Page 24 - Autumn 19

IAVH 2019 conference Bogota, Columbia Report by Peter Gregory and Don Hamilton
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In accordance with the aims of the IAVH, it was decided last year to hold the IAVH board meeting for 2019 in Bogota, Colombia, and as is usual this was an opportunity to support our South American colleagues to hold a congress on 18th and 19th October, organised by our Colombian National Representative Marcela Muñoz. On the day before the congress, several of the delegates spent the day visiting the Salt Cathedral, in Zipaquirá. Everyone enjoyed the day, which included a trip through the countryside and a traditional Colombian lunch. The remaining few chose to take an extra day to recover from the ten hour flight, and adjust to the altitude of 2500 m, by spending a more leisurely day. They visited the World famous Museo del Oro (Museum of Gold) in the city centre and strolled around the impressive civic buildings and churches and cathedrals nearby, while also strolling around the interesting side streets with the spectacular backdrop of the mountains behind.
The World Congress of Veterinary Homeopathy began on Friday morning and was held in the auditorium of the Fundacion Universitaria Luis G Paez UNILUISGPAEZ).
Delegates were welcomed to the conference by Edward de Beukelaer (IAVH President), Dr Blanca Julieth Rincon (Rector of UNILUISPAEZ) and Marcela Muñoz (Director of specialisation of homeopathic veterinary medicine and IAVH National Representative for Colombia). A few moments were spent in homily to Dr Maria Trebert, a well- loved colleague in the veterinary homeopathy school who was a teacher and mentor to many of the Colombian veterinarians present at the congress.
The first lecture was given by Peter Gregory from the UK on the homeopathic approach to the treatment of atopic dermatitis. He emphasised the possible role of vaccination in the genesis of the condition and hence its role as an obstacle to cure, and noted the miasmatic patterns of
Tuberculosis and Cancer in such patients.
He was followed by Cideli Coelho from Brazil who described the value of homeopathy in the treatment of wild animals. Memorable cases in penguins included one treated with Echinacea angustifolia for leukopenia and the heart wrenching case of Tufao, who suffered from grief and loneliness and who responded to Ignatia. Nora Delgado from Colombia then described a number of clinical cases in pigs where homeopathy was effective, emphasising the cost effectiveness of homeopathy in such situations.
After the obligatory coffee break, Minako Kuroda from Japan described the use of homeopathy for managing immune system disturbance in dogs, such as skin problems and inflammatory bowel disease, providing relief without the ill effects of corticosteroids and immune suppressants. Luis Fernando Vargas from Colombia then