Holistic Medicine Essay

As more and more people experience the vast benefits of holistic medicine sometimes coupled with a homeopathic approach when treating their common illnesses, the question often arises if whether or not this same vein of thinking will apply to their dogs as well. Today complementary treatments, therapies, and holistic medicine for dogs are all now gaining more credence as pet owners and veterinarians work together to find effective methods of prolonging and bettering the lives of our beloved animals.

Coming from the word "whole," holistic medicine utilizes a comprehensive approach to medical care and treats the body as one entire unit, rather than merely focusing on an ailment or its ensuing symptoms the way conventional or Western medicine …show more content…
Acupuncture may even take the place of some surgeries and be a natural alternative to pain medication or steroids.

Trigger point therapy is another modality of holistic medical care used to relieve pain in dogs. Trigger points are sore spots in the muscles with restricted blood flow that when irritated cause pain to radiate to other muscles. Through trigger point therapy, which may call for chiropractic care, massage therapy or acupuncture, the trigger points are released to bring about pain relief.

There are a number of herbal remedies used in holistic veterinary medicine and it's highly recommended to only use herbal medicine that is prescribed by a licensed veterinarian. Although herbal and botanical medicines are natural, they can be rather powerful with some even having toxic effects especially when mixed with other medication or when given to dogs with allergies. Some herbs used for curing dog ailments include licorice as an anti-inflammatory, passionflower or valerian as a sedative, and black walnut or wormwood in place of conventional de-worming