At 10 years old my horse called Robbie caught a cough which developed into emphysema. He was very ill and despite the vet’s daily drugs to help him breathe the day came when they recommended that he be put down. Fortunately a friend recommended a homeopathic vet, the late George McLeod, who gave him two weekly doses of a homeopathic remedy. Robbie made a remarkable recovery in only two weeks, recovering from difficult breathing, poor coat to winning best turned out prize in Hastings. Robbie lived to 30 years old only ever having homeopathic remedies after that illness.

Realising that there must be more to this homeopathy I spent the next five years training and after studying anatomy, physiology and naturopathy I qualified as a Homeopathic Practitioner. Other studies included iridology and allergies and I have been in practice now for 17 years in Ninfield.

Homeopathy is an individual way of treating patients using natural products. The remedies are not used in their natural form as, for instance with Arnica, you would feel bruised with pain. However arnica in its homeopathic form would clear those symptoms. So, providing the arnica matches the patient in other ways, arnica is probably the first remedy for a falling accident/injury, when it should be given in a 6c potency. Every remedy is chosen depending on the person’s history in consideration of the whole patient as well as their symptoms.

Homeopathy has been around for hundreds of years however it cannot be tested scientifically as any one remedy treats both the person as well as the illness. A homeopathic remedy may, for instance, make a rash get worse before it gets better or you might feel a little worse before improving. It won’t harm anyone and it cannot create other illnesses as many allopathic medicines do. In any case treatment should only be given for a short period to see if anything else is needed; I only prescribe for seven days at a time.

A homeopath practitioner is not allowed to treat an animal unless they are also a veterinary surgeon and there are some locally with both qualifications. All registered homeopaths must attend lectures and workshops annually to remain on the register which will shortly be a single national register.

Certain foods like coffee, menthol, peppermint negate the effects of a homeopathic remedy so if your homeopathic vet prescribes a homeopathic remedy don’t go and antidote it by treating your horse with polo mints!