What is holistic veterinary medicine?

Holistic medicine is, by definition, is about being humane and compassionate. Holistic medicine uses gentle, minimally invasive techniques. It is based on treating stress. Holistic thinking involves the principles of love, empathy, and respect.

This mixture of healing arts and skills is as natural as life itself. At the core of this issue lies the very essence of the word "(w)holistic". It means taking in the whole picture of the patient—the environment, the disease pattern, the relationship of pet with owner—and developing a treatment protocol using a wide range of therapies for healing the patient.

The holistic practitioner is interested in genetics, nutrition, family relationships, hygiene, and stress factors. Many patients present in a state of "dis-ease." At this point the holistic challenge lies in the question "why?" By a series of analytic observations and appropriate testing the goal becomes finding the true root source of the pathology. A simple-appearing symptom may have several layers of causation. Only when the true cause of the ailment has been found is there the possibility for a lasting recovery.

It is at this point that the most efficacious, least invasive, least expensive, and least harmful path to cure is selected.

In many acute situations, treatment may involve aspects of surgery and drug therapy from conventional western technology, along with alternative techniques to provide a complementary whole. This form of treatment has great value for severe trauma and certain infections. It often outperforms other methodologies. It is also at this time that other treatment plans such as those listed below are brought into use. Once the symptoms have been treated, the task is not complete until the underlying disease patterns have been redirected. The patient, as well as the client, will be guided to a new level of health.

Modern Drugs, Surgery and Diagnostics:

Select the best. Stay current on the latest advancements.

Nutritional Therapy:

Proper nutrition is the best preventative medicine. Each pet patient is designed a specific diet which will be palatable, preservative free, practical and cost-effective, environmentally sound and in keeping with the client's abilities to provide.

Mega-nutrients, Augmentation Therapy:

Sometimes known as Orthomolecular Medicine, it uses supplemental minerals, vitamins and nutrients that correct deficiencies, prevent pathology and reverse tissue damage. Supplements are prescribed that support the organs and body tissues, aid body detoxification and give energy to assist in the healing process.

Behavior Modification:

This incorporates ethology, biology, nutrition, pharmacology, lifestyle evaluation and aspects of modern psychotherapy. Every discipline listed here affects behavior (particularly homeopathy and Bach Flowers), disease and health. Humane considerations are often at stake.

Acupuncture, Traditional Chinese Medicine:

Acupuncture has been used in China for 3500 years. It is the main treatment for a quarter of the world's population. Thousands of years of acupuncture treatment prove its efficacy.

The primary aim of veterinary acupuncture is to strengthen the body's immune system—to stimulate the body's adaptive–homeostatic mechanism.

Acupuncture is a technique for relieving pain and for improving the function of organ systems by stimulating acupuncture points on the surface of the body.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) believes that Chi, the vital force that flows throughout the body, travels throughout the body along channels of energy flow called meridians. Acupuncture points along the meridians are treated whenever a disease condition exists that blocks the normal flow of energy along these meridians.

Acupuncture treatments elicit responses which regulate physiological processes. Acupuncture spans from ancient Chinese knowledge to state-of-the-art electrodiagnostic instrumentation.

Homeopathy:

Homeopathy dates back to the Father of Medicine, Hippocrates. Samuel Christian Hahnemann, a German medical doctor in the mid–1800's, developed the system we are using today.

Homeopathy works on the principle of "Similia Similibus Curentur", or "like cures like." When a large dose of a toxic substance is swallowed, it can produce death, but when a homeopathic, diluted, minute dose of the substance is given, it can save the poisoned animal.

Homeopathic remedies are made from plants, minerals, drugs, viruses, bacteria or animal substances. These remedies do not mask or suppress symptoms, they treat the deepest constitutional causes of the illness. Homeopathic remedies contain vibrational energy essences that match the patterns present in the diseased state within the ailing patient.

Herbal Medicine:

The use of specific herbs and plants for medicinal purposes has been practiced for millennia all over the world. Veterinary herbal medicines include North American herbs, Aryuvedic herbs from India, traditional Chinese herbs and other herbs from all over the world. Herbs have healing powers that are capable of balancing the emotional, mental and physical dimensions of animals.

Veterinary Chiropractic:

Chiropractic can be used to treat a broad spectrum of conditions in animals. It works for any patient with a spine, bones, joints and muscles. There are healing potentials achieved through chiropractic that are not achievable by other forms of therapy. In chiropractic, the subluxated or fixated vertebra is identified and through hands-on specific adjustments the problem is alleviated and homeostasis is restored.

A Wide Variety of Other Diagnostic and Therapeutic Modalities:

Virtually every form of medicine and therapy used in holistic medicine for humans exists for veterinary medicine. Seminars, programs and workshops are conducted all over the world which advance and promote these valuable skills. The new and the old combine to make the future of veterinary medicine a healthier, more humane endeavor.

---

The Journal of the AHVMA

This quarterly journal prints the latest holistic veterinary information. Each issue includes original articles, letters, case histories, book reviews, schedules of upcoming seminars and workshops, holistic practice tours, interviews, political issue updates, and practice tips. A full subscription is included with each membership.

The AHVMA Annual Meeting

Each year, in the fall, holistic veterinarians gather for several days of scientific programs. Seminar topics include many alternative treatment modalities. The location varies from year to year, and we occasionally meet in conjunction with foreign groups. The annual meeting is a wonderful opportunity to meet fellow colleagues and to exchange clinical experience. Full continuing education credits apply.

Educational Services of the AHVMA

The organization maintains a complete and up-to-date directory of membership for referral information. It provides information for press releases and general questions from the public. A library is maintained which includes conference tapes, proceedings, books, videos and other educational materials.

Holistic Advancement Fund

Contributions from caring pet owners and pet memorials from veterinarians are placed in the Holistic Advancement Fund. The Board of Directors then allocates grants for humane research, veterinary student scholarships and scientific research projects that further the cause of holistic veterinary medicine to benefit our animal patients.

Brief History

The organization was founded in 1982 by Carvel G Tiekert, DVM and a small group of veterinarians. The organization was incorporated in 1984. Membership has steadily grown since its inception.

American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association
2218 Old Emmorton Road
Bel Air, Maryland 21015
Phone: 1-410-569-0795
Fax: 1-410-569-2346
Email: Office@AHVMA.org

Further information about the AHVMA may be obtained by visiting the Association's Web site at:

http://AHVMA.org