Natural Immunity by Pat McKay: Free Download February 7, 2010
Pat McKay has been kind enough to provide her wonderful books on natural pet healthcare as free downloads. Follow this link to get your free copy of “Natural Immunity” http://animalhomeopathy.net/id23.html
The Problem with Conventional Healthcare, by Karl Robinson, MD January 30, 2010
Problems with our healthcare system. What homeopathy can offer.
Filed under Medical Issues, Principles & Practice of Homeopathy
Thanks Karl for this brilliant discussion of the problems with conventional medical care. Readers, if you think this only applies to human medicine, you are sadly mistaken. The very same thing is happening in veterinary medicine. If you haven’t seen the introduction to homeopathy videos by Dr. Karl Robinson, available on this site under the homeopathy tag, take a moment to watch and learn.
It is universally agreed: our healthcare system costs too much and does not work well. As a conventionally trained M.D., who opted years ago to practice homeopathy, I would like to offer my observations on both the conventional and the homeopathic way of approaching illness.
The current gargantuan and enormously complex healthcare system needs to be reduced by a full one half. It is bloated beyond good sense and beyond affordability. And the fault lies only partially with the insurance companies and Big Pharma. I believe the very way conventional medicine is practiced is at fault.
Consider this typical scenario: you go to your Family Doctor complaining of fatigue, weight gain, arthritic pains, disordered digestion with gut pain and constipation. Your doctor runs tests and finds you have low thyroid and sends you to an endocrinologist who runs more tests and prescribes a medicine which you will be expected to take for the rest of your life. Score one for Big Pharma. Your family doc also discovers high blood pressure and, when one drug does not bring it down, prescribes two—for life. Later, you get sent to a gastroenterologist and later still, a rheumatologist. Along the way more tests, and more prescriptions. You already go to a psychiatrist and take an antidepressant. You now have five doctors in play, none of whom talk to each other. A really good Family Doc could manage all your problems with few or no referrals. Fifty or sixty years ago he was known as a “GP” or “General Practitioner” and did just that. But nowadays he or she is practicing “defensive medicine” and doesn’t want to be sued so it’s a kind of insurance to refer out and over test. Little wonder our healthcare is so ruinously expensive. And it is ruining us with healthcare costs going up at roughly twice the rate of the overall Consumer Price Index.
No new healthcare law is going to fix this bloated system. It is inherent in the very structure of modern, technologically oriented medicine. Realize that we have this system because 1) doctors believe in it (we created it) and 2) the public believes in it. People when ill or when they worry they are ill, want all the tests, want to be seen by all the specialists. But realize that all these tests and referrals and prescriptions cost someone whether it be you or your insurance company or Medicare or Medicaid.
Now, if the patient stops any or all of his medicines, the illnesses return. These illnesses are being managed not cured. Not to mention the all too frequent problem of adverse drug effects.
Contrast the above model with the homeopathic. A woman in her late forties comes to me because of debilitating migraines occurring twice a week. They are so severe she cannot function despite two powerful analgesics. I do a one and a half hour interview in which I explore all aspects of her complaints and how she relates to her environment (food, weather, job, relationships, hobbies, fears, anxieties).
I learn she also has hypertension, arthritic pains, poor digestion and constipation. She has five medical problems and is taking six pharmaceuticals.
Then I learn that five years ago her son was killed in Iraq. As she speaks, tears roll down her face and she says, “I’m sorry. I promised myself I wouldn’t do this.” I pause and then, as gently as possible, ask when the migraines began. Four to five years ago—following the tragic loss of her son. I now know more. She is still grieving, and the headaches appeared shortly after her son’s death. So, in truth, I have uncovered a sixth problem—grief.
For a homeopath, how a patient reacts to her problem is as or more important than the problem itself. This woman has unresolved grief which had triggered her pathology. Also, she is hot-natured, can not bear the sun, loves salt, and her face is oily. She is introverted and rejects consolation. These symptoms lead me to select the medicine, Natrum muriaticum, and I give her a single dose.
Within a month her headaches are fewer, her mood brighter, and her bowels are functioning normally. Within three months all problems have resolved. She begins to discontinue her drugs. She now admits she was probably depressed and hadn’t realized it until she came out of it. All this with infrequent doses of Natrum muriaticum!
As a homeopath, I gave one homeopathic medicine unlike the conventional doctor who prescribed six pharmaceuticals. And, that one medicine covered all the pathologies.
This patient is on the road to a radical improvement in which all aspects of her physical and mental well-being have been addressed with a single medicine. This methodology is quite different from the conventional system which strives only to control or manage the problems. And it was accomplished with one medicine given infrequently and one that produced no adverse effects! The positive results this patient achieved are not exceptional with homeopathic medicine. In fact, diseases far more complex and difficult than migraines can be greatly helped with homeopathy.
