Today; veterinary medicine and its constant technological advances in equipment and diagnostic methods, together with the growing presence of congenital, autoimmune, degenerative, oncological illnesses, etc., have made it necessary to consider integrating all the resources medicine has available to bring health, well-being and quality of life to our beloved pets. That's why it's common for both guardians and veterinarians to add the holistic, alternative or complementary concept to conventional allopathic treatments, to ease their patients' ailments and recover and maintain pets' health.
The term holistic (also called integrative or complementary medicine, even natural) differs in that it considers the patient as a whole, not just the illness or symptom — here we factor in the environment they live in, their emotional, physical and mental aspects, their lifestyle and the way they relate to their surroundings, among other aspects. Also, this specialty in animals is widely accepted among caregivers for not producing side effects, being painless methods, and quickly showing how pets benefit from the power of these therapies.
Among these, we'll mention and recommend some of the most used ones that could benefit your furry companion depending on their situation:
- Homeopathy: Originally developed by a German doctor in the 1800s. The basic principle behind homeopathy is that “like cures like.” Because of this, in this therapy, plants, minerals and medicines have the ability to cure the illness they produce, since the illness's symptoms are the result of an internal imbalance.
- Acupuncture: An ancient technique of Chinese origin, based on puncturing specific points on the patient's anatomy with thin, sterile needles, aiming to trigger the release of the body's natural chemical substances, in order to relieve pain through the nervous system. In general, it's a procedure that doesn't hurt and is tolerated by domestic animals. Acupuncture also strengthens the immune system and improves the functions of the endocrine system and organs in general.
- Bach Flowers: Flower therapy consists of using the energetic, healing power of the dew that stays on the flower and from which it draws its power. It was developed by the English homeopathic doctor Edward Bach, who always cared about “treating the patient, not the illness.” Flower essences tend to be very useful for helping our furry friends through stress and anxiety, however, they're so wonderful that they have a wide range of applications for a variety of physical and emotional ailments. For example, Bach flowers are used to treat some eye and urinary issues, motion sickness during travel, fear caused by fireworks, or poor relationships with other pets or companions in their environment. Whatever the purpose of their use, flower essences or Bach flowers are made up of 38 preparations focused on treating specific emotional states, including anger, sadness, the loss of a loved one, even excesses of joy (which can also be harmful to our furry friends' health). In short, the power of nature through the energy of flowers and plants in this therapy is used mainly for negative emotional states.
- Aromatherapy: This therapy involves the use of different scents that, upon contact with smell, promote physical and emotional well-being in pets, who are much more sensitive to these scents due to their strong sense of smell. Within this branch we find essential oils (extracts of aromatic plants in liquid form, very potent and concentrated in scent, which are volatile). With aromatherapy we try to improve the animal's state of health by choosing the scent that can reduce their symptoms — for example, lavender oil can be used to help relax and calm our furry friends, while peppermint oil is indicated for digestive issues like motion sickness.
In conclusion, today we have many tools to bring improvement, well-being and quality of life to our furry friends depending on their condition or ailment. Together, these help and can even improve the physical or emotional illnesses your pet may be showing. Never hesitate to consult with your veterinarian about which one is most suitable and appropriate — however, remember that these therapies provide support, help and improvement without producing adverse effects.
If you have questions about flower treatment for your pets, you can contact our veterinarian who specializes in the topic through the following link: http://bitly.ws/Cb6z