Through the years, I have been reading a lot about herbs and their healing proprieties. I have also been carrying some herbal remedies at Holistic Pets Center, which helped many pets. I would like to share with you some of my favorite herbs and hope that this information would be valuable to you in the future in case your would need it.Herbs.Herbs are generally safe and their active ingredients can have powerful effect. However, do not use herbal therapy on your pet without your veterinarian supervision.Remember that the key to your pet's health is through diet. Feeding your pet species appropriate diet can prevent many diseases and save your pocket on vet bills. Make sure to feed your pet a high-grade pet food.If your pet has an autoimmune disorder, feed him HPP raw pet food with added supplement and probiotic. Once your pet's immune system is better, switch to a Non-HPP diet. If your pet does not an autoimmune disorder feed him Non-HPP raw pet food.We always recommend adding probiotic, omega, enzymes, and milk thistle to the diet. In some cases, you might want to add Shark Cartilage to the diet.Guidelines for herbal therapy:Western Herbs: all given 2-3 times daily 1-500 mg capsules/25 pounds of body weight,. 0.5-1.5 tsp of powder/25 pounds of body weight. 5-10 drops/10 pound of body weight.Chinese Herbs: all given 2-3 times daily for dogs: 1 g concentrated herbs/20 pounds of body weight. 4 g fresh herbs/ 20 pound of body weight.Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) Alfalfa contains protein, vitamins (especially vitamin K), minerals and chlorophyll, which services as an antioxidant.Common uses: allergies, arthritis, cognitive disorders, cancer, urinary disorders (acidic urine).Cancer: Alfalfa possess cancer-preventing proprieties by inactivating some to the chemicals that cancause cancer. Alfalfa is often fed to animals who need to gain weight.Bladder Conditions: alfalfa can make urine alkaline and is those bladder condition where a more alkaline urine is needed. However, it should not be used in pets whose medical conditions requires an acid urine. Remember to feed your pet a species appropriate diet. Not dry or canned food. Do not use alfalfa seeds because they can cause blood disorders.Arthritis, rheumatism and gout: when administrated daily, alfalfa can bring long-term relief to dogs, cats and other animals.Brain: alfalfa is said to help improve mental vigor. This is likely due to alfalfa's broad spectrum of nutrients, many of which are critical to proper nerve and brain functions. Great herb for older pets.Animal sensitive to pollen many also be sensitive to fresh alfalfa.Astragalus (Astragalus membranacaceus) Astragalus has been a popular herb in our store. Many of our client purchase this herb, in addition to Essiac and Tru Pine, to help combat cancer or to just boost their pet's immune system.Common Uses: Cancer, infection, kidney disease, hyperthyroidism (cats).Cancer: the mode of action is to stimulate T cell activity, raise white blood cell counts, and strengthen the liver.Astragalus can be used to help the body recover from log-term steroid therapy and for pets with kidney disease.Caution: Do not use the herb when the following exit: hyper-immune disorders; Autoimmune disease, diabetes, Disorders with low white blood cell counts: feline leukemia and immunodeficiency disease, or hypothyroidism!Note: other species of Astragalus can be toxic!Astragalus root is an immune system stimulant. It has found wide use post chemotherapy to counter immunesuppression.Burdock Root (Arctium lappa, Arctium minor) Common Uses: Liver, allergies, diabetes, fleas (oral), cancer, kiney and skinBurdock root is used as a diuretic liver tonic and blood cleanser. Its diuretic action removes toxins and wastes from the body.Pets eating a low-quality diet may benefit from this herb. When you feed a low-quality diet (dry food or canned food) the body accumulates toxins. Burdock will eliminate these toxin built up. So, please feed a your pet a good quality, species appropriate diet!Skin: Burdock root is a specific treatment for chronic or acute psoriasis or eczema; it has a strong affinity toward the treatment of flakey, oily, or inflammatory skin disorders that can be traced back to liver deficiencies or a general overload of toxic substances in the body (usually the result of a poor diet).Other: burdock is also useful in the holistic treatment of arthritis, rheumatoid disorders, inflammatory kidney and bladder dieses, and virtually and other type of metabolic disorder that may be the result of poor waste elimination.Liver: burdock is an excellent long-term liver tonic, and it is gentle enough to use in cases of preexisting liver or kidney disease.Burdock helps clean the body from the inside out.Note: If your pet is taking insulin, it is possible that burdock will increase its effect.Burdock is antimicrobial, antitumor, antipyretic, diuretic and diaphoretic.Echinacea angustifoliaCommon Uses: allergies, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, infection, kidney