Does this mean that everyone who is treated with homeopathy always has an excellent outcome? Of course not. Nothing is one hundred percent. But, by taking into account all aspects of the patient, not only the main complaints but her disposition and how she lives in, and reacts to, her total environment we stand a better chance of a good outcome.
Homeopathic medicine is a serious discipline and is effective when administered by a trained homeopathic physician. And it is extraordinarily cost effective.
As a homeopath, I rarely prescribe pharmaceuticals. I write only five to ten prescriptions a year and these simply to tide patients over until they no longer need the drugs. Yes, I aim to get people well enough so they can stop taking their medicines. I try to order as few tests as possible because, as a homeopath, I do not prescribe on laboratory data. I refer to specialists infrequently. If someone has a rectal bleed, sure, I want the gastroenterologist to scope them. If they are having a heart attack they need to be hospitalized swiftly. When surgery is indicated, it is life saving. But, by and large, I don’t refer much.
The whole idea of being a doctor “is to restore the sick to health, to cure as it is termed.” That quote comes from Samuel Hahnemann, the founder of homeopathy. That’s aim one, aim two and aim three.
I would encourage you all to look into this extraordinary, gentle, healing art.
Obscessive Compulsive Disorder in Dogs January 21, 2010
This is a link to an interesting article linking obscessive compulsive disorder in dogs to a gene variation. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/19/science/19dogs.html?ref=health#
The reason I posted this link, is because behavioral problems are one of the main reason that pets are euthanized. Samuell Hahnemann the founder of homeopathy was a pioneer in the treatment of mental and emotional disorders in humans, freeing many patients from the horrors of 1800’s mental institutions.
Homeopathy can used very successfully to treat animals suffering from mental and emotional disorders.
FDA to review the safety of Bisphenol-A January 19, 2010
The Food and Drug Administration has reversed its position on the safety of Bisphenol A, a chemical found in plastic bottles, soda cans, food containers and thousands of consumer goods, saying it now has concerns about health risks.
Growing scientific evidence has linked the chemical to a host of problems, including cancer, sexual dysfunction and heart disease. Federal officials said they are particularly concerned about BPA’s effect on the development of fetuses, infants and young children.
“We have some concern, which leads us to recommend reasonable steps the public can take to reduce exposure to BPA,” said Joshua Sharfstein, FDA’s deputy commissioner, in a conference call to reporters Friday.
Regulators stopped short of banning the compound or even requiring manufacturers to label products containing BPA, saying that current data are not clear enough to support a legal crackdown. FDA officials also said they were hamstrung from dealing quickly with BPA by an outdated regulatory framework.
Sharfstein said the agency is conducting “targeted” studies of BPA, part of a two-year, $30 million effort by the administration to answer key questions about the chemical that will help determine what action, if any, is necessary to protect public health. The Obama administration pledged to take a “fresh look” at the chemical.
BPA, used to harden plastics, is so prevalent that more than 90 percent of the U.S. population has traces of it in its urine, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Researchers have found that BPA leaches from containers into food and beverages, even at cold temperatures.
The FDA’s announcement came after extensive talks between federal agencies and the White House about the best approach to an issue that has become a significant concern for consumers and the chemical industry.
Born To Run! January 12, 2010
For those of you who love to run, no matter you level of fitness, Born to Run, http://borntorun.org/ is a must read! This fun book takes a look at the running shoe industy and the link between high tech, motion control running shoes and repetative injuries. The author takes you on a wild journey into the remote regions of Mexico to explore how the humans species truly was born to run!
The interesting thing here is that the more we used technology to control the motion of our feet, the more injuries we sustained. I have no idea why humans feel they can one up evolution when it comes to human performance. The truth is the foot and ankle are supposed to move and the achilles tendon acts as a shock absorber. By attempting to stop the normal motion of the foot, greater stress is placed on the more proximal joints, the knee, hip and spine, leading to injury.
I have advised my equine clients for years against shoeing their horses for this reason among others. It just makes sense that the same would be true for the human species.
So, pick up a copy of this book soon and run barefoot!
Hidden Dangers in your Cat’s food and supplements: Benzoic Acid January 12, 2010
A study published in 1972 in the Veterinary Record, entitled, Experimental Benzoic Acid Toxicity in the Cat, clearly showed that even small quantities of benzoic acid are toxic to cats. Symptoms of toxicity included: abnormal behavior, oral ulceration and salivation, internal organ damage and death.
Benzoic acid continues to be added to food and supplements marketed for cats. Play it safe, read the ingredient list on any product purchased for feline consumption and avoid those that contain benzoic acid or PABA (parabenzoic acid).
