
this sounds like work, it wasn’t and it got the job done. And it gave
me an excuse to spend more time with him!!
I
am sure as long as you act quickly and keep everything clean, including
bedding, that what appears to be a serious issue, can be controlled
using a combination of things. Always having a good collection of
homeopathic and herbal remedies on hand helps so you can act immediately
there is a problem and I would advise anyone interested in natural horse
keeping to do this. Copyright:
S. Aiden 2004 |
| SUMMER PROBLEMS AND SWEET ITCH Sweet Itch: Homeopathically I have found it possible to control and stop Sweet Itch through the use of Combination Homeopathic Remedies. There are differing degrees of Sweet Itch and we tend to change our remedy suggestions to suit the horse’s condition.
I start this treatment in March, repeat in August, and again the following March and have never had to repeat it. However, it is possible that your horse may start to rub but if you catch it early enough with the Neem Oil Cream or Shampoo which you use as often as needed, giving a further round of homeopathic remedies should not be required.
If we treat it, Classically rather than clinically, we do the treatment in March and again October, then March and that's usually it. This is caused by an allergic response to midge bites. Bathe the affected area using Colloid Silver, use a Detox, give Sulphur Iodatum 30c for one week, then worm, preferably homeoopathically, then get Arsen Alb. 30c and dose twice a day for 10 days. The
minute you see the animal start to rub the tail or neck, that's the
time to treat, before he rubs it raw and opens it up to infection.
I used to use Ticks:
If you horse does have a Tick on it, the use of Lavender Essential Oil can help. Literally drown the Tick with it and it dies. If your horse should be bitten by a Tick, use our Infection Remedy and Ledum 30c homeopathic remedy to offer some protection from the bite. The use of the Acute Trauma remedy is handy to give if you are out on a walk. Make sure the horse is given a good homeopathic parasite treatment (available from us regularly. (See our Remedy page)
As it is often possible for changes in weather to introduce parasites, bugs, pollutants etc. you may also consider keeping your animal homeopathically wormed on a regular basis; to have either Liver Detox or normal Detox on hand for removal of toxins; Tremplex for animals who shiver/shake and use this also with Acute Trauma Rescue/Anxiety Remedy. Be vigilant and check your animal over well when grooming, make it a daily thing so you can spot problems before they become serious issues. Keeping a small but well chosen set of Combination Remedies on hand can often be the difference between a minor mishap and a major problem particularly if you are not able to get to a vet in a hurry. In warm weather remember to watch swimming and drinking water being too cold; your animal getting sunstroke or heatstroke and keep water and perhaps a home made electrolyte mixture on hand (see our Remedy Page for instructions on how to make this). Also, feet. For horses I always make sure that the soles and walls of the feet are wet then oil so this keeps in moisture and helps prevent cracking. Insect bites / Insect repellent or our own Flea/bug bite remedy To treat insect bites we recommend the soothing effect of:- Neem Leaf & Aloe Gel To help prevent insect bites, we recommend:- SHOO Herbal Outdoor Spray Developed for use in the Florida Everglades, non-toxic, eco-friendly, NO DEET formula. NeemCo offers a technical advice line where you can speak to a member of an experienced team. +44 (01294) 204779 This line is open Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 5.00pm (GMT).
NeemCo
Horseflies:
Not entirely holistic but works very well. Look after your animal in the same sensible manner you would look after yourself or your child and you should have a happy and carefree summer! |
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Bone
Problems and Their Homeopathic Solutions Bones
form an integral part of the musculoskeletal system to provide the
framework that supports the horse and protects the organs of the body.
