This winter Angel got a sinus infection. It was only on one side. The infection drained out of her left nostril and boy did it stink. I called the vet and Angel was traditionally treated, namely with antibiotics. The infection cleared and I thought she was all better. However, within a week, the deadly smell returned, as did the yellow discharge from her nostril. I called my usual vet, Britt Mills (http://www.millsvet.com/), who was away when the infection first appeared. Britt explained that, in her experience, antibiotics rarely cure a sinus infection in horses. She explained all the possible causes and then recommended various natural treatments. Acupuncture can be used to treat a sinus infection, more than one session often being needed. Homeopathy is also used to treat sinus infections. Herbs can be used to strengthen the immune system and support the cleansing of the body. I had already started feeding Angel crushed garlic as a natural antibiotic, and ceyenne pepper to stimulate her circulation. I was also giving her astragulus powder to strengthen her immune system. (In Vernon you can buy many dried herbs from Anna's Vitamins on 27th Street.) I decided to try homeopathy. Britt prescribed the medicines and treatment began. It has now been a few weeks since the treatment ended and there are no longer any signs that Angel has a sinus infection! Unlike the antibiotics, the homeopathic medicines have no side effects. Also, they are considerably cheaper. Just like Angel, we two-leggeds can access natural treatments when we are ailing. There are naturopathic treatments, acupuncture, massage, and many other treatment modalities we all can access. Often people's extended health plans provide some coverage for natural treatments. There are also books that explain how these natural therapies work. Definitely worth investigating!

More and more I am recognizing that some people have a highly sensitive personality. If you google this personality type, you will likely come across the name of Elaine Aron. She is the author of several books about the highly sensitive personality. Like all personality types, the highly sensitive personality has strengths and challenges. One strength is that one very easily picks up the feelings of those around her or him. Although we are all effected by others' feelings, not all of us easily feel others' feelings. And if you are not aware of your ability to empathize with others to the degree that you actually feel what the other is feeling, one can often end up feeling overwhelmed, and maybe even out of control. Working with people who are highly sensitive who have not realized they have this personality type has made me aware of how helpful it is to learn more about your own personality type. For the highly sensitive personality, it is very helpful, and also relieving to realize that some of the feelings they experience during the course of a day have actually been picked up in the interactions with others, and are not about themselves. There are skills one can learn to help distinguish between what belongs to me and what belongs to the other. Interestingly, most horses are highly sensitive. It is this character trait that allows them so clearly to mirror to us what we are feeling.