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Natural Therapies
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Homeopathy
Homeopathy is a distinct
medical science that originated in the late
1700's with a German doctor, Samuel Hahnemann.
It is a gentle, natural approach to wellness
that triggers the body's own healing intelligence
using highly diluted yet potent medicines.
These diluted medicines or "remedies"
have to be exactly matched to the symptom
picture of the animal and can have remarkable
effects when accurately prescribed. To realize
the full benefits of this discipline, it
is important to consult with veterinarians
specifically trained in this form of medicine.
There are several books available on homeopathy,
although we recommend that if you decide
to treat your own pet you keep very accurate
records. If you need to have a consultation
with us, these details are necessary to
interpret what has happened and rework the
case. Please note that homeopathy can be
potentially harmful if you do not know what
you are doing and should not replace attention
by a veterinarian.
Further
reading
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Western Herbal Medicine
You are probably already
familiar with herbal medicine. Chamomile
tea is known to be calming and soothing,
garlic has a reputation for helping us fight
infections, and arnica is known to benefit
bruising. 80% of the world's population
currently use herbs to treat all manner
of health problems, and what may seem like
a modern alternative method of healthcare
is actually traditional health care, now
supported with scientific studies.
Herbal combinations usually produce healing
in a more gradual and natural way by stimulating
the body's own mechanisms, although they
can act rapidly in many cases. You may already
use herbs yourself, but we caution applying
or using the same remedies for your pets
as some herbs are specifically contraindicated
in animals and they can also interact with
other medications.
Further reading
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Acupuncture & Traditional
Chinese Medicine
Acupuncture uses very
fine needles inserted through the skin at
specific points on the body. It has been
practised for 4000 years and is widely used
today because it produces results, facilitating
healing by stimulating natural processes,
and a return to balance. Animals treated
with acupuncture often appear to relax during
the session and often fall asleep. This
form of medicine is particularly beneficial
in assisting with the relief of pain and
facilitating the return to normal function
but can be used for most conditions treated
by conventional medicine.
Acupuncture is actually one part of a whole
system called Traditional Chinese Medicine
involving diet, Chinese herbs, massage and
other techniques. Traditional Chinese Medicine
is used to diagnose, prevent and treat disease
and in animals acupuncture and Chinese herbs
work very well together. Acupuncture provides
a more immediate benefit and herbs provide
longer term home treatment between visits.
Further
reading
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Bach Flower Essences
The Bach Flower Remedies
are flower essences based on the research
and findings of an English doctor Dr. Edward
Bach. Bach was a medical pioneer in the
early 1900s. He observed that different
types of disease were associated with different
types of personality, temperaments and emotional
issues. From his insight into the role of
emotions, Bach sought to find a simple,
safe way to restore harmony in the body
and in his search, found flowers, trees
and bushes that when prepared in a particular
way could be very helpful in healing disease.
Dr Bach's idea was that negative emotional
states can suppress the healing process.
This is interesting because in the last
decade there has been a great deal of interest
in "psychoimmunology" or the study
of the connection of the mind and its influence
on disease.
The Bach Flower Remedies are gentle, safe
and can be used as an adjunct to other therapies
when there is a distinct emotional component
involved.
Further
reading
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Nutritional Counselling
Dietary factors play
an enormous role in the health of our animals.
Simply improving the plane of nutrition
can have remarkable effects on well-being
and overall health. When specific disease
conditions are present, modifying the diet
can actually assist in the restoration of
health. Specific foods or supplements can
be introduced, or quantities increased or
decreased to affect targeted organs, cells
or systems of the body.
We always take a thorough nutritional history
and assess current dietary and nutritional
needs. In certain conditions such as cancer,
intravenous vitamin therapy may be of assistance.
While sometimes changes to the diet can
seem time consuming or inconvenient, within
a short space of time, you will know if
it has been worth the effort. Often times
once health has been restored we can simplify
the diet and make feeding time much simpler.
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Chiropractic
Chiropractic care can
be beneficial, where changes to the spine
interfere with the normal functioning of
the whole body. The goal of treatment is
to gently adjust and manipulate the body
to stimulate the body's own innate healing
mechanisms.
It is important that an animal's condition
is accurately diagnosed before treatment
or that the work is carried out by a qualified
veterinary chiropractor. There are several
situations where chiropractic work is specifically
contraindicated and may actually worsen
the condition.
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Craniosacral Therapy
Craniosacral Therapy
encourages release of the negative effects
of trauma and stress and enhances general
health and resistance to disease.
It is based on gently adjusting and correcting
for increased pressure in the fluid bathing
the brain and spinal cord. It is believed
that these increases affect the functioning
of various organs and systems throughout
the body.
The system was developed recently by Dr
John Upledger, an osteopathic physician
and surgeon, and is now used by many health
professionals in both the human and veterinary
fields.
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Reiki
Reiki is a therapy that
works with life force energy. This natural
form of healing involves the direction and
application of gentle energy to the patient.
Reiki is not aligned with any particular
religious belief system, and is available
and applicable to all animals whether well
or ill.
It can be of tremendous benefit, particularly
with pets facing serious illness or death,
and complements all forms of therapy. We
are happy to provide treatments and encourage
you to learn the methods so that you can
use them yourself.
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Other Services
There are numerous ancillary
services available in this practice, provided
by our team of veterinarians and paraprofessionals
on site, or by referral to one of our aligned
therapists.
These services include:
Physiotherapy
Muscle manipulation
Counselling
Euthanasia
Animal communication
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