Application of Homeopathy in Veterinary Sciences

Application of Homeopathy in Veterinary Sciences

Sangeeta Das^1,2* and Pankaj Deka¹

¹College of Veterinary Science, AAU, Khanapara, Guwahati

²LUVAS, Hisar

Homeopathy has existed for about 200 years. However, due to the implausibility that homeopathic remedies have any benefits, as well as the lack of proper documentation of clinical effects in treatment of animal disease, it has to survive through several periods of popularity and decline. As quoted by, James Randi – “I do not expect that homeopathy will ever be established as a legitimate form of treatment, but I do expect that it will continue to be popular”, homeopathy has always had the ability to provoke.

Homeopathy has its roots in eighteenth century and was founded on the ground of medical traditions and beliefs of the Greeks and Romans. It is a pseudoscientific system of alternative medicine. It was pioneered by the German physician Samuel Hahnemann in 1796. Hahnemann’s real potential in the development of homeopathy was realized when quinine isolated from Cinchona bark acted as a powerful astringent in treating malaria. To do this he set about trying to discover how and why quinine worked. His pioneering work was published in the book “Cullens Materia Medica”. Later, he believed a doctrine “like cures like” i.e. a substance which cause symptoms of a disease in healthy people can cure similar symptoms in sick people. This is the basic principle on which homeopathy is founded. Its theory of disease is based on Hahnemann’s principles of “miasms” i.e inconsistent with subsequent identification of viruses and bacteria as causes of disease. Hahnemann believed that large doses of drugs that caused similar symptoms would only aggravate illness for which he advocated for extreme dilutions. Homeopathic remedies are made using dilutions. In this method, the selected substance is repeatedly diluted until the final product is chemically indistinguishable from the diluents. He claimed that this process would preserve the substance’s therapeutic properties while removing its harmful effects. He tested a number of substances and published an overview of his new medical system in the book, “The Organon of the Healing Art” (1810) that homeopaths still use today (the sixth edition published in 1921). He was able to put his theories into practice by successfully treating a typhoid outbreak (1812-1813). Now, the modern advocates of homeopathy have proposed a concept of ‘water memory” which means that water remembers the substances mixed in it, and transmits the effect of those substances when consumed. The name of Hahnemann and homeopathy was brought to India by Dr. John Martin Honigberger. It was in the ruling era of Maharaja Ranjit Singh (Punjab) who was impressed by Honigberger when he treated Maharaja’s favorite horse of its bad leg ulcers with homeopathic remedies.

The homeopathic remedies are of two types: (i) remedies containing only one ingredient in the initial tincture which is used for classic or individualized homeopathy and (ii) remedies containing two or more active ingredients used for complex homeopathy. The ingredients used to prepare these remedies include herbs, minerals, and animal products such as cuttlefish ink or bee venom. There is also report of use of a specific type of homeopathic preparation “nosodes” often called “homeopathic vaccines” which is prepared either from the pathogen or from products of the disease such as pus or sputum. The doses of homeopathic medicines are not expressed in amount as milligram (mg) rather they are expressed in potency or centesimal (C). For example, Psorinum 30C has undergone 30 steps of dilution; each step has been a one to one hundred dilution. Potency is the optimum power of medicine which given in minimum dose (degree of dilution) at specified intervals, depending on the nature of the disease and susceptibility of the subject would cure the sickness in minimum time.

The usage of homeopathic medicines is extremely safe and there is no side effect. If the right remedy is picked, it can be just as effective as conventional medicine. Their administration is relatively simple as they come in the form of liquids, tablets, granules or powders those are intended to be absorbed through the tongue or gums rather than down the throat. Moreover, the remedy liquid can be tipped straight into the animal’s mouth, onto a paw to be licked off and/or added to food  or drinking water.

Although the Hahnemann’s law of similar is unproven and therapeutic claims lack scientific justification, homeopathy has achieved popularity with the rise of the New Age movement, and may be in part due to chemophobia. Homeopathic treatment is given priority in some countries where organic farming is practiced. In 2001, homeopathy had been integrated into the national health care systems of many countries including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Mexico and United Kingdom. The Indian government has established the Department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (AYUSH) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The principals and standards for homeopathic products are covered by the homeopathic pharmacopoeia of India.

The application of homeopathy in veterinary also dates back to the inception of homeopathy. Hahnemann even lectured on the use of homeopathy in veterinary “The principles and application in animals were broadly similar to those in humans”. Although it is often seen as controversial, homeopathy is widely used in livestock and poultry. Homeopathy is gaining interest among physicians and veterinarians. The mis- and overuse of antibiotics in human and animal medicine has lead to the development of multi drug resistant pathogens worldwide. Consequently, many veterinarians and farmers see homeopathy as an alternative for treating diseases in farm animals, especially in order to reduce the use of antibiotics. Homeopathic remedies have been applied mostly for prevention of disease and for good general health or growth promotion. It has been useful as an adjunct therapy to manage post-operative pain and healing. However, there are reports of their use as therapeutic treatment of diseases as well as metaphylactic treatments (medication administered before the onset of clinical signs).

