Homeopathy is now becoming a medicine of choice in both family and veterinary settings, where there is an ever-present desire to reduce the use of conventional medicines. Many farmers now favour complementary medicine, which they sometimes use in combination with conventional medicine.
Credit photo : @josepcurto
The farmer as mediator between animal and vet
Complementary medicines are based on the principle that the patient is best placed to explain their symptoms and how they feel when they are ill or in pain. In veterinary care, the farmer’s role is central to the development of a protocol. In fact, the keys to the successful use of homeopathy in a farm setting resides in their observation and knowledge of the animals. The farmer should identify the animal’s symptoms in comparison with the rest of the herd.
Homeopathy : an effective and suitable treatment in farming
Homeopathy is a therapeutic approach useful in animal farming because this treatment does not prevent the food derived from the animal from being consumed. In short, the meat of an animal treated with homeopathy is edible. Furthermore, homeopathic treatments pose no danger to the herd’s environment by polluting its water or hay.
However, while farmers can request the use of these medicines, they cannot improvise homeopathy: only a homeopathic vet is authorised to make a prescription.
Solutions to increase productivity and quality
Complementary medicines are therefore a perfect complement to measures aimed at improving the quality of life of animals such as stable ventilation, the installation of sprayers in milking parlours and feed modification. These actions, combined with monitoring by a homeopathic veterinarian, can improve the animals’ quality of life and prevent certain diseases.
In order for these solutions to be effective, they must be applied over the long term and be carefully monitored by the farmer.