What is Homeopathy?
Homeopathy is a medical therapeutic system founded by Dr. Samuel Hahnemann, a German physician, in the early 19th century. It is still widely practiced today, and in this age of science and technology, it is a telling testimony to its validity and effectiveness that increasing numbers of doctors and veterinarians trained in orthodox, Western medicine are taking up homeopathy. In many parts of the world, homeopathy has achieved substantial popularity and government support.
The goal of homeopathic medicine is to restore health safely, gently, and permanently! The first step is to arrive at a thorough understanding of exactly what constitutes the "disease" from which a person or animal suffers. To do this, the homeopathic doctor conducts an extremely thorough and lengthy consultation in which not only physical symptoms are elicited, but also behavioral factors which may play an important role in the animals' illness. One of homeopathy's great strengths is that it views the patient as a whole and avoids the narrow specialization that characterizes much of orthodox medicine.
Once the homeopathic veterinarian arrives at an intimate knowledge of the illness, the patient is then treated, when appropriate, by orally taking a single, select homeopathic medicine called a remedy. Where indicated, the veterinarian may also make recommendations about diet, vitamins, exercise, etc.; however, the prime focus of the system of homeotherapeutics is the prescription of the homeopathic remedy.
Homeopathic remedies are prepared from a wide range of substances - animal, vegetable, and mineral. Their preparation involves a process of sequential dilution in alcohol/water and succussion (vigorous shaking), a process known as potentization. This process of potentization enables the homeopath to prescribe medicines which possess an enhanced curative effectiveness with essentially NO toxic side effects, unlike current orthodox drugs. All homeopathic medications are FDA certified and approved and, in fact, licensed for "over the counter" sales, although availability is not that common.
Homeopathy offers a better approach to the best healthcare for your pets. In some situations, vaccinations can be replaced by homeopathic nosodes, which can help protect against specific diseases. Homeopathic therapeutics offer an alternative to suppressive antibiotics and corticosteriods that often only suppress and mask symptoms of disease and fail to cure underlying conditions at the real cause of disease. Homeopathy is a science of medicine that cures, not suppresses, disease.