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Herbal Medicine

The principle of holistic dog or cat care is treating your pet as a whole entity, not just independent systems or organs.

Holistic medicine is a discipline that believes that the body maintains a balance that helps protect the animal from disease and allows it to heal itself. When the animal is injured or gets sick, this balance is lost.

Conventional medicine believes that symptoms are caused by the illness, whereas pet homeopathy sees the symptoms as the body's natural reaction in fighting the illness, and seeks to stimulate them rather than suppress them.

The homeopathic principle of treating like with like is based on treating an illness with a substance that produces in a healthy individual similar symptoms to those experienced by the sick individual.

Feeding our pets commercial dog food, environmental pollution, stress, toxins present in our pets grooming products, are some of the many ways that your pet's body is drained from vital nutrients.

Since many pharmaceuticals are developed by isolating a chemical found in a plant, the use of herbs to cure diseases and heal injuries is more acceptable than homeopathic remedies to many people.

Herbal medicine is well-known throughout history; in the US, it was used by settlers and natives alike for everything from headache cures to poultices for wounds.

Use of the whole herb rather than the drug extracted from a chemical in the herb may limit side effects, and herbs can be added to the diet to enhance general health. There is also some evidence that some herbs may prevent or lessen the potential for development of some diseases.

Herb tea is an easy and convenient way to use herbs. Teas are made by boiling one tablespoon of dried plant material or two tablespoons of fresh plant material in a pint of water, then left to brew overnight. The tea should be kept refrigerated. Dose is one tablespoon per 50 pounds of dog weight added to each meal.

Herbs can be chopped and added fresh, but should be steeped in warm water to break down the cellulose that is difficult for the dog to digest.

Herbal aids and treatments exist for a wide variety of symptoms from poor appetite and arthritis to parasite control and yeast infections. Many dog owners use herbs to repel fleas, soothe irritated skin, and to cure minor digestive upsets. However, the evidence that such herbal remedies as garlic, herbal rinses, or herbal flea collars actually repel external parasites is scarce.

As homeopathic and herbal remedies grow in recognition, more and more pet owners are likely to gravitate to their use and more and more veterinarians will be amenable to using them as part of an arsenal of products available to enhance pet health. However, the lack of scientific evidence as to their efficacy is likely to remain a stumbling block to widespread acceptance.