They are held in place and activated by muscles, which in turn are
activated by nerve impulses sent by the brain. A
number of bone conditions will be located at the ends of the bone, at
the joints. Joints act as shock absorbers and allow the flexibility that
enables the horse to stand, walk, run, jump and lie down. Problems
arising for the equine relating to bone disorders can occur through
injury, mechanical trauma, as developmental issues, genetic
predispositions, conformational faults, nutritional imbalances, and
infection. These problems can be found at the seat of many lameness
issues that may be encountered. More
often than not, a veterinarian will be required to diagnose what the
problem is and will commonly need the aid of local anaesthetic nerve
blocks, radiographs, nuclear scintigraphy (bone scanning), ultrasound or
surgical exploration to truly determine the cause and nature of the bone
condition. STRUCTURE
AND FUNCTION: Bone
is also responsible for storing the minerals calcium and phosphorus. An
additional important function of bone is the production of red and white
blood corpuscles. Bone is not a static structure and is constantly being
replaced. It has the capacity to change shape and remodel according to
the stresses placed upon it. This can especially be seen in the young
horse. Although
individual bones have a different appearance, size and shape, they all
have the same basic structure. The long bones are comprised of a shaft
made of a tubular pattern with walls of dense, compact cortical (outer)
bone surrounding a central medullary (marrow) cavity. At each end of the
bone is softer bone mixed with marrow called cancellous bone (or
subchondral bone, i.e. bone that lies beneath the joint cartilage
surface), overlain by a thin layer of cortical bone. The epiphysis, or
growth plate (physis), is at the very ends of the bone underlying the
articular cartilage. The bone matrix is made of a collagen base where
bone salts are harboured. It contains many bone cells (osteocytes),
blood vessels and nerves. The length of the bone shaft is enveloped with
periosteum, a thin but tough fibrous membrane overlying a layer of
connective tissue infiltrated with a good blood supply where there are
many cells capable of becoming active bone forming cells (osteoblasts).
It is the periosteum by which tendons and ligaments are attached to
bone. A
FEW OF THE MANY BONE CONDITIONS: A
common distress to horse carers is the occurrence of splints. They
develop for a variety of reasons such as: the stresses of poor
conformation, improper hoof trimming creating unbalanced loading,
incorrect proportions of calcium and phosphorus in the diet, direct
trauma to the bone from a kick or blow, or mechanical tearing of the
interosseous ligament between the splint and cannon bones. However,
even though they are generally unsightly and capable of causing initial
lameness, they seldom remain a long-term problem. If the presence of
severe lameness persists after a period of rest and treatment for 6
weeks there may be other causes involved and you will need to re-consult
your veterinarian. Some horses are predisposed to excessive production
of new bone that can lead to interference with the normal function of
the suspensory ligament. This is sometimes addressed by surgical
intervention. Bucked
shins, or sore shins, are frequently seen in youngsters introduced to
concussive workloads premature to the stage of development of bone that
can handle such stresses. A once widely held belief was that this
condition occurred due to the tearing of periosteum. However, in current
times it is commonly seen to be caused by an incomplete fracture to the
cortex of the cannon bone. Forces of compression and repetitive loading
can even result in a lacework of microfractures, or fissures, called
saucer fractures. The
barbaric practice of using a counterirritant such as pin firing should
not be supported. This technique is said to stimulate inflammation and
circulation to the area to induce speedier and perhaps tougher bone
remodelling. However, it also burns off and destroys fine nerves to the
area. Consequently the horse does not receive the feedback from the area
that there is pain and something wrong, and with his natural protective
response to take it easy eliminated, he then continues to work and
further increase the damage! The best healing can only be provided with
rest that may be assisted with homeopathic care while the bone remodels
(Note: Complete box rest will heal a fracture but not encourage bone
remodelling. Light exercise can be encouraged.) The
unwelcome condition of ringbone can arise at a number of sites from the
pastern joint to the coffin joint. It can result from shoeing, bad
conformation, genetic predisposition, and concussive forces from too
much work on hard surfaces. Mechanically, the pulling of collateral
ligaments of the joints involved, pulling of the joint capsule
attachments to bone, pulling of the attachment of the common extensor
tendon to the first, second or third phalanx, and direct blows to the
phalanges will begin the process. A wire cut or infection, deep enough
to penetrate periosteum, may also encourage ringbone. Thus the
periosteum is disturbed and periostitis (inflammation of the periosteum)
and new bone growth result. A
prognosis for ringbone can vary from guarded to poor. It depends on a
number of factors, some of which are: how early it was diagnosed and
appropriate therapy employed, whether a joint is involved, to what
degree a joint is involved, which joint is involved (coffin joint being
the worst scenario), is ankylosis (bridging of the joint by new bone
growth/ossification leading to immobilisation of the joint) developing
etc. Careful hoofcare and management practices are imperative for cases
that can be worked with. A
greater prevalence of DOD (Developmental Orthopaedic Disease) is being
seen such as OCD (osteochondritis dessicans). OCD lesions have both an
inflammatory and mechanical component in this joint disease process.
