Homoepathy could control Foot and Mouth Natural

MAFF Farming News 12apr01

(via Law Party Wessex UK 17apr01)

Homoepathy could control FMD, senior vet tells MAFF Farming News, 12.4.2001

A SENIOR vet believes he may have a solution to the present FMD crisis without recourse to vaccination.

Christopher Day, secretary of the British Association of Homoeopathic Veterinary Surgeons, is urging MAFF to carry out blood tests on 'frontline' herds that have received homoeopathic prophylaxis for foot and mouth disease.

Homoeopathy could prove a much cheaper option than conventional vaccination, he claims, but he is disappointed that so far his requests have been ignored.

He wants to see scientific tests carried out on those farms that have received homoeopathic treatment to see whether they have been able to withstand the disease.

"It would be a cheap and easy step to carry out tests," said Mr Day, speaking from his practice in Oxfordshire.

"If it proves that the homoeopathy is effective then we have a cheap and easy alternative to slaughter or vaccination. If 'protected' herds have gone down with the disease, then the subject is resolved the other way."

Mr Day, who has been using homoeopathy to treat animals for more than 30 years, believes tests are likely to show positive results.

"Homoeopathy has a remarkably good track record dealing with all sorts of diseases that conventional medicine considers to be intractable.

"One example is bovine virus diarrhoea, also known as mucosal disease, which looks quite similar to foot and mouth, and we have been effective with that," he said.

Foot and Mouth Disease and the use of Borax 30 A statement of the current position of the Homeopathic Medical Association [extract]

........It has been claimed that Borax 30 stimulates an immune response that results in the formation of antibodies. This is total misinformation.

Immunity to any infectious disease can only be conferred by an immune response generated by immunization (via a vaccine) or by previous infection, or by immunity based upon the genetic constitution of the individual.

Borax is an element known as Natrum boratum (NaB03), or Sodium borate. In homeopathic use Borax has a broad sphere of action, but it is its specific affinity for the epithelium of the mouth, coupled with its ability to cause vesicular eruption on the feet, that indicates its potential in the use of Foot and Mouth prevention. The late George Macleod clearly states that Borax is;

"... the chief non-biological prophylactic remedy in the control of Foot and Mouth disease. This has been well documented in various outbreaks and is of great value when used properly" (A Veterinary Materia Medica; G. Macleod, 1983)

The homeopathic use of Borax to prevent the spread of Foot and Mouth disease, does not confer immunity, but rather, it reduces susceptibility to infection. This is a subtle yet very important point, which is difficult to fully understand without basic knowledge of the principles of homeopathy.

According to homeopathic principles Borax cannot mask symptoms. A susceptible animal, when exposed to the virus, will manifest symptoms. An animal that is not susceptible, will remain unaffected by the influence of the virus.

The reasons why MAFF and the Government are discouraging the prophylactic use of Borax 30, is a matter of speculation, but doubtless has a political basis.

Livestock owners must decide for themselves if they wish to use Borax to help protect their animals. There seems nothing to lose and everything to gain from the use of this nonbiological prophylaxis. All animals are currently under quarantine conditions, or have their movements severely restricted. Once the epidemic is over, a simple blood test would reveal any animal that had acquired carrier status and appropriate action could then be taken.. Given the circumstances, that seems a small price to pay.

Borax 30 is available from most homeopathic pharmacies and is best given in liquid form. The recommended dose is 10 drops per 30 gallons of drinking water, given until risk of contagion has passed.

References;

Foot and Mouth disease; Office International des Epizootics, (2000).

Foot and Mouth disease; MAFF (2001)

Notifiable diseases; Special Issue of the State Veterinary Journal, Vol 5, No. 3, October 1995; MAFF UK, (1995).

A Veterinary Materia Medica; Macleod, G. The CW Daniel Company Ltd (1983).

In the event of a query, please contact;
Karin Mont - 01825 712242 karinmont@waitrose.com
David Needleman - 020 8958 5830

Use of Homeopathic Drugs in the Treatment of Animal Diseases http://www.vetwork.org.uk/malabar1.htm

Dr V A Sapre

A comparison is reported between the homeopathic drug phytolacca and oxytetracycline intramammary infusion in the treatment of mastitis. Sixty-six percent of the 15 quarters treated with phytolacca recovered while in the 15 quarters treated with oxytetracycline the recovery rate was 20% as determined using the California Mastitis Test (CMT). In a multilocational study over 5 years, 566 cases of Foot and Mouth Disease that failed to respond to allopathic treatment after 3 days showed a 66% recovery rate when treated homeopathically. The recovery rates following homeopathic treatment of 15 other common disease, all based on 10 cases or more, are reported. Recommendations are made for the homeopathic treatment of prolapse of the vagina, wounds, indigestion and diarrhoea. It is concluded that homeopathy has potential for the treatment of animal diseases and that its monitored use should be encouraged.

Letters Daily Telegraph http://www.dailytelegraph.co.uk/01/2/28/dt09.html

From: John Gouriet, Bicknoller, Som

Re: Poor information on outbreaks Date: 28 February 2001

SIR - During the 1967 epidemic of foot and mouth disease, homoeopathic borax, obtainable from Ainsworths in Cavendish Street, London W1, was used to great effect on every farm that used it. A couple of drops in the drinking water resulted in those farms not losing a single animal. Our local homoeopathic veterinary surgeon advises that borax is indeed effective and that although animals so treated may still become infectious and carry the virus for about three days, they show no symptoms and rapidly recover completely.

Wholesale slaughter of stock would thus be unnecessary. There would be enormous reductions in human and animal misery, financial cost and destruction of valuable breeding lines.

The principal argument deployed by Maff against the use of borax apparently is that its officials don't believe in homoeopathic remedies, and only the slaughter of infected and suspect stock can hope to convince foreign importers that British meat is safe.