Alternative medicine is enjoying a boom as people start to take control of their own lives. As an alternative medical practitioner, a homeopath, I am very excited about this. When people take control of their own lives, there is no limit to what becomes possible. The limitations occur when you hand over that control to others. No one else but you, has your own best interests so much to heart.

Once you start taking control of your own life, you start to question what's best for your family, including your pets.

You might now be asking yourself what could be the best alternative medicine for dogs.

There are many different alternative medicine modalities about and you need to do a bit of research to decide what is most appropriate. There's homeopathy, reiki, naturopathy, Chinese medicine, osteopathy, chiropractic, flower essences, herbs, acupuncture or pressure, massage, Bowen therapy, to mention just a few. Many of these modalities will only be able to work in a limited way. For instance (and I'm no masseuse, so could be wrong), massage will probably only be good for strained muscles. And, although some can act on a deep level, they can be slow to show results, such as flower essences.

And alternative medicine for dogs, really starts with their diet. If you're feeding your dog an unhealthy diet, it doesn't really matter what modality of health care you use - it's not going to bear fruit. "You are what you eat."

Commercial dog food have few regulations and even fewer which are enforced. From the poor quality 'meat' by-products, to the nutritionless filler, to the dangerous preservatives, your dog is slowly being poisoned. Label claims of 'preservative free' or 'natural' are largely meaningless.

Once you start feeding your dog a wholesome and REALLY natural food, you will see huge improvements in health. Sometimes, that's all you need.

But sometimes, you need to do more. Then you need to scour what's available in alternative medicine for dogs.

As a homeopath, you could say I'm biased (I agree!), but out of them all, the alternative medicine for dogs I consider has the greatest breadth and depth of real healing, is homeopathy.

Homeopathy has the potential to deal with ailments as diverse as ligament damage, to heart disease, from an embedded grass seed to depression. The only areas where I consider medical services are required is the setting of a broken bone and the stitching up of extensive wounds.

I don't know of any other alternative medicine for dogs, where all this is possible. And homeopathy addresses the cause, rather than the effect.

Lets look at that for a minute. Imagine a woman has just given birth, and has since developed haemorrhoids, or piles. Now there is a common homeopathic remedy for piles called Hamamelis. And this may well help. But it's unlikely to cure. So you might have to keep taking it for a long time.

There's another common homeopathic remedy called Pulsatilla. And this helps with many ailments that develop from childbirth, including piles. Taking Pulsatilla is more likely to cure them for good.

So if you can treat the cause, expect outstanding results. A permanent cure is the aim.

One of the things I love about treating animals is their desire to help in the choosing of the right remedy. Most dogs are pretty outgoing and will make it very clear when you've selected the right remedy - they'll lick the bottle, their lips or your hand, they'll sit expectantly and wag their tail, they'll look interested and attentive.

If, on the other hand, you selected the wrong remedy, they'll turn their head away, walk off, perhaps even snarl at you if you persist.

To me, their body language is very clear. You really don't need to be an animal communicator.

Once you have gained a bit of an understanding of what's available, choosing an holistic vet, for the more difficult ailments, who practices alternative medicine for dogs becomes easier, and you become involved with your dog's treatment.

I am passionate about your right of freedom to choose. But to choose, you have to know something about the subjects you want to choose between. So you need to listen to both, or all, sides of every aspect of every junction in your life that offers you that choice. Alternative medicine for dogs gives you plenty of choice!

About the Author

Madeleine Innocent is a practicing homeopath, a specialised modality of natural health care. She treats both people and animals in her busy West Australian practice. Madeleine loves to spread the good work of homeopathy and other areas of natural health care and writes extensively on the subject.

For a complimentary ebook on how to have a healthy dog, starting today, visit http://naturallyhealthydogs.com or http://www.bestdoghealth.blogspot.com

By: Erica J Miles

Veterinary acupuncture is the treatment of pets like cats, dogs and horses. Acupuncture is a part of Chinese medicine use to diagnosis and treat animals and people. This treatment is known as the traditional Chinese medicine. It is a holistic approach to the cure of chronic diseases in patients. This treatment considers the patient as an organism having unified energetic parts rather than considering individual body parts for the treatment. In veterinary acupuncture, animals are also considered as a whole-unit consisting of body, mind, diet, spirit, and environment.