Feline Renal Disease: Are Vaccines to Blame? December 30, 2009
This is an interesting study showing a clear link between certain commonly used Feline vaccines and Interstitial Nephritis. Studys have shown that there is no need to vaccinate indoor cats after the age of one year… so why do we continue to do so? You have the right to refuse annual vaccination for all of your pets.
S
HORT COMMUNICATION
Interstitial nephritis in cats inoculated with Crandell
Rees feline kidney cell lysates
Michael R Lappin
DVM, PhD
1
*, Randall J Basaraba DVM, PhD
2
Wayne A Jensen
,DVM, PhD
3
1
College of Veterinary Medicine &
Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State
University, Fort Collins, CO
80523-1678, USA
Department of Clinical Sciences,
2
Immunology and Pathology,
Colorado State University, Fort
Collins, CO, USA
Department of Microbiology,
3
Mountain Avenue, Loveland, CO
80538, USA
Heska Corporation, 3760 Rocky
Parenteral administration of Crandell Rees feline kidney (CRFK) cell lysates or
feline herpesvirus 1, calicivirus, and panleukopenia virus-containing vaccines
(FVRCP) grown on CRFK cells induces antibodies against CRFK cells. These
antibodies also react with feline renal cell extracts. The purpose of this study was
to determine whether interstitial nephritis would be detected in cats that were
immunologically sensitized with CRFK lysates, boosted with CRFK lysates, and
then biopsied 2 weeks after the booster. Cats (2 per group) were
immunologically sensitized against CRFK lysates by administering 10
or 50
were inoculated three times, 4 weeks apart with an FVRCP vaccine for intranasal
administration as kittens, boosted 50 and 102 weeks later, and then renal biopsies
taken 2 weeks after the last booster. Neither of the cats vaccinated with the
FVRCP for intranasal administration had detectable renal inflammation.
One cat in each of the three CRFK lysate sensitization groups had
lymphocytic
mg, 50 mg,mg plus alum 13 times (12 times in the first 50 weeks) over 2 years. Two catseplasmacytic interstitial nephritis.
Date accepted: 5 March 2006
2006 ESFM and AAFP. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
L
is a common histological lesion
in cats with renal failure (
1992, Minkus et al 1994
and plasma cells in renal tissues is not specific
for any one disease; there are a number of
known causes including diet and some infectious
diseases (
Kordick et al 1999
inoculated parenterally with feline herpesvirus
1, calicivirus, and panleukopenia virus-containing
vaccines (FVRCP) multiple times in their
lives. Because the vaccine viruses in most of the
commercially available FVRCP vaccines are
grown on the Crandell Rees feline kidney
(CRFK) cell line (
1970, Lee et al 1969
a study to determine whether vaccinated cats
or cats immunologically sensitized with CRFK
cell lysates developed antibody responses to
the lysates and whether the antibodies reacted
with feline renal tissue lysates.We also evaluated
whether the cats would develop clinical, biochemical,
or urinalysis evidence of renal disease,
and whether the cats would develop histological
evidence of renal disease (
Cats (
(12 times over 50 weeks) with varying concentrations
of CRFK lysate or administered a FVRCP
vaccine three times, 4 weeks apart as kittens
and then boosted at 50 weeks. Prior to CRFK
sensitization or vaccination and at week 56 of
the study, renal biopsies were obtained for histopathological
evaluation (
against CRFK lysates were detected in all
cats that were sensitized with CRFK lysates, in
five of six cats administered a commercially
available FVRCP vaccine parenterally, but in
neither of the cats administered a commercially
available FVRCP vaccine intranasally (Feline
UltraNasal; FVRCP Vaccine, Heska Corporation,
Fort Collins, CO). Antibodies against renal cell
lysates were detected in all cats that were
ymphocyticeplasmacytic interstitial nephritisLulich et al). Detection of lymphocytesDiBartola et al 1993, Minkus et al 1994,). Many client-owned cats areCrandell et al 1973, Scott et al), we previously performedLappin et al 2005).n ¼ 14) were inoculated SQ multiple timesLappin et al 2005). Antibodies
*Corresponding author. Tel:
1275. E-mail:
þ1-970-297-1274; Fax: þ1-970-297-mlappin@colostate.edu
Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery
doi:10.1016/j.jfms.2006.03.003
(2006) 8, 353e356
1098-612X/06/050353+04 $32.00/0
2006 ESFM and AAFP. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Adverse Vaccine Reactions in Pets – recent observations September 3, 2009
I have noticed an alarming trend in my recent practice, puppies having vaccine reactions earlier in life! I have recently noticed that puppies given even the most minimal of vaccines are having reactions, primarily the onset of bloody diarrhea within 24 hours of the vaccine. I have successfully treated these cases using homeopathic thuja. I can’t help but wonder if this is inherited vaccinosis rearing it’s head.
