There is no denying the fact that close contact with animals brings great benefits to humans. It is not for nothing that our distant ancestors deified the images of various animals and worshiped them.
If you look at the ancient rites from a medical point of view, you can understand that the totem played the role of a kind of psychologist.
People came to him with requests, and they believed that he would help. Ritual dances around the totem helped recharge energy before the battle and relieve tension after an unsuccessful hunt.
Hippocrates scientifically substantiated and used horseback riding as a rehabilitation method of treatment. In ancient Greece, the sages forced the sick to spend time with dogs, and this helped many to get rid of diseases.
And the Egyptians believed in the healing abilities of cats. In India and China, patients were instructed to listen to birdsong. Almost every hospital in the ancient East kept a peacock, it was believed that the contemplation of its beauty would bring recovery.
Animal Therapy
Today, animal therapy (animal. lat – animal) is singled out as an independent science. This is one of the types of progressive therapy that heals with the help of animals or their images.
The misconception that animals carry infection, create unsanitary conditions, has led to an unprecedented increase in depression and stress, against which a huge number of serious diseases develop.
The positive influence of animals successfully covers those minor inconveniences that are inevitable when keeping a pet. It has been scientifically proven that families with dogs, cats, hamsters, birds or fish are less likely to seek medical help.
And the psychological situation in the house and the nervous state of family members are much better than where there are no animals.
Types of animal therapy
Methods of influence of animal therapy are divided into two types:
Non-targeted therapy. It implies communication with animals at home, not realizing the healing properties of this effect.
Directed therapy. Methodically developed treatment programs using specially trained animals. This type of animal therapy is subdivided depending on which animal the classes are held with.
- hippotherapy,
- Dolphin Therapy,
- Felinotherapy,
- Canistherapy.
As a therapeutic effect on the psyche, images of animals are used: their photographs, drawings, three-dimensional images. Excellent results are obtained by listening to the sounds made by animals.
Hippotherapy
Hippotherapy (treatment with a horse) has several irreplaceable qualities. Powerful psychological impact, as well as massage qualities, and stabilization of the musculoskeletal system.
Classes with horses help the recovery of children with all forms of cerebral palsy, with complex mental disorders, nervous diseases.
The huge positive emotional background created by the horse during communication stimulates the body to produce hormones that independently cope with the disease.
Dolphin therapy
Studying the life of dolphins, led scientists to the conclusion that these animals have an intelligence comparable only to that of a human.
Communication with them is the strongest stabilizer of the psycho-emotional state. The results of dolphin therapy in the treatment of severe genetic diseases surpass even hippotherapy.
It is noted that after several sessions, clarity of thinking returns, a sober assessment of the situation, aggression decreases, and a desire for life appears.
Canistherapy
Classes with dogs give not only emotional satisfaction in communication, but also contribute to the prevention of the cardiovascular system.
The dog increases the emotional situation in the house, reduces conflict. And dog saliva contains lysozyme, an enzyme that has antibacterial properties.
Constant contact with the dog contributes to the production of endorphin – a hormone that stimulates the immune system, which helps the body fight disease.
Special dogs are prepared for animal therapy. Breed does not play any role, dogs are selected according to their character and abilities.
Felinotherapy
Treatment with the help of cats occupies a special position in animal therapy. The fact is that cats have excellent energy sensitivity and a strong biofield.
They feel the state of a person’s health, recognize the places of the source of pain, and lie down on this place, attracting pain to themselves, while giving their energy for treatment.
The constant presence of a cat strengthens the immune system, relieves spasms, its purring has the ability to stimulate the body’s rehabilitation systems. It speeds up wound healing and healing of fractures.
The properties of bees and leeches are also used in the treatment, although they do not belong to the animal family, but they bring no less benefit.