© 2008 The Authors

Australian Veterinary Journal

Volume 86, No 8, August 2008Journal compilation © 2008 Australian Veterinary Association

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EDITORIAL

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Letter to the editor

Aust Vet J

2008;86:xxxx–xxxxdoi: 10.1111/j.1751-0813.2008.00333.x

Re

: Letter from Dr Wilson,

Aust Vet J

2008;86:3.

Although Dr Wilson’s letter was interesting, he may havedecided not to address some key issues.1. Why use homeopathy?In over 30 years of practice I have treated animals which, with alloptions exhausted, were judged as being untreatable. They werethen given homeopathic treatments and lived into old age.2. Clients demand that all alternatives be explored.Do they care if treatment has double blind placebo controlreferences? No. Will they go to one of the 100,000 animalnaturopaths in Queensland if refused veterinary care? Yes. IfGovernment and competing interests outlaw homeopathy, willit continue? Yes. Why? The discipline has successful practitioners,grateful patients and dedicated teachers. Rollin has an interestingpaper discussing medical ethics.

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If this is valued, a vet shouldnever attack the view of a client asking for alternatives, justgently point out the error of their ways, and then refer them tosomeone ethical with an appropriate prognosis. The last time aspecialist gave one of my referrals 3 weeks to live, the dog livedfor another 10 years with nutriceuticals and homeopathicmedicine. His prognosis may have been realistic, as the dog hadprostatic cancer, mesenteric cancer, perineal hernias, bilateral hipdysplasia and adrenal cancer. Removing the constant chromiumpoisoning the dog was getting by licking the dining room tablemay have helped, or was the chromium homeopathic?3. Homeopathic researchLinde and colleagues have several papers, including thosevalidating the efficacy of homeopathy and discussing reviewdifficulty in alternative medicine trials.

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Could there be replica-tion of the variables under which homeopathic medicine isused successfully? With difficulty: double-blind, placebo-controldetailed research shows that homeopathic medicines may belinked to the individual giver and the receiver in their effects.Repeating these linkages is difficult.

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4. Are there high-quality trials of homeopathy?Yes (e.g. Pedalino et al

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). ‘Traumeel S’, a Heel company proprie-tary homeopathic remedy, has been examined in several trialsproving its valid use in humans. It has been used effectively inthe treatment of equine influenza, on the basis of the humanresearch. Sandoval et al show that a homeopathic medicine canbe as useful as an antibiotic in treating broiler salmonellosis.

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This trial has extensive replication.5. Who is to decide where to spend money on research?A. The people who have the money. B. Some dedicated personwilling to give their life for what they have seen save the lives ofthose precious to them (RIP Benveniste

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and bon adventurefor nameless others who are still alive). C. A university that puts

true research before political agenda. The aim of universities is toprofit; it is also to train scientists. These people should be capableof logical analysis and statistical application with vision andpassion. Without belief and passion, we serve mammon alone.

I bring to your attention research that may have not earnedmoney, and the difference between long-term and short-termprofit: The exemplary Fort Dodge trials

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recommended 3 yearlydistemper/hepatitis/parvo vaccination, which in the short termmay reduce income, but in the long term yearly checkups withantibody titres will be more profitable as the owners’ faith inveterinarians increases. Vaccines are one of the great newhomeopathic (micro dose) medicines of our era, and haveprevented many diseases. Future disease prevention may be thecombination of vaccines and traditional homeopathy. In thewords of Bellavitte, ‘May united medicine occur’.

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This letter is inspired by the dedication to the truth of Fort Dodge,and Colin Tudge of ‘So Shall We Reap’ (ISBN 0141009500).

References

1. Rollin BE. Views: Commentary: The use and abuse of Aesculapian authority inveterinary medicine.

JAVMA

2002;220:1144–1149.2. Linde K, Clausius N, Ramirez G et al. Are the clinical effects of homoeopathy pla-cebo effects? A meta-analysis of placebo-controlled trials.

Lancet

1997;350:834–843.3. Linde K, Willich S. How objective are systematic reviews? Differences betweenreviews on complementary medicine.

J R Soc Med

2003;96:17–22.4. Bellavite P. Thoughts on research in homoeopathy.

Br Homeopath J

1998;87:238–239.5. Bellavite P, Ortolani R, Pontarollo F et al. Immunology and homeopathy. 4.Clinical studies: part 2.

Evid-Based Comp Altern Med: Ecam

2006;3:397–409.6. de Bruin A, Ellinger L. Desk study on homeopathy in organic livestock farming:Principles, obstacles and recommendations for practice and research. Erik BaarsBaars Ton (eds) edn. Louis Bolk Institute, Driebergen, 2003:30.7. Pedalino C, Perazzo F, Carvalho C et al. Effect of

Atropa belladonna

and

Echinacea angustifolia

in homeopathic dilution on experimental peritonitis

Homeopathy

2004;93:193–198.8. Sandoval CH, Morfin LL, Lopez BB. Preliminary research for testing Baptisiatinctoria 30c effectiveness against salmonellosis in first and second qualitybroiler chickens.

Br Homeopath J

1998;87:131–134.9. Davenas E, Beauvais F, Amara J et al. Human basophil degranulation trig-gered by very dilute antiserum against IgE.

Nature

1988 333:816–1818.10. Gill M, Srinivas J, Morozov I et al. Three-year duration of immunity for caninedistemper, adenovirus, and parvovirus after vaccination with a multivalent caninevaccine.

Int J Appl Res Vet Med

2004;2:227–234.

(Accepted for publication xx xxxx 2008)

Charissa SmithPresident-elect AHV

Consultant Holistic MedicineGreencross Forest Lake

Brisbane

doi: 10.1111/j.1751-0813.2008.00333.x

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