The following crystals have been shown to be the most effective:

*Bach Flower Remedies:

These flower essences, like homeopathy, work on the body's energy field or aura. However do not confuse them
with homeopathy as they are two different approaches and require different methods of administration. Bach
Flower remedies infuse the patient's aura with the positive energy from a particular flower or group
of flowers. Bach Flower remedies are very safe for hedgehogs and there are no negative side effects. To administer these to
your hedgehog, put 2 drops of the selected remedy in a 30ml medicine bottle containing 3/4 spring water
and 1/4 cider vinegar, or alcohol. The vinegar or alcohol will preserve the mixture. Keep this mixture
tightly capped in the refrigerator.
For hedgehogs, the dose is 2 drops, 3 to 4 times daily. In an acute situation, you may have to give more
frequently (every 15 - 20 minutes) until the hedgehog's condition has improved. The dose is best given
orally. Continue with the daily dose until the hedgehog has improved, usually within 10 days in serious cases if
the animal is going to respond. Acutely ill animals will usually show a response within a few hours.

To get the best from the 38 Bach Flower essences, study them all to see which ones are best suited to your
hedgehog's needs. Bach Flower remedies are compatible with all other alternative treatments and with
conventional veterinary drugs.
Bach Flower Remedies are sold in many pet stores and health food stores.
To find out more about these remedies, go to the following website:

Animal Nutrition Center/Bach Remedies

Rainbow Crystal/Bach Remedies

New Bach Remedy Therapies

Animal Communicators:

Animal Communicators are individual's who have the ability to see inside of our animals and tell us what they are
thinking, and feeling. If an illness is present, they can offer insight to that as well. Although
skeptical at first, I was soon convinced that there are some people out there who truly have this gift. I
personally have used Elizabeth Severino and found her to be an accurate, and a very caring, gifted, and
compassionate woman. I know others who have claimed Lydia Hiby to be a very gifted communicator as well.
If you are at all interested in finding out more about this subject, try the following sites and see what you think!

Elizabeth Severino-Animal Communicator

Lydia Hiby-Animal Communicator






Reiki is a form of hands on healing. Basically it means to channel healing energy through your body and into the
recipient. This technique is now being used in many hospitals throughout the country, as more and more
come to see it as a valid and useful tool to help the sick and injured, and to calm people prior to
surgery and other procedures. Reiki works directly on the subjects energy field, or aura, to bring
balance and improve health. It can also work on the emotions, helping people to cope with a difficult situation
that has or is happening to them.
I am a 2nd Degree Reiki Practitioner. I have been practicing for many years and have worked on many people, but I
feel that my biggest calling is to work with animals. When I work with a subject, I begin by visualizing
white and purple healing lights around them, I then "scan" the body to attempt to ascertain
where the trouble may lie. In doing this, a troubled spot may feel cooler, or more dense or even like a hole in
the energy field. When that is located, the energy I channel is concentrated to that area of the body.
I feel that when performing Reiki, that it is important to take in account the person's or animal's
state of mine, not just where the physical problems lay. Animals are on a whole, usually very
susceptible to Reiki, but there is always the exception. Often they will accept what your offering with total
trust, but move away when they have had enough. Trust that they know what they are doing, and save
additional treatments for another time. Do not ever try and force them to lay still or to stay put.
Although there is a lot more to Reiki then what I have described here, and training is considered favorable,
anyone who has the true desire can practice hands on healing. Just chose a quiet place, perhaps light a white
candle, and while you and the animal are in that safe place, start the visualization technique I
described above, surround them with light, and run your hands around them, leaving nothing un-checked. If the
animal is not open to direct touch, you can hover your hands directly above them by an inch or two.
Feel healing energy flow into your feet, through your body and heart, down your arms and out your
hands. "See" whatever it is you seek for your subject. In other words, if you know what the problem is,
visualize that animal being healed, see that animal running healthy and living a happy, healthy, normal life. Do
not be surprised if in your hands you feel heat and or a tingling sensation. This is normal!
Like any other treatments, alternative or otherwise, nothing is is a guarantee. Do not feel you have failed
if
the end result isn't what you wanted or expected. Rest assured that the healing energy you gave to your
pet was a precious gift, and that the energy did its work where it was most needed. Sometimes that can
take the form of a physical healing, and other times, in the form of an emotional healing.

