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Homeopathic
Cure or Palliation?
By
Susan
Beal, DVM
(as posted to the Wellpet List)
Leeann, Greetings,
You wrote about Maui's itchy body the
other day.
In cases such as this, where the patient has had a long history
of dis-ease, we would expect the curative reaction to take
a long time. By a long time, I means months to years,....
He should not have an exceptional level of discomfort during
this time, but these cases take a long time to restore to
balance and harmony.
Some cases are, in fact, incurable.
This is not the "fault" of homeopathy, the homeopath,
nor is it the "fault" of of the failings of the
traditional healing arts or the practitioner. In cases such
as these, the best we can do is to continue to palliate their
symptoms without overtly causing a deterioration of health.
Now, I am not saying that your pup is an incurable case, nor
am I saying to accept palliation. What you do need to realize
is that this pup has a difficult case, and this case has been
treated for a relatively short period of time.
Going back to the basics, you and your veterinarian need to
look at the symptoms in the entire context of the case and
considering the therapies used.
Are these brand new, never been seen
before things or are they symptoms that have been seen at
some time in the past? How's the rest of the dog? Mentally,
emotionally, behaviourally,....
Has the symptom picture changed?
Has there been evidence of true curative
reactions?
From a homeopathic standpoint I would expect a healing reaction
to start from the top to the bottom, the back to the belly,
the interior to the exterior,...
I would expect there to be a change in the mental and emotional
symptoms (it may be as subtle as him not being as frantic
with the itching,....).
I would expect a slight aggravation
of symptoms (not required, and we try not to have a major
aggravation, but in these confused cases this is often difficult
to avoid).
I would expect the symptoms to disappear in the reverse order
of their appearance, and I would expect very transient returns
of old symptoms as the case progressed.
I would expect that this pup would
require a series of different remedies, because his case is
so confused, and it is unusual to have one remedy address
such cases completely.
I do not use NAET in my practice, and so am not qualified
to comment on the expected results.
I do feel it is important to assess the reaction of this pup
with respect to cure, palliation, suppression, and to adjust
the treatment in this light.
In a suppression, the symptoms get
better fairly quickly, and often stay "better" for
a period of time. When they return, they return on a deeper,
more serious level.
Many of the "miracle cures" are, in my opinion,
actually suppressive in nature when they are viewed over the
longer time period.
In palliation, the symptoms disappear,
and when the medicine is stopped (or "wears out")
the same symptoms return.
It is often difficult to assess the difference between palliation
and working toward a cure,....
Those are the sorts of questions I would ask myself about
this pup.
I suspect Maui is either being palliated,
or working toward a cure. Without knowing the entire case,
it's difficult to say for sure (even with knowing the case,
it would be difficult).
To that end, this is not the time to say that the first treatments
were failures and switch to another boat. This is the time
to go back to the veterinarian who did the last series of
treatments, and get them to assess the case, and offer follow-up.
I hope this has been of some help to you.
Sincerely,
Susan Beal DVM
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