Generally, the holistic approach of this medicine helps to explain this ancient medical approach. In conventional medicinal treatments, doctors tend to analyze the symptoms and according to the diagnosis, the physician addresses the problem by trying to cure the symptoms. On the contrary, holistic or acupuncture therapy looks at the symptoms and tries to find out the causes of the symptoms that are present.

By diagnosing the symptoms, it tries to discover the root cause of that symptom and according to that, treatment is given. This therapy is the best alternative to the western veterinary medicine. Holistic approach can bring good total health and welfare to your pets. Some times this treatment also includes the conventional methods. Traditional medicine treatment generally includes acupuncture and herbs along with certain other techniques to balance the body and allow the animals to cure.

Along with these, other techniques are also used to cure the animals. These treatments consist of laser stimulation, electric stimulation, and many more. Acupuncture and herbal medicinal treatment have been in practice for thousands of years by the Chinese. This treatment has now been greatly accepted by U.S, practitioners to cure animals as well as the humans. In this treatment, the accupoints are stimulated and then treated with the herbal medicines.

In acupuncture therapy, needles are pierced in certain points that are called the accupoints. This piercing stimulates those points and the stimulation cures the diseases. This is the manual treatment to cure a disease. In the electric treatments, passing electric currents through the needles stimulates the accupoints. These needles are treated as the electrodes. The current passing stimulates the point. Another method to stimulate the points is by laser method.

These are the certain methods to stimulate the accupoints and treat the disease. Acupuncture or traditional Chinese medicines are good for diagnosing diseases and treating them. Acupuncture shows the effects according to the time and after certain time the disease will cure. Generally, this treatment is use to cure the diseases of cats, dogs and horses but some physicians use this treatment to cure small pets like birds, ferrets and rabbits.

Generally, the acupuncture therapy is done with the help of needles made of metal. The weight of the needle is about 28gm to 30gm. These needles are sharp and used to *** certain accupoints on the skin. Penetration depth of the needles in the skin of the animal is about 1/2" to 3/4". This penetration helps to stimulate the points leading to the cure of the animal.

Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese practice used to cure many medical conditions. Learn more about acupuncture by visiting http://about-acupuncture.blogspot.com

Article Source: http://www.articlespan.com/article/183919/veterinary-acupuncture-tips

By: Gaetane Ross

According to the American Medical Association Journal, over 100,000 Americans die in hospitals every year due to side effects from regularly prescribed medications. Throughout America, a huge amount of medication is prescribed on a daily basis.

The medical community openly acknowledges that fact that it does not have any cure for several common diseases that affect people. Most allopathic medicines have side effects that can range from mild to severe. The reason for this is that most of these chemicals have certain toxic properties. This is why there have been so many prescription drugs that got pulled from the market after enjoying several years of FDA approval.

The sad thing is that very few doctors nowadays bother to inform patients about possible side effects due to close and cozy relationships with the pharmaceutical industries.

Half of the truth is that pharmaceutical companies will only tell doctors as much as they want to and not reveal the complete picture. Therefore, the doctors are not completely to blame because they cannot warn patients against side effects of chemicals they are not aware of.

The trouble is that the business is so profitable is that these medicine manufacturers are more concerned with profits and FDA approval rather than the overall effect on the patients.

This is one reason why several doctors are now beginning to recommend complementary alternative treatments, like herbal therapies and medicines.

Here are some interesting facts:

The totally amount of annual profits made by pharmaceutical companies through sale of drugs in the United States alone is over $100 billion More than 25% of all prescription drugs available contain plant derivatives More than 80,000 types of plants are used all over the world for medicinal purposes.Over 75% of the global population depends on herbal remedies for regular treatment

There are several choices available for people who are looking for alternative remedies, including Acupuncture, Yoga, Qigong, Tai chi, Ayurveda, hydrotherapy, massage therapy, homeopathy, energy medicines, holistic approaches, and aromatherapy. In fact, the number of herbal remedies available for different ailments equals (if not exceeds) the number of regular drug treatments provided by pharmaceutical companies.

The point is that prevention always was and always will be better than any cure, mainstream or alternative. The advantage of herbal remedies is that they move an individual towards a lifestyle more geared toward prevention and cure in the early stages of any affliction.

Pharmaceutical drugs work only after the problem has development, they do not try to prevent problems because then the manufacturing companies would go into a loss.

This is where herbal remedies leave the mainstream drugs behind. This is also the reason why so many people are daily turning to herbal therapies.

