Ruminating on Remedies, My thoughts on homeopathy

3/14/2025

For the Birds

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Not a photo of the bird that adopted us, but this one looks almost as good as he did.😂

The flu is for the birds and the bird flu, well…

I was asked about homeopathic remedies the other for backyard chickens. We used to have chickens (and a peacock and a Chinese pheasant adopted us for a while, too) and I can tell you that homeopathic remedies work beautifully for birds. (See Homeopathy to the Rescue.)

Let’s start with giving remedies to the birds. Some say to put the remedies directly in their water. If you have a large flock, this might be the only way to do it. But, if you have a small backyard flock and it’s easy to see if only 1 or 2 birds are sickening, I like to put the pellets in a little water (or bone broth) and add some rice to the small bowl because I knew they would always go for the rice, even if they weren’t going to go for the water. (See also Making a Water Dose.) This way, you can isolate the sick chickens and make sure those who are most in need are actually getting the remedy. Another reason I like to give the remedies in a small bowl of water is that when you put the remedies directly in the birds’ waterer, it’s important to remember that every sip is a dose. However, if you have a large flock and you already have some sick birds, “dosing” the entire flock is probably the best way to approach this problem.

As for the bird flu that is going around, the first thought that comes to mind is Oscillococcinum. (“Oscillococcinum 200 actually a patent property of Boiron Laboratory, France” (Julian 1980)).

Well, that’s a bit simplistic, isn’t it… just to suggest using a major homeopathic flu remedy for the bird flu?

Well, no, actually. The main ingredient in Oscillococcinum* is Anas barbariae which is made from the heart and liver of wild duck.

Pierre Schmidt (Schmidt 2025), a homeopath of the 20th century (1894-1987), says “Oscillococcinum is for ‘influenza at the beginning as a preventative, as well as during convalescence.’” “This is the remedy at the beginning of influenza, of rhinitis and otitis. Given early it is very efficacious. To obtain good results in a case which begins and to cut short the manifestations of influenza, it is necessary to use one dose of Oscillococcinum 200c every 2 to 3 hours or repeat only if necessary” (Murphy).

See here and here and here and here and here for some studies and here* for a review of Oscillococcinum trials. (Note: I think it is fair to say that at this point in history, there are not many fans of homeopathy in the mainstream medical system, and that includes researchers. Finding positive research on homeopathy is tough going for a couple of reasons: The main one, in my opinion, is that mainstream medicine has not been educated about homeopathy and therefore dismiss it as quackery. The other important reason why it is hard to find good research on the efficacy of homeopathy is that at its core, homeopathy is individualized medicine — a remedy that works for one person’s symptoms may not necessarily work for the next person’s symptoms. (See also: What to Expect.)

Could Oscillococcinum work for birds and bird flu? I would certainly be willing to try it if I still had my backyard flock and if I was worried about bird flu.

Apparently, bird flu is in my area (said my chicken-keeping neighbor), so I looked up what to look for in the flock.

According to the Australian Government (2023):

coughing, sneezing, watery eyes, lack of appetite, ruffled feathers, fever, weakness and staggering
combs and wattles may look swollen, enlarged and discolored (purple or blue)
hens may lay soft-shelled eggs before ceasing to lay

The Scottish Government (2025) says to look for:

respiratory distress, diarrhea, loss of appetite or a drop in egg production of more than 5%.

So, what I’m seeing in these government documents, other than the combs and wattles and egg laying, are signs of the flu, but in chickens. With that in mind, symptoms are symptoms and remedies are remedies… meaning… it doesn’t matter if it’s a bird or a dog or a human, the symptoms will be noticeable and those symptoms can be addressed through the same homeopathic remedies regardless of showing up in a bird or a dog or a human. Sneezing is sneezing. Watery eyes are watery eyes. Fevers are fevers. Weakness is weakness.

The only difference here, though, the chicken can’t tell us if the watery eyes or the diarrhea are acrid or bland. They can’t tell us if they they ache. Chickens run hot compared to humans (106 F) (Hobby Farms 2019), so telling if they have a fever could be a little tricky to begin with.

