Page 14 - Winter 2011

IAVH Newsletter continued
discovered, frighteningly important for the later development of a cancerous state. In fact, we spoke a lot about the precancerous state and treating the miasmatic soil early on, in order to avoid cancer. For example, the chronic gingivi- tis that we see so frequently in felines is a potential precursor of malignancy, as is chronic inflammatory bowel disease. It is so important to understand this, as many of our best cancer remedies are taken from the inflammation rubrics. We discussed the various miasms and how cancer can be found in most of them, and how to distinguish which one is predominating and how this can obviously help us to find the correct remedies. She delved into the knotty question of just how many miasms there really are, and the various perspectives of different homeopaths in regards to this conundrum.
Then, of course the ‘meat and potatoes’ (or in this case, the brown rice and tofu) of the con- ference was the treatment protocols. We dis- cussed constitutional treatment, which was always best, Sue felt. The problem is some- times that the constitutional remedy is not all that apparent, the organs are in such a dis- eased state, or the individual is just too weak to tolerate a direct hit with the constitutional rem- edy. Therefore, Sue has found (along with many other homeopaths) that the Ramakrishnan method (or a modification thereof), where you support the body with an organ remedy and a nosode can help us at times and ease the vital force back to a place where the body can either manifest clearer signs of the constitutional pic- ture or help it to be able to tolerate the deeper constitutional remedy. Sometimes the best approach, especially in the end stage cancer, is to return to the use of single remedies and ‘chase’ the symptoms as she calls it. We spoke quite a bit about organ drainage remedies, something I know so little about and that I can see will dramatically improve my results.
I was personally ‘floored’ by the cases she presented – slides and all. Animals with severely metastatic disease that she was able to revert back to health. No signs of cancer! Of course not all of the animals were able to become cancer free, but the others she was able to bring into a ‘smooth landing’ as she called it – changing remedies as the energy and symptoms transmuted in the body and keeping them pain free and happy until the
end. Honestly, I thought I was having pretty good results with cancer, but now I see my expectations were too low, and that indeed can be an important determination of the outcome.
For lack of space, I cannot go into all the details of the five days, but in summary we spoke at length on the various forms of cancer, remedies that could be applicable for those conditions and how to address the pain of can- cer, both from the homeopathic and allopathic perspective. This is so important, because the owner, observing their pet in pain for extended periods, along with the diagnosis of cancer, can decide to cut short the treatment and therefore the life of their animal. In addition, we need to know what we are up against, while trying to treat animals while they are on these drugs with the possible subsequent shifting of energy patterns. In addition she lectured quite a bit on how to support the body with very carefully chosen supplements (and diet), and exactly why one supplement is good for some cancers and not applicable, and at times even danger- ous for others. There is so much to learn! And truly, truly how fortunate we (and the animals) are to have Sue Armstrong out there in the trenches breaking new ground.
The information is so cutting edge that, I believe we all felt a huge responsibility, as well as a privilege to be privy to it. I do highly recom- mend attending one of her cancer seminars anywhere in the world if at all possible. This knowledge that she has worked so diligently to acquire should be learnt by as many as possi- ble so that more and more animals (and humans) can benefit.
TherewasalotoffuntobehadinTaos–it wasn’t only just work. Unfortunately, for me, this was mostly hearsay, as I had to finish a chapter on homeopathy that I was commis- sioned to write, with a due date of one-month prior (happy to say it was finished and accept- ed, and the book should be out January 2012. Your Dog’s Golden Years www.SeniorDogBooks.com).
The venue was just incredible: relaxing, warm and welcoming, with a lovely Jacuzzi, which some of us went into au naturel (not I this time around), organic local pure vegetarian food, according to Don’s strict specifications (so healthy, I could hardly bear it!). It was a wonderful group of people, and the trust and love within the group was palpable.
Most of the group visited the hot springs ‘Ojo Caliente’, where you immersed yourself in 7 different mineral springs including Arsenic, Iron, and Soda Springs. People said it was won- derful and relaxing, but quite a few had some healing aggravations. All in all, I am not too sad to have missed it this time around due to my writing commitments but happy to say that I see Budapest is famous for ‘taking the waters’ so I will definitely take advantage of that in April when I attend the IAVH board meeting in Hungary.
Quite a few of the group returned to the Rio Grande (the river flowing through New Mexico) and braved the snow and the cold, to enjoy the natural ‘hot springs’ there. I was tempted, but with the cold wind and snow in the mountains, I chick- ened out. But all had a wonderful time, I heard.
Many of us visited the Earthships, which are a type of housing designed and marketed by a company in Taos, where you live totally off the grid. It is a self-contained structure, where you use solar power for energy, gather rainwater as you water supply, recycle that for your plumb- ing, etc. They use natural and recycled materi- al, such as rubber tires, and old tin cans for their internal structure and so forth. Everything you think America is not about!
Another group went to the Pueblo, which is an Indian reservation. It was fascinating, a peek into both the old way of life for the Native Americans, and how they currently live. I had the opportunity to go on the last visit to Taos. Yes, as my friend Lisa Panzer, said there was much fun to be had in Taos, and only yours truly stayed in the room, writing and watching TV (great program daily at 4am by Ken Burns on Prohibition amongst others) – while the mind and body relaxed from the rigors of writing.
In summary, if you can make it, when Sue Armstrong does her next conference, try not to miss it! You will be so glad you didn’t!
Chris Day Interview – with Peter Gregory part 2
PG: So, when did you become famous?
CD: Because of my farm trial work in the mid-80s, I ended up on numer- ous television programmes. My piglet stillbirth work was published in the Veterinary Record in 1984, the year my first book was published. Subsequently I was invited to participate in a BBC programme called ‘Homeopathy – Medicine or Magic’, which was a powerful programme and was broadcast in January 1991, in evening prime time. Also in January 1991, I started treating a racehorse called Garrison Savannah 12
for Jenny Pitman. He was ‘incurably’ lame and untrainable. He went on to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup and it hit the newspaper headlines, thanks to the trainer going public on it.
There was other significant TV appearances such as BBC ‘Country File’ and ‘Tyne Tees TV’.
I became extremely busy. I did farm visits all over the country – North as far as the Scottish Borders, and West into Wales. I also had lots of work on racehorses, particularly for acupuncture and back work. There was,