Welcome to The Gentler Touch

Hi I'm Marj Edwards, a veterinary surgeon now working in the Victoria Veterinary Practice, Aberdare, South Wales. I have been in practice for over 30 years and am a fully qualified veterinary Homeopath, holding the VetMFHom title. I have been passionate about Homeopathy for many years and have seen some incredible results when using it for both acute and chronic conditions, examples of which can be seen on the cases page.

M.H. Edwards BVSc MRCVS VetMF.HOM

What is Homeopathy?

Homeopathy has the gentler touch because it uses remedies which have been greatly diluted but still retain the ability to stimulate the body's natural defences to bring about the healing process. It is a holistic method of healing which treats the animal as a whole rather than individual ailments so that the aim is full restoration to health. As a result the first sign of improvement is in the general well-being of the animal rather than just a reduction in one of the symptoms. It is the body's reaction and not the remedy itself that ultimately cures the illness which is why the cure is normally so complete.

Homeopathy literally means treating like with like. The principle is to use a remedy which in material doses or in proving on healthy individuals produces the same symptoms as one wishes to cure in the unwell individual. Provings (giving repeated doses of a potentised remedy until symptoms appear) are only carried out on human volunteers and never on animals. Homeopathic remedies are taken from many sources in nature and are prepared by a unique process of dilution and succussion (shaking) which creates the healing essence of the particular substance used. This process is the vital part of the homeopathic medicine and that which sets it apart from others.

Homeopathic treatment is a gentle form of treatment because it is given in a pleasant-tasting lactose sugar tablet or in drop form and so dosing is easy and painless. It is frequently only given for short periods and then time is allowed for the animal's vital force to respond and bring about the healing process. Thus healing is brought about in a gradual and gentle manner in cases which are of long-standing. In acute cases, however, the response to the right remedy can be immediate and dramatic.

It is a complementary medicine rather than an alternative to conventional medicine. It can be used alongside conventional medicines, although suppressive treatments such as steroids may mean that the healing process will be slower. The hope is that successful treatment may allow a reduction in the dose of the conventional medicines and even the possibility of stopping them altogether.

Homeopathy can give hope to otherwise apparently hopeless cases. It can benefit many chronic problems, such as skin problems, eye and ear problems, back problems, lameness, respiratory problems, allergies, gingivitis in cats and even some forms of cancer. Many cases can eventually be resolved completely but, if a total cure cannot be hoped for, many problems will be eased greatly and without side effects that can be associated with conventional treatment when suppression of the problem is all that can be achieved. If your pet has an illness that is proving difficult to clear up, it is worth enquiring whether homeopathy could help.