Anybody have success with homeopathic asthma remedies? My daughter rarely has to use the breather he prescribed; instead, I give her spongia tosta when she has flareups. Now, I find my 2 month old baby seems to have a touch of it. Any liquid homeopathic formulas that might be good? The doctor prescribed arbuterol, by the way.

-- Christina (introibo2000@yahoo.com), July 24, 2001

Answers

What is spongia tosta? Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), July 24, 2001.

Hi, Vicki... spongia tosta is a homeopathic remedy that literally transcribes into english as 'toasted sponge' (and that's what it is compacted down to a tiny sugar pill). Don't ask me to explain just how homeopathic remedies work, but they do. Not only that, but you can get remedies for under $6 in most natural foods stores (is there a Whole Foods near you??). I've just sent off for a book called 'Homeopathic Treatments for Goats' and will do a little review on it on The Forum when I get it. Plug in 'homeopathy' on the internet and see what comes up... it's a fascinating field and I'd love to know more, myself, especially when it comes to huge vet bills. Maybe someone else can give a better description on these meds & just how they work later on in this thread (without sounding like voo-doo, guys!). debra in nm

-- debra in nm (dhaden@nmtr.unm.edu), July 25, 2001.

Thanks Debra. Have you joined Dr. Alva Irish's list over on Yahoo groups? It has started off kind of shaky but she seems to know what she is talking about. GoatAlternatives@yahoogroups.com

or something like that :) there is also HolisticGoats@yahoogroups.com

or.........I love the idea of this, though I think it needs to be tempered with tried and true drugs, wormers and therapies before things become emergencies. I got off Holistic goats when a gal let her doe die from a very easily treated, with antibitoics, problem when she didn't respond herbaly, abuse like this in any form is simply irresponsible to me. If I lived up north I would also try the herbal wormers in conjunction with fecal sampling. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), July 25, 2001.

homeopathy can work well but it needs to be the right remedy for the right person. while spongia may work for one child in a family, it might not work for another, and it has to do with the overall view of the person and the person's mental state. with asthma, it can aggravate it to a dangerous level if you aren't careful, so use caution.

the two best books for the home that I have ever seen so far are "The Family Guide to Homeopathy" by Dr. Andrew Lockie and "The Spirit of Homeopathic Medicine" by Didier Grandgeorge. Combined together, they make a pretty decent family guide for acute problems. The Lockie book you find the remedy in, and also read about it in the back. If it seems like it matches your sick one, check out the Grandgeorge book and see if it goes along with the mental state. If it doesn't then it isn't right, most likely. I've seen a lot of books. I'm studying to be a certified homeopathist.

-- marcee king (thathope@mwt.net), July 25, 2001.

Homeopathy is wonderful. Like Marcee said, you need to match the remedy with the person. That makes it essential to consult a homeopathic practitioner, particularly if trying to treat a complex disorder like asthma. Self treating is fine, though, for acute problems and most people can handle that. We self treat for disorders like gastrointestinal upsets and bee stings. For chronic stuff, we see a homeopath.

-- amy (acook@in4web.com), July 25, 2001.

Howdy from NM. Thanks for the websites, Vicki. I will look into them when I get a chance. Yeah, there are times when you just have to call a vet! But, sometimes little sniffles, itches, bruises, and stressfull situations can be treated at home without a $25 house call. I try to look at both sides of a situation & hopefully won't be in a situation where I'd have to second-guess my vet.

Also agree with the stuff about the homeopathic meds, in my limited experience. You do have to wade through several sometimes to get to the right one, and sometimes you don't have time to do that! I'm a Rhus Tox girl, myself... that seems to work on me for whatever reason! For my animals, I use things like Rescue Remedy for stressful situations, Arnica Montana for soreness or bruises, Rhus Tox for rashes, etc. Simple stuff... not for medical miracles! It will be interesting to get that book on homeopathy for goats. dh in nm

-- debra in nm (dhaden@nmtr.unm.edu), July 27, 2001.

Perhaps as new posts come up you can give us the info from your book on what to use. I would love to find some alternatives to staph on the outside of udders and dewclaws, been fighting this in an unbred yearling for what seems forever. Other than her normal vaccinations and some wormings the doe has never had any meds before, so some of what another hemopath/neuropath told me it was caused by is rediculous. And the problem is once she gets something in her head she won't go on to something else! I know its not environmental, since nobody else has this. We'll make that question number one when you get your book in :) Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), July 27, 2001.

Vicki, this isn't homeopathic, but herbal--for staph I use a skin wash with goldenseal tincture or infusion. You want to avoid the use of oils on the skin with staph as it can spread the infection--so no oil-based salves. Also, avoid Aloe with staph. While these suggestions are based on my experience with humans, I'm sure they'd work on goats.

-- amy (acook@in4web.com), July 28, 2001.

Thank you! Actually somebody just recently told me to stop using the comfrey salve I had been using, because the comfrey was in an oil based salve! You are alot smarter than me :) I will try this next! Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), July 28, 2001.