Introducing herbs
I have been using herbs in practice throughout my career and have always been fascinated by what can be done with plants. Many homeopathic remedies that I am very familiar with are of course made form plants. And there is a subtle difference in the approach using herbal medicines compared to using homeopathic medicines. In 2019 I made the leap and enrolled myself on a Diploma in Western Herbal Veterinary Medicine, run by the College of Integrated Veterinary Therapies.
It has been an amazing and eye opening journey and the course is still continuing. One of the key things that I am learning is how simple it can be to integrate a few common herbal proportions into a pets life to make a big difference. They of course can be used for horse and livestock, I will look at this in another blog.
Here are half a dozen of my favourites:
Aloe Vera Gel - So many uses fo this plant. I tend to use it most commonly as a topical preparation. Great for all sorts of skin problems and wounds.
Milk Thistle - A superb plant which has a long term reputation for helping support the liver. It can also support the kidneys and pancreas. Can be useful for many a senior patient.
Boswellia - I have just to use this on a regular basis. Very good for it anti-inflammatory properties and very useful for dogs with arthritis and joint problems.
Turmeric - Many properties for this well known culinary plant. Helps reduce inflammation and supports the immune system.
Green Tea - Made as normal, then allowed to cool down. This can be used as a topical application for variety of skin complaints. Also useful as a first aid to bath eyes.
Valerian - A wonderful plant to help reduce anxiety in pets. Often used before firework night or to help with travel. It can be used on its own or with Skullcap.
Always remember to source herbal products from a reliable supplier and follow the instructions for how they can be used. And don’t forget to use the Holistic Triage when supporting your pets.
Here are some useful links:
Dogs Naturally Magazine - has lots of useful articles on herbs for dogs.
There a a variety of UK Herbal Pet suppliers. Here are a few of the popular ones:
Similarly there are many herbal pet books. Check out the option for ones that may appeal to you. This is one of the classics: Complete Herbal Handbook for Dog and Cat by Juliette de Bairacli Levy
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