Herbal remedies treat the cause of the disease and not the symptoms (like conventional drugs). Herbal remedies also have almost no side effects.

Gaetane Ross is a Certified Natural Health Consultant who has spent over 4 years focusing on Nutrition and Health. She also specializes in Alternative Medicine, Spiritual Healing and Healthy Lifestyle. Please visit Gaetane's website at: http://ThePathToHealthyLiving.com

Article Source: http://www.articlespan.com/article/38568/conventional-cures-vs-natural-herbal-cure

 

Author: Darlene Norris

Let me ask you a simple question: do you know what holistic cat care is? And do you know why natural remedies for pets are the best way to treat feline bladder infections? Read on to discover the answers to these questions.

What Is Holistic Cat Care?

Holistic medicine is a different way of looking at illness. Conventional medicine treats the symptoms of cat urinary problems, but doesn't address why your pet is showing these symptoms.

Holistic practitioners, on the other hand, look at the animal as a whole, not just as a urinary tract. Holistic pet care follows the principle that your cat's body is able to maintain a balance that protects her from disease and helps her to heal herself. If this balance is disturbed, your cat gets sick. The holistic approach is to restore this balance.

Our pets are exposed to many toxins in their food, from the environment, and even in the grooming products you use on them. Choosing to use only natural food and pet supplies will go a long way toward keeping your kitty healthy and protecting her from a feline bladder infection.

Ten Benefits Of Natural Cat Care

1. Feeding your cat a natural diet reduces her exposure to artificial coloring agents and preservatives which can upset her system. Better nutrition will help her to resist feline urinary tract infections.
   
   
2. A high-quality natural diet will prevent health problems like allergies, digestive problems, and cat urinary problems.
   
   
3. Less stress in your cat's life will help her to stay healthy. Try to identify stressful situations she may be facing. Is she having territory issues with another cat? Is she lonely? Exercise can also help to lower her stress levels, too, as well as keeping her in shape.
   
   
4. With excellent natural pet care, your kitty will live a long happy life.
   
   
5. If your pet doesn't feel well, her quality of life won't be as good. Natural cat care will improve your feline friend's quality of life by helping her to stay healthy.
   
   
6. If your kitty should suffer an injury or illness, she'll heal faster. Ingredients in natural remedies for pets are absorbed better, which aids in the healing process.
   
   
7. By using natural products for pets, you'll reduce your own exposure to toxins. You and your family are exposed to the ingredients in the products you use on your cat.
   
8. Natural products are more earth-friendly than conventional remedies. They break down quickly, and don't leave harmful residues in the environment,
   
   
9. You'll save time by not having to take your kitty to the vet as often. With natural cat care, you'll be treating the source of feline bladder infection, not just the symptoms, which will help prevent new feline urinary tract infections from developing.
   
   
10. And, finally, you'll be saving money in the long run by avoiding expensive products that can lead to more health problems for your cat.
    

The Best Natural Remedies For Pets

It can be overwhelming to try to choose the best natural remedy for your pet from the many on the market. Look for a product that's specially formulated for pets, not people. Deal only with a company that has a great reputation for producing the highest-quality pet remedies. Read testimonials from other pet owners who have used the product, too.

Believe me, once you've started to use holistic cat care, you'll see an amazing improvement in your cat's health, as well as preventing feline urinary tract infections.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/holistic-cat-care-for-feline-urinary-tract-infections-ten-benefits-for-your-furry-friend-722394.html

About the Author:

Darlene Norris has combined her long-time interest in natural healing with her experience working at a vet clinic to bring you her new website, Natural Pet Urinary Health. Learn how to avoid feline urinary tract infections, and find the best place to buy herbal pet remedies at http://naturalpeturinaryhealth.com

Author: Kelly Marshall

A very common problem faced by aged dogs is that of abrasions. Scratching and biting the surfaces of the skin causes itches which lead to abrasions. The best treatment for abrasions is herbal treatment. Mix blackberry leaves, rosemary leaves, elder flowers and leaves, witch hazel and apply the mix to the abrasions. Avoid sticky and oily mix as this will keep the skin moist and delay the healing.

Aged dogs often have abscesses. Abscesses result from the outflow of toxins in the blood through the skin. Increased toxicity of blood renders the normal waste disposal mechanism of little use. The body reacts by instructing the white blood cells to dispose off the toxins through the skin in the form of pus. If your aged dog is troubled by numerous abscesses or by frequent occurrence of abscesses, try feeding the dog nothing but distilled water and raw honey. Do not feed more than two to four teaspoons a day. This should do the trick.