My last article, When you have to get up… has a nice, long list of flu symptoms and possible remedies. I would say any chicken symptoms you could match with that list would work fine and dandy. The trick is translating what you’re seeing in your birds into human language.

A more severe form of this disease which “presents suddenly, often with very high mortality, with affected birds developing swollen heads [emphasis mine], a blue coloration of the comb and wattles, dullness, lack of appetite, respiratory distress, diarrhea and significant drop in egg production” (2025) is another matter.

Looking back in time a bit, The Poultry Doctor (Chambers 2018) originally published in 1891, mentions a swelled head:

“From some cause not clear, the heads of hens will often swell greatly and be very hot. Exposure to draughts of air, however, is a fruitful cause of both swelled heads and swollen eyes. Spongia has given relief in many cases but Belladonna is the indicated remedy for this trouble; Bryonia also will relieve.”

All three of these remedies are excellent flu remedies, in general.

What else may help ward off the bird flu in your flock? This article has a short list of possible flu preventatives which may be applicable:

Aconite 200c + Bryonia 30c at the first sign of anything.
Ferrum phos also at the first sign.
Nat mur, especially if you can catch that first sneeze.
Narayani Flu Pack, Mix 79 could also be considered.

Prior to any symptoms showing up, Hyland’s Bioplasma* (or any other source of the combined cell salts — this is just the easiest to come by in most natural food stores in the US) is another good option. A couple of pellets of this combination of the twelve cell salts could easily be dropped in the flocks’ waterer for a while to help shore up their immune systems.

We birds of a homeopathic feather need to flock together to keep sharing information on homeopathic remedies for humans and fowl alike!

— if you would like to schedule a consult with me, drop me a line at [email protected].

Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical homeopath

#wellnessawaits

* I have no affiliation with this company, I just like their products.
** This review is not really in favor of Oscillococcinum, however, I think it’s very important to note that in the “Authors’ conclusions” that it “could have a clinically useful treatment effect but, given the low quality of the eligible studies, the evidence is not compelling. There was no evidence of clinically important harms due to Oscillococcinum.” [emphasis mine]

Reference list

Australian Government, 2023. Bird flu (Avian influenza) - DAFF [online]. Agriculture.gov.au.

Beghi, G. M. and Morselli-Labate, A. M., 2016. Does homeopathic medicine have a preventive effect on respiratory tract infections? A real life observational study. Multidisciplinary Respiratory Medicine, 11 (1).

Boericke and Tafel, 2018. The Poultry Doctor: The homeopathic treatment and care of chickens, turkeys, gees, ducks and singing birds. 2018 ed.

Colombo, G. L., Di Matteo, S., Martinotti, C., Oselin, M., Bruno, G. and Beghi, G. M., 2018. The preventive effect on respiratory tract infections of Oscillococcinum®. A cost-effectiveness analysis. ClinicoEconomics and Outcomes Research [online], Volume 10, 75–82.

Dutta, A., Manna, A., Ghosh, S., Mundle, M., Saha, M., Kumar Gourav, Sukhdeb Maiti and Chattopadhyay, B., 2024. Prespecified Homeopathic Medicines in the Prevention of Confirmed and Suspected Cases of COVID-19: A Community-Based, Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Prophylaxis Trial. Complementary Medicine Research, 31 (2), 140–148.

Hobby Farms, 2019. Chickens & Body Temperature: What You Need to Know [online]. Hobby Farms.

Homeopathy Plus, 2024. Bird Flu: Are We at Risk [online]. Homeopathyplus.com.

Julian, O. A., 1980. Treatise on Dynamised Micro-Immunotherapy. First Indian Edition, 1980. New Delhi - 110055 (India): B. Jain Publishers (P.) Ltd.

Mathie, R. T., Frye, J. and Fisher, P., 2015. Homeopathic Oscillococcinum® for preventing and treating influenza and influenza-like illness. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.

Murphy, R., 2006. Nature’s materia medica : 1,400 homeopathic and herbal remedies. Blackburg, Va.: Lotus Health Institute, November.

Schmidt, P., 2025. Pierre Schmidt [online]. Remedia-homeopathy.com.

