Random Remedies

THERE ARE many remedies within the realms of homeopathy and a thorough assessment is required to ensure the correct remedy and so initiate a full recovery in the subject being treated.
The most vital and number remedy in my humble opinion is Carbo Vegetabalis
(Carbo Veg). This is a major - I do mean really major - remedy known as ‘The Corpse Reviver’ and not without good reason. It has a great affinity with the circulatory system and any time there is a lack of oxygen, i.e. collapse, a chilled and almost unconscious cat/kitten, or a dog/puppy, or even a human being. In humans it is very suitable for an asthma attack or bronchial congestion.

‘Fading Kitten’

Fading kitten reach for Silica Terra, which is absolutely ideal for those who feel a sensation as if they would die, a state that gives the feeling of gradually loosing their senses. Also excellent for an animal who is made worse by a vaccination. In addition to its many varied uses, too many to list here, it is wonderful to remove a foreign body. A serious word of warning though; do not use if you have a pacemaker or any other additional bits and pieces i.e. metal plate or pins etc in your body.

Arsen Alb is a very deep acting remedy, which can affect every organ of the body and it’s tissues. Included within the remedy is the description of ‘a sudden great weakness from trivial causes.’
Aconite for injury also for fear and shock. In this case give one dose as soon as possible.
Arnica - known generally for bruises but actually covering so much more, from concussion, trauma and its effects, injures, falls, blows, contusions, even for cats fearful of anyone approaching, these are just a few of the Arnica conditions.

Ruta Grav – Strains, lameness after an injury, injured joints, i.e. jarring of the knee,
backache from injury or strain, chronic knee complaints, frozen shoulder etc.

Thunder and Lighting
I do dip into the OUIR CATS Website message board now and again, and recently there was an enquiry from some one who was concerned for their cat during thunderstorms and I made a mental note to look for something suitable in this case.

Thunder Storms, Fireworks, Fear etc. – Rose Rose which is actually a Bach Flower Remedy and also Mimulus. On the Homeopathy side, Gelsemium, Ignatia, Phosphorus.

Rock Rose - the main properties being terror, panic, extreme fright.

Mimulus – the main properties being fear or anxiety of an unknown origin.

Gelsemium - emotional shock, anxiety, fright, hysteria, for bad effects from fright,
suited to those who are excitable and easy to anger.

Ignatia - anxiety, fright and its effects, grief, hysteria, Ignatia could be classed as more of a feminine remedy.

Phosphorus - fear of being alone, fear of thunderstorms, the ill effects of anger, fear, grief and worry.

Worry Wart
I have been a bit of a worrywart myself this week. This was because a gorgeous little blue point female kitten, Simplisiam It’s Showtime from Mab’s latest litter of kittens started to suddenly show signs of fading; she would not feed from her mother’s milk bar and refused point blank any food we offered her. Although she had been a good size kitten at birth in the early stages of weaning when she started to fail she did loose weight rapidly and was very soon a scrawny and very frail baby.

I set into action, using two remedies combined; the plan was to get her eating as quickly as possible…

Bryarta Carb

Ideal remedies for dwarfism in young kittens and elderly cats, when their frailty is apparent and things are not looking good. The reference to dwarfism in this case means when there is a delayed development.

Alfalfa

This remedy is always worth having in your home box of tricks, as it is a very favourable influence on nutrition, there is strong evidence that it works well to tone up the appetite and digestion.
There are times when it pays to be a little creative with homeopathy and this was one of those occasions. I crushed both remedies together and dosed the kitten once. Please keep in mind though it is not always possible to do this as some remedies grate against each other and will cause problems.

Within an hour i.e., the next feed she did take well-mashed food from a syringe so much better, she was not fighting me off and keeping her jaws firmly closed as she had been doing previously.
The following feed I tried mashed kitten food and rice pudding on a teaspoon and she went for it with gusto. I kept the Bryarta and Alfalfa combination going for another day and then the Alfalfa only for two more days to make sure we were back on track, although the little guts would only eat from a ‘silver spoon’ for a few more days until she realised food was readily available in a dish; since then she seems to be eating round the clock. With luck at the rate she’s eating Simplisiam It’s Showtime will have made up for her drop in weight and size by the time she makes her show debut.

Moaning and Groaning

Thank you to Linda Ward, of Larnikat British Shorthairs for allowing me to use her photo and her situation. Linda rang me recently with a problem - one of her girls Champion Larnikat Mona Lisa, a very aptly named female who at three weeks pregnant was moaning and groaning very loudly all over the house, driving Linda to distraction so much she took her to the vet who confirmed there was nothing wrong. Linda rang me for advice. I said I thought it was hormonal and prescribed Sepia. Linda rang me back to say that it had worked perfectly.
Chunky

Sue Gibbon of Acmebrits, British Shorthairs rang me with a dilemma. Her Blue Cream girl Katakoustiks Powdernpaint had given birth to chunky kittens who were struggling when Sue realised their mum had no milk. Urtica Urens and Pulsatilla were posted off express delivery and the milk bar was open on the same day. Thanks Sue for allowing me to use your now happily resolved problem and the gorgeous photo of your kittens.

The Patter of Tiny Paws Again

In case anyone is following the homeopathy birth theme of my last column… As I put this column together from my notes, in the early hours of the 6th April Whisper my Cream Point Siamese has given birth to seven kittens. The remedies I used were Caulophyllum 6c three times, helping to establish her contractions leading up to the first kitten and Arnica for bruising and any after pains when the birthing was over. I had made the remedies for Whisper into liquid potencies as she is a notorious nightmare to give a tablet to and in this form it has worked very efficiently and thankfully without any fuss.

Isn’t it just fantastic when things work the right way?