Gemmotherapy is a healing system that draws on the special properties of plant and tree buds. It was developed in Europe over 35 years ago, although preliminary research on using buds therapeutically was started by Dr. Pol Henry of Belgium in the 1950s. After extensive clinical research on these immature plant materials, Dr. Max Tetau introduced the gemmotherapy technique in 1971.

THE HEALING POWER OF PLANTS
The buds or young shoots of immature plants contain active ingredients that begin to disappear as they mature. These include growth factors, which contain phytohormones, auxins and gibberellins. Auxins have a fetal hormonal action, while gibberellins stimulate RNA and protein synthesis. The buds or shoots are macerated and extracted with glycerin for 21 days, then made into a potency of 1X. Researchers have found that this process releases the greatest amount of healing potential from the plants. The gemmotherapy system uses 60 different plants and trees, each of which has very specific actions on a living organism.

WHY GEMMOTHERAPY?
The main principle behind gemmotherapy is the promotion of drainage and detoxification at a cellular level. Only when this happens can the body truly heal itself. Drainage and detoxing in patients has changed over the centuries – hormones, vaccinations, drugs and petrochemicals are rampant in our environment as compared to in the past. These toxins can block the replication of cells. Without these cell replications, organ failure results.

ANOTHER TOOL FOR THE TOOLBOX
I have used classical homeopathy, acupuncture, glandular therapy, nutrition, aromatherapy and Bach flowers for over 20 years. Sometimes my cases did not progress no matter what I tried; there was a factor involved that none of my modalities could remedy. It wasn’t until I discovered gemmotherapy that I was able to help these otherwise “incurable” cases. By no means am I suggesting this system is a cure-all, because there is no such thing. I am simply sharing with you another tool that can complement any modality you are presently using, including conventional surgery and pharmaceuticals.

THE HEALING PROCESS
After evaluating each patient individually and assessing their toxic state, I select one to eight gemmotherapies and have them administered one to four times per day, depending on his or her particular needs and responses to treatment.

The beauty of this system is you can start it along with other programs and get a complementary effect. Chronic debilitated cases should be started out slowly, with an understanding that things can get worse before they get better. I have found that between one and five drops one to two times a day will prevent this. If you have an ultra-sensitive patient, I suggest mixing one drop in a half cup of spring water and giving one drop of this mixture until you are comfortable with the reaction. I then reduce the amount of water and gradually increase the dose of the remedy until I reach five drops a day with no adverse reaction.

At this point, if there are no more symptoms, I put the patient on a maintenance dose of five drops once a week as a preventive. I feel that areas of the body most impacted by environmental toxins need continued support to prevent them from re-building up toxins and inhibiting the body’s ability to replicate cells. Toxins impact the gastrointestinal tract, nervous system, liver and kidneys the most, making them prime areas to concentrate on for drainage treatment and prevention.

GEMMOTHERAPY AND YOUR HORSE
Thus far, my experience with gemmotherapy in horses is limited to clients who consult with me via phone and computer. But my findings have been the same as for dogs and cats; it helps all animals. I recommend you give the remedies orally in a treat or in your horse’s food at a dose of five to 20 drops per treatment. Horses tolerate gemmotherapy very well. If a horse does not like to take the remedies orally, I have the client massage them into the area of concern or into the inside of the horse’s ears (all the acupuncture points for the entire body are found in this location). When I use it topically, I refer to it as gemmo acupuncture, and it is very effective. Once the horse is clear of symptoms, I recommend a maintenance dose once a week to help prevent a return of the degenerative predisposition.

Gemmotherapies are mainly sold through health professionals, as they should be. You need to monitor your patients and understand what the remedies are doing so the treatment can be adjusted accordingly. “The sole purpose of the physician is to awaken the doctor within.” Let this be your focus in learning how to use gemmotherapy with your horse.

FOR YOUR EQUINE “BUD”
Over the past ten years of using this system, I have found the following gemmotherapies to be the ones I use most in my practice. Become familiar with these and you will find your horses improving more rapidly and staying healthier when challenged with the toxicity of our modern world.

DR. STEPHEN BLAKE IS A CERTIFIED HOMEOPATHIC VETERINARIAN AND VETERINARY ACUPUNCTURIST LOCATED IN CALIFORNIA. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THEPETWHISPERER.COM. “I RECOMMEND YOU WORK WITH YOUR VETERINARIAN. IF S/HE IS NOT FAMILIAR WITH GEMMOTHERAPY, HAVE HIM OR HER EMAIL ME AT DRBLAKEGEMMO@AOL.COM AND I WILL HELP HIM/HER ANY WAY I CAN”.