From: KECrews
Date: Mon, 1 Feb 1999 08:29:42 EST
Subject: Re: [HOL] Eyebright

In a message dated 2/1/99 8:18:18 AM Eastern Standard Time, catgrrrl writes:

<< Just for clarification, isn't euphrasia the name used for the  homeopathic form of the herb eyebright?>>

Yes, it is.

Elaine Crews, N.D.
Up With Herbs

In a message dated 2/2/99 10:32:29 AM Pacific Standard Time, johnson writes:

<< For the eye tea recipe, is it equal parts of the calendula, chamomille and  eyebright or are we to just pick one out of those three? >>

What I did was use a chamomile teabag.  the next time I made it I used a chamomile teabag and a capsule of eyebright powder, and made a tea from that. So I think any or all are ok, as each is soothing to the eye.

I don't remember how long it took with Peaches' eye.  If it hasn't improved in 5-7 days, my guess is it probably won't with this treatment.

Lee

> I've got a possible feral, maybe just stray, who looks like he got into a  dandy fight, and his eye is in bad shape.  In order to > prevent/clear out  and infection, I'm wondering if colloidal silver in the water I give the  ferals will work.  I'm also open to any > other suggestions.  I can't get near him, but that's not really meaninful--he could have been abandoned,

Debbie, is there a way u could arrange for just him to drink from the bowl? I know u can't give him a remedy from a dropper so if u can put a pellet of a homeo remedy in a water bowl, that would be best.

About his eye - does it look like he was punched in the eye as well, sorta like a black eye? If so, Symphytum's a good one.

If it looks like pus, then u want Hepar Sulph - lo potency promotes suppuration and hi suppresses.  I'm about to test this on a carbuncle on my foot so can report to anyone interested <g>

If u just want a general remedy for trauma to the eye, then use Aconite which is known as "Arnica for the eyes" sometimes.

And if the nerves are involved, then Hypericum can't be beat.

Ledum is good if there is a puncture wound of some sort.  it will prevent infection.

Hope at least some of this helps.  Bless u for worrying and taking such good care of so many kitties, esp the poor darling ferals ((hugs))

Sandy, owned and operated by the mountain cats

>About his eye - does it look like he was punched in the eye as well, sorta like a black eye? If so, Symphytum's a good one.

Sandy is one of *the* experts on homeopathy here (I'm a relative beginner comparatively) and I always rely on her when I need some additional help with figuring out a correct remedy, but here's some additional info. that might be helpful for the eye injury aspect:

"injury to the eyeball, from a snowball, tennis ball, or an infant sticking it's fist into the mother's eye - give Symphytum.  If the injury, however, is to the soft tissue of the socket of the eye, as caused by walking into a door or a blow above or below the eye, give Arnica."

I know, this is human info., but we discussed these remedies on a homeopathy list I'm on in the past and just thought this might be useful. Or more confusing ----- like Sandy says, Symphytum would probably be best if we're not sure how this happened.

Leah

Heidi,

Booey had very hi BP (240+) so unfortunately, natural alternatives like garlic, hawthorne, and siberian ginseng were woefully in adequate. I had been giving them to him starting about 2 weeks after he was diagnosed but his heart probs must have been so severe that his BP shot up hi enough to cause a blowout in his retinas:(

I credit Norvasc w/ saving his vision in the 1 eye that had partial detachment.  Aside from homeo remedies, I feel hi BP is such a dangerous (partly due to its insidious nature) condition, that Norvasc may be the lesser of the two evils.  I've looked at beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, etc. and Norvasc does seem like one of the better drugs for hi  BP.  Booey was on it for 14 months - 1/4 2.5mg tab.  It did seem to help him somewhat tho his BP remained hi:(  Just make sure u monitor frequently
b/c it can make kitty hypotensive.

Since Beau's BP's not that hi, I'm hoping that herbs and supplements can help him. U could always add them to his regimen along w/ the Norvasc.

It's great that he has been going on 2.5 yrs w/ no meds or subqs.  Always makes me happy to read that:)

Sandy

On Wed, 17 Mar 1999, Heidi Ellefson wrote:

> I would be interested in any ideas anyone might have for my 18 year old  cat  with Chronic Renal Failure.  He was just >diagnosed with mild high blood  pressure, with a reading of 195.  170 or below is considered normal.  The  vet  prescribed 1/4 >tablet of Norvasc daily.  Before I put him on a drug for the  rest of his life, I am trying to find out more about it.  I'd also like
> to hear  any ideas for natural treatments for high blood pressure that would be  safe to  give him.  He has been on no >medications or fluids up until this time. He has  had CRF for at least 2.5 years.

Hi RoeAnn

I  am a breeder too and often get sticky eyes in kittens.  I find that euphrasia tincture diluted 1 in 20 in boiled water used to bathe the eyes works well,  also you can give the homeopathic remedy Euphrasia 6c, but dosing tiny kittens is not that easy!

