WHO ARE WE?
We are a 21,000+ strong group of animal owners, farmers, vets and CAM practitioners who are CAMpaigning to protect and promote Complementary & Alternative Medicine (CAM).
We formed because the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) Council issued a statement in 2017 banning vets from using alternative medicine or practices as a first line treatment for our animals.
We are a 21,000+ strong group of animal owners, farmers, vets and CAM practitioners who are CAMpaigning to protect and promote Complementary & Alternative Medicine (CAM).
We formed because the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) Council issued a statement in 2017 banning vets from using alternative medicine or practices as a first line treatment for our animals.
What is CAM?
The term 'Complementary and Alternative Medicine' (CAM) includes, but is not limited, to:
- Acupuncture
- Bodywork Therapies, e.g. Massage, Bowen, Galen Myotherapy, T Touch
- Herbal Medicines
- Homeopathy
- Hydrotherapy
- Osteopathy or Chiropratic care
- Physiotherapy
(Raw feeding & supplements are also at risk)
WHAT'S THE PROBLEM and WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ALTERNATIVE AND COMPLEMENTARY?
Alternatives are banned. The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons consider that legal and widely-used alternative modalities are not underpinned by "sound, scientific evidence." Unfortunately, the kind of evidence they want is difficult to use to trial alternative modalities and they haven't engaged with the Regulatory Bodies to find out the evidence available.
All UK vets are fully qualified in conventional medicine. In addition to this, some vets qualify and specialise in one or more CAM modality adding to the options available in UK veterinary healthcare. Those practicing only holistic options are referred clients by the conventional or referring vet. Prior to November 2017, conventional vets could refer on to a homeopath or acupuncture vet before trying drugs or surgery. This is no longer the case.
It is up to the vet to exercise their clinical freedom and discuss the best options for your animal with you. Using informed choice, you should make that decision with your vet. CAM4animals believes there is a role for complementary, alternative and conventional treatment, and supports the appropriate use of all these as part of a fully integrated veterinary healthcare system.
All UK vets are fully qualified in conventional medicine. In addition to this, some vets qualify and specialise in one or more CAM modality adding to the options available in UK veterinary healthcare. Those practicing only holistic options are referred clients by the conventional or referring vet. Prior to November 2017, conventional vets could refer on to a homeopath or acupuncture vet before trying drugs or surgery. This is no longer the case.
It is up to the vet to exercise their clinical freedom and discuss the best options for your animal with you. Using informed choice, you should make that decision with your vet. CAM4animals believes there is a role for complementary, alternative and conventional treatment, and supports the appropriate use of all these as part of a fully integrated veterinary healthcare system.
If your vet wishes to prescribe one or more non-pharmacy options to delay or avoid drugs or surgery, they are considered ALTERNATIVES. This is the option that has been removed by the RCVS. When might you choose alternative options?
- Your elderly dog is starting to show signs of arthritis so your vet suggests using a green-lipped mussel supplement and omega 3 oil and shift to a raw food diet to start to deal with the early signs. As time progresses you might decide to add in physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, homeopathy or acupuncture. Whilst these alternatives continue to help, there comes a time when your dog is older and slower where pain relief becomes a sensible consideration. The vet prescribes a drug, but you are still able to continue with the previous treatments which are now complementary to conventional treatment. This forms a fully integrated healthcare package for your animal, with all CAM practitioners working together with your vet throughout.
- Your organic herd of calves are coughing and have scours following separation from their mothers. You do not want to lose your antibiotic-free status and speak to your homeopath vet who advises on homeopathic and herbal options.
Where treatments are used alongside or after conventional medicine, they are termed COMPLEMENTARY.
For instance:
For instance:
- Your dog has had surgery and to speed up healing or to help with pain relief and improve mobility you might like to try homeopathy, physiotherapy, Galen myotherapy/massage or hydrotherapy.
- Your horse had a nasty fall and has been on pain relief. You would like him back in work asap so might try a chiropractor, Bowen therapy, Masterson technique/equine massage, homeopathy, acupuncture. These modalities enable you to take the horse off pain relief.
- Your cow has mastitis caused by an E Coli infection. Despite several courses of antibiotics there is no improvement. You stop the antibiotics and approach a homeopath vet who prescribes homeopathy and herbs to improve the health and resilience of the cow and treats the mastitis.
LATEST NEWS
August 2019
The Australian Natural Health Medical Research Council (NHMRC) has finally released their first report on homeopathy, following an overwhelming response to the "Release The First Report" campaign, which saw more than 75,000 people from around the world demand its publication.
As expected, the conclusions of NHMRC’s 2012 report – The Effectiveness of Homeopathy: an overview review of secondary evidence – are in stark contrast to their 2015 attempt. The first review concluded that there is “encouraging evidence” homeopathy works for five medical conditions.
How does this affect UK animal owners?
The RCVS used the second NHMRC document as their evidence that homeopathy is no better than placebo. This is despite it being a false statement and an Ombudsman challenge being in progress. The challenge requires NHMRC to answer charges of scientific misconduct, procedural breaches, bias and conflict of interest.
Further analysis of the 293-page first report is to follow. Read our short blog on the topic so far here.
As expected, the conclusions of NHMRC’s 2012 report – The Effectiveness of Homeopathy: an overview review of secondary evidence – are in stark contrast to their 2015 attempt. The first review concluded that there is “encouraging evidence” homeopathy works for five medical conditions.
How does this affect UK animal owners?
The RCVS used the second NHMRC document as their evidence that homeopathy is no better than placebo. This is despite it being a false statement and an Ombudsman challenge being in progress. The challenge requires NHMRC to answer charges of scientific misconduct, procedural breaches, bias and conflict of interest.
