http://www.biodynamic-research.net/ras/ ... /a-health/
Use of homeopathic remedies to cure udder inflammation of dairMilchkontrolley cattle
Frequently in agricultural practice, good results were obtained by the homeopathic treatment of clinical mastitis. However, there are only few studies with satisfying results on this topic. Many studies are also lacking an untreated or with antibiotics treated control group.
In a two-and-a half-years study with a drove of approximately 300 cows on a biodynamic dairy farm it was tested whether clinical mastitis can also successfully be treated with homeopathic remedies and if it is possible to refrain from using antibiotics to a great extend.
Methods:
To be able to judge the efficiency of the homeopathic therapy, the mastitis treatment was conducted in a placebo-controlled double-blind study. The treatment concept which was determined at the beginning of the study was based on extensive abandonment of antibiotic use, but had to be rejected because of unsatisfactory treatment results (study phase 1). It was replaced by a modified therapy concept, which included an additional, but restricted use of antibiotics and simultaneously committed the livestock owner to the execution and assurance of urgently required preventive measures. Moreover, the udders with sub clinical and chronic mastitis should be controlled at the beginning of the dry off phase and an antibiotic dry off therapy was selectively used for theses cows (study phase 2).
Characteristics Phase1
no antibiotic treatment allowed
no antibiotic dry off therapy allowed
decreased environmental herd situation
Therapy Protocol
acute Mastitis: Phytolacca D6, Echinacea D6, Bryonia D6, Belladonna D6 or Aconitum D6
chronic Mastitis: Phytolacca D6, Echinacea D6, Hepar sulfuris D8
Characteristics Phase 2
antibiotic treatment allowed in case of therapy failure
antibiotic dry off therapy in specific infections
a lot of herd enhancement measures
Therapy Protocol
acute Mastitis: Phytolacca D6, Echinacea D6, Bryonia D6, Belladonna D6 orAconitum D6 (with fever > 40 °C)
chronic Mastitis: Phytolacca D6, Echinacea D6, Hepar sulfuris D8
Results:
Reduction of antibiotic use in mastitis therapy. The therapy concept in the second study phase permitted that on this diary farm, compared with the conventional antibiotic mastitis therapy, the treatment of clinical mastitis could be done without antibiotics in 75% of the cases.
Evidence of efficacy of homeopathic remedies
As the treatment results of both study groups (verum or placebo) differed only marginally, regarding all treatments, the evidence of efficacy of the homeopathic remedies used for the treatment of clinical mastitis can not be confirmed clearly. However, a comparison of the two treatment groups with completely healed quarters of 107 mastitis cases, which were caused by udder pathogens, suggests an evidence of efficacy (p<0.05).
Reference:
MERCK, C.C.; FIDELAK, C.; KLOCKE, P.; REINECKE, A.; PAAL, K.; ROTHE, J. und SPRANGER, J. (2004): Etablierung der homöopathischen Mastitistherapie in einem biologisch-dynamisch wirtschaftenden Milcherzeugerbetrieb unter Berücksichtigung ökologischer, epidemiologischer und ökonomischer Gesichtspunkte. Abschlussbericht; Bundesprogramm Ökologischer Landbau, Förderkennzeichen 99UM032. fulltext
) en antibiotica in de melk is een heel groot probleem.
