About Charlotte Natural Animal Clinic
Charlotte Natural Animal Clinic is Charlotte’s only veterinary clinic devoted solely to natural, holistic care for animals. Founded in 2012 by Dr. James Schacht, CNAC is the realization of a 25 year dream to provide a place for high quality, holistic care for pets.
Background on Veterinary Homeopathy
In the late 18th century, a disenchanted physician named Samuel Hahnemann became interested in how Peruvian bark, used successfully to treat malarial fevers at that time, actually worked. One experiment involved self-medication with the herb to observe its effect in a healthy individual. After several small doses he began to experience chills, fever, cold extremities, trembling, and drowsiness; in short, the very symptoms of malarial type fever. These symptoms disappeared quickly when he stopped taking the herb. This was the beginning of the development of the science of homeopathy, based on the premise of “like cures like”. Hahnemann went on to discover that by diluting and agitating a solution of a substance, the potency of the medicine is increased, and side effects decreased. He discovered this while working with Belladonna to treat Scarlet fever in children.
In the last 15 to 20 years, homeopathy is making a huge comeback as patients and doctors alike become disillusioned with the rapid increase of chronic disease and the conventional approach of treating symptoms, not the patient.
Veterinary Homeopathy is founded on the premise that symptoms seen in a patient are the result of an imbalance or disharmony in the life force (the innate self-healing mechanism of the body). Rather than divide the symptoms into separate diagnosis and prescribe a different medicine for each one, the veterinary homeopath seeks to find the common cause of all the symptoms and find a single medicine which will bring the entire patient to health and wholeness.
With this premise, there is no condition in any patient which is not treatable with veterinary homeopathy.
DR. JAMES SCHACHT, DVM
VETERINARIAN
Dr. Schacht graduated from the NC State College of Veterinary Medicine in 1988. He co-founded Idlewild Animal Hospital and Commonwealth Animal Hospital and has been in practice since graduation.
After several years of conventional practice, it became apparent to Dr. Schacht that effective treatment options were very limited. The same animals with the same chronic conditions came in over and over again. Antibiotics, steroids, and other strong drugs can be used to temporarily suppress symptoms, but they inevitably return and the animals never receive sustained relief.
With this in mind, Dr. Schacht began to integrate holistic care into his practice. He became certified in veterinary acupuncture in 1994 by the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society and certified in veterinary homeopathy in 1997 by the Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy. He is also well versed in the use of western herbs and Chinese herbal medicine in addition to proper nutritional care for animals. Dr. Schacht has helped restore the health of thousands of animals over the years using holistic modalities.
JEAN DAVEY
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Jean has worked in the field of veterinary medicine as a receptionist since 1981, having first worked at Archdale Animal Hospital. While at Archdale, she met Dr. Schacht and eventually began working for him when he opened Idlewild Animal Hospital.
A lifelong dedication to working with people and their furry friends has allowed Jean to continue doing what she loves. She finds joy in knowing that as Dr. Schachts’ assistant, she is helping to keep the fuzzy family members healthy and happy.
Jean always knew there was an alternative to the, often harsh, sometimes deadly, effects of conventional medicine. She is happy knowing Dr. Schacht has the intense desire and dedication to take the alternative, holistic path – though certainly not the path of least resistance.
The long-lasting result of his dedication allows her to fulfill her life path; an opportunity to help when she can and bring joy and health to the lives of the owners and pets that are presented to them daily.