Here is a rather discouraging update on Chewie and Togee and their ringworm.

Our new homeopath here has done a valiant job in taking the two cases and trying to sift through not enough to go on and come up with something. Chewie had Silicea 1M on Jan 10th, and had some very strong changes: started to feel the cold, drink water rather than eat snow, and v-e-r-y slowly his weepy raw butt and impetigo kind of places dried up and by early Feb he was growing some nice new fur there. BUT, the itching continues, I would say, 18 hours out of 24 he is itching. His front legs look a LOT better, but his back legs and tail and along his spine are bad. But even where he looks better, the itching continues. Togee continues to itch too, but she never was as bad skin-wise.

To add to the picture, the vet did a thyroid blood test and found Chewie on the low end. Of course he wants to put Chewie on Thyroid replacement asap.

I want very much to repeat Silicea at 10M but Dr. Helms, the new homeopath, strongly urges me to wait for a full action. I think we are stalled out, but then, I am VERY impatient - as a matter of fact, my anxiety and worry and fretting over the suffering I see in Chewie is dragging me down.

In the meantime, we are batting zero for Togee - so little to go on.

We are doing gentle baths with Dr. Bonners and calendula, and using castor oil on the worst spots. We are going to start caprillic acid (sp?) as soon as it arrives. The allopathic vet thinks it is a much deeper fungus than ringworm, and of course he wants me to change diet, etc etc etc.....and do heavy duty baths with some nasty stuff.

I am pretty discouraged. A-T

AT

I don't have any homeopathic advice but strongly encourage you to get a book called "the cure is in the cupboard" and order the oregano oil fromthe author. Wild oregano has some of the very strongest antifungal properties known.

The author of the book is an MD who developed an illness after an accidental contamination in his lab. He was literally dying from a fungal infection inhis blood and the Doctors offered no hope. After trying this oregano oil he conquered the fungal infection.

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Man, do not pride yourself on your superiority to animals. For they are without sin and you in your greatness defile the earth by your appearance on it and leave traces of you foulness after you. Dostoyevsky

Hi AnnToy,

I think this is a really good response to Silica. Initially Chewie had a bit of an aggravation. But the improvement you see is significant. I told you you'd have to wait at least 3 months to see a good improvement. THe low thryroid may be one reason for a slow response, adn it would depend on Dr. Helm's advise whether he would like to give the thyroid supplement.

I cannot speak about the repetition and Dr. Helms would be the best person to judge.
I think you need to give him a good chance and put you faith in his judgement. HE's good. Also why don't you start on Togee's case too?

Keep your chin up, I think you're definitely moving towards improvement.

Barb,
Nice suggestion there!

Warm regards,
doctorleela

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http://www.homeopathy2health.com

Thanks so much Barb and Dr. Leela. Being Causticum, I feel like I have been sitting at a sickbed for months, and am so emotionally involved that I have lost my objectivity. Your reminder that this healing will take months is a great help.

The oregano oil sounds VERY interesting - I wonder if it contains caprillic acid, or if the two are related. Does anyone know anything about caprillic acid? It is supposed to be a treatment for yeast infections.

Dr. Helms reminded me, after the vet scared me, how low thyroid would be part of the whole picture of low vital force, rather than the cause of such. It would explain Chewie's voracious appetite, thirst, weight loss, and subtle puffiness - ??

I am so glad you specifically encouraged me to stick with Dr. Helms' good work, as in my own state of un-ease I keep having crises de confiance - we all know how homeopathy takes time and patience, but with the constant sounds of chewing and itching in my ear, and the dogs' obvious suffering, my patience is about gone. So then I fret that I am being a bad pet-mom.

Knowing so little about hypothyroidism, would it be better to not include Chewie on our daily walks? He enjoys them so much, but is it too much for him? I think the walks are the only time he acts like his old self - eager to play and whining for us to throw snowballs for him. And then he is tired enough to actually sleep for awhile without itching. But being a German Shepherd, with strong play drive, he could be instinctually going past his body's needs in a way that could cause further stress.

Thanks so much for a dose of reassurance. A-T

Ann-Toy,

Your'e most welcome.
I would not mind a homeopathic dose of Thyroidinum in 3X supplement for Chewie for a time . Yes the low thyroid levels do hamper normal activity nad soon push the animal into obvious hypothyroidism. I tablet daily would help. But you'll have to discuss this with Dr. Helm. I wouldn't want to contradict him.

Often in certain of my patients with these pre-hypothyroid symptoms, the constitutional helps them in everthing else but the specific low thyroid symtoms persist, and just a single tablet daily of Thyroidinum 3X for a time has got everything on balance, while they were on the constitutional.

Regards,
doctorleela

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http://www.homeopathy2health.com

In The Cure is in the Cupboard, Cass Ingram, D.O., has written a book that is dedicated to unveiling the health benefits of oregano and oil of oregano. He notes that "wild oregano is a veritable natural mineral treasure-house, containing a density of minerals that would rival virtually any food." The wild oregano is rich in a long list of minerals that includes calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron, potassium, copper, boron, and manganese. Vitamins C and A (beta carotene) and niacin also are contained in oregano. Judging from its mineral content alone, it isn't hard to figure out why oregano is such a valuable commodity. Consider some of oregano's other useful purposes and it becomes even more obvious.

