Going unconventional

This week I would like to give you an insight into another part of equine medicine - alternative therapies (although obviously not for any signs or symptoms of glanders!)

Researching this article I have come across a whole myriad of alternative medicines for horses. It appears that many people are turning to alternative therapies when conventional means fail; there are apparently many solutions to be tried and some are most definitely very unconventional.

Of course, Western medicine is considered the most advanced, but there are times when alternative therapies do yield results where other medications have been unable to ease suffering. In alternative medicine, a practitioner will look at the animal as a whole, rather than focusing on maybe an injured limb. These practitioners don't tend to carry medicine and syringes but deal in a specific treatment regime, for example, using acupuncture, herbs or homeopathy.

To the uninitiated, acupuncture is little more than sticking needles into a limb. Yet to the practitioner, the idea is to tap into the energy flow of the body and decrease blockages to this flow. The needles that the practitioner inserts into the horse's body are thought to stimulate the flow of the energy and thus break down whatever blockages there may be.

Homeopathy subscribes to the idea of healing substances being diluted and mixed together to be added to the feed. These substances may either be naturally occurring medicines in herbs and plant materials, or they may be more potent mixtures.

Chiropractic treatments include adjustments to the joints and spinal columns, while herbalism is the art of using available plants to distil from them their medicinal powers.

Maybe the best example of alternative medicine working for the good of a horse is lameness. Western medicines are not excluded as a treatment option, but if complemented with alternatives can help to get the horse better, faster.

If the vet is working alongside an alternative practitioner who, by assisting the vet, could potentially trace the lameness back to its root cause, the hock and the arthritis. The vet would then be able to give appropriate drugs for potentially permanent healing and pain management.

ALTERNATIVE TREATMENTS FOR HORSES

Faith healing - Apparently known to perform miracles.

Feng Shui - Re-arrange your horses home with crystals, mirrors and colour schemes.

Acupuncture - Ancient Chinese method stimulates 'acupoints' with needles.

Crystal and Gem Therapy - Crystals and Gems said to heal ailments through energy waves.

Chromatherapy - Use of colour to improve health, using a special instrument called a Bioptron which emits specialist light.

Iridology - Diagnostic technique studying tiny changes in the iris of the eye.

Cranial Sacral Therapy - Gentle hand pressure on the skull and sacrum.

Copper Therapy - Worn next to the skin copper relieves pain

Aromatherapy - Uses essential oils from plants flowers and herbs.

Equine Muscle Release Therapy/Bowen Technique - Gentle pressure and massage.

Homeopathy - Homeopathic remedies derived from animal, vegetable and mineral sources.

Flower remedies - Closely related to homeopathy, Bach flower remedies are most common.

JinShin Jyutsu - Ancient Japanese technique uses lightest hand touch for deep healing.

Kinesiology - Using same meridians as acupuncture.

Magnetic therapy - Magnets used on their own or with electricity.

Phototherapy - Uses light therapy to prevent hormonal changes cased by differing daylight hours.

Propolis - Bee product with antibiotic, antifungal, antiviral and anesthetic properties.

Horse Whispering - Whisperers communicate with horse's own language.

Shiatsu - Practitioners apply pressure to the acupoints.

Reiki - Quiet non-invasive therapy.

Reflexology - Another ancient therapy balances, stabilises and co-ordinates body and mind with pressure on parts of the body.