HOMEOPATHIC TREATMENT AND DISEASE PREVENTATIVE

If your horse isn’t actively competing, is older or mostly used for pleasure, and not exposed to a lot of outside horses, he or she may be a good candidate for nosodes.

Vaccines Vs. Nosodes

The philosophy of vaccinating is very similar to the homeopathic Laws of Similar. “Vaccines come in live or killed forms. A live vaccine carries a live virus or bacteria that has been modified so that it stimulates immunity without causing the disease. A killed or inactivated vaccine contains either killed bacterial or viral pathogen or some part of an inactivated virus capsule or bacterial cell wall.”

“A nosode is a disease product obtained for any affected part of the system in a case of illness and thereafter potentised. The causative organism may or may not be present in the material, and the efficiency of the nosode in no way depends on the organism being present. The response of the tissue to invasion by bacteria or virus results in the formation of substances which are in effect the basis of the nosode.”

The main differences lie in the administration and side effects. Homeopathic nosodes are given orally and develop little or no known side effects.

If you are using the mainstream methods, educate yourself. Always read the literature that accompanies your vaccines. Check for the possible side effects so that you are prepared to deal with them.

A Nosode can also be used in horses currently being vaccinated as a preventative to adverse side effects of the vaccine. It is administered after the scheduled vaccination to help the vaccine do its job and the immune system fight off harmful side effects.

There are homeopathic nosodes for these common diseases:

Eastern Western/Tetanus (EWT)

Potomac Horse

Lepto

Strangles

Rabies (Lyssin)

Rhinopneumonitis and Flu (ERIV)

Lyme disease

The dosing schedule for nosodes is one vaccine each day for three days, then one per week for three weeks, then one per month for three months. This dosing schedule is repeated the following year. You should always give the medicines under the direction of your holistic veterinarian. Nosodes are a prescription drug are not available over the counter.

This frequent oral dosing may not be as convenient as one needle, but for a horse that suffers from chronic ailments, mainstream vaccinations during a flare-up can make it harder for your horse to heal.

“Vaccinating Isn’t Quite So Simple Anymore," Michael Plumb’s Horse Journal, June 1996.

Materia Medica of the Nosodes, and Oral Vaccines, George MacLeod MRCVS, DVSM.

Clark Veterinary Clinic