Top 10 Homeopathic Remedies To Keep On Hand

Rocket

Using homeopathic remedies with my cats began out of necessity–I needed results–and fast!  When my journey into holistic health and alternative healing methods began many years ago I had never heard of homeopathy.  In fact, my very first experience in natural healing began with acupuncture.  Having an intense fear of needles, the decision to even consider it demonstrated how desperate I was at the time.  Sometimes life’s challenges work that way.  They push us to look for answers in areas we have never ventured before.  It’s scary, unknown, and requires a big leap of faith.  But when you’re not getting the results you want in the end it’s worth exploring.  

What Is Homeopathy?

Samuel Hahnemann (1755-1843), a German doctor and chemist, is known today as the founder of homeopathy.  In fact, he ended up proving the Law of Similars by conducting tests on himself.  Homeopathy is made from natural things like plants, insects, and minerals, and remedies are given in such small doses that there are no side effects.  You can learn more about how it’s made here.

I was first introduced to combination homeopathic remedies through the naturopath clinic I go to because they carry the brand Energetix. There are two different styles of homeopathy.  One is a combination of remedies where multiple remedies known for treating a certain condition are used at the same time.  This way the body will use the one medicine that is needed to successfully treat the issue.   

The other style is classical homeopathy where single remedies are used alone.  The National Center for Homeopathy describes this version as having the following key elements:

• The Law of Similars: matching the symptoms of a medicine tested on healthy humans to the individual seeking treatment.
• The Minimum Dose: determining the least amount of medicine needed to effect the needed change.
• Totality of Symptoms: matching the complete symptom profile of the patient to the symptom profile of the remedy.
• Single Remedy: administration of one remedy at a time.

Lili

My Cats Are Proof Homeopathy Works–Quickly!

Homeopathy is not only beneficial for people, it works well on animals, too.  It wasn’t until I came across Dr. Wil Falconer, DVM, a veterinary homeopath did I learn about using single remedies.  His years of experience using it in his practice successfully convinced me to give it a try the next time an opportunity arose.  At the time my cat Lili was getting UTIs pretty frequently, and the combination remedies were taking much longer to get results.  He suggested using Cantharis 30C instead.  Wouldn’t you know it cleared up her UTI in 2 days?  No trip to the vet needed, no antibiotics, no stress.  I was sold!  Now whenever she gets a UTI Cantharis is the first thing I grab.  

I’ve also used homeopathy for Rocket’s sinus issues and seasonal allergies.  Apparently he’s super sensitive to pollens and outdoor allergens.  Over the past couple of years I’ve used several remedies including Nat Mur, Arsenicum Album, and Histaminum.  After Hershey had a tooth extracted I used Arnica for pain relief. Histaminum has also worked great to clear up Lili’s watery eyes from seasonal pollens, too.

Top 10 Homeopathic Remedies For Your Cat’s Toolkit

In light of how effective homeopathy can be for cats I’ve put together a top 10 list that I recommend you keep on hand.  Tubes usually run about $9 so it’s also very affordable and will last a very long time.

1. Arnica:  bleeding, internal bleeding, pain, trauma and bruising
2. Apis:  allergic reactions to bites, stings, food or medications, with redness and swelling
3. Arsenicum:  diarrhea, vomiting associated with food stressors
4. Cantharis:  UTIs
5. Gelsemium:  kitty flu symptoms (not uncommon after adopting from a shelter environment)
6. Ignatia:  dealing with grief or loss
7. Ledum:  punctures or wounds (ie:  cat bites, insect bites)
8. Natrum Muraticum:  sinus congestion with sneezing 
9. Nux Vomica:  vomiting and digestive upsets, sometimes diarrhea, associated with bowel toxins 
10. Thuja Occidentalis:  FVRCP vaccine side effects

Homeopathic Remedy Kit 30C from Washington Homeopathic Products

Finding The Right Homeopathic Remedy

What’s interesting about homeopathic remedies is that one remedy can be used for many different kinds of symptoms.  For example, take the remedy Phosphorus.  Veterinary uses can include surgical bleeding, fear, thunderstorm anxiety, hematuria (blood in urine), pneumonia, Parvovirus disease, vomiting blood, mastitis, and glaucoma.  With this in mind, how do you determine which remedy is the very best for your cat’s symptoms?  

First I identify the symptoms and find as many as possible that match my cat’s condition.  Then I muscle test to determine the best remedy.  If you don’t know how to muscle test then go with the remedy that best matches your cat’s symptoms.  Give three doses about 12 hours apart; then watch to see if the symptoms subside.  For example, dose in the morning, again in the evening, and once more in the morning.  Do you notice any improvement after the 3 doses?  If yes, then don’t give another dose until you start to notice the symptoms returning.  If the symptoms seem to worsen or stay the same then it’s likely not the right remedy, and you’ll need to try a different one.

There are different levels of potencies available, but the most common you’ll see in sold in stores are 6C, 30C, and 200C.  There are other potencies as well.  The number indicates how many times the tincture has been diluted from the original substance.  Contrary to what you may think, the higher the number the stronger the remedy.  In most cases you’ll find a 30C remedy is all that’s needed.  For more chronic conditions the 200C remedy or greater may be needed.  

How To Prepare Homeopathic Remedies

Take 3 pellets and place in about 1/2 cup of purified water to dissolve.  Using a syringe withdraw 1/2 milliliter. In order to make the remedy most powerful it’s important to succuss it.  This can be done simply by striking the syringe strongly (with your finger covering the tip) about eight times against your palm.  After dosing you can cover the container and reuse it for 4-5 days.

With homeopathy it’s important to know that dosage has nothing to do with the size of the animal.  Unlike pharmaceutical drugs which are dosed based on body weight, homeopathy works differently.  The dose you would give to a mouse can work the same as it would for an elephant!  That’s how powerful–and safe–homeopathy can be!  

How Do You Give A Remedy?

With cats I find it easiest to squirt the remedy into the side of the mouth while holding the cat from behind.  For best absorption give the remedy apart from food and certainly away from other meds.  For cats who fail to cooperate you may have no other option than to put it on the food.  Fortunately it has no taste–it’s essentially water.  

If you’d like to learn more about homeopathy I highly recommend Dr. Falconer’s online homeopathy course which you can check out here.  You can also purchase homeopathy kits that include 50- 100 remedies from reputable online stores.

I can’t encourage you enough to give homeopathy a try next time the opportunity presents itself.  Not only is it a great natural alternative to pharmaceutical drugs without all the side effects, it cures instead of masking symptoms.   

Updated 6/22