Young, rapidly growing horses are most susceptible and may also have a
genetic predisposition. In
healthy joints, joint cartilage is fixed to underlying bone. However,
when the diet is imbalanced or lacking in nutrition and is accompanied
by a shortage of exercise, a surface layer of defective or unhealthy
cartilage forms over the epiphysis as a young horse grows. Should
exercise be suddenly increased, the extra joint loading causes the
defective cartilage to lift off the underlying bone, thus leaving a
loose layer of cartilage that tears away from the bone to form a flap of
cartilage within the joint. The consequent inflammation leads to pain
and synovitis (joint swelling). When the horse bears weight through his
limbs, the bone is of different density under the OCD lesion area. The
weight-bearing forces are transmitted differently through one part of
the bone, compared to the other, and that creates shear forces in the
joint of a mechanical nature. A joint with diseased or poorly formed
cartilage also allows painful bone-to-bone contact. The
diet should be carefully re-evaluated to reduce feed intake and slow
growth rate while maintaining an appropriate mineral supplementation.
Exercise needs to be restricted for several weeks. Arthroscopic surgery
is utilised in some cases HOMEOPATHIC
HELP Homeopathic
treatment can be of great benefit to the many bone related disorders.
Refer to the list below for help in choosing some of the homeopathic
remedies that can help to minimise bruising, inflammation, and
ossification, address lameness, escalate the healing process, promote
reabsorption of osseous tissue, repair damaged periosteum,
ligaments/tendons, connective tissue, help dissolve fibrotic growths,
rebalance bone mineralisation, aid in arthritis, fractures, curtail
destructive processes, etc. Please refer to your Materia Medica for a
full symptom profile as this is by no means a fully comprehensive
listing nor a replacement for the advice of your veterinarian! For
complicated cases seek the assistance of a professional homeopath or
holistic veterinarian. APIS…is
a leader of oedemateous swellings. Use for joint and bursa inflammations
where there is heat, sensitivity and puffy swellings, and for stocked up
legs. Consider its use for acute navicular disease or lameness of the
scapula. The patient is often better for uncovering or cold hosing, has
a low to non-existent thirst and is worse with any form of heat. When
problem parts are both cool to touch and better for cold applications
then Ledum may be another choice (used also for punctures through to
bone). ARNICA…for
initial accident or trauma of any kind with associated bruising,
haemorrhage, shock, inflammation and pain. It encourages reabsorption of
blood from bruised tissues, acts as an anti-inflammatory, has antiseptic
properties, and hastens healing. The region is sensitive to touch and
worse with exercise. The patient may be averse to being fussed over. AURUM-MET…for
bony lumps, deformities of the head especially of the forehead, upper
jaw, and nasal area, and swelling of the periosteum of cannon bones.
Also where there is bone necrosis and destruction. May be of use in
pedal osteitis. Knees may become weak and tottery on walking. Bone pains
are worse at night with the patient despondent and depressed. BRYONIA…for
muscle or bone soreness and pain, especially when worse for the
slightest movement. Useful for acute rheumatic affections, arthritis of
the lower limbs, synovitis, bursitis i.e. capped elbow or capped hock,
pains of the lumbar or sacral spine that is worse when the horse turns.
The patient is better when rested (prefers NO movement) may prefer
bandaging, prefers to lie on the painful side, and may have a marked
thirst for large drinks at long intervals. CALC-CARB…for
disorders of bone metabolism, poor bone mineralisation and parathyroid
hormone imbalances. Assists in correcting sodium, potassium and
magnesium imbalances. Use for exostoses (excess bone formation),
arthritic nodosities, osteomalacia (bone softening), Bighead (low bone
calcium), displays of weakness or lameness of joints, spinal pain, and
curvature of bones. Growth disorders may be addressed in the Calc-carb
type who tends to be sturdy/fat, flabby and fairly lazy. The patient is
better for lying down and in dry weather. CALC-FLUOR…for
ailments due to straining and over-stretching with general stiffness,
swellings and hard nodes in ligaments, adhesions, damage to periosteum,
muscles and tendons, connective tissue. Where there is bony exostoses or
fibrous formation e.g. bone splints, ringbone, sidebone, bone spavin,
spondylosis of the spinal vertebrae, osteophytes (bony outgrowths of
joint margins), Wobblers disease, etc. Given post surgery it reduces the
tendency to adhesions. The patient may be worse at the beginning of
motion and appear better with continued motion, and may be better for
warm applications and massage. CALC-PHOS…for
broken/fractured bones that have not responded sufficiently to using
Symphytum, or the patient is young and malnourished. If the bones are
slow to callus (form new remodelled bone) then use Calc-phos. It
addresses parathyroid hormone imbalance, epiphyseal malformation, bone
cell health, osseous tumours, and exostoses. Growth disorders may be
addressed in the Calc-phos type who tends to be wiry, lean, and active
with poor assimilation of calcium and phosphorus. HECLA-LAVA…for
bony growths on the skull with a marked action on the jawbones
especially when accompanied by lymph node swelling, and bone necrosis.
