Homeopathy & one red kangaroo
a case for chamomilla
In 2015, with no idea of how to publish an interesting case with a good outcome, I attempted to write up my work… posted to fbook with a blurred image no less! Unsurprisingly, clueless as I was, it was shared just once with very little total engagement - such a waste, as this could actually have been a great case, and it was far in advance of googles medic update…
CHAMOMILLA – a useful Homeopathic medicine (when symptoms agree) especially for babies and children who are angry, grumpy, restless , impatient, hard to please, whining, want many things which are rejected immediately, worse at night and in bed and they have green diarrhoea esp. during teething.
CASE; Smokey 8month old female Red Kangaroo. First seen 2015.
Smokey had lived in the backyard of an experienced wildlife carer for two months and was well cared for. Smokey had been badly neglected and was rescued from a family keeping her as a pet.
The week prior to my visit, Smokey developed pneumonia. Antibiotics cleared the pneumonia but a bright green diarrhoea developed three days into the course of antibiotics which continued after the course was finished.
Smokey was very grumpy, often making loud huffing noises and lately had been keeping as far away from humans and the other animals in the yard as she could. Very different to her ‘usual self’.
Smokey still had a loud wheeze which got much worse when she hopped into her pouch.
While in her pouch Smokey was not content or comfortable and was very restless – usually she was relaxed & calm in her pouch – she hated it ‘huffing’ when her carer reached into her pouch.
Smokey was very stressed, skinny and not putting on weight, she was thirstier than normal and eating grass and supplementary oats.
Chamomilla was prescribed for the following reasons;
Smokey couldn’t bear anyone near her. She was peevish and snappy, loud huffing. Bright green diarrhoea. Disordered stomach. Sensitive. Irritable. Thirsty. Dyspnoea. Loud inspiration with forcible expiration. Diarrhoea and personality changes began while taking antibiotics.
Two days in to Homeopathic treatment Smokey had regular stools, her temperament had returned to normal and she was once again relaxed and calm in her pouch.
WHOA…..
Zero research.
Zero rubrics.
Zero repertorization.
Zero follow-ups post the first improvement.
Zero references.
We have guidelines in homeopathy which enable us to publish our work in a scientific way - warning, this is a lot of work! But hey, you’re a homeopath, so you’re totally familiar with and know hard work, right?! A brief overview can be found at my Substack Homeopathy & Case Reports Advancing homeopathy and expanding medical literature1
Far, far from pretending to be some kind of expert - as clearly I am not - I now have written up three case studies2 3 4 (published in online & in print journals) as examples of my work as a non-medical homeopath - all reviewed by Dr. Seema Mahesh the head of research at the International Academy of Classical Homeopathy.
Reading already published case studies is a great way to familiarize ourselves of what is required of our work, but most importantly it demonstrates to us how we can present our outcomes for people in a format that while reaching a lot of people also contributes to the growing body of homeopathic literature.
If you have yet to do so, I strongly encourage you to consider publishing your own favourite case which contains the requisite parameters - with permission of the person of course - as this is a way to document the good work you are doing everyday. (If you would like a hand, a second pair of eyes, or just plain old inspiration please do drop me a line, I always love to be in touch with you, and to help out as and where I can.)
As we all know Like with Like is an immutable law.
By publishing your work you will generate more work from the readers - known also as a 360 win (Alex Jones).
Importantly, an online database enabling overview of homeopathy veterinary clinical research is available, but despite increased global uptake and extensive acceptance and practice in France, Italy, Germany and India veterinary homeopathy studies decreased by 33% during the last decade. Homeopathy has a small but significant use by veterinary surgeons, and is an accepted practice by veterinary regulatory bodies worldwide including the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in the UK.5
In the herbal world, a survey of Canadian organic farmers using plant medicines for their livestock - a wee gem of a paper, well worth the read - revealed the common practice of dropping a few drops of cooled chamomile tea the eye of an animal with conjunctivitis.6
Chamomilla, was one of six pre-identified homeopathic medicines included in a kit distributed to parents participating in a Government of India public health programme 'Homoeopathy for the Healthy Child' which promoted healthy teething by provision of home-based care of complaints commonly arising during teething. Over eleven thousand children were followed by Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy researchers for twelve months, and showed decreased incidence of diarrhoea and URTI in the months after enrolment.7
Systematic reviews show clinical efficacy and effectiveness of homeopathic medicine in acute paediatric infections are favourable in terms of faster responses, fewer and less serious side effects, and cost savings8 9 and reduced antibiotic use.10
Homeopathy & Case Reports
Although low in the hierarchy of evidence and classified as a weak indicator of causality(1) case reports, documenting clinical experiences and scrutinizing principles, have advanced homeopathy for two centuries and profoundly influence and expand medical literature in general.(2,3) Case reports, when correctly recorded, impart healthcare insights,(4,5)…
Homeopathy & Recurrent Pneumonia...
Abstract Multiple pharmacologic interventions are detrimental to children due to the anti-health effects they can exert including influencing and disrupting delicate microbiotal symbiosis. This case outlines a lifetime dependence on antibiotics, steroids, and ventolin in a five-year-old Australian boy reversed after treatment with classical homeopathy, i…
Adenomyosis
This case report outlines adenomyosis in a 36-year-old nulliparous Australian woman who was treated with individualized classical homeopathy for one year alongside the standard medical protocols of endometrial ablation and implanon rod insertion. Retrospectively, an initial posological misstep encouraged the author to publish this case report in order t…
Penrose, S. 2023. Influenza A associated Binocular Diplopia and concomitant accelerated myopia post COVID-19 mRNA Biological Injection. Similia, The Australian Journal of Homeopathic Medicine, 36:2. Hobart. The Australian Homeopathic Association.
Homeopathy & Animals
Use and interest in complementary and alternative veterinary medicine (CAVM) is increasing internationally with a 2022 survey finding 85% of German vets implement CAVM in their practice, homeopathy is the most common.(1) Homeopathy has a small but significant use by veterinary surgeons,(2) and is an accepted practice by veterinary regulatory bodies worl…
Lans et al., 2007. Ethnoveterinary medicines used for ruminants in British Columbia, Canada. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. Feb 26;3:11. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1831764/
Taneja et al., 2019. An Assessment of a Public Health Initiative of Homeopathy for Primary Teething. Homeopathy. Feb;108(1):2-11. Available from: https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/abstract/10.1055/s-0038-1673650
Bellavite et al., 2011. Advances in homeopathy and immunology: a review of clinical research. Front Biosci (Schol Ed). Jun 1;3(4):1363-89. Available from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21622275/
Bukutu et al., 2008. Complementary, holistic, and integrative medicine: therapies for acute otitis media. Pediatr Rev. Jun;29(6):193-9. Available from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18515336/
Fixsen. 2013. Should homeopathy be considered as part of a treatment strategy for otitis media with effusion in children? Homeopathy. Apr;102(2):145-50. Available from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23622265/
Yes! Thank you. Anecdotal evidence is not enough! When I describe cases anecdotally I usually focus on the principle or lesson and do NOT include the remedy -- for that reason! Picking the proper remedy, verifying its effectiveness, and writing up a good case is a labor-intensive process -- and I don’t want a reader to jump to conclusions and use a remedy inappropriately because of a superficial resemblance to their own situation. Thank you for your research and reflections!