"Oregano is one of Nature's finest preservatives." states Ingram in another book, Supermarket Remedies. The author suggests that if oregano is used with foods such as meat, eggs, milk, or salad, you "will greatly halt the growth of microbes and, thus, reduce the risk for food poisoning."

The key element in oregano is the oil, which Foster points out "contains carvacrol and thymol as the primary components." Foster attributes the "fungicidal and worm-expellant properties" of oil of oregano to carvacrol and thymol. "These two phenols may constitute as much as 90% of (the oil)."

However, Ingram adds that these two phenols work "synergistically" and that is the reason "oil of oregano" packs a double punch in antiseptic powder and explains why it is infinitely more potent than commercial phenol in microbial killing power."

All of this helps make oregano oil a significant factor in treating internal and external fungi including athletes foot. Skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema can be improved with the treatment as well. Ingram explains the astonishing discovery that "oil of oregano outright destroys all variety of fungi and yeasts, regardless of where they reside."

In addition to fighting various fungi, oil of oregano is useful against bacteria and parasites. As Ingram asserts, "oil of oregano's antiseptic powers are immense...it inhibits the growth of the majority of bacteria, something that prescription antibiotics fail to accomplish." In the case of parasites, oil of oregano has had success neutralizing worms, amoeba and protozoans.

Additional uses for oregano and oil of oregano are multi-dimensional. They have been found helpful in combating diarrhea, intestinal gas, and digestive problems, as well as sore throat and breathing difficulties. Oil of oregano can be immediate help against bee stings and many venomous bites until medical attention can be reached. Oil of oregano has even been suggested as a treatment for dandruff, diaper rash, and other skin disorders.

The benefits of oregano have gone largely unnoticed and underpublicized for far too long. As Ingram notes, oregano is "one of the world's finest natural medicines, that is if it's true oregano." So while oregano may hold the answer for a number of your health questions, be sure that it is in fact the real thing. Remember, these remedies are only attributed to genuine oregano and oil of oregano. Nonetheless, their values are much too important to overlook. Oregano may just be the thing you are searching for, or maybe didn't realize was available.

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Man, do not pride yourself on your superiority to animals. For they are without sin and you in your greatness defile the earth by your appearance on it and leave traces of you foulness after you. Dostoyevsky

Barb, can you tell me what is "wild" oregano and "true" oregano and how it/they differ from the plain herb garden variety of oregano? And, the properties mentioned are only available in the oil, not in the garden herb itself or a tincture/infusion/decoction? Edit: it's OK, Barb, no need to take the time. I found web sites that explain. Thank you for bringing this to my attention. Grow tons of oregano and never knew this!

A-T, have you checked with the homeopath regarding Dr. Bonner (is it the very potent peppermint?) soap and/or the calendula/castor oil.....to see if they could possibly interfere with the remedy?

Skin eruptions in animals is one of the hardest things for caregivers to live with but be very glad the "condition" is out there where you can see it! It really does bother us more than it does them, I think!

I would never eliminate the walks if they make for a better sense of total well-being.

[ 20 February 2002, 21:59: Message edited by: gpm ]

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Sometimes on Earth, you can find something that resembles a little piece of Heaven. And sometimes on Earth, a little piece of Heaven can find you.

I found the wild oregano in my book of local medicinal plants, and while I have never seen it in our mountains, I know the plant. Dr. Helms wants me to stay with the mildest of things for Chewie's skin, thus, no, NOT the peppermint Dr. Bonner's, but the lavender, and very dilute. Yes, I am very happy with how he knows his stuff!

Tuesday we gave Togee Lyc. 1M, and with great caution I report a significant reduction in her itching. Do I dare to say, she is down to itching only 1 hour a day? But it's hard to type with all my fingers so crossed. It has helped my mood considerably.

The dogs have also started the caprylic acid.

Thanks Barb for a very informative note about wild oregano. I will have to see if I can find it here, as we are blessed with so many fantastic medicinals in our mountains, why not that one, too.

A-T

All the best Ann Toy,
We'll keep our fingers crossed!

Warm regards,
Doctorleela

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http://www.homeopathy2health.com

Aw geez - gpm, so sorry I don't frequent the pets secrtion very often and didn't see your question. Well, as you already discovered, the wild oregano is the same as the "true" or herb garden variety BUT not the same as the spice found in the supermarket or even healthfood store.

The herb can be taken as a dried herbal capsule etc. not just as an essential oil.

sorry again - I wasn't ignoring you - just slow.

__________________
Man, do not pride yourself on your superiority to animals. For they are without sin and you in your greatness defile the earth by your appearance on it and leave traces of you foulness after you. Dostoyevsky