In cattle, homeopathic remedies are used for mastitis, bloat, or fertility disorders in dairy cows. Silicea and hepar sulph has been used to treat chronic mastitis and it stimulates expulsion of foreign bodies like splinters or foxtails out of the skin.  Ricinus com and Urtica urens gives good result in agalactia. Sepia 200 is used to regulate estrous cycle. Pulsatilla is used to treat retention of placenta (ROP) and silent heat. Thuja Occidentalis (Thuja 30C, a homeopathic medicine) is used as an alternative remedy in the treatment of papillomatosis in cattle, a condition caused by the bovine papilloma viruses that result in development of warts/ papillomas in the skin or teats. Ars alb, Lachesis and Echinaces are used to treat Anthrax. Plumbum met 30, Conium mac 200, Curare 30 and Lathyrus sativus are effective in paralysis caused due to Botulism. Iodum is specifically used in after effects of Foot and Mouth disease (FMD). In calves, they are treated only for diarrhea and pneumonia.

            In pigs, homeopathies are used to treat fertility disorders, especially mastitis-metritis-agalactia syndrome (MMA) in sows, diarrhea and respiratory infections in piglets. Also, homeopathic remedies are used as general health and growth promoter in fattening pigs.

In poultry, the main indication for using homeopathy is growth promotion and treatment of infectious diseases. Belladona, Cicuta virosa, Arsenic album, Veratrum album etc are used for Ranikhet disease.  Callendulla raises immunity in birds infected with Gumboro disease. Nux vomica, Oleum jecoris and Lycopodium are hepatic and pancreatic remedy and are effective in Inclusion body hepatitis (IBH). Antimonium tartaricum, Tuberculinum and Causticum are used for Marek’s disease. Ferrum metalicum 6X, Ferrum phos 3X and Ferrum citricum 6X increases haemoglobin and treats anaemia caused by Chicken anaemia virus infection (CAV). Calcarea carb and calcarea phos improves egg quality, stabilizes calcium intake and absorption; used in Egg dropping syndrome (EDS). For Escherchia coli infections, Bacilinum, Cuprum met and Thuja are effective. Nux vomica and Kurchi are anti-diarrheal and anti-inflammatory and gives good result in Necrotic enteritis. Merc cor is used to prevent bloody droppings in Coccidiosis infected birds. Alfalfa, Withenia somnifera (ashwagandha) and Avena sativa (oat) are used as growth promoters. Embelia officnalis, Carica papaya and Zingiber officinalis are udsed as immunostimulants. Ignatia and sulphur are good remedies for cannibalism. Natrum mur, Natrum carb and Mentha pipertia (peppermint) prevent heat stress in poultry birds. Thuja, Vaccinium and Malandrinum are used to prevent the bad effects of vaccines.

Colocynthis in conjunction with Carbo veg is one of the main homeopathic remedy for the relief of spasmodic colic in horses. Nux vomica is also used in horses for digestive disorders, indigestion, constipation and bloat.

            Recently, homeopathic drugs are used in treating conditions such as canine babesiosis and idiopathic epilepsy in dogs. China offi, Ficus religiosa, Millefolium, Phis, Crolatus horridus and Pulsatilla gives good result in Babesiosis. Homeopathic medicines namely: Sulfur, Graphites, Thuja and Psorinum are used for treating dermatological cases. Graphites 30 and Psorinum have anti-psoric activity. Sulfur is used to treat treat pruritus associated with atopic dermatitis in dogs, graphites to treat canine demodicosis. Combination of these four preparations in the form of 30C potency are used in the treatment of canine oral papillomatosis (COP), the most common self-limiting neoplastic disease of dogs caused by canine oral papillomavirus (COVP) and various skin conditions such as allergic dermatitis, seborrhea, canine mange, ringworm, wet or dry eczema etc. For appetite loss in dogs, Antim crud 30, Nux vomica 30, Abies nig 30 and Calcarea carbo 30 are effective.

Some of the suggested homeopathic remedies and their uses are as follows:

In India, homeopathic veterinarian Dr. R.K Goel came up with different homeopathic remedies and his dedication prospered in the name of “Goel Vet Pharma Private Ltd” (ISO 9001:2008 certified), the first and the foremost trustworthy leading homeopathy veterinary medicine company since 1977. Their 43 years of legacy made them pioneers in the arena of veterinary homeopathy all over India and the world.

Homeopathic remedies are generally very affordable. Their high dilution renders them absolutely non-toxic.  It works by stimulating the body to follow the natural healing process. Some of the homeopathic preparations such as the T. occidentalis have been already proved that it has immunomodulatory and antiviral properties. Therefore, aim should be taken to systematically evaluate the existing knowledge on the efficacy of homeopathic remedies used for the prevention or treatment of diseases in poultry and livestock by considering more scientific base. The quality and quantity of the research for the betterment of homeopathy is to be improved for backing homeopathy and trusting it.

Homeopathy heals holistically!

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