Useful for joint deformities where exostoses are evident such as
ringbone, sidebone, bone spavin, and angular limb deformities. Also
consider for osteitis, navicular, rickets, hip joint problems,
periostitis, and osteo-sarcoma. Complaints are often initiated after
injury. KALI-BIC...for
affected bones and fibrous tissues leading to arthritic conditions with
weakness, pain and swelling. Joints may crack on motion and the pains
are worse in cold weather. Rheumatic symptoms may alternate with gastric
symptoms. Suppressed nasal discharge leading to sinus bone pains may
also be helped. Consider for coccygeal pain and neck stiffness where the
horse has difficulty bending to eat from ground level. Suitable for
pains in small spots, i.e. a splint, or periostitis from a blow. The
patient may appear worse in the mornings or after sleep and is better
for heat, motion and pressure. MEZEREUM…for
bones that seem enlarged, long bones are inflamed and swollen. May be
useful for subchondral cysts, periostitis, bony exostoses of the skull,
cranial bones that are painful, swollen and sensitive to cold and touch,
and sinus abscess. Also when there is painful coccyx after a fall.
Swelling of femur and shortening of tendons preventing extension of
limb. Skin eruptions may also accompany bone complaints. OSTEOARTHRITIS
NOSODE...Note: a nosode is produced
from the tissues or secretions of a diseased lesion. This nosode has
been made from fluid taken from an osteoarthritic joint, dissolved in
alcohol and then diluted and succussed to become a homeopathic potency.
Primarily used for treating degenerative joint conditions though
ringbone and spavin may also benefit. It may be used on its own or
alternated with other remedies intercurrently during treatment. RHUS-TOX…for
muscle or bone soreness and pain especially when sore and stiff at the
beginning of motion but improving with continued motion, i.e. warming
up. Useful for inflammation and swelling of long bones, soreness of
prominent projections of bones, arthritis, and rheumatism. Symptoms are
often right-sided more than the left. The patient is restless and wants
to change position constantly and may be worse confined to the stable
than left outdoors but is worse for wet, cold weather. The horse may
also find stretching exercises of the limbs favourable. RUTA-GRAV...is
most specific for damage and inflammation to the periosteum of bone.
Also good for cartilage, muscle or tendon/ligament, and connective
tissue ailments. Excellent for injuries of overuse and lameness after
sprains, especially of the lower limbs. Helpful for neck strains, frozen
shoulder, damaged tendon sheaths, bruised or fractured bones,
dislocations, slipping stifles, rheumatism, etc. The patient will have
pain on bending the joints, sometimes cracking of joints. Parts of the
body are painful as if bruised with a sore aching and restlessness. The
patient is easily tired from physical exertion and is worse for climbing
up or down hills. SILICEA...this
remedy has a strong affinity for many tissues including bones,
ligaments, cellular, cartilage, mucous membranes, and skin. It has an
ability to help reabsorb scar tissue and fibrotic conditions. It is
often employed in the suppuration of splinters or other foreign bodies
that include bone chips if close enough to the surface. Used to address
defective nutrition especially in the young, weak knees and loss of
power in legs, chronic synovitis of the knees, degeneration of spinal
processes and curvature, lameness from sacrum through to hips. The
patient can be timid and yielding yet can be obstinate and fixed, feels
the cold and desires warmth and is worse from over-exertion. SYMPHYTUM...is
a principal remedy for bone injuries. Examples are: blows from blunt
instruments, fractures, slow repair of broken bone, bone cancer, stone
bruises, anything pertaining to the periosteum, cartilage damage,
inflammation of bone, epiphysitis, DOD, OCD, phantom limb pain, torn
ligaments or tendons, head or spinal injury, and penetrating wounds to
the bone etc. It also favours production of a callus. The patient is
better for warmth and rest with gentle motion. Symphytum is
complementary to Ruta-grav and may be used in alternation with it.