Modifying the diet of the dog will lead to elimination of more and more toxins. The diet should now include several cloves of garlic. This will speed up the detoxification process. After the application of the paste, you should apply hot fomentations packs of blackberry or elderberry leaves on the abscess. You can make hot packs made out of chopped garlic or onion or both which have been heated in castor oil. Do not make it uncomfortably hot. The herbs will restore vitamins A, C, B complex and E. These vitamins speed up the recovery process.

Aged dogs are prone to anemia. Anemia is caused by lack of hemoglobin and oxygen in the blood of the dog. This condition occurs due to poor diet, lack of sunlight and constipation, shortage of blood, scarcity of while blood cells or even internal parasites. Just put pressure on the gums of your dog and determine whether the gums are whiter than usual and whether they take longer to become pink again. This is one symptom of arthritis. The dog becomes weak and loses his energy and stamina. Increasing the iron in the diet, preferably herbal additions in the diet will help. Vitamin C, E, B complex and copper should also be given.

Many aged dogs suffer from arthritis. An all-cooked diet, no exercise, non absorption of minerals and lack of hydrochloric acid in the stomach of the dog can cause arthritis. The inflammation in the bones and joints may make it difficult for the dog to walk and move.

In conclusion, a diet of the arthritic dog needs to consist of distilled water to clear out the mineral deposits in the joints. The dog should be fed sprouts, raw vegetables, garlic and raw fruits. Acid forming diet should be avoided. Chopped comfrey and parsley leaves can be added to the diet. Further, the dog must be kept in a warm and dry place. It should be walked in sunlight. Ensure that your dog gets vitamins A, B complex, C, D, E, F, calcium, Iodine, lecithin, magnesium, sulfur, potassium and phosphorous in its diet.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/health-concerns-that-commonly-afflict-older-dogs-698230.html

About the Author:
Article by Kelly Marshall from Oh My Dog Supplies - the top place to buy dog beds online

KG Stiles is a certified aromatherapist practicing in Ashland, Oregon, USA. She has utilized essential oils in her professional practice for more than 30 years.

PLEASE NOTE: Your animal friend's olfaction process is similar to humans though much more acute. Animals are SUPER sensitive to smells!

Remember less is more with essential oils. Only a tiny amount is needed for results. 1-3 drops of an essential oil is equivalent to 1-4 cups of plant matter. You must always dilute essential oils in a carrier of aloe vera, jojoba or light coconut oil for safe skin application. Compresses are also an effective method for using essential oils.

As animals have extremely sensitive olfactory senses use them in very low percentages of less than 1% to achieve the results desired. A few general uses, include: pet wash, grooming spray, fleas and ticks, anti-fungal, breath freshener, horseflies, stress and anxiety, muscle rub.

USE SELF SELECTION OF ESSENTIAL OILS with your animals which means to include them in the selection process of the essential oils to use. Pay close attention and listen to how your animal or pet responds to a tiny amount of an essential oil first before using it.

ANXIETY, STRESS, GRIEF AND LOSS SUPPORT ESSENTIAL OILS:

FRANKINCENSE ( Boswelia fereana ) Keywords: COMFORTS, RELIEVES DISTRESS.
Frankincense oil slows and deepens cellular respiration, and has the characteristic effect of comforting and centering during times of distress. Use Frankincense for relieving insecurity and anxiety. Its calming and rejuvenating influence makes Frankincense especially useful for treating post traumatic stress syndrome.

PLEASE NOTE: Frankincense is the essential oil most highly recommended for emotional support and to relieve grief after the loss of an animal friend.

LAVENDER ( Lavendula angustifolia ) Keyword: SOOTHES, CALMS, RELAXES.
Apply Lavender pure essential oil immediately to burns to prevent blistering, or scarring, as well as speed healing of wounds as it stimulates cellular repair and regeneration. Lavender essential oil has been used to help balance moods and calm emotions. Helpful for calming intense feelings of nervousness, stress, depression, fear, and irritability.

NEROLI ( Citrus aurantium ) Keyword: PEACE AND CALMING.
Neroli resonates with the open nature of your heart energy and serves to uplift and inspire. Its subtle vibration can produce immediate results in any stressful situation.

