Classical homoeopathy is a holistic and compassionate modality.
As Samuel Hahnemann, the founder of homoeopathy, stated, ‘The highest ideal of therapy is to restore health rapidly, gently, permanently; to remove and destroy the whole disease in the shortest, surest, least harmful way, according to clearly comprehensible principles.’
Homoeopathic remedies are safe and non-addictive, without any unwanted side effects. They can be used for all age groups from the very young to the very old, for pregnant or lactating females, and are suitable for the docile or the volatile. The principles of classical homoeopathic healing apply to both humans and animals. You can enjoy the convenience of one remedy kit rather than separate remedy collections for the children, the elderly, and your animal companions.
A precis on arnica
This is the first in a series of short remedy descriptions that I will be offering in alphabetical order. The purpose of these summaries is to empower people to help the animal members of their household, and other creatures, with basic first aid skills from a homoeopathic perspective. It is not my intention for these writings to replace medical or veterinary advice or treatment.
Anyone who is familiar with the use of some essential homoeopathic first aid remedies will most likely already have on their shelf the remedy called arnica. Arnica montana, or Leopard’s Bane, is also named Fallkraut by the Germans, meaning the herb useful after a fall. This remedy is chiefly known for its properties in assisting to arrest bleeding, encourage reabsorption of blood from bruised tissues, promote healing of wounds, treat over-exertion, accidents and mechanical injuries, shock and trauma of most kinds. Remembering the attributes of arnica will guide you to its use. For example, ‘over-exertion’ is a feature of arnica. We all know how it feels to have played a strenuous sport a little too long when we are really unfit. We feel bruised, sore, sensitive to being touched, fatigued, and the bed feels too hard to lie on. Our animal friends can also experience this. Bearing in mind the key word ‘over-exertion’ will lead you to use arnica for other conditions seen in your animals, such as a long and painful labour. A dose or two of arnica after a difficult parturition will expedite recovery while also helping to avoid postpartum haemorrhaging or any resulting septic conditions. A single dose to the newborn that has had an unpleasant introduction into its new world may also be of value.
Arnica can be an important remedy after a blow to the head or a spinal injury. A large animal giving birth from a standing position may cause the newborn to drop onto its head on hard, rocky ground. Arnica will minimise the extent of the head bruising or concussion, and also aid in cases of hydrocephalus (swelling of the brain). While arnica is not the only remedy to consider in hydrocephalus, one distinguishing feature that may lead to its selection is when hydrocephalus is accompanied by a notable coldness of the forelimbs or the lower part of the body.
After its initial examination by a vet, I treated a dog kicked to the left side of the head that exhibited extensive bruising and grogginess. Mechanical injury, shock, bruising and concussion were all reasonable indications for arnica. A further distinguishing symptom was an inordinately cold nose though the site of the kick was hot with mild swelling extending to the nose. A hot head or face with a cold nose is a ‘keynote’ symptom of arnica. The carer, who witnessed the incident, said the dog had also had an involuntary escape of urine soon after the blow while in a state of stupor. This is also a significant characteristic of arnica. The dog was successfully treated with high potency of this remedy.
Arnica has as a symptom ‘stitching’ pain under the ribs or in the chest, especially on the left side. This is a guiding symptom that can render arnica useful in certain cases of pleuritic troubles or heart attack, amongst other symptoms that create the total picture to indicate its use under these circumstances.
When a creature has experienced an injury or emotional trauma and shrinks away when approached, or won’t be touched, think of arnica to help reduce its fear and sensitivity. Symptoms that have arisen as a result of accidents or emotional upsets, even from years ago, can still respond to arnica: for example, a tumour that has developed after a blow to the breast.
Becoming familiar with arnica’s characteristic symptoms helps make your decision to implement it much clearer, and facilitates a higher success rate. You can learn more about homoeopathic arnica from a Homoeopathic Materia Medica, Repertory, or other general remedy guides. Consult a Materia Medica or qualified classical homoeopath to assist in the differentiation between possible remedies and to help you discern the most suitable homoeopathic remedy.
An essential tip to note: match the symptoms of the patient to the remedy and not the symptoms of the remedy to the patient, because not all the symptoms of a remedy need to be found in the patient.
Life threatening cases, cases that you don’t understand, or conditions that appeared simple but are not responding should always be referred to a veterinarian for diagnosis or emergency care. A qualified classical homoeopath can be consulted to assist in treatment, raise the immune response, and escalate the healing process. It is advisable to consult with a classical homoeopath for constitutional prescribing needs when addressing chronic disorders and inherited susceptibilities. Your homoeopath can help you guide your animal companions onto a path of optimum health as their best form of prevention against disease.
