Healing with Homeopathy for Animals
When I decided to embark on this independent study, I wasn't certain exactly where this would take me, nor did I expect homeopathy to resonate within me as much as it does. I am hungry to learn more about this modality and know it is something that will take longer than the four months I gave myself to master.
Beginning this Independent Study, I stated my objectives to be as follows:
v My objective is to develop the capacity to more deeply understand the basic principles of Homeopathy in animals (horses, dogs, and cats).
v My objective is to learn, understand, and potentially determine treatment protocols using Homeopathic remedies in animals (horses, dogs, and cats).
v My objective is to make this learned knowledge more open and available to others.
v My objective is to network with like-minded practitioners to create a space for larger conversation.
As with my previous Independent Study, while I did achieve the objectives stated above, I will also state that there is room for more learning and that this will be a lifelong process. I barely touched the tip of this iceberg and there is a wealth of information, learning, and understanding still yet to venture to. Something that I found myself bumping up against was my own practiced way of being. I have been taught from my beginning a western/conventional (palliative) way of seeing medicine in which one goes to the store and seeks remedies that address and suppress symptoms. You find much of the same now with homeopathic remedies. For example, you can go to Whole Foods, or some similar store and the homeopathic remedy is labeled with the symptom. The person then chooses their remedy simply based on what is written on the tube. On one hand, a part of me feels that homeopathy, even if palliative, is better than the chemically derived "medicines" and pharmaceuticals that are readily available. I also feel that having homeopathic remedies displayed in a way that appeals to the western way of thinking is a step in the "right" direction and will make homeopathy more available and allow more people to be accepting and seeking of these types of treatments. On the other hand, choosing a homeopathic remedy is not that "simple" and there is beauty in the actual determination process of what remedy best suits the whole of the animal. I understand that one must look at the whole of the being, taking in not just physical, but also emotional, and mental well being before than determining which remedy will most closely match and this understanding is not as accepting of homeopathic remedies being displayed in the same manner as conventional pharmaceuticals (palliative/symptomatic/suppressive). This understanding is also what leads to hesitation on my part when looking to determine a remedy best suited for my own animal companions. I have an internal tug of war between seeking a "quick fix" and my lack of knowledge when case taking. I realize I am a beginner and this knowledge will come with further study and practice.
Reading Hahnemanns, Organon, was a challenge and will require a few more sittings and read throughs to fully understand. Some of that may be because the edition I have is from 1849. I have since ordered a more "modern" edition and version and I was fortunate to also find "outlines" of the Organon on-line. I foresee that this writing will be something that I refer back to quite often as I continue to walk this path of learning more about Homeopathy. On the surface, I understand many of the key principles (Introduction to Veterinary Homeopathy, Chambreau):
1. Knowledge of disease
2. Knowledge of medicines
3. Knowledge of how to select remedy
4. Knowledge of potential outcomes of secret
5. Knowledge of obstacles to recovery
6. The remedy itself does not heal. Stimulation of vital force is what heals
The second objective: to learn, understand, and potentially determine treatment protocols using Homeopathic remedies in animals (horses, dogs, and cats) I do have the basic understanding and concept of. I have been able to determine a couple of treatment protocols with my self, my husband, and a couple of my animal companions. On Christmas day, 2012, my young, "baby" feline, PartyTime, was "off." I wasn't certain of exactly *what* was going on with her, it wasn't anything I could pinpoint. She was very sedate and lacked appetite; this was very uncharacteristic of her usually ravenous, exuberant self. I observed she was more "still" than usual, much more subdued, and "lost" looking. I immediately began reading some of the books I keep on hand on homeopathy and homeopathic remedies; I also pulled out my material medica and repertory from George MacLeod. I looked at what remedies I had available and on-hand and matched those up with the symptoms PartyTime was presenting. I decided on Nux Vomica. A few minutes after administering this remedy to her she vomited. It was a very odiferous "tube" of "I don't know what"; I then gave her a "kitty raindrop" essential oil treatment and Reiki. Within 15 minutes she had returned to her characteristic "goofy" and ravenous self.
I was able to successfully integrate and synthesize the work of this course. In fact, the only limit I found in this duration was time. I had more than enough material to meet and exceed the hours required. The research material that I gathered my information and learning from also has proved to be invaluable. In particular are the books, websites, and articles shared and/or written by Dr. George MacLeod, Dr. Christopher Day, Dr. Glenn Dupree, Dr. Christina Chambreau, Dr. Joyce Harman, Dr. Madalyn Ward, Dr. Peter Dobias, Dogs Naturally Magazine, The Whole Dog Journal, Holistic Horse Magazine, The Holistic Horse-Care Cooperative, Natural News, Natural Horse Magazine, ABC Homeopathy.com, Earthclinic.com, Hpthy.com, Natural Center for Homeopathy.com, Shirley's Wellness Café, and a host of many more. The previously listed resources were paramount in disseminating information and leading me to resources, links, and websites for further research and investigation. Not only were the work materials plentiful, they will also prove to carry me past the scope of this particular independent study, into farther learning on my own.
I say it is important to share this information so that it is inclusive when looking at healing. Two tools I use often when making this information more readily accessible is social networking and my website. I post often about recommended books and studies that are related to holistic health. I will include links to articles and other resources for further learning. I utilize my personal Facebook page, my business Facebook page, and Twitter; more recently I have started a blog and will be writing articles that I intend to submit to various websites and publications. I am also part of the Education Committee for the Holistic Horse Care Cooperative. Some of my duties there include sharing information about holistic practices. It is my hope that these postings will stimulate curiosity and draw a person in to reading some of what is posted. Perhaps reading the information will spark a question in them that will lead to more questions and they will seek to learn more. I also find and believe that sharing this information with like-minded practitioners is invaluable. We have so much to learn from one another and from the animals we treat. The animals prove to be our greatest teachers and sharing our experiences creates larger conversations that we are able to learn from and of course, leads us deeper into the "rabbit hole."
Because the wellness and health of animals is so near to my heart, I found this independent study to be invigorating and easy to dive into. I found that, as with previous studies, I was (and continue to be) all over the place when researching and reading material. A common theme for me is the more I learn, the more I find to learn, the more questions I have, in turn, these questions lead me to seek answers, which then lead to more questions, and so the cycle continues.
Something that came up during the course of this Independent Study was an anti-homeopathy move by the Connecticut VMA to the AVMA requesting a resolution to discount homeopathy as ineffective and to be discouraged. Given what I have learned during this study, should this type of resolution pass, the implications on an ethical, global, and social level may have a negative impact. Many individuals, like me, may become disillusioned and embittered with the AVMA and western medicine. Of course, on the positive side, should this occur, many people may be ready to seek more holistic options and holistic practicing veterinarians.
When people begin to utilize homeopathy more for their home, family, and animal companions this may spill-out into other holistic modalities and become a way of life. As more holistic methods and modalities become known, I say the change will be felt globally. Taking a more natural approach to living will not only heal the being, but will also help to heal nature and the earth. Personally speaking, as I have voyaged through this study and have shared what I have learned and am learning with others via conversations and social networking, I have found that many have become intrigued and have begun to question some of the practices they currently incorporate in their life. Questioning is good. Questioning leads to seeking answers and in the case of homeopathy and holistic care, answers will then beg one to change the way in which they dance with life.
Happy questioning to you! With thoughts of joyful sunshine and radiant peace,
Inez
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