Further analysis of the 293-page first report is to follow. Read our short blog on the topic so far here.
WE NEED YOUR ONGOING SUPPORT,
SO HERE'S HOW YOU CAN HELP....
SO HERE'S HOW YOU CAN HELP....
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Be a CAMpaign Volunteer
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Join our Social CAMunity
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- Do you want the RCVS to know that you want to choose CAM for your animals under qualified supervision?
- Do you want to choose a species appropriate diet for your animal and have qualified advice on this?
- Do you want full informed consent?
- Are fair and transparent fees important to you?
- Would you like your vet to be comfortable talking to you about these options and, even more importantly, be knowledgeable about these options?
CAM4animals conducted an audit of the evidence the RCVS used to influence their change in position. This evidence was flawed, inaccurate and incomplete. We consider that the RCVS position:
- Reduces the clinical freedom of vets who can no longer treat with or refer an animal onto an appropriately qualified CAM practitioner for treatment with stand-alone alternative therapies, even when they may be the best option. Conventional treatment must be given first or alongside making it a complementary protocol and closing down alternative clinical options.
- Discourages the growth of the CAM veterinary skill pool since new CAM-trained vets are becoming fewer and the extensive knowledge which supports even the complementary option, such as raw-feeding, will vanish.
- Conventional vets may lack accurate knowledge of CAM and so bu unsure about referring on to CAM practitioners.
- Compromises our freedom of choice as animal owners by denying access to alternative treatments as a first line approach within what is a private healthcare system.
- Animals may be denied gentler alternatives that have no toxic or adverse effects, a particular threat to animals who have previously suffered adverse effects from drugs.
You too can be active by asking the RCVS why they have banned alternative therapies.
The following message can be used in an e-mail, Facebook message or on Twitter.
An additional sentence stating that you support CAM4animals would also really help our campaign.
The following message can be used in an e-mail, Facebook message or on Twitter.
An additional sentence stating that you support CAM4animals would also really help our campaign.
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Write to:
Mr Niall Connell at RCVS, Belgravia House, 62-64 Horseferry Road, London SW1P 2AF |
"CAM4animals continues to campaign for all vets to have clinical freedom
to treat animals with alternative medicine or to refer on to suitably qualified
CAM vets and practitioners. This must form a key part of integrated veterinary
care within the 2006 Animal Welfare Act. We will not lose our freedom to
choose alternative medicine and modalities."
SUMMARY of CAM4animals’ AUDIT
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Following a review of the evidence RCVS used to make their Statement:
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The Statement:
• Lacks any proper and unbiased scientific consideration of CAM;
• Significantly relies on opinion, social media commentary and articles rather than individual research papers;
• Is underpinned by three demonstrably flawed reports on homeopathy*;
• Places emphasis on homeopathy alone, ignoring other CAM treatments;
• Lacks a definition for CAM;
• Ignores the animal welfare implications of a ban on alternative therapies; and
• Was influenced by certain Council members who are supported by and associated with a network of organisations committed to discrediting all CAM practitioners.
* Reference: HRI
• Lacks any proper and unbiased scientific consideration of CAM;
• Significantly relies on opinion, social media commentary and articles rather than individual research papers;
• Is underpinned by three demonstrably flawed reports on homeopathy*;
• Places emphasis on homeopathy alone, ignoring other CAM treatments;
• Lacks a definition for CAM;
• Ignores the animal welfare implications of a ban on alternative therapies; and
• Was influenced by certain Council members who are supported by and associated with a network of organisations committed to discrediting all CAM practitioners.
* Reference: HRI
RCVS Statement means:
• The clinical freedom of all vets is compromised;
• Our freedom of choice as animal owners and guardians is at risk;
• Homeopathy has been singled out, but all alternative medicines are affected;
• Farmers will be forced to use antibiotics before proven alternatives like herbs and homeopathy - this is a major concern for organic and antibiotic-free farmers and may reduce our access to organic food and limit the progress of sustainable farming;
• There is a serious threat to the fight against antibiotic resistance with recommendations for further research into herbs* and homeopathy**; and
• CAM specialist vets may have their livelihoods compromised by the effects of the Statement.
* Reference IAVH ** Reference NMIH
• The clinical freedom of all vets is compromised;
• Our freedom of choice as animal owners and guardians is at risk;
• Homeopathy has been singled out, but all alternative medicines are affected;
• Farmers will be forced to use antibiotics before proven alternatives like herbs and homeopathy - this is a major concern for organic and antibiotic-free farmers and may reduce our access to organic food and limit the progress of sustainable farming;
• There is a serious threat to the fight against antibiotic resistance with recommendations for further research into herbs* and homeopathy**; and
• CAM specialist vets may have their livelihoods compromised by the effects of the Statement.
* Reference IAVH ** Reference NMIH
CAM4animals calls for:
• Respectful and balanced collaboration between conventional, CAM-trained and holistic vets and practitioners who can offer ALTERNATIVE modalities;
• Vets to respect the choice of animal owners and guardians to use alternative therapies as the primary treatment approach where appropriate; and
• Open and honest debate to promote education and awareness of CAM’s role in animal health and to encourage new vets and nurses to consider CAM as a valued addition to their training.
• Respectful and balanced collaboration between conventional, CAM-trained and holistic vets and practitioners who can offer ALTERNATIVE modalities;
• Vets to respect the choice of animal owners and guardians to use alternative therapies as the primary treatment approach where appropriate; and
• Open and honest debate to promote education and awareness of CAM’s role in animal health and to encourage new vets and nurses to consider CAM as a valued addition to their training.
Why join us?CAM cf promo from Del Norte Videographics on Vimeo. Making our views known
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From sceptic to
CAM vet Avoiding amputation by using CAM therapies
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