ho·lis·tic
As a holistic veterinarian I rely on Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) to help guide my physical exam findings and to determine how acupuncture, herbal medicine, and nutrition might best help an individual patient. One of my favorite aspects of the TCVM approach is how emotions can directly influence the health of our animal companions. When emotions are overwhelming and left unchecked the health of a patient is compromised.
Overwhelming and prolonged grief can create disease in the large intestine and lungs, anger and frustration can lead to disease of the liver and gall bladder, excessive worry can take a toll on the stomach and spleen while fear and anxiety can adversely effect the health and functions of the kidney and bladder. The heart and small intestine can become imbalanced and diseased with a patient who experiences overpowering, persistent joy. By knowing the emotional health and personality type of a patient I am given additional insight into the health and well-being of my animal patients.
Rommel is a 6 year old Rottweiller who is strong willed but gentle and takes his role as the number one dog in the household quite seriously. Rommel came to me for red eyes and for vomiting yellow bile. He had been doing this for several weeks but seemed fine in every other way. A Western approach to Rommel's healthcare might have been to treat his eyes with an antibiotic ointment and his tummy upset with Pepcid AC to decrease gastric acid.
However, in TCVM eyes reflect the health of the liver. In addition, a look at Rommel's tongue while he pants in the exam room, shows that the area on his tongue which reflects the liver and gall bladder were bright red and dry. I ask when he vomits to which the owner states that it is always in the middle of the night. In TCVM the twelve major organs in the body follow a 24 hour circadian rhythm. Each organ is most active for 2 hours of the day and the liver and gall bladder are most active between 11pm and 3am. So now I feel comfortable that this isn't just an eye and digestive problem, it looks as if the liver needs some care.
With further questioning about Rommel's emotional state I find that anger and frustration may be an overwhelming emotion for him. Rommel's family has been fostering a 3 year old dog for about 2 months. This younger dog, Koda, jumps on Rommel, steals Rommel's toys and barrels out of the dog door first while pushing Rommel aside. Rommel snapped at Koda once when he first joined the family but was severely reprimanded by his people. Now I suspect his anger and frustration are the underlying cause of his red eyes and vomiting.
The owners and I decide that Rommel will always go out the dog door first while Koda is made to wait and Rommel's toys are off limits to Koda. Rommel will be given his food to eat before Koda and Rommel will be allowed on the sofa while Koda lays in the dog bed on the floor. All of these things will help re-establish that Rommel is the "top dog". The owners are going to add milk thistle and aloe vera to his daily diet for a month to help ease the stress the liver has had. These simple things should help his emotional well-being and liver balance while resolving his red eyes and vomiting and without the use of pharmaceuticals.
One month later, Rommel is much happier. His eyes haven't been red and he hasn't vomited in 3 weeks. In fact, he is playing with Koda now that Koda is showing the appropriate respect for the "top dog". Rommel is his strong-willed, gentle self again.
Kindest wishes,
Dr. Jacquie
- Pronunciation:
- \hō-ˈlis-tik\
- Function:
- adjective
- Date:
- 1926
As a holistic veterinarian I rely on Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) to help guide my physical exam findings and to determine how acupuncture, herbal medicine, and nutrition might best help an individual patient. One of my favorite aspects of the TCVM approach is how emotions can directly influence the health of our animal companions. When emotions are overwhelming and left unchecked the health of a patient is compromised.
Overwhelming and prolonged grief can create disease in the large intestine and lungs, anger and frustration can lead to disease of the liver and gall bladder, excessive worry can take a toll on the stomach and spleen while fear and anxiety can adversely effect the health and functions of the kidney and bladder. The heart and small intestine can become imbalanced and diseased with a patient who experiences overpowering, persistent joy. By knowing the emotional health and personality type of a patient I am given additional insight into the health and well-being of my animal patients.
Rommel is a 6 year old Rottweiller who is strong willed but gentle and takes his role as the number one dog in the household quite seriously. Rommel came to me for red eyes and for vomiting yellow bile. He had been doing this for several weeks but seemed fine in every other way. A Western approach to Rommel's healthcare might have been to treat his eyes with an antibiotic ointment and his tummy upset with Pepcid AC to decrease gastric acid.
However, in TCVM eyes reflect the health of the liver. In addition, a look at Rommel's tongue while he pants in the exam room, shows that the area on his tongue which reflects the liver and gall bladder were bright red and dry. I ask when he vomits to which the owner states that it is always in the middle of the night. In TCVM the twelve major organs in the body follow a 24 hour circadian rhythm. Each organ is most active for 2 hours of the day and the liver and gall bladder are most active between 11pm and 3am. So now I feel comfortable that this isn't just an eye and digestive problem, it looks as if the liver needs some care.
With further questioning about Rommel's emotional state I find that anger and frustration may be an overwhelming emotion for him. Rommel's family has been fostering a 3 year old dog for about 2 months. This younger dog, Koda, jumps on Rommel, steals Rommel's toys and barrels out of the dog door first while pushing Rommel aside. Rommel snapped at Koda once when he first joined the family but was severely reprimanded by his people. Now I suspect his anger and frustration are the underlying cause of his red eyes and vomiting.
The owners and I decide that Rommel will always go out the dog door first while Koda is made to wait and Rommel's toys are off limits to Koda. Rommel will be given his food to eat before Koda and Rommel will be allowed on the sofa while Koda lays in the dog bed on the floor. All of these things will help re-establish that Rommel is the "top dog". The owners are going to add milk thistle and aloe vera to his daily diet for a month to help ease the stress the liver has had. These simple things should help his emotional well-being and liver balance while resolving his red eyes and vomiting and without the use of pharmaceuticals.
One month later, Rommel is much happier. His eyes haven't been red and he hasn't vomited in 3 weeks. In fact, he is playing with Koda now that Koda is showing the appropriate respect for the "top dog". Rommel is his strong-willed, gentle self again.
Kindest wishes,
Dr. Jacquie
2 comments:
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