Peter is a veterinary surgeon and Veterinary Dean of the Faculty of Homeopathy. Peter has also been involved with BAHVS (British Association for Homeopathic Veterinary Surgeons) and IAVH (International Association for Veterinary Homeopathy) for many years.
When did you first become interested in homeopathy? After a decade in conventional medicine, I was becoming increasingly dissatisfied with the results I was getting and started to explore alternatives. After attending a one-day introductory course run by Dr Jeremy Swayne and vet Chris Day and reading Chris’s book, I started to use homeopathy myself.
Back then, it was mostly first aid remedies until one day I saw a dog suffering from arthritis of the spine caused by an accident. None of the conventional painkillers had relieved his pain for more than a few days, but Rhus tox cured him. It may have been beginner’s luck, but it was a miracle all the same and more than enough to get me hooked!
As well as being a newly appointed Trustee of H-UK, what is your “day job”? I am veterinary surgeon, but I do very little clinical work these days apart from a few days every year when I help my friend Tim Couzens at his holistic veterinary practice in Sussex. Most of my time is taken up teaching homeopathy to vets. And I write – I’m in the process of finalising a second edition of my book “Insights into Veterinary Homeopathy”.
What attracted you to the Trustee role? Vets are the second biggest professional group in the Faculty but they are (excuse the pun) very different animals to doctors, so I’ve found it’s important to have a representative on Council and in other areas. I’ve been an admirer and supporter of H-UK for many years, so I’m looking forward to adding some veterinary knowledge to discussions and meetings.
What has been your proudest moment to date – professionally or personally? Where to start? A couple of winning goals in amateur cup finals; being made a Fellow of the Faculty; holding the first copy of my book in my hands; and the day not long before he died that my Yorkshire-born Dad actually told me he was proud of me!
If you weren’t a homeopath, what career would you have chosen? A football player was my first choice, but after a failed trial at Bristol Rovers I would have settled for language teacher.
Name one remedy you couldn’t live without. I have successfully used Cimicifugia on myself to treat a few bouts of chronic fatigue/fibromyalgia. Professionally, I couldn’t do without Causticum. I see a lot of old dogs with a combination of arthritis, weakness of the hind legs and incontinence. Sometimes they also have periodic convulsions or a chronic cough. These cases really tug the heart and the remedy Causticum can be lifesaving. I also have huge respect for Carcinosin which can produce a response when nothing else seems to work.
Aside from work, do you have any interesting or unusual hobbies or interests? I play the melodeon (button accordion) and for a while was part of a team of Morris dancers. Now it’s reserved for sessions down the pub! Since moving to a small holding in South Wales in 2022, I have started keeping bees, am slowly getting to grips with a chainsaw and am also learning Welsh.
I am also kept busy with our four dogs. We have three Jack Russells (one of whom is geriatric) and a young Border Collie who arrived as tiny pup from the rescue centre where my partner works and never left us!
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