I have just received my copy of “Mark of the Beast” by Patricia Jordan, dvm. This is a must read for all pet owners and parents of young children. It is a well researched book on the dangers of vaccination. Available on Amazon…
Is Irradiated Food Safe – I don’t Think So! June 12, 2009
From Pet Food Industry magazine:
Australia suspends irradiation of cat food
Release Date: Tuesday, June 09, 2009
An outbreak in neurological disorders in cats has lead Australia to cease sterilization of cat food by irradiation. Scientific studies have suggested food irradiation as the source of the illnesses afflicting cats, but exactly how irradiation is causing food to be toxic to cats is unknown.
Ninety cats in Australia were afflicted with neurological disorders after they ate Orijen imported dry cat food, manufactured by Champion Petfoods, according to Dr. Georgina Child, a neurologist familiar with the cases.
Only Australia, which requires irradiation of pet food, has reported issues with Orijen cat food; all other countries who imported non-irradiated Orijen cat food reported no problems.
Finni’s Story May 2, 2009
This is from Pat Jordan who has been doing considerable work investigating the effects of vaccinations.
Finni and his rabies vaccination
We want to tell you a very sad story about our dog – and tell you to carefully consider vaccinating your Finnish Spitz!
Our Finnish Spitz, named Sukunimi Finni, was born on March 19, 2007. He received his first rabies vaccination in Wales on June 11, 2007. A few weeks later he came to Holland with us, and grew up as a very lively, happy, healthy and handsome dog. No health problems at all.
As we did with the dogs we had before, we went to the vet after one year for his regular vaccinations, and one of these was the booster rabies vaccination. This happened on May 27, 2008.
A few days later we noticed changes in Finni’s behaviour. He suddenly was afraid of water; he did not run into the pond, which was one of his favourite habits before. He even seemed frightened to come close to the water.
We also noticed that the spot between his shoulder blades, where the vaccination was given, was painful.
Hardly three weeks later, Finni suddenly behaved very strangely: he fell on his back, trampled with his legs and some saliva dripped from his mouth.
It all happened within a very short time and we were not sure what was happening. Unfortunately, a few weeks later it happened again, and now we were absolutely sure this was an epileptic seizure (a short period of stiffness, convulsions, trampling with the legs, a lot of saliva). This time he had two seizures, one after the other and we directly went to the vet.
A physical examination and several blood tests followed. No physical cause was found, and Finni got Phenobarbital which is the most common treatment. We started with a low dose, but as Finni still experienced seizures every two-three weeks, the dose was increased until he reached the maximum according to his weight.
Unfortunately, in spite of this, the seizures continued every two-three weeks and became worse (clusters of 3 or 4 seizures after each other). We were very unhappy with this, and despite a lot of visits to the vet where we mentioned this all started after the rabies vaccination, no other treatment was given, except extra rectal Valium.
Then we started several less toxic treatments: homeopathy, Bach flower remedies, allergy free food (James Wellbeloved). Nothing helped Finni, he became worse and worse.
In desperation we phoned a vet who is connected to the University Clinic for Animals in Utrecht. He immediately said that this was not ‘ordinary epilepsy’, and that an MRI-scan of Finni’s head was absolutely necessary.
We agreed to pick up all necessary paperwork the next day in order to go to Utrecht that same day. But that night Finni became very ill – the seizures did not stop any more. The next morning the vet saw Finni and had no other option than to put him to sleep…
This vet performed one significant test: he turned on the water tap, and, although Finni was almost unconscious, he was terrified. This was a specific reaction belonging to rabies, and in this case that rabies might have caused the illness. Because of this Finni was isolated and brought to a special laboratory in Lelystad where several tests were done. The final conclusion is: ‘a rare reaction of the rabies vaccination causing inflammation of the brain tissue and cerebral membrane’.
As we discussed this later on with the vet, he told us that it is the best to always determine the titre of the antibodies of rabies in the dog’s blood – and according to this level, decide if the dog needs a vaccination!!
Jos and Arry de Bruijn (Holland).
We were extremely sad when Jos and Arry told us about Finni’s illness and eventual death, and wondered whether anything positive could come out of this terribly sad situation. We are therefore very grateful to them for telling Finni’s story and giving their permission to alert other Finnish Spitz owners across the world to the possible dangers of the rabies vaccine.
Finni was put to sleep in early December and left an enormous gap in Jos and Arry’s lives, so we were thrilled for them when they decided to offer a dog from their local dog shelter a new home, and we wish them many happy years with Mickey, pictured below.
Steve and Alison Piearce
Sukunimi Finnish Spitz
