Editorial: the never ending wonders of veterinary homeopathy

Veterinary homeopathy might sound like an oxymoron to those who assume that the only effect of homeopathy is via placebo. Around the world, though, homeopathy for animals is practiced effectively in many settings: dairy farms, veterinary clinics, in the household and in animal rescue centres, to name but a few. After a move to rural France, it was homeopathy for the local animals that gave us our introduction to the local population, offering help to any ill animal we encountered. On seeing the results with their beloved pets and farm animals, the locals were keen to come for themselves! Some incidents from my history with cats have forever been imprinted on my mind, such as the time when my cat was given up for dead by the vet. He had been losing weight, losing muscle and losing hair, and ended in a near coma. When the vet’s only solution was euthanasia, I realized that something needed to happen urgently, and fortunately the penny dropped. During renovations in an old house, the cat had been walking in the dust from paint that probably contained lead. One dose of Plumbum 30C was enough to quickly bring him back to complete health, despite the fact that we usually consider Plumbum to be slow acting.

In this issue, we are fortunate enough to have been offered cases from very experienced veterinary homeopaths who utilise a wide range of techniques, which demonstrate the depth of possibilities of homeopathy. Geoff Johnson of England was kind enough to send us several cases on the Lac remedies (remedies from mammal sources), and how to recognize them in animals. His way of coming to the remedy is fascinating and inspiring. He also sent us a case of the treatment of a whole herd of dairy cattle, showing how necessary it is to take all factors into account, which, in this case, included the farmer.  

Vicki Mathison from New Zealand, well known for her “Illustrated Materia Medica for Animals”, gives us a case of a show horse with the jitters.

Liesbeth Ellinger and Michel de Sonnaville from Holland present several cases of a little used remedy, Sarcolactic acid, with materia medica.

Anne Verkinderen from Belgium presents the case of a severe eye injury in a rabbit which would, under other circumstances, have cost the rabbit its eye, if not its life.

Alex Leupen from Holland shows the effects of rabies vaccination on a dog, and how the remedy brings relief in a severe behavioural problem.

Evelien van de Kamp, also from Holland, gives a good differential diagnosis of remedies for behavioral problems in a dog who was driving his owner to despair.

All in all, a furringly inspiring issue ending in happy barks, meows, whinnies, and moos!