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 Holistic Horses? Alternative Health Care for Treating Horses
Holistic medicine has become increasing more popular among people and animals. It is estimated at about two-thirds of people in the United States consult with an alternative practitioner each year. Most often holistic medicine is sought after as a last resort when all conventional medicines have reached their limit of effectiveness. In cases like these, alternative medicines may have something more to offer. For instance, acupuncture has been used to help horses that have been paralyzed or that were in severe pain or discomfort from arthritis.
Homeopathy can offer an alternative to treatment to horses that have a chronic skin disorder that was conventionally treated with cortisone, or something similar that may carry long-term side effects. Even so, when horses are treated naturally and holistically before this point, long-term benefits like excellent vitality, healthier immune systems
and increased resistance to disease can result. In truth, holistic or supplementary medicine can help prevent many diseases from developing, and healing will be faster due to having an enhanced immune system.
Holistic is a term that is derived from the word whole, referring to the treatment of whole organisms, instead of individual body parts, or the removal of symptoms. Conventional medicine is more inclined to concentrate on the removal of symptoms. Holistic veterinary medicine embraces a number of modalities, including conventional medicine, when required or appropriate and herbalism, acupuncture, homeopathy, or nutrition, which are best, referred to as complementary medicine, instead than alternative medicine. The reason they can be referred to as complementary medicine is because they can complement the more traditional methods and not just be the last resort alternative methods.
It is required of the holistic practitioner to be a licensed veterinarian. Considering that veterinarians are educated in the diagnosis of disease and the practice of veterinary medicine, they will be able to determine the best approach for each individual patient. For instance, a horse with a broken leg will often require a surgical procedure and the homeopathic remedies can be used to step-up the healing process and also help control the pain and inflammation. This example shows how complementary medicine works best. The following is a brief overview of the most commonly used holistic methods.
Nutrition: This is the key to a healthy body. A well balanced diet is very important to keeping your horse healthy and keeping diseases at bay. There are many commercial horse foods that contain by-products, artificial additives, preservatives and some chemicals that can have serious side effects. Read the label before buying any kind of feed. You can also make a more natural home made diet that can be a lot healthier than anything you can buy in the pet or tack store, providing that a vitamin and mineral supplement is appropriately added. Foods that are good for horses are natural whole grains and organic vegetables.
Acupuncture: Horse owners have successfully used this ancient Chinese method for many years. Acupuncture is based on the conception that the body has a meridian of energy lines running through it and when the body is out of balance, the energy lines become immobilized. Needles are used and specific acupuncture points in the body to redirect the energy and return balance to the body. This method is often used for pain relief, increased blood flow, decreased inflammation, arthritis, and nerve damage. Acupuncture is also a good alternative to steroids and painkillers.
Homeopathy: A method used to stimulate the body into healing itself by treating the whole animal, mentally, emotionally and physically. Homeopathy will strengthen the immune system and leave the body in a better condition than it was before it became afflicted. Horses that are treated with homeopathy their entire life will live a healthier and longer life, because the horses immune system is repetitiously being strengthened rather than becoming weaker.
Magnetic Therapy: A method that is used to ease the pain in arthritis in older horses and can be applied by using an electromagnetic device or by simply applying strong magnets to the afflicted parts of the body.
Bach Flower: Used by holistic practitioners to help modify behavioral problems like fear and aggression in horses and in other animals. Bach Flower works as a great alternative to other conventional medicines.
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