Arnica is most suited to soft tissue injury and Symphytum to hard tissue
injury. Note:
We also highly recommend our HS Treatments which are a mix of remedies
specifically prepared in one bottle to help with any major structural
problem in animals. For information on this remedy and other
complementary remedies for this problem, please go to our Remedy Page. Copyright:
T. Nolte |
|
USING
AROMATHERAPY OILS The right to choose: Animals
have an innate ability to self-medicate, if left to their own devices they
pick and choose the herbs they need to maintain health. I have watched
dogs go through my collection of 60 essential oils, sniffing the closed
bottles, and choose exactly the oil it needs from among them so acute is
this ability. In Essential Oil Therapy we make use of this instinct and
allow the animals to guide us in their healing. The
same thing applies to every living thing, from humans to hens, we all know
what is good for us and how much healing we can take on at any one time
without provoking a crisis, we must respect this. Safety first:
How to use Aromatherapy with Horses: Assess the reaction to each oil before each application! Dilute
each essential oil you have chosen individually by adding 2-3 drops to 5
mls of base oil. Do not offer more than five oils at any one time to a
horse Choose
a quiet time when you and your horse can concentrate on the oils (not
before being fed or directly after feeding) Hold the open bottle firmly in
your hand about eight inches away from your horse's nostrils, giving him
space to come towards the oil if he chooses. Then patiently observe the
reaction and act accordingly. It is best to have your horse loose in its
stable if possible so it is free to come closer to or move away from the
oils and take your horse's personality into account when judging its
reaction. Horses will want the oils for an average of 5 days (but it could
be anywhere from Signs
of a keen interest: smelling oils intently for a long time, the lip curls
(flehmen) , follows the aroma around, tries to nibble the bottle. Offer
oils twice a day. Signs
of a moderate interest: A few sniffs, looks away then returns to the
bottle, ears forward, slightly flared nostrils, easily distracted. Offer
oils once a day. No
interest: Turns away from the aroma, ears back, walks away. do not apply
oils Applications: Essential
oils start to evaporate as soon as the bottle is opened, their molecules
streaming up into your animal's olfactory system and into its brain and
blood stream, therefore topical application is rarely necessary. (See Ňtopical
applicationÓ). Your
horse might just smell the oils, possibly going into a trance-like state.
In this case just hold the bottle there until your horse moves away from
the bottle. If you are unsure if the horse is still smelling it move the
bottle from side to side to see if there is a reaction. If
the horse wants to lick the bottle or behaves very orally, dab a small
amount of oil on your hand and allow him to lick it off. Repeat this two
or three times. Your
horse may indicate that it wants the oil dabbed onto a particular spot by
pointing with its head, stamping a foot, moving into you with its body. In
this case just rub a little oil into the appropriate area. Offer all of the oils for three days even if there is no reaction to one of them. If there is no reaction to an oil after three days you can stop offering that one. Your
horse's reaction to each oil will change from time to time or over a
period of days, this is normal. You should expect a keen reaction to at
least one of the oils at first. This reaction will diminish day by day
until there is no further interest. Once
the horse has shown no interest in an oil for three days do not offer it
for two days and then try again. If there is still no interest do not
offer again as there is no longer a need for this oil. If
your horse shows no interest at all to the oils when you first offer them
change the order in which you are offering them. Observe their nostrils carefully as they may be taking in small amounts at a time that you haven't noticed. The oils are highly volatile and just being near the open bottle molecules of oil are entering their blood stream. How to use Aromatherapy with dogs: Dogs
have 200 million scent receptors in their nasal folds, we have 50 million.
