Editorial: the fascinating world of veterinary homeopathy

The homeopathic treatment of animals is a fascinating study – here, one can scarcely regard the placebo effect as the cause of cure, though some insist that any healing benefit must be due to a change in attitude of the owner. In any case, it is always gratifying to see animals responding well and finding their health and vigour again. As a homeopathic veterinarian once said: “Homeopathy for animals is so clear – if you give the right remedy, it just works!”

Here, in rural France, it was the homeopathic treatment of animals that provided us a warm welcome into our new community. After offering to help some of the animals most obviously in need and watching them heal quickly, word soon spread that there was a homeopathic doctor in the area. Horses, dogs and a herd of sheep were all treated with relative ease, and soon their owners were providing us with vegetables, honey, eggs, garden plants, and good advice. When the farmers were convinced, they sent their wives for treatment, and finally came themselves! Farmers certainly know what works!

In this issue, we have a collection of veterinary cases from around the world: New Zealand, Australia, Britain Belgium, and Holland. We see different approaches, which include the integration of the most modern homeopathic developments as well as more traditional styles. It is evident that, just as with human homeopathy, the whole picture needs to be taken into account: the animal’s presenting illness as well as its home environment. This is often a challenge, as one largely ends up relying on the reports of the owners, who might not be aware of the effects of their own behaviour on the animal. Here, one needs to make one’s own observations as well, in order to discover the full picture of the case and the most accurate remedy.

Homeopathy has long been applied in farm settings as well as with house pets, much to the satisfaction of farmers and pet owners. In a future issue, we hope to report on a promising new development in veterinary homeopathy: the treatment of bees, whose populations around the world are being decimated by herbicides and pesticides. Homeopathy has so much to offer.

We hope that you enjoy this issue and that it will encourage you to reach out to the animals around you, either by using your own knowledge if you are already a trained homeopath or by calling a homeopathic veterinarian. The animals will love you for it, as will their owners.