HOMEOPATHY IN VETERINARY PRACTICES: A BRIEF REVIEW ABOUT ITS APPLICATION ALONG WITH BENEFITS AND DRAWBACKS

HOMEOPATHY IN VETERINARY PRACTICES: A BRIEF REVIEW ABOUT ITS APPLICATION ALONG WITH BENEFITS AND DRAWBACKS

Trilochan Barman

4^th professional year B.V.Sc. & A.H., Lakhimpur College of Veterinary Science,

Assam Agricultural University, Joyhing, North Lakhimpur, Assam-787051

Email: trilochan.barman.vl18@aau.ac.in

Abstract:

Homeopathy or the use of homeopathic medicine is gaining very much importance in the veterinary practice in the recent times. It is evolving as an alternative and complimentary therapy for treatment of various sort of acute and chronic diseases and ailments in animals. Homeopathy is a non-invasive treatment of curing diseases or ailments. Despite of certain drawbacks, most of the veterinarians across the world are using homeopathic medicines for treatment of ailments and diseases in almost all large animals, small animals and pets.

Keywords: Homeopathy, Alternative therapy, Veterinary, Medicine, Animal.

Introduction:

Homeopathy, the word with Greek origins “homios” meaning “similar” and “pathos” meaning “disease or suffering”. Dr. Samuel Hahnemann founded the base of homeopathy in the late eighteenth centuries with the principle “similia similibus curantur” meaning “like cures like”.  The main objective behind the use of homeopathy is to treat the disease or ailment from the roots. The use of homeopathy in veterinary practices was first introduced by Dr. Baron von Boenninghausen in the nineteenth centuries. In the year 1986, the International Association for Veterinary Homeopathy (IAVH) was founded in Luxembourg, Europe with the purpose of understanding and using homeopathy for the betterment of animal health.

Benefits of homeopathy in veterinary practices:

Homeopathy is being incorporated into veterinary practices as an alternative treatment protocol because of its tremendous advantages in the treatment and curing of diseases and ailments in the various animal species worldwide. Some of the points to be noted in this aspect are like-

1. Almost all animal species respond to the homeopathic treatment protocols.
2. It is a non-invasive method of curing diseases or ailments.
3. The medicines used are harmless to the animals.
4. They perk up the natural healing process.
5. The homeopathic medicines enhance the animal’s chances of survival often by a wide margin.
6. There are no chances of developing antibiotic resistance in the animals.
7. The chances of recurrence of the disease condition are almost nominal.
8. The drugs or medicines used are having negligible or zero side effects.
9. The medicines are reasonably priced and are therefore easy on the pocket.

Drawbacks of homeopathy in veterinary practices:

Homeopathy in veterinary medicine is having minimal or negligible drawbacks as it is attributed as a natural way of treating diseases or ailments. Despite of almost cent percent benefits, still the use of homeopathy is limited in some aspects due to certain drawbacks.

Some of the points to be noted in this aspect are like-

1. The homeopathic medicines take a longer extent in healing or curing diseases.
2. They are not that promising as emergency use drugs and hence don’t work in emergency situations & serious health conditions.
3. Some of the drugs or medicines used may cause undesirable reactions in a few animals.
4. Some of the treatment protocols are still lacking adequate or accurate scientific basis or theory.

Homeopathy in veterinary practices:

Homeopathy is one of the most promising adjunct treatment protocol or therapy in the veterinary practice in the present times. The practical purpose of homeopathy in the veterinary field is in the treatment of several health conditions in both large and small animals like infectious diseases, acute diseases, chronic diseases, trauma or injuries, behavioural disorders, first-aid etc. Most frequent application of homeopathic medications in the veterinary practices are in conditions that includes cases of arthritis, laminitis, acute and chronic diarrhoea, mastitis, meningitis,  allergy or hypersensitivity reactions, respiratory conditions like cough, asthma etc., autoimmune disorders, periodic ophthalmic, gingivitis, head shaking, ring womb, epilepsy, bites, dermatitis, rhinitis, colic and many more. Homeopathic remedies can also be used for disease prevention as immunisation or vaccination.

The sources of homeopathic drugs or medicines are basically:

1. Mineral kingdom that includes substances like metals, non-metals & metalloids (selenium, sulphur, aluminium, antimony etc.); organic & inorganic acids (acetic acid, citric acid, hydrofluricum acid etc.), mineral spring water etc.
2. Plant or Vegetable kingdom that includes sources like Belladonna, Calendula, Ipecac, Rauwalfia, Bryonia, etc.
3. Animal kingdom that includes products from animal sources like Coccus cacti, Naja tripudians, Blata americana, Spongia tosta
4. Sarcodes that includes tissues or secretions from healthy animals like adrenaline, thyroidinum, pitutrinum, orchitinum, oophorinum, cholesterinum etc.
5. Nosodes that includes products obtained from any diseased part or product of the human, animal or plant like cancer tissue, lymph nodes, respiratory secretions, ustilago etc.
6. Imponderabilia that includes immaterial power or energy available from natural or physical reactions like X-ray, sun ray, magnets etc.

In the present times, the veterinarians across the world are emphasising the utilization of homeopathic medications for the treatment of most of the acute as well as chronic diseases or ailments in large animals, small animals, and pets. The most common disease conditions or ailments affecting different animal species with their required homeopathic treatment measures along with their sources are tabulated below (Table-1):

Table -1:

Conclusion:

Homeopathy is still one of the debatable topics of discussion. Homeopathy or homeopathic medications are lacking in some aspects due to its certain drawbacks and short of sufficient scientific evidences in this field. However, it is a very promising and effective treatment protocol with higher success rate and with negligible side effects in the animal species. There is a successful future ahead with the advancement of homeopathy as an adjunct therapy or treatment protocol in the veterinary practice field. It the greatest need of the time now for all the veterinarians around the world to work jointly to uplift the homeopathy sector and its treatment protocols to make it successful to be applicable in the veterinary practices in every aspect in every disease and ailment conditions of large, small and pet animals.

References:

1. P. Madrewar & Matthew Glencross, 1996. Therapeutics of Veterinary Homeopathy & Repertory, 5^th impression, B.Jain Publishers Pvt. Ltd.
2. Kayne, S.B. 2006. Homeopathic Pharmacy Theory and Practice, 2^nd Elsevier
3. David W. Ramey & Bernard E. Rollin, forward by Franklin M. Loew. Complementary and Alternative Veterinary Medicine Considered, 1^st, Iowa State Press.
4. AVMA Guidelines for Complementary and Alternative Veterinary Medicine.
5. John Rush, 2007. The Handbook to Veterinary Homeopathy, B.Jain Publishers Pvt. Ltd.
6. Ruddock E. & Lade G. 1879. The Pocket Manual of Homeopathic Veterinary Medicine, The Homeopathic Publishing Company, London.

https://www.pashudhanpraharee.com/application-of-homeopathy-in-veterinary-practices/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5738588/

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