Never offer undiluted oils to dogs! Dilute
each essential oil you have chosen individually by adding 1-2 drops to 5
mls of base oil. Do not offer more than three oils at any one time to a
dog. Choose
a quiet time when you and your dog can concentrate on the oils (not before
being fed or directly after feeding) Take each bottle one at a time and
hold the open oil bottle firmly in your hand leaving only the top exposed
so the animal cannot take it from your hand. Hold the bottle about 3 feet
away from your dog's nostrils, moving it slowly towards him until you can
see his nose twitching or some other sign that they are in a comfortable
range to smell the oils. Some animals will want to come towards the
bottle, possibly even lick it, others will want to stay at a safe distance
and simply smell it. The oil in the bottle is evaporating as it is open so
the animal is actually absorbing the affects even if it is a little
distance from the bottle. If you move the bottle backwards and forwards
you will notice if the animal is following the smell or not. When the
animal has had enough of the oil it will move away from you or display in
its own unique way that it has had enough! If
the dog rolls over rub a tiny amount of the oil on its tummy avoiding
genital areas. If the dog tries to eat the bottle then put your open hand
firmly on the bottle top, tip the bottle up so a little oil is on the palm
of your hand and allow the animal to lick it off your hand. You can repeat
this procedure up to three times in a session. It
is important to assess the response to each oil before applying them,
never apply them if the animal shows no interest! Signs
of a keen interest: smelling intently for a long time, licking the lips or
trying to lick the bottle, follows you around with the aroma, rolls on its
back. (offer twice a day) Signs
of a moderate interest: A few sniffs then looks away, a small sniff but
returns to the bottle, tongue licks quickly, easily distracted from the
aromas, (offer once a day) No
interest: turns away from the aroma, one sniff and no further interest,
tries to leave the room. ( Do not apply) If
the animal shows no interest in the oil offer the oils again the next day,
if there is still no interest skip a day, if there is still no interest
leave it for three days and then try again. If at this stage there is
still no interest the animal no longer needs that oil. Usually
an animal will want to use the oils for between 3 - 10 days however
sometimes one application will be enough or occasionally an animal will
want them for longer, DO NOT USE THE OILS FOR MORE THAN 2 WEEKS WITHOUT
PROFESSIONAL ADVICE. By the time an animal refuses the oils you will see a
noticeable improvement in its condition. The
success of this method relies on allowing the animal to guide its own
healing it will indicate to you how often and in which way it would like
the oils to be used. Using Aromatherapy with Cats: Do
not apply the oils topically or force oils on a cat as their ability to
metabolise them is limited and overuse or long-term use can cause liver
failure. Often Hydrosols are a better option for cats as they are gentler.
(SEE SAFETY TIPS) How to offer the oils and assess the reaction: Take
each essential oil that you have chosen and dilute it 1 drop to 10 mls of
base oil. Never offer more than 3 oils at a time. To offer the oils, open
the bottle and hold it in your hand at least 12 inches away from your cats
nose. Be patient and allow the cat to come towards the bottle if it wants
to, rather than you going towards the cat. Signs
of a keen interest: smelling intently for a long time, licking the lips or
trying to lick the bottle, follows you around with the aroma, rolls on its
back, rubs against you - Offer once or twice a day. Signs
of a moderate interest: A few sniffs then looks away, a small sniff but
returns to the bottle, tongue licks quickly, easily distracted from the
aromas - Offer once a day. No
interest: turns away from the aroma, one sniff and no further interest,
tries to leave the room - Do not apply. Cats
are very sensitive to the oils and just a few sniffs is all that will be
needed to trigger the healing process. If
the cat shows signs of wanting to lick the oil allow it to lick from your
fingers if it will or put a few drops on a saucer and leave it on the
floor near its usual eating place. Even
if the cat shows little or no interest offer the oil for three days in a
row and try varying the order in which the oils are offered (in the case
of having more than one oil.) If after three days there is still no
response or the cat is showing a distinct dislike to the oils (e.g.
disappearing when it sees you get out the bottles!) call me for a
consultation. To
use hydrosols add ten drops to 50mls of filtered/spring water and put some
in a saucer for the cat to self medicate. Change the water at least twice
a day and make sure that the cat has access to pure water as well. Topical
application: Topical
application is never recommended for cats. However there are occasions
where topical application is indicated for other animals (e.g. for
injuries or skin problems). You still offer the oils individually for the
animal to choose then blend the chosen oils in a water based gel (such as
aloe vera) no more than 10 drops of essential oil blend to 25 mls of base.
Let the gel down to a suitable consistency using water or hydrosol and
apply to affected area. The animal will quite clearly indicate when the
gel is no longer needed by fidgeting or moving away from you on
application. Copyright:
L. Nuttall 2004 |
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