Scottish Government, 2025. Avian influenza (bird flu): how to spot and report the disease - gov.scot [online]. www.gov.scot.

UCHealth, 2024. The bird flu has spread to dairy cows. Do you need to worry about another pandemic? [online]. UCHealth Today.

Vickers, A. J. and Smith, C., 2004. Homoeopathic Oscillococcinum for preventing and treating influenza and influenza-like syndromes. Cochrane Database System Review.

1/14/2023

Barks in the night

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Waking up in the middle of the night to your little one “barking” and struggling to breathe is a frightening thing.

Croup, according to Taber’s Medical Dictionary “is an acute viral disease, usually occurring in children from 6 months to 5 years and marked by a resonant barking cough, (sounding like a seal), and varying degrees of respiratory distress" (Venes and Clarence Wilbur Taber 2013).

Croup isn’t a separate disease unto itself — it’s something that can develop from a common cold or flu. “If there’s enough swelling, irritation and coughing, a child can develop:

Loud barking cough that’s made worse by crying and coughing, as well as anxiety and distress, setting up a cycle of worsening symptoms.
Fever
Hoarse voice
Noisy or labored breathing

Symptoms of croup are often worse at night and usually last for 3 to 5 days" (Mayo Clinic 2019).

Mayo says to seek medical attention if your child:

makes noisy, high-pitched breathing sounds when breathing both in and out
makes high-pitched breathing sounds when not crying or upset
begins drooling or has problems swallowing
seems anxious, upset and restless or extra tired and has no energy
breathes at a faster rate than usual
struggles to breathe
develops a blue or gray tint around the nose, in or around the mouth or on the fingernails.

(Those pulse oximeters we all purchased in the last couple of years can be put to good use here.)

Despite how scary it sounds, croup isn’t usually serious and it mostly can be treated at home.

Why the barking? The cough forces air through the swollen and irritated passageway and results in a seal-like bark.

My oldest was prone to this and it is indeed an unnerving experience. I didn’t know about homeopathy then, but we were able to treat him at home each time by sitting in the steamy bathroom until it all calmed down.

Conversely, taking the child outside into the cold night air or having them stand in front of an open freezer can also do the trick (Cleveland Clinic 2021).

How can homeopathy help?

The first remedy to consider for croup is Aconitum napellus, or Aconite, for short. (Remember! Aconite rhymes with fright!) It’s a pretty sure bet that both the child and the parent* will be frightened! Use Aconite at the first sign. Repeat, if needed. Aconite is the “go-to” remedy for any illness with rapid onset. * Don’t forget Ignatia for the worried parent!

Other homeopathic options for croup:

Spongia tosta is the next remedy to consider if the Aconite did not take care of it quickly. Spongia is known to have a cough which sounds like a saw going through wood — a very dry cough and warm drinks are probably helpful.

Hepar sulph might be useful in the morning or in the following days when the cough can sound basically the same, but it changes to a wetter cough — loose and possibly rattling. There may be some choking fits that accompany the cough.

Repeat the chosen remedy every 15-20 minutes, if needed. If the child falls asleep, that’s good! If they wake again, repeat the remedy.

(Click for an instructive video of cough sounds and their corresponding homeopathic remedies.)

If your child is prone to croup, consider working with a professional homeopath to help prevent recurrences.

Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical homeopath

#wellnessawaits

References:

Allen College of Homoeopathy, n.d. Listen the Cough Sounds & Diagnose the Remedy (Part 1)

Cleveland Clinic, 2021. How to Care for Your Child’s Croupy Cough [online]. Cleveland Clinic.

Kessels, L., n.d. Home Remedies for Colds and Croup: Do They Work? [online]. www.stlouischildrens.org.

Mayo Clinic, 2019. Croup - Symptoms and causes [online]. Mayo Clinic.

Venes, D. and Clarence Wilbur Taber, 2013. Taber’s cyclopedic medical dictionary. [22nd ed., ISBN: 9780803629776]. Philadelphia, Pa.: F.A. Davis.

Ruminating on Remedies

Julia Coyte, CHom

For the Birds

Barks in the night

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