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American Journal of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapeutics

Review Article Integrative in Veterinary Practice Gopal Krishan* and Asmita Narang

Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar-263 145, Uttarakhand (India)

*Corresponding author e-mail: [email protected]

A B S T R A C T Integrative veterinary therapies include comprehensive medical approach to animal care that combines the best of conventional medicine and complementary and alternative medicines or therapies. Complementary and alternative veterinary medicine therapies that may be included in an integrative medicine approach include , , phytotherapy, nutraceuticals, , physiotherapy, , chromotherapy etc. and are designed to stimulate adaptive homeostatic mechanisms in the body and or to provide the body substances by which the body can heal itself.

Keywords: Integrative therapy, , Veterinary therapy.

INTRODUCTION Integrative therapies constitute a infers that it is separate from conventional very wide range of disciplines from around therapy. Integrative therapy involves the the world. Many of these therapies can be integration of a variety of modalities into a utilized to treat animals when used in more complete healthcare system1 and combination with conventional medicine. includes some natural or herbal medicinal Many terms have been used to describe products, non pharmacological treatments these forms of treatment, including and counselling on health and behavioural integrative therapy, alternative therapy, issues.2 Several integrative modalities are holistic care and complementary medicine. described below which are used in Each of these terms has specific implications Veterinary Practice. and none of them is entirely accurate. Alternative therapy suggests another way to Chiropractic therapy do the same thing. Complementary implies Chiropractic, derived from the Greek that it augments conventional therapy. words "cheir" and "praxis" meaning Holistic refers to treatment of the whole "practice done by hand," is defined as "that patient in a complete approach, but usually science and art which uses the inherent

American Journal of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapeutics www.pubicon.in Krishan et al______ISSN 2393-8862 recuperative powers of the body and deals years. Acupuncture is used mainly for with the relationship between the nervous functional problems such as those involving system, spinal column including its non-infectious inflammation, paralysis, or immediate articulations and the role of this pain. For small animals, acupuncture has relationship in the restoration and been used for treating arthritis, hip maintenance of health".3 Animal dysplasia, lick granuloma, feline asthma, Chiropractic therapy focuses on the diarrhoea, and certain reproductive biomechanical dysfunction of the spine and problems. For larger animals, acupuncture extremities and its effect on the entire has been used for treating downer cow nervous system throughout the body and syndrome, facial nerve paralysis, allergic thus helps to maintain the neuro- dermatitis, respiratory problems, nonsurgical musculoskeletal system. Chiropractic colic, and certain reproductive disorders.6 treatment of large animals dates back to the Acupuncture has also been used on early 1900s and used typically to treat competitive animals, such as those involved working horses, racing greyhounds and pets. in racing and showing. Veterinary Veterinary Chiropractic treatment does not Acupuncture has also recently been used on replace traditional veterinary medicine; more exotic animals, such as an alligator however, it can provide additional means of with scoliosis, though this is still quite rare. diagnosis and treatment options for spinal Electro-acupuncture stimulation with high problems as well as biomechanical related frequency (80-120 Hz) which involves musculoskeletal disorders.4 This therapy can passing of electric current through a needle often eliminate the source of acute or inserted in an acupoint can alleviate the chronic pain syndromes rather than treat the experimental pain in the horses.7 Laser symptoms. There is limited evidence acupuncture in which stimulation of supporting the effectiveness of spinal acupuncture points is done with low- manipulation or mobilization for equine pain intensity, non-thermal laser irradiation is management and the efficacy of specific found effective in controlling pain and equine techniques is edema in specific experimental conditions.8 unknown. Phytotherapy Acupuncture Phytotherapy involves the use of Acupuncture may be defined as the herbs or products of herbs and is also an old stimulation of a specific point on the body form of therapy. The use of specific herbs referred to as an “acupoint.” Physiological for medicinal purposes dates back thousands changes in response to acupuncture point of years. Several herbs are mentioned in the stimulation is the basis of clinical treatment. Bible, and archeologists have documented Some of these include release of endogenous herb use back to prehistoric times. opioids, immune system stimulation, blood Approximately 25% of our conventional pressure regulation, and body temperature drugs are derived from plants. Conventional regulation. Thus, many techniques have drugs typically contain a single active been developed to stimulate “acupoints” constituent from the plant, whereas herbs such as dry needle, , electro- provide a broader and more balanced effect acupuncture, -acupuncture, hemo- on the body through the synergistic actions acupuncture, , and pneumo- of the herbal components. Herbs are best acupuncture.5 Veterinary acupuncture has prescribed to treat the entire individual and been practiced in China for at least 2,000 not only the clinical signs.9 Many active