ANTI-FUNGAL, ANTI-SEPTIC, IMMUNE STIMULANT, INSECT REPELLENT ESSENTIAL OILS:

Essential oils with a strong medicinal aroma like Tea Tree are okay for treating fungal issues such as a horse hoof fungal infection. Your horse may not like the strong aroma, however using it with your horse to treat a thrush or fungal issue with the hoof that is far enough away from their nose so that the aroma is usually not problematic. Dilute your essential oils in aloe vera as your method of application for hoof fungus.

TEA TREE ( Melaleuca alternifolia ) Keywords: POWERFUL ANTISEPTIC, ANTI-FUNGAL
Tea Tree essential oil has an undisputed popular reputation for being the first choice of essential oils when treating fungal and bacterial infections and known as a cure all treatment for many chronic and acute bacterial, fungal and viral conditions. Use Tea Tree as an antiseptic and to eliminate fungal infections, blend with Lavender and Thyme to enhance your results! An immune stimulant! Tea Tree oil promotes and strengthens the immune system by stimulating the formation of white blood cells.

PATCHOULI ( Pogostemon patchouli ) Keywords: ANTI-FUNGAL, ANTI-SEPTIC, INSECT REPELLENT
Patchouli oil's properties make it an effective mosquito and insect repellent, as well as useful for treating fungal infections.

THYME ( Thymus vulgaris ) Keywords: POWERFUL IMMUNE STIMULANT, ANTI-MICROBIAL
A powerful immune stimulant and one of nature's most potent anti-microbials Thyme essential oil's fierce energy gives it the notable ability to support and protect the immune system unequaled by other aromatic oils. An especially potent anti-bacterial agent Thyme oil's action to disinfect will destroy staphylococcus bacteria even when diluted 1,000 times!

LEMONGRASS ( Cymbopogon citratus ) Keywords: ANTI-FUNGAL, ASTRINGENT, INSECT REPELLENT.
A powerful astringent use Lemongrass to regulate excess oily skin, hair and scalp conditions. Recent research indicates that Lemongrass oil has a sedating effect on the central nervous system. Its vasodilating, anti-inflammatory, and sedative properties help relieve muscle spasm and promote regeneration and healing of soft tissue. Its strong anti-fungal properties makes Lemongrass good for treating a wide variety of fungal infections. A natural insect repellent Lemongrass oil makes a powerful mosquito and insect repellent, and is useful for preventing and eliminating fleas and ticks from your dogs.

FOR TREATING INJURIES AND TO RELIEVE ACHES AND PAINS:

SWEET MARJORAM ( Origanum marjorana ) Keywords: ANTI-SPASMODIC, PAIN RELIEVER. A stimulating oil with antispasmodic properties makes Sweet Marjoram effective as a muscle rub oil, or try it in a compress for treating muscle strains and sprains, and to relieve joint stiffness.

A WORD ABOUT CATS: Please remember to take especial care when using any essential oil on a cat. They simply can't metabolize them the way dogs, horses and humans do. When diffusing oils for your own use, make very sure that your cat can exit the room if he/she chooses. Hydrosols, floral waters, on the other hand, are safe and gentle for our feline friends.

Aromatherapy is Nature's Medicine in its purest and most essential form. Aromatic Oils are the very soul of a plant. Even a drop or two can produce significant results. Properly administered essential oils are a natural, safe and effective way to enhance an animal's health and well-being and may produce satisfying results where other methods have failed. Please consult with your veterinarian regarding serious health concerns and do not attempt to diagnose.

You receive five FREE aromatherapy publications as a gift when you purchase PurePlant Essentials Organic Fair Trade Aromatherapy.

Click for PurePlant Essentials COMPLETE MENU OF ORGANIC AROMATHERAPY and to order any of these pure essential oils: http://www.pureplantessentials.com

Click to order DOG GROOMING SPRAY for Flea and Tick Prevention and Treatment: http://www.kgstiles.com/doggroomingspray.htm

KG Stiles is a certified aromatherapist practicing in Ashland, Oregon, USA. She has utilized essential oils in her professional practice for more than 30 years. She is the Director of PurePlant Essentials Organic Aromatherapy and a specialist in formulating aromatic blends for healthy living. KG can formulate the aromatherapy blend that's just right for you, or your animals and pets! More Info? Contact: KG Stiles at Springhill Wellness Center, Ashland, OR (541) 941-7315. Mahalo!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=KG_Stiles