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dies on biological systems, and how remedies can positively impact the stress response net- work in patients. Shelley then reviewed the clinical trials in homeopathy, acknowledging the difficulty of setting up RCTs when homeop- athy relies heavily on individualised prescrib- ing. There are, however, a number of trials, notably in canine osteoarthritis, atopy, and pseudocyesis and bovine mastitis. References were provided in the proceedings, and an extensive database of homeopathic research is available on-line at: www.homeopathicvet.org
Mark Elliott discussed the origin and establish- ment of the homeopathicvet.org veterinary research database. This website is a wonderful resource for anyone with an interest in home- opathy or animal health. There is an extensive database of peer reviewed and other papers relating to homeopathy; both positive and neg- ative findings are included. In addition, there are news stories about homeopathy, and links to other databases. If you happen to have some spare change, funding efforts continue to pro- vide access to as many articles as possible.
Peter Gregory explained how homeopathic vets approach complex cases. These are often cases that have failed to respond to conven- tional treatment, or patients that have adverse effects to conventional medications. Peter reviewed the causes of chronic disease, and how vet homeopaths use all symptoms of the disease state, as well as the patient’s history and individual characteristics in determining how and what to prescribe. There are different methods that homeopaths can use to help in choosing remedies, but all are based on under- standing the patient and the remedy, and choosing the remedy that best fits the patient. Complex cases frequently take time to improve, and the homeopath will often need to change remedies as the case develops, necessitating excellent communication from the guardian, and a high level of veterinary and homeopathic competence from the vet.
Geoff Johnson presented some of the cancer cases that he has treated. These were cases that had been diagnosed by conventional vets as advanced cancer states and given an extremely poor prognosis. Under homeopathic treatment these animals showed dramatic improvement, living far longer than expected by the oncology specialists. Geoff employs a num- ber of methods to assist him in finding appro- priate remedies. He has found the Banerji cancer protocols helpful in some cases, as well as using the similarity of remedies in various rows or columns of the periodic table, or the related remedies in the same plant family.
Sara Fox Chapman presented a case series of hyperthyroid cats treated with homeopathy. She reviewed diagnosis, available conventional treatment and side effects, and survival times.
Four of ten homeopathically treated cases were described in detail; these cats had good reso- lution of clinical signs, no side effects of thera- py, and despite pre-existing renal disease in two cases, their survival times were superior to U of Florida retrospective study cats (none of which had renal disease) treated conventional- ly. Not all cats attained normal thyroid hormone levels, and adjunctive supportive treatments were needed in some cases. Causes of treat- ment failure and strategies to improve the qual- ity of life of hyperthyroid cats were discussed.
Shelley Epstein
presented an update on a recent controversy in the US regarding the practice of home- opathy. As back- ground, in the US, the state boards of veterinary medical examiners license and regulate vets
in their state. The veterinary medical associa- tion (VMA) of a state and the guidelines of the ‘parent’ VMA, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) heavily influence state boards. The VMA in Connecticut sent a resolu- tion to the AVMA stating that homeopathy was ineffective. The wonderful thing about this was that the holistic and homeopathic veterinary community in the US presented their evidence base for homeopathy to the AVMA, and the AVMA delegates overwhelmingly supported the right of vets to use homeopathy. Because of procedural requirements, the resolution was sent to committee, but the AVMA president denounced the resolution and said it should never have been put forward.
Open Day closed with a brief presentation of training opportunities in veterinary homeopathy in the UK. Peter Gregory described the history of the training courses, providing quality home- opathic education to vets in the UK, Australia, Ireland, South Africa, Japan and Latvia. John Saxton described the newest course, through the British Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy. This is a three year modular course, which will be web based with some in-person’ sessions. Geoff Johnson discussed the training courses in homeopathic medicine for healthcare pro- fessionals conducted through the Bristol Homeopathic Hospital. This course takes four or five years and is entirely in-person.
The BAHVS was very pleased to have many positive comments from our conventional col- leagues who attended. We enjoyed your com- pany very much, and we are gratified that you were willing to approach homeopathy with an open mind. We hope to be able to extend simi- lar invitations to interested vets in the future.
The Saturday night banquet was held in the gallery of the Congress venue. This is a large, glass walled room in the Visitor Centre over- looking the Arun river life impoundments. Entertainment was provided by the BAHVS Sax Quartet, two of who were Mark and Andie Elliott’s daughters. The musicians were quite good; the acoustics of the venue did not do them justice. Dinner was prepared by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust chefs; duck was not on the menu (just outside the window), but the options provided were delicious. Jacqui Molyneux, president of the RCVS, presented the annual prizes. Sara Fox Chapman was awarded the Churchill Cup for contributions to the BAHVS Mag, Ann Wood was presented with the Endeavour Shield recognising her dedica- tion and tenacity in attaining her VetMFHom, and Mark Elliott won the VetriScience Sippy Cup (thank you Arthur!) for the person who has contributed most to the BAHVS in the last year. This recognises Mark’s unflagging efforts on the research website, RCVS council, and Congress. The banquet broke up early, as everyone had to return to accommodations. This was a definite drawback with a non-resi- dential Congress, as no wild dancing and carousing was possible!
Nazrene Moosa started our Sunday morning programme with a presentation of the proving that she and the late Jon Lumley conducted as their final year project in 2002. Provings are a cornerstone of homeopathy and the foundation of our materia medica. Nazrene described the method of conducting a blind proving, and extracting the results from provers’ diaries. The substance proved was Polygala myrtifolia, and symptoms shown by the provers included headaches, haemorrhoids, skin lesions, and dreams of searching, among others. All newly proven remedies require use to become better known, and Helios has this remedy available in stock.
Neil Coode presented his experience of a vet- erinary reprise of the 1854 London cholera epi- demic. Vet homeopaths tend to see single chronic cases, for which a detailed history and analysis lead us (hopefully) to the similimum. Neil had an epidemic of 21 rescue puppies with acute haemorrhagic gastroenteritis. Conventional care had resulted in 80% mortality in the first 10 ill pups, so Neil channelled his inner Hahnemann. He observed the pups’ basic demeanour, desire for heat / food / water, dehy- dration and mouth dryness, degree of exhaus- tion, nature of blood in stool and presence of vomiting/diarrhoea. Neil prescribed polycrests, reassessed the pups every two hours, and changed remedies as the picture changed. Evaluating pups treated only with homeopathy, he decreased mortality to a bare 9%!
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