disease urinary disorders.At Holistic Pets Center we carry Echinacea by Buck Mountain Botanicals.Product Narrative, T. S. Fox, Ph.D."Many commercially available tinctures of Echinacea are diluted 2 to 4times before retail packaging. It is normally composed of the root and/or the herb of Echinacea purpurea. Our product is not diluted and comprised of the root of Echinacea angustifolia. Echinacea angustifolia is, in my opinion, the Cadillac of all the Echinacea's.Echinacea is a booster of the immune system and is an anti-microbial.Cancer: Echinacea has strong immune-modulating proprieties that may make it useful for pets with cancer. This herb increases the ability of white blood cells to destroy invading organisms, stimulates the lymphatic system to remove waste materials, and reduces the production of hyaluronidase, and enzyme that breaks down hyaluronic acid, which is needed to bind cell together to prevent infection.Notes:Echinacea is not useful for preventing cancer. Echinacea works best with a healthy immune system. Not to be used with pets that have immune disordersDo not use with pets with sever liver or kidney disease.Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadesis)Common Uses: Allergies, heart conditions, cancer, infections, intestinal parasite. urinary disorders.At Holistic Pets Center we sell Buck Mountain Goldenseal mostly to owners who want to treats their pet's bladder infections.Goldenseal is used as a topical antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory herb. It can be applied topically to open sores or inflamed skin. This may be helpful for pets with cancer or ulcers.Cancer: Goldenseal has shown potent anticancer properties in vitro against rat and human malignant brain tumors. Its beneficial effects were on patients who have decreased white blood cells counts as a results of chemotherapy or radiation treatment.Notes: Goldenseal is contraindicated for cardiovascular conditions. It is also contraindicated during pregnancy.Oregon grape can be used in place of goldenseal.Not safe to use on pets with sever liver or kidney disease; jaundice.Goldenseal should not be given to pregnant animal or to pets with low blood sugar.Side effect may include gastrointestinal distress and increased nervousness if taken in very high doses. Long-term use of goldenseal may cause hypertension and may overstimulation the liver.Hawthorn (Crataegu oxyacantha)Common Uses: Heat condition, cancer, kidney diseaseAt Holistic Pets Center we sell Hawthorn mostly to pets with a heart conditions.Hawthorn has multiple high efficacy for cardiovascular ailments. It has beneficial effect in atherosclerosis, angina and ischemea. It dilates blood vessels and relaxes them resulting in lower blood pressure.Hawthorn is a heart and vascular tonic, and is often given to pets with early congestive heart failure, because it appears to improve the heart's pumping ability and it helps strengthen the heart.Notes:Caution is warranted in pets with low blood pressure and hypertrophiccardiomyopathy.Do not administer this herb to nursing/pregnant pets, pets with sever liver, heart or kidney disease.Essiac Formula & Tru-Pine and slippery elm bark)Used to treat cancer.Please feed your pet species appropriate diet!The Essiac formula contains 4 herbs:BURDOCK ROOT (Arctium Lappa)SLIPPERY ELM BARK (Ulmus Fulva)SHEEP SORREL LEAVES (Rumex Acetosella) INDIAN RHUBARB ROOT (Rheum Officinale)Recommendation: Add shark liver cartilage and Milk Thistle. Feed your pet a quality diet!I have had many online and in-store orders for our Canadian original Essiac formula and Tru Pine. In addition to the Essiac formula, our clients also purchase our Buck Mountain Milk Thistle and our Shark Cartilage oil.I am not making any claims to the effect of this products in treating cancer. However, I know that many people believe in it and keep purchasing these products to help their pet fight cancer. ESSIAC is an herbal formula that has been in use since 1922. The formula was given to nurse Rene Caisse from a Canadian Ojibwa Indian. Born in Bracebridge, Ontario, Nurse Caisse prepared her original herbal formula into a drink named Essiac, which is Nurse Caisse's name spelled backwards.Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum) One of my favorite herbs. I have been giving this herb to my dogs for years.Common Uses: Cancer, liver disease.Do not purchase tinctures of Milk Thistle that contain alcohol!Milk Thistle, silymarin, acts largely on the liver and kidneys.It is a well known protection against hepatotoxins. It has a long history of successful use in treating:liver detoxification; liver damage & liver disease;fatty liverKidney diseaseCancer supportDiabetesPancreatitisHepatitisJaundiceblood and immunomodulationlipid and biliary effectscirrhosis (but not in decompensated cirrhosis)It has been used for Amanita mushroom poisoning.Milk Thistle for dog liver disease is naturally formulated topromote proper liver function and re-energize your pet.This well-known herb, also known as wild artichoke and holy