I've heard other breeders swear by cold tea (but in the UK we do drink a lot of tea!) or even plain salt solution (one quarter tsp salt per 20 oz water) is a good soothing solution.

Good luck with the kittens..

Naomi

In message Obeia writes
>Hi there,
>This is the first time I have posted to this list although I have been enjoying the wonderful information being posted for a few >months. Now I have a question and thought maybe someone on the list could help me. I have a litter of OSH kittens who are >now two weeks old. They are very fat and healthy with one problem.  They have developed crusty eyes.  No sneezing or any >other signs of problems. Can someone give me some assistance as to what I might do to clear this up. It is necessary and I do >clean their eyes several times a day although the last time being at midnight, by 6:00 AM they are crusted over again.  Any >suggestions would be greatly appreciated.  I would prefer to use a homeopathy method rather than the standard antibiotic >ointment.
>Best Regards,
>Roeann

Welcome Sarah & furries!

Here is a little bit on glaucoma treatments from Richard Allport's _Heal Your Cat the Natural Way_, p. 71:

"Euphrasia tincture, applied after dilution (three drops in 10 ml [2 tsps] sterile water) using an eyebath, will help to soothe and cleanse the eye.

Cod-liver oil is a very good source of Vitamins A and D, both of which will help accelerate the healing process.  Three drops of oil should be given three times daily with food, for up to 10 days."

Take care, Susan

In a message dated 3/31/99 2:04:51 PM Eastern Standard Time, rob writes:

<<  I have not explained my kitten's medical problem but the short of it is she  was diagnosed clinically by a Vet Eye Specialist to have Feline Herpes and  have been on Interferon/Tears naturelle combo eyedrops since the beginning  of the year.  I have also been giving her a Moducare capsule sprinkled over  her food once a day but I wanted to boost her immunity system as much as  possible. >>

There is another healthy alternative.  Nature's Sunshine makes a combination called EW.  You make a tea and drop into the eye.  It contains eyebright to strengthen the eye and golden seal to fight the infection.  This was the product that started me on herbs.  The same company also sells a Chinese combination called VS-C, which will attack the herpes virus.  You give this
one internally.  It will also boost the immune system.  This is great for kittens.  It doesn't taste vile, it tastes like molasses.

Elaine Crews, N.D.

*****************
From: "Vick"
Date: Sat, 8 May 1999 11:38:32 +0000
Subject: Re: [HOL] Eye problem

Hi everyone -
In case anyone missed me, I actually got to take a short vacation, and am still struggling to get caught up as a result. I doubt I ever will, so vibes and hugs to all the kitties who need them :)

> Does anyone know if I can use steroid eye drops on a cat's eye.  The lid and rim are red and white gunk is coming out.

Jill, eye problems were one of the things we considered minor  emergencies at the clinic I teched at - this meant no matter how booked, we saw cats with eye problems.

Because of that, I would never feel right treating an eye thing at home  until I got a diagnosis. Too many things, left untreated, can cause ulceration, scarring and possibly blindness.

Just a cautious opinion.

Vick and the kitty crew: Skippy, Sam, Max and Jezebel

********************
Date: Sat, 8 May 1999 13:04:08 -0700 (PDT)
From: "S. Arora"
Subject: Re: [HOL] Eye problem

> > Does anyone know if I can use steroid eye drops on a cat's eye.  The lid and rim are red and white gunk is coming out.
>
Jill,
I have to agree w/ the replies so far, esp Vick's.  Boo developed some redness in his left eye, and while I was taking him to emergency and regular vets (who didn't have the right equipment, and thus gave me incorrect diagnoses), he lost sight in that eye:(  Once I finally got a referral to an eye specialist and took him in, it was too late.  I'll never forgive myself for that.

I've learned the hard way - when it comes to the eye(s), skip the emergency and regular vet, and go straight to the specialist.  I've also been told that a referral is not needed in some cases. In fact, All Care in Fountain Valley will see a kitty even w/o a referral and they have only specialists there.

When i called the vet who was seeing Boo, she didn't even let me come in w/ him even tho I begged her.  She said to buy Artificial Tears and put those in his eye.  Needless to say, I never went back to her again!  If I had listened to her, he would have lost his sight in the other eye was well.

Sandy, owned and operated by the mountain cats
Listowner, Holisticat - nutrition, herbs, and homeopathy for cats
http://www.holisticat.com

In a message dated 5/8/99 1:25:18 PM Eastern Daylight Time, katseven writes:

<<  Also, Elaine has mentioned a herpes treatment which I'd like to try but I can't find her post right  now :(  >>

It's called VS-C by Nature's Sunshine.  Comes in either extract or capsules.   I love it and use it on either adults, kittens, or myself!

Elaine