Page 22 - Spring 14

Lycopodium clavatum
– An important remedy for the treatment of colic in horses by Petra Weiermayer, Austria
Summary
Objective: To show that acute colic in horses can be treated successfully with classical homeopathic therapy.
Method: Classical homeopathic therapy. Results: This horse was cured of acute colic by giving Lycopodium clavatum C1000 once. Conclusion: This case impressively shows that classical homeopathic therapy can be a very effective cure for potentially life- threatening colic in horses.
Anamnesis
At 5.30 pm the owner of a 20-year-old Criollo mare called, reporting that her horse had been suffering from mild colic for approximately 30 minutes and that the symptoms were gradually worsening. The mare was restless – one moment lying down relaxed; the next, jumping up and moving around before lying down again. The owner gave the mare 15 ml of Colosan (a phyto-therapeutic remedy) and kept her walking, which eased her discomfort. However, 20 minutes later, the symptoms of colic returned, and to a more pronounced degree. The mare was clearly uncomfort- able, lying down for a few minutes before jumping up and striking her abdomen with her hind legs. The mare normally drinks, whenever she returns from pasture, but showed no desire to drink that day. As the mare had – as usual – been out for the whole day, the time of her last bowel move- ment was unknown. No changes had been made to the mare’s feed, nor did she have a history of colic. The evening before, the mare had got wet; the day of the call was a wet and cool summer day. The mare had already produced white vaginal discharge several times on the day of the call and also in the past.
At 6.30 pm I arrived at the stable. The following clinical and rectal findings were noted (only changed parameters listed):
• During the physical examination, the mare
repeatedly struck her abdomen with her hind legs, before looking around at her flank and trying to lie down. The relapsing waves of pain came both, while the mare was walking and when resting. Occasionally she stamped with her forelegs. She showed an interest in hay, but did not eat.
• Mucous membranes were slightly pale, with a capillary refill time of two seconds.
• Breathing rate was higher than normal, at 22 breaths per minute.
• Heart rate was also higher than normal, at 48 beats per minute.
• Gut sounds were slightly quieter than normal and spastic on the left side, significantly qui- eter and spastic on the right side and tym- panic in the dorsal part of the right side.
• White vaginal discharge was observed.
• Per rectum, a moderate impaction of the large colon was palpable. The ventral cecum band was moderately tense and painful
under tension.
Diagnosis
Moderate colic resulting from impaction of the large colon
Repertorisation
Case course
Within a few minutes of giving five globules of Lycopodium clavatum C1000, the symptoms of colic disappeared. After 30 minutes the mare’s gut sounds were loud and active, and she had significant flatulence. The mare’s heart rate and breathing rate were within normal limits (40/10), and she started eating hay. During the night the mare was given no feed. The following day the owner reported that the mare had had seven bowel movements with normal amounts of normal horse droppings. As a result, dosed feeding with hay was started. No further colic was reported by the owner.
Remedy
Pulsatilla pratensis Potency: C1000 1x 5 globules
Case course
Within 15 minutes of giving five globules of Pulsatilla pratensis, the mare had flatulence. Colic symptoms were diminished; however, the gut sounds, breathing rate and heart rate did not change. She showed an interest in hay, but did not eat.
After 15 minutes of walking, the mare did not have any further flatulence, but began strik- ing her abdomen with her hind legs and looking around at her flank again. The mare’s breathing rate, heart rate and gut sounds remained unchanged, but the tympanic sound in the dor- sal part of the right side became louder.
Repertorisation
Remedy
Lycopodium clavatum Potency: C1000
1x 5 globules
Discussion
The vaginal discharge was initially observed several days before the colic started (as well as six months earlier) without any symptoms of colic. Hence, the discharge has to be classified as a chronic symptom and, as it did not change during the colic, it may not be taken as a symp- tom for repertorisation. Further, following the administration of Colosan, the amelioration of pain while walking was only short-term. Later that evening, the symptoms of colic remained the same regardless of whether the mare was resting or walking. Hence, the symptom “abdomen, pain, motion, amel” may not be taken as a symptom for repertorisation either. The administration of the first homeopathic remedy, Pulsatilla pratensis, made the symp- tom “abdomen, distension, flatus, passing, amel” clear, which was a very important symp- tom to find the simile – Lycopodium clavatum. A colic that can be treated with Lycopodium
clavatum is mild to moderate. Horses show an interest in hay but will not eat. In most cases, walking results in no or only mild amelioration of pain. Typical aggravation time is after 4 p.m.
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