AJPP[2][1][2015] 050-055 Krishan et al______ISSN 2393-8862 ingredients have been identified in supporting recovery and boosting vitality, as medicinal plants, namely polysaccharides, well as a useful fall back for health steroidal compounds like saponines (anti- conditions where drug use is not appropriate inflammatory effects), flavonoids i.e. Drug side effects, financial constraints, (antibacterial, antiviral, antiallergenic and etc. Nutraceuticals are usually dosed orally. liver protective effects), alkaloids (increase It is commonly stated that malnutrition is the the blood cell count), glycosides and underlying cause of many of the disease many others.10 Herbal blends and syndromes encountered in birds and exotic formulations combine the benefits of pets. Vitamins, minerals and fatty acids multiple herbs, which typically produce a often have a synergistic effect and by synergistic action while minimizing the supplementing an animal’s diet with a good potential toxic effects of a single herb. Herbs quality broad spectrum supplement, provide many unique qualities that are very providing optimal amounts of important limited in conventional medicine, such as micronutrients helps to ensure optimum anticancer, antiviral and immunoregulation health, vitality, immune status, growth, properties. Herbal remedies are much more fertility, muscle and tendon strength and effective than conventional therapy in recovery. For convalescing animals, adding treating metabolic conditions such as liver such a supplement usually assists with and kidney diseases. Herbs are an excellent improved healing, increased strength and alternative to antibiotics in the treatment of vitality, promotion of weight gain and infectious diseases, with wider antibacterial increased appetite. effects in addition to various antifungal and antiviral actions. Many of these herbal Homeopathy remedies also support the immune system to Homeopathy which involves the assist in the full recovery of the patient. principle “like cures like” is based on Some herbal formulations serve as concept of using a very diluted form of a detoxification agents, antioxidants and substance to treat a condition or group of anticancer therapies. symptoms in sick patients, which in its full strength would cause the same set of Nutraceutical therapy symptoms in the healthy patient.12 The word Nutraceuticals are micronutrients, "homeopathy" is derived from the Greek macronutrients and other nutritional words "homios" meaning "similar" and supplements that are used as therapeutic "pathos" meaning "disease or suffering." agents. They are defined as non-drug These remedies are made from plants, substances in a purified form derived from minerals, drugs, viruses, bacteria or animal food, or a component of food, and have substances. Homeopathic remedies work on physiological effects and therapeutic the deep energetic level of the patient to benefits. Examples include vitamins and undermine the constitutional cause of the minerals, probiotics, digestive enzymes and disease, rather than mask its symptoms. antioxidants.11 This is the clinical Conditions which commonly respond to application of nutrition in the treatment of homeopathy include arthritis, atopic disease and metabolic disorders. They often dermatitis (eczema), lameness, epilepsy, help to reduce the amount of drug necessary diarrhoea, respiratory problems, aggression, to manage disease conditions such as atopy, fear, pruritus (itching), hyperthyroid and degenerative joint disease and congestive kidney failure. Homeopathy can deal with heart failure and can be of great assistance in many of the acute and chronic medical

AJPP[2][1][2015] 050-055 Krishan et al______ISSN 2393-8862 conditions like downer syndrome and 'alternative' nor a system of medicine but it mastitis in cattle, and colic in horses. is indeed complementary to other therapies. Homeopathy can be used equally well for Physiotherapy, defined as a therapy using both minor conditions and for more chronic “…physical approaches to promote, problems when prolonged treatment may be maintain and restore physical, psychological required. By choosing correct remedy, this and social well being…”,19 is an ancillary or therapy proves to be effective in potentially supportive therapy, which can be of life-threatening conditions, such as epilepsy excellent value in helping restoration of or bloat.13 Camerlink et al.14 found that function, mobility and rehabilitation, after piglets of the homeopathic treated group had injury, prolonged veterinary treatment etc.20 significantly less E. coli diarrhoea and Veterinary physiotherapy is used for duration was also shorter. restoration and maintenance of mobility and function. It may also be used preventatively Aromatherapy to avoid recurrence of a problem. Although The therapeutic application of dogs and horses are the most common aromatic essential oils is known as species to receive 'physiotherapy', most aromatherapy. The administration of the oils animals will benefit even exotic pets and by diffusion or aerosolization is most farm animals. Physiotherapy may involve common, but topical and oral applications use of instruments, such as ultra-sound, also are effective routes for some LASER and magnets. However, it is formulations. Essential oils are considered commonly a manual, hands-on therapy, antiseptic, antimicrobial, detoxifying and using deep massage, exercises and range of rejuvenating, and can help with emotional movement activity. It may also include a issues such as anxiety and stress and programme of controlled swimming or physical issues such as skin problems and hydrotherapy. pest protection. Essential oils are easily absorbed either through the olfactory system Flower essence therapy or the skin15 and act on the underlying Flower essence therapy is a form of vibrational of the patient to restore vibrational healing, which treats with pure the energetic imbalance causing the disease energy to generate changes in the energetic or condition. By increasing the vital force of field of the client. Healing with flower the patient, aromatherapy strengthens the essences proposes similar principles to natural immune system and promotes self- homeopathy although it should not be healing. Aromatherapy can be used as confused with essential oils of alternative measure to treat otitis externa16 aromatherapy. Flower essences are prepared and travel induced excitement in dogs,17 and by creating dilute infusions of fresh to hasten the recovery time in acute-stressed blossoms of a particular plant species.21 The horses.18 The oils used in aromatherapy underlying premise is that all life forms should have therapeutic grade and must be possess an innate vibrational energy force applied by the professional with necessary that is disrupted by conditions and precautions. circumstances of our environment, leading to disease and illness. These disruptions are Physiotherapy further related to emotional and behavioural Physiotherapy has often been specifics, which can be characterized and described under the heading of or treated with the vital energy or essence of 'alternative medicine'. It is, in fact, neither certain flowers. The aroma or essence of a

