Herbal Therapy

Dr. Shana Buchanan, MBA, Certified in Veterinary Acupuncture, Certified in Veterinary Chiropractic, Veterinary Food Therapist, Certified in Chinese Veterinary Herbs

Throughout history, people have used herbs for healing.  Herbal medications are derived from plant, animal and mineral sources.  Some philosophers believe that our ancestors studied an assortment of plant environments to determine the specific properties of herbs.  Others believe that animals guided humans in the use of plants, and still others believe that herbal medication evolved from trial and error.  Did you know that digitalis, a common heart medication, is derived from the herb foxglove?  This shows that modern medicine also relies upon properties of certain herbs.  Today herbs are used in conjunction with Western drugs for the treatment of cancers, viruses, and chronic debilitating diseases.  With the exception of surgical conditions, herbs can be used to treat almost any condition.  In Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) the ailment and the individual are taken into account for diagnosing and treating a disease.  Luckily, herbs are generally well tolerated in animals. 

There are several ways to classify herbal medications.  Herbs can be tonics.  Tonics are medications that gently nurture and strengthen and individual without the unwanted side effects.  As a result of the strengthening that occurs, the body can prevent future problems and diseases.  Therefore, the herbs can be used as preventatives.  Some herbs have antibacterial properties.  Others have anticancer characteristics.  Today we typically do not treat an animal with just herbal medication, but we incorporate the Western protocol with herbal medicines to strengthen the treatment and to limit the unwanted side effects of Western drugs.

Each herb that is ingested has a specific flavor, and each flavor has a specific function that is associated with a meridian.  Sweet herbs strengthen and are usually associated with the Spleen and Stomach Meridian.  Sour herbs dry, restore and sooth inflamed mucous membranes of the respiratory system, gastrointestinal tract and the urinary tract.  These herbs are called astringents and are associated with the Liver Meridian.  Hot, spicy, pungent and/or acrid herbs disperse circulation and energy and are associated with the Lung Meridian. Bitter herbs help clear infection and detoxify the system and are related to the Heart and Liver Meridians.  Salty herbs soften masses and nodules and are associated with the Kidney Meridian. 

Herbs can also be classified according to temperature and direction.  Herbs can be hot, cold, warm, cool or neutral.  Herbs can direct circulation towards the areas of the body that need them.  This can be an upward direction to help the Yang of the body, a downward direction to help the Yin of the body, and an outward direction which increases the circulation near the body’s surface. 

Herbal actions are derived from the Eight Principles:  Yin/Yang, Cold/Hot, Deficiency/Excess, Interior/Exterior.   For example, a sweating herb is used in an acute condition like the flu or a high fever.  A clearing herb clears heat from the body and are used in treating infections.  Reducing herbs soften and diminish tumors, lumps, cysts or phlegm.  Tonifying herbs strengthen various organs and increase vitality.  For example, a sweating herb that is cool and acrid is used for high fevers and sore throats.  As opposed to a sweating herb that is warm and acrid that is used for secondary flu symptoms such as muscle stiffness that is made worse with cold applications.  A tonifying herb that is Qi in nature and is warm and sweet is used for a poor appetite and weight loss.  These are just a few examples.  There are now 37 different herbal classifications, and this does not include any of the numerous combinations.

Herbal therapy can help an animal as long as the correct dosage and product is prescribed.  I recommend that a veterinarian prescribe the correct herbal medication for your animal since they metabolize medications differently than humans.