www.Acupuncture4Animals.com
Four Paws, Five Treasures LLC
Linda Vognar, DVM, CVA
Integrative Veterinary Medicine
Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine
Four Paws, Five Treasures LLC
Linda Vognar, DVM, CVA
Integrative Veterinary Medicine
Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine
HOLISTIC VETERINARY CARE
HEALING HERBS
WHY USE HERBAL MEDICINE?
Herbs have been used to heal and balance living organisms for centuries, and many western drugs are derived from plants. Botanical based medicines can benefit animals when prescription medication is not working, results in side effects, or when the animal caretaker would prefer to try a natural approach to healing. Herbal formulas and single herbs can have syergestic effects when used with other healing modalities, resulting in quicker and deeper resolution of the imbalances that cause disease. Herbs are frequently paired with acupuncture for this purpose.
HOW DO HERBS WORK?
Herbs work energetically on many different levels to achieve healing. They can resolve the obvious outward signs of disease, and correct internal imbalance in energy flow that is the root cause of most disease processes. Plants contain many chemicals, some of which are pharmacologically powerful. However, the other ingredidients in plants may have important activity as well. The complex nature of the plant can offer the sick patient a greater range of effects that may be synergistic, or additive in benefit.
WHY USE AN HERBALIST BEFORE GIVING HERBS TO MY PET?
It is important to consult a veterinary herbalist for information on the appropriate herbal formulas, the best quality of herbs, the correct doses and the best ways of giving herbs to your pet. Herbs are powerful healing substances, but if used inappropriately can worsen your pets imbalances. Herbalists have been trained to diagnose and prescribe complex herbal formulas appropriately.
HOW DO I ADMINISTER HERBS TO MY PET?
Dogs and cats can be given powdered herbs, herb extracts and pills in their meals. If the pet's appetite is poor due to illness you may need to disguise the taste by using especially strong smelling food, such as tuna, sardines or braunschweiger. For some pets, baby food or canned cat food is such a novelty that they will take the herbs mixed into these foods. Some pharmacies and veterinary manufacturers make flavored liquids or pills for dogs and cats.
Powdered herbs may be mixed into small pads of peanut butter or butter, then frozen to increase firmness. In some cases it may be easier to administer the powdered or liquid herbs mixed in a liquid to be gently and slowly administered by syringe. Try meat or poultry broth, or clam juice.
Herbal capsules often "go down" easier if one end is covered in butter. Be sure to administer water or broth afterwards to ensure that the capsule passes from the esophagus to the stomach.
Vomiting animals may have herbs delivered by enema. This should only be done by your veterinarian however, and should never be attempted at home.