When homeopathy does not fail: the successful use of Hepar Sulfur

When homeopathy does not fail: the successful use of Hepar Sulfur 30 CH promotes the
excretion of foreign bodies (burrs) in an English Setter.
By: Zappoli Luigi DVM1
Di Palma Rossella2
Compagnin Oscard DVM3
Contact: Rossella Di Palma [email protected]
A 8 years old English Setter begins to lick his feet. When lesions start bleeding and he refuses to put
weight on the left hind leg an antibiotic therapy is started. After 10 days of antibiotic therapy lesions
are gone and the swelling in the left hind leg is reduced but still present. Upon a careful examination
the presence of a foreign body (burr) is suspected. Instead of opting for surgical removal of the
foreign body we chose to treat the patient with homeopathy (Hepar Sulfur potency 30 CH) to
promote the excretion of the suspected foreign body.
Socks is an 8 old English Setter, pet and hunting dog. As already happened in the past, when
temperatures raise above 90°F his skin (he is orange belton) irritates and he starts chewing and
licking himself. This is usually treated with homeopathic medicine and local applications of diluted
tea tree oil. In spite of being at rest and not going in the countryside in the summer months, he is
still at risk of getting “burrs” because he lives near public parks badly managed by the town council.
If the grass is not cut at the proper time it starts producing burrs which later drop on the ground,
exsiccate and represent a real danger for dogs. Last summer he inhaled one and was run to the vet
ER for removal. This summer things went differently.
To avoid any risk his feet are kept properly trimmed and checked carefully at least four times a day.
At the beginning of July, I (owner) spent 2 days away and recommended the person who was taking
care of the dog to check for burrs between the fingers at least twice a day. Upon my return the dog
was licking and biting himself, I suspected the same problem that arise every summer when the
temperature raises above 90°F and humidity is high. I treated him locally with some diluted tea tree
to avoid infections and gave him homeopathic treatments.
After three days he was no longer putting weight on the left hind leg and all the four feet were
bleeding. After a visit Dr. Compagnin, an allopathic veterinarian open to non conventional
treatments, we decided to treat him with antibiotics: Clindacyin® (Clindamicine) 150 Mg tablets,
twice a day every 12 hours. After 2 days the patient had improved greatly but the left hind leg was
still swollen. Looking at the leg carefully we began suspecting the presence of a foreign body: the
lesion and the swelling seemed to mimic the entrance and successive movement upwards typical of
burrs. The foreign body, if any, were to be under the skin, hard to detect with surgery. Dr.
Compagnin decided to wait until the end of the therapy and see. After ten days all the other skin
lesions and paws were healed completely but the left hind leg was still swollen. Dr.Compagnin was
still reluctant to perform surgery in this delicate area of the body with the possible risk of damaging
tendons, I proposed to attempt with homeopathy and he agreed completely on giving a chance to
holistic medicine.
Dr. Luigi Zappoli a veterinarian who utilizes homeopathy in his practise and has already treated
Socks before joined the team suggesting the use of Hepar Sulfur 30 CH (Hepar Sulphuris
Calcareum), 3 pellets each time for 5 times a day for one week.. To make subministration easier the
pellets were melted with some water in a small syringe which was to be inserted (without needle) in
the dog’s mouth. It took a few days to get the remedy due to the summer closure of several
pharmacies, the therapy was finally begun and I could not notice any clear sign until the 3rd day of
subministration. Curiously the dog did not chew on this leg even if it was red and swollen. I clipped
the coat to look carefully at the leg and see if anything was happening. The swelling, on the 4th day,
became to be more localized, reddish and round. The process continued until, on the following day,
I could see a round purple ball underneath the skin quite similar to a grape acinus. On the evening of
the 5th day, I had the feeling it was about to explode. On the following morning, I found an open
wound and a much less swollen leg. The dog, again, did not make any attempt to chew or simply
check the wound.
Socks was then taken to Dr. Compagnin to let him see the result of the therapy and remove the burr.
The veterinarian was confident that body would have expelled the burr by itself (later we checked
the leg and carefully, as a matter of fact, the burr was making a hole above the wound to exit) but
finally agreed on removing it with a surgical forceps. As soon as he introduced the forceps in the
wound he got a long (about 1inch and a half – 4 cms) burr. The dog did not show any pain or
discomfort. On the following days the wound was kept clean with oxide peroxide and some
antibiotic cream. The swelling decreased rapidly and the dog showed no pain and never tried to
chew or lick the wound.
The result, after only 6 days of therapy, was impressive especially if compared with more traditional
and invasive surgical treatments. Economic factors should be taken in account as well: a tube of
Hepar Sulfur costs around 5 Euros in Italy and much less in other European countries (about 2
Euros in France), we used only one for our therapy. Furthermore the dog did not show any side
effect, did not feel pain and never attempt to lick or chew the wound during or after the therapy.
Hepar Sulfur 30CH proved to succeed were more traditional, complex, expensive and risky
treatments fail and should therefore be kept in account if a foreign body is suspected. In our case it
worked promoting the abscess and the exiting process.
Keep in mind however that Hepar Sulfur 30 CH can be used ONLY if there is a way, for the foreign
body, to exit the body: it is perfect for under skin foreign bodies but cannot be used if the foreign
body is believed to be in an internal organ such as the lungs, in this case it could only promote
dangerous abscesses.
A few notes on Hepar Sulfur (Hepar Sulphuris Calcareum also known as Hahnemann's Calcium
Sulphide)
From: Homeopathic Materia Medica by Boericke, M.D.
http://www.homeoint.org/books/boericmm/h/hep.htm
Suits especially scrofulous and lymphatic constitutions who are inclined to have eruptions and
glandular swellings. Unhealthy skin. […]The tendency to suppuration is most marked, and has been
a strong guiding symptom in practice. The lesions spread by the formation of small papules around
the side of the old lesion. […]Skin.--Abscesses; suppurating glands are very sensitive. Papules
prone to suppurate and extend. Acne in youth. Suppurate with prickly pain. Easily bleed. Angioneurotic œdema. Unhealthy skin; every little injury suppurates. Chapped skin, with deep cracks on
hands and feet. Ulcers, with bloody suppuration, smelling like old cheese. Ulcers very sensitive to
contact, burning, stinging, easily bleeding. Sweats day and night without relief. "Cold-sores" very
sensitive. Cannot bear to be uncovered; wants to be wrapped up warmly. Sticking or pricking in
afflicted parts. Putrid ulcers, surrounded by little pimples. Great sensitiveness to slightest touch.
Chronic and recurring urticaria. Small-pox. Herpes circinatus. Constant offensive exhalation from
the body.
1
Clinica Veterinaria Felsina, Bologna, Italy.
3rd year Veterinary School Student University of Milano, Milano, Italy. AHVMA member.
3
Ambulatorio Veterinario Vallone, Pavia, Italy.
2