Rugby stars go left field for healing

By ELLEN READ

Rugby players and homeopathic medicines make an unlikely combination but Super 12 favourites the Crusaders are converts.

The team is using homeopathic remedies, first developed over 200 years ago, to help manage the natural healing of bruising, cramp and joint pain experienced en route to the Super 12 final.

And the ability of the small Rotorua company which produces and supplies the products to capitalise on the fortuitous marketing opportunity shows the business savvy which has made it such a success story.

Naturo Pharm has been manufacturing homeopathic remedies for more than 20 years.

Managing director Bill Usher, a pharmacist by profession, founded the company in the late 1970s, commissioning a purpose- built laboratory and manufacturing facility.

Now with 27 employees, the firm has moved three times but is loyal to its Rotorua base.

"We live here, the staff live here. There's no doubt in the world our business would do better if we were based in Manukau or something," Usher says, adding that the technology available these days made it viable to run the firm from a provincial base.

Usher says the company has been providing the Crusaders with homeopathic remedies for the past three years.

One such homeopathic remedy, and perhaps New Zealand's best known, is arnica. Usher says it helps stimulate the normal defence mechanism in times of trauma and helps promote natural muscle recovery after strenuous exercise.

"The Crusaders, like any sports team, will always feel the effects of playing at their peak week after week and we're really pleased to be able to help them keep their winning form," he says.

Usher says a major benefit of homeopathic remedies is that people of all ages and medical conditions can use them. Because they contain no artificial drugs they are ideal for use by sports people. They are low-risk and can be used with any other form of medication.

Homeopathy is based on the idea of like curing like. The principle has been known for thousands of years, but it was not until the end of the 18th century that Dr Samuel Hahnemann, a German, undertook the study and experimentation that led to the development of modern homeopathy.

The remedies are highly diluted natural substances given as a tiny but potent remedy, a form of healing widely practised throughout the world.

All Naturo Pharm remedies are manufactured according to the requirements of the German Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia (GHP). This is the internationally recognised quality standard for homeopathic manufacture.

Usher says quality is a major concern for Naturo Pharm and the company has gained certification to the internationally recognised AS/NZS ISO 9002 quality standard.

Crusaders physiotherapist Steve Muir says most of the players have been helped at some time during the season and he believes the unique system of medicine that helps stimulate the natural healing response is playing a part in getting injured players back into the game quickly.

"Most of the guys are aware of arnica for supporting the natural healing of bumps and bruises, and I'm always handing out the small tubes of cream, but we have also been getting excellent results using a homeopathic spray to help muscle tone during cramp," he says.

Naturo Pharm also makes a homeopathic remedy that may well be called into action by celebratory fans - one that helps recovery from after-match drinks - should the Crusaders take out the final tomorrow.

Naturo Pharm