AJPP[2][1][2015] 050-055 Krishan et al______ISSN 2393-8862 flower naturally elicits an emotional CONCLUSION response, similar to the way music affects an individual’s mood. Flower essence therapy Integrative therapy signifies the has proven particularly useful in assisting comprehensive approach to animals by animals that have been abused, neglected or combining conventional medicine with that have become stressed and anxious due alternative therapies. Usually the medicines to interface with human beings. and therapies that complement one another and work for prevention and treatment of Chromotherapy diseases are preferred. The ultimate Chromotherapy involves the challenge is to minimize the adverse effects, principle that each colour possesses a maximize successful treatment and improve specific vibration and a therapeutic capacity the quality of life of animals. which produces chemical changes in a subtle way interfering in the metabolism wants in level physical or emotional. The main REFERENCES hypothesis of chromotherapy is that specific 1. Ness RD. Integrative therapies. Clinical colours of the are activators Avian Medicine. 2006. p-343-364. or inhibitors of complex physiological, 2. Kienle GS, Albonico HU, Fischer L, Frei- biological and biochemical processes in Erb M, Hamre HJ, Peter Heusser P, brain such as synthesis of various Matthiessen F, Renfer A, Kiene H. neurohormones, precisely melatonin and Complementary therapy systems and their serotonin.22 The main chromatic spectrum integrative evaluation. Explore: The Journal was classified in the following way: hot of Science and Healing. 2011; 7(3):175-187. (, , and their tones), cold 3. Homewood AE. The Neurodynamics of the (, , and their tones) and . Houston: Parker bivalent ( and their tones). Problems Research Foundation. 1962. p-21. 4. Taylor LL, Romano L. Veterinary like apathy, depression, anxiety, chiropractic. The Canadian Veterinary nervousness, dermatitis, pain, inflammation, Journal. 1999; 40(10):732. infection, fractures and muscular problems 5. Filshie J, White AR. Medical acupuncture. can be treated with this therapy. Edinburgh, PA: Churchill Livingstone. 1998. p-225–294. Crystal therapy 6. Habacher G, Pittler MH, Ernst E. Crystals have been used for Effectiveness of acupuncture in veterinary thousands of years as a method for healing a medicine: systematic review. Journal of range of ailments for both animals and veterinary internal medicine. 2006; 20(3): humans. An animal’s body has 7 (or 480-488. energy points) and all crystals have a charge 7. Xie H, Ott EA, Harkins JD, Tobin T, Colahan PT, Johnson M. Influence of which when positioned correctly help the electro-acupuncture on pain threshold in body's natural energy flow to be restored. horses and its mode of action. Journal of When the body is suffering injury or disease Equine Veterinary Science, 2001; its normal energy flow is disrupted - the 21(12):591-600. crystals help to resolve this, thus facilitating 8. Lorenzini L, Giuliani A, Giardino L, Calzà the body to heal itself. All crystals have L. Laser acupuncture for acute healing properties that can help by healing inflammatory, visceral and neuropathic pain physical, mental, emotional or spiritual relief: an experimental study in the level.23 laboratory rat. Research in veterinary science. 2010; 88(1):159-165.

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