Page 3 - Autumn 17

Committee – BAHVS
President – Chris Day chrisdayvet@hotmail.com
Senior Vice-President – Jane Keogh j.keogh5@btinternet.com
Junior Vice-President – Ilse Pedler ilse.pedler@zen.co.uk
Hon. Secretary – Stuart Marston sec@bahvs.com
Treasurer – Wendy McGrandles wendy@glenbrae-vet.co.uk
Magazine Editor – Malene Jørgensen malene@laforcevitale.eu
Communications Officer –
Nick Thompson nickthompson@holisticvet.co.uk
IAVH Representitive – Peter Gregory pg.ahimsa@virgin.net
Faculty Veterinary Dean – Peter Gregory pg.ahimsa@virgin.net
Mag distribution – Cheryl Sears cheryl.sears31@btinternet.com
Committee – IAVH
President – Edward de Beukelaer 12edb3@gmail.com
Treasurer – Sara Fox Chapman sfc.holistic@gmail.com
General Secretary –
Petra Weiermayer petra.weiermayer@gmx.at
Coordinator subcommittee
for education – Stefan Kohlrausch stefan.kohlrausch@arcor.de
Newsletter subcommittee – Malene Jørgensen malene@laforcevitale.eu
IAVH Communications Officer – Nick Thompson nickthompson@holisticvet.co.uk
LIGA contact – Marc Bär info@homeopatte.ch
Normal
Service Has
Been Resumed
by John Saxton, uk
Ithadtobetoogoodtobetrue.No sooner have one group of scientists produced a paper acknowledging the influence of outside factors on the manifestations of arthritis, than another group produces a paper debunking the first findings and claiming that the exact oppo- site is true.
However, whereas the first group at least listened to and took note of the observa- tions of the patients the second group have reverted to the common mind-set of dismissing the patients’ views as deluded and claiming a ‘scientific’ expla- nation instead. According to the second paper it is not the cold and damp of winter that worsens arthritis symptoms for many, merely the fact that sufferers are less active at that time of year and the affected joints just stiffen up, thus fooling the patients into unjustified assumptions. Not content with having their cake over this revelation, the workers then want to eat it by claiming the as people are more active in the summer, therefore their arthritis symp- toms are worse because of their increased movement!
Of course, what both groups are talking about are modalities, although the one thing that would unite them is condemnation of such a heretical approach to medicine. However, their ramblings do draw attention to one important aspect of case taking and interpretation, namely the care needed to determine the true modalities in a case.
Another common link in the above conventional argument is that both sides are working within a ‘black and white’ format: all arthritis symptoms are either
worse in winter or worse in summer. Perish the idea that some patients might be different to the norm that would interfere with a ‘scientific’ assessment!
The same format can be used to muddy the discussion of the placebo effect. Recent work at Harvard involved 120 volunteers, split into three random groups, who were all subjected to putting a hand on a hot metal plate until they could stand the pain no longer. All were then treated with ‘the same inactive cream’ but each group was told some- thing different. Group one was told it was a verum analgesic, group two just that it was a placebo and group three a placebo but also given a short talk about the placebo effect. Groups one and three reported similar and better pain relief than group two.
How many possible flaws can you spot in the methodology? Although insisting on volunteers can be justified on ethical grounds, it inevitably selects in favour of some constitutional types, those with a more adventurous or inquisitive turn of mind – or perhaps needing the money because they are financially irresponsible?
How were the volunteers obtained? David Reilly has shown that the placebo effect can vary depending on whether someone volunteers just by reading a poster or needs to be gently persuaded to join in.
And how did the random selection ensure than the spread of constitutional types was similar across all groups?
Of course all these objections need not be considered once it is assumed that all people have, within limits, a similar mental balance.
Standardisation is a wonderful thing – it saves thinking.
The British Association of Homeopathic Veterinary Surgeons (BAHVS) was formed in 1981, to advance the understanding, knowledge and practice of homeopathy. It aims to stimulate professional awareness of homeopathy and to encourage and to provide for the training of vet-
erinary surgeons in the practice of homeopathy. It is an open forum for differing approaches to the subject of veterinary homeopathy and it’s
application, allowing for constructive inter- changes of ideas.
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