To learn more about Reiki, go to the following websites:

Reiki Circle

Reiki and Pets

Elizabeth Severino

Massage Therapy:

I was never really involved with massage therapy on my animals until my hedgehog Tommy came to have WHS
(wobbly hedgehog syndrome). I had done plenty of massage work on human subjects however, and am very familiar
with its benefits to mind, body and spirit. I thought this would also be beneficial to him as
well. Tommy's paralysis was rapid and as with human beings, a paralyzed state causes muscles to atrophy and
internal organs to shut down. Thus began my routine of daily massage therapy on my hedgehog Tommy. Some of my
techniques came from the knowledge I already had about the human body, still another aspect branched out
from my Reiki practice as massage and Reiki work hand in hand beautifully. Still another aspect
came
from reading about a specific form of massage known as the Tellington Touch, or T-Touch as it
is often referred to.
The intent of T-Touch is to activate the function of cells and open the pathways to healing.
T-Touch is basically done by making 1 1/4 clockwise circle turns along the area your working on, progressively
moving along the body. The pressure you use depends on the type and size of the animal your
working on, what the problem is, and their acceptance level. There are 9 levels of pressure in
T-Touch. I would never use beyond a 2nd or 3rd level on a small animal such as a hedgehog. A good way to
practice the pressure you use, is by closing your eyes and making a 1 1/4 circle on your closed eyelid. It
doesn't take much to feel it, does it? With hedgehogs, I use a very light touch, beginning at the rump or head
(depending on how accepting the patient is, and lightly, but firmly start making these circles, all the
while moving my way up or down the spinal column, to the sides, and even the abdomen, face, legs and
feet if the animal is open to it. If the animal is not comfortable with one level of pressure, use
a lighter one.
I have used this method on 3 of my hedgehogs and have had varying degrees of acceptance ranging from complete, as
with Tommy, to moderate acceptance, as with Spicket and Emma. I have also used this technique on cats
and dogs; my own as well as others, all with high acceptance rates except in the instance of 1
particular cat who had a very low tolerance level to it.
I have found that with massage and Reiki, not only is it relaxing and healing for your animal, it also benefits
you and opens the door to a greater bond between you and your companion animals.

Homeopathy:

It has been said that homeopathy is one of the most gentle and sympathetic forms of healing. Homeopathy respects
each person and animal as being unique and individual. Homeopathic's acts deep within the
organism, making lasting cures at all levels; physical, emotional and mental. Most conventional doctors are not
trained to look at their patients ailments as a whole, they tend to treat each ailment separately and
consequently the base cause is seldom found, or permanently eradicated.
It is not my intention to go into any real depth about homeopathy, but I have used it and do believe in it's
capacity to heal. I strongly recommend every pet owner to look into finding a good Homeopathic Vet in their
area, and to study up on this fascinating subject. There are many good books written as well as limitless
information on the web.

My most in-depth experience with homeopathic medications was with my hedgehog Tommy, who had WHS. Though these
treatments did not cure him, I really do believe they gave him a much longer and higher quality of
life then he would have had otherwise. I have also used homeopathic's on my other animals for minor
problems and did see improvement.

There are several more commonly used medications you can purchase to begin building your own supply.
Among these are:

ACONITE; Useful for situations involving fear, colds, cough, sore throat, earache, eye inflammations etc that have had a sudden onset.

ARNICA: Number one remedy for bruising and shock that follows accidental injuries;
also sprains and strains.

ARSENICUM: Useful for diarrhea, nausea and vomiting.

CALENDULA: Use for open cuts and wounds externally as a gel, cream or diluted tincture
directly to the area around an incision site.

CANTHARIS: Used for bladder infection and cysitis.

CHAMOMILLA: Used to treat irritability, has a calming effect.

PHOSPHORUS: Useful for individuals that are very nervous and sensitive, and who do not want to
be alone. Where deep anxiety is caused by sudden loud noises, and shadows.

NUX VOMICA: For nausea and vomiting.


Just an example of some homeopathic remedies. It's important to not allow your
hands to touch the tablets.


*REFERENCES: The Natural Hedgehog, by Lenni Sykes and Jane Durrant, as seen below:




An excellant resource book for herbal remedies:




Sage Woman Herbs:A good resource for herbs, especially for those
harder to find varieties.

To learn more, click on the following sites:

Cool Pet Sites: This site contains a vast amount of links to various alternative healing sites. Just scroll down on their homepage and click on Alternative Medicine.

Homeopathy For Animals



Welsh Hedgehog Hospital's Online Catalog/Homeopathic Supplies




Click On:

This website claims no particular endorsement to Spiritual Minds.Com,
but added it only for those interested in researching these areas.



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