Homeopathic Farm Support

“Organic farmers constitute only a smallish percentage of animal farming activity but conventional farmers look for alternative animal health options too,” says Tineke Verkade of Homeopathic Farm Support (HFS) based in Hamilton. “Those with knowledge utilise homeopathics early and their animals are not as sick when the vet arrives. Homeopathy is safe and effective, and symptoms are not suppressed for later recurrence. It’s environmentally friendly, economical, and leaves no residues to taint milk or meat.”

When Tineke left her native Holland in 1977, she was a Registered Nurse and Nursing Tutor. In a northern village of Drenthe her parents kept animals and cropped. Villagers helped each other cut hay, keep weeds down and harvest potatoes; substantially different from New Zealand farming styles which, nevertheless, offered open space and freedom of work choices. Almost immediately Tineke secured a Senior Staff Nurse position at Waikato Hospital where she worked for 16 years.

Always interested in natural methods and wanting to raise her youngsters with good food, Tineke began a four year Naturopathy course with South Pacific College of Natural Medicine in Ellerslie.  In Year Two she started a second four year course in Homeopathy at Bay of Plenty Homeopathy College, all the while continuing her job at Waikato Hospital. To complete the homeopathic course she was obliged to treat actual patients, so in 1991 opened a part-time homeopathic practice.  By 1993 the practice had become so large she left Waikato Hospital in favour of full-time homeopathy and hasn’t looked back.

“Some of my patients were farmers who said, ‘You do good work for us and the kids. The cows are sick. Can you help them?”

The cows suffered mainly from mastitis, infertility and lameness. Eventually increasing farmer demands resulted in the institution of HFS. Tineke regularly provides homeopathic assistance to the full range of domestic and farm stock. “If recommended guidelines are diligently followed,” she says, “the animal return-to-health rate is very high.”

Farmer demand for assistance grew, and while she still tends human patients, Tineke specialises in animal health. She completed an animal homeopathy course through BOP Homeopathy College, thereby earning the NZQA qualification for farm animal health. Farmers taught her about the common conditions they contend with; ryegrass staggers, pink eye, mastitis (rare on organic blocks).

“My medical knowledge was tremendously helpful. I understood human biological systems, and animals, except for birds, have the same kinds of systems. A cow has four stomachs, but they operate much as a human one.”

Farmer requests for information increased so in 1996 Tineke began running courses. The shift towards organic/natural methods is reflected in the chock full courses and seminars she offers all over the country.

“Administering homeopathics to a herd of cows is best achieved through the water trough. Individuals are sprayed on mucous membranes. Dairy farmers see their cows twice daily so they can accurately convey current symptoms.”

One farmer’s dog survived being run over by the tractor but was in such terrible pain with severe head injury and a dragging hind leg, the farmer thought he would bite. She gave him one spray of Arnica and rang the vet. They jabbed him with anti-inflammatory and prescribed the human equivalent of Nurofen to start next morning. She dosed him acutely with Arnica instead, then followed with one daily spray for the full ten day course. He was in la-la land for nine days but today gets a weekly Arnica spray and does full duties, with only a slight limp, improving daily.

“A herd of 3,000 sheep is virtually impossible to attend individually, particularly little lambies. We wait until they’re yarded for docking, drenching or weaning, to administer homeopathics. We load a clean knapsack and stand above them as they are yarded. They look up and we spray their noses.”

Tineke was so often asked for written information to which farmers might refer, that she wrote the Homeopathic Handbook for Dairy Farming (now in 2^nd edition). If farmers are accustomed to homeopathics and understand the theory, the Handbook provides all they need, but most will need to also call the HFS freephone for support. Next came books on Alpacas, Horses and Humans.

“Alpacas are normally always on small blocks,” says Tineke. “They are sturdy animals from Peru but our soil fertility is different so mothers can lack sufficient milk. They’re also subject to ryegrass staggers.

“Horses can suffer ryegrass staggers, and often, stress. Ignatia calms stressed animals which have been transported, or are trying to find their place in the herd, or have just given birth. It’s particularly useful for heifers which are for the first time in the milking shed and being obnoxious, and it settles aggressive bulls. It works for humans too!”

“Sepia enhances cycling. If it’s put in the water trough where there hasn’t been much activity, over a couple of days suddenly there’s lots of activity with an excellent success rate.”

Today Homeopathic Farm Support employs six staff and is rapidly outgrowing its premises and manufacturing plant. Their most successful products include a Teat Spray, a Natural Teat Conditioner, and a worm-related Herbal Digestive Drench. HFS is the only NZ homeopathic entity with BioGro organic certification and Class determination from ACVM (Agriculture Compound and Veterinary Medicine). Their Natural Teat Conditioner is ACVM registered.

Tineke holds a Bachelor of Health Science in Complementary Business.

“Many people train in animal homeopathy” says Tineke, “but most don’t go into business seriously.  Some vets are also trained homeopaths and they have a lot of knowledge and diagnostic tools.  I have been lucky to be able to tap into their reservoir of knowledge.  When the Theileria (tick) scare occurred last year, an organically-minded vet informed me early and provided samples and support which allowed me to manufacture a homeopathic remedy.”

Voted Enterprising Rural Woman of the Year for the North Island as well as for all of NZ in 2010, and taking out the Organics Aotearoa Enterprising Award in 2011, Tineke combines business acumen with solid medical and homeopathic knowledge, as well as a keen interest in healthy, happy livestock….and farmers!

 

First published in Organic NZ,  magazine of the Soil & Health Assoc.

https://organicnz.org.nz

 

©Theresa Sjoquist