Modern

Veterinary Herbal Medicine

Veterinary Herbal Medicine is as old as human medicine. Together they are both almost as old as man. As soon as man took on domestic animals, they inevitably became ill through this process, but also through normal wear and tear and old age. These animals were treated with herbs internally and externally to help with their ailments.

One only has to look at veterinary texts from the first part of the last century to see them talking of herbal preparations for itching skin, for coughs and for sprains.

Modern Veterinary Drugs are very effective. Almost too effective. They are very highly targeted at certain enzymes or specific receptors and thus have side effects. Herbs can, in most cases, mimic the effect of many drugs, but without the side effects. This is because they contain hundreds of drugs that can have a balancing effect on more toxic consequences.

I'm not saying herbs are benign and can be used without risk. They can be very effective, but because of the built in balancing effects of the complex phytochemicals, they can have a greater therapeutic margin than pharmaceutical drugs.

If you are interested in the use of herbs for your animal, please contact the practice during call-in times, and we would be pleased to make an appointment for you.

Conditions I have Personal Knowledge of Herbs Helping in the Species I Treat:

• Arthritis, Joint pain (neck, back, limbs, feet) in all species I treat
• Colitis, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome
• Diarrhoea
• Constipation
• Itching skin, Atopy, Pruritus
• Chronic Rhinitis, Chronic Sinusitis, 'Snotty Cats'.
• Recurrent Infection
• Cystitis
• Spraying indoors or Stress Problems - cats especially
• Some FLUTD cases in cats
• Some Bladder stone problems
• Some Bladder crystaluria or Crystals in the urine problems.
• Some Liver Disease, including  some Ragwort Poisoning in Horses
• Some Kidney Disease including support for Chronic Renal Failure in cats and dogs.
• Some circulation problems
• Some coughing conditions, Kennel Cough, Upper Respiratory Disease, COPD,

If you have a disease problem with your Horse, Dog or Cat that is persistent or troublesome, email me and we can assess if some form of holistic medicine may be appropriate.