The Use of Chinese Herbal Formula’s in Veterinary Medicine.
Chinese herbal medicine is effective as an independent treatment method. However, used ideally, herbs should be just one part of a larger treatment regime. In fact, herbal medicine is one of the primary branches of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
In Chinese medicine, a disease is not traced back to a cause, but to a combination of body signs and symptoms that are analyzed to identify a pattern. Two animals may have the same diagnosis as defined by Western Medicine but have unique pattern differences and therefore different treatment strategies and different herbal choices.
In Veterinary Medicine the most common forms of Chinese herbal formulations used are in the form of concentrated granules, tablets or liquid extracts. Herbs are typically given with food and usually on a twice daily basis, although this may vary on occasion.
The accurate identification of a pattern of disease is essential in choosing the correct formula and in the prevention of unwanted side effects.
The herbal dose will vary with age, weight, condition, type of disease, breed, overall constitution and many other factors.
Chinese herbs can be used as part of an integrative veterinary approach with other systems of medicine for a greater therapeutic effect and improved treatment outcomes. In addition, herbs can be used to strengthen the body after illness, injury, chemotherapy or radiation. Chinese herbs are especially useful in the treatment of chronic disease conditions and those associated with aging such as arthritis, immune, kidney and liver disorders. They can also be used to strengthen and support the immune system thus helping to prevent disease before it occurs. Lastly, herbal therapy can be used when there are drug sensitivities or conditions which would prevent the use of other types of therapies.
Conditions that may benefit from Chinese herbs.
Depending on the individual animal and the condition being treated, Chinese herbs may be used as the primary medical modality or as an adjunct to Western medicine for treating the following conditions:
- Behaviour disorders such as aggression, fearfulness, noise sensitivity, separation anxiety.
- Heart issues such as congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathy, hypertension, mitral valve disease, pulmonary edema.
- Endocrine diseases such as Addison’s disease, Cushings’s disease, diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism.
- Gastro-intestinal issues such as anorexia, diarrhea, vomiting, pancreatitis, megacolon, inflammatory bowel disease.
- Geriatric issues by general strengthening/tonification of aging organ systems.
- Blood related issues such as anemia, both non-regenerative and regenerative and low white blood cells.
- Liver disease including acute or chronic hepatitis, gall bladder issues, hepatic lipidosis, and jaundice.
- Immune disease including lupus, immune mediated haemolytic anemia, immune mediated thrombocytopenia, immune mediated polyarthritis, general immune deficiency.
- Skin conditions including allergic dermatitis, demodectic mange, perianal fistula, anal saculitis, military dermatitis, alopecia and eosinophilic granulomas.
- Musculoskeletal conditions such as spinal arthritis, hip dysplasia, osteoarthritis and degenerative joint disease.
- Neurologic disorders such as Intervertebral disk disease, fibrocartilaginous embolism, degenerative myelopathy epilepsy and geriatric vestibular disease.
- Cancer treatments as a primary treatment or as an adjunctive therapy.
- Respiratory diseases such as asthma, cough, bronchitis, nasal discharge, sinusitis, pneumonia, upper respiratory tract infection.
- Urinary issues including acute & chronic renal failure, cystitis, bladder & kidney stones, glomerulonephritis, pyelonephritis, urinary incontinence.
Most often Chinese Herbs are used in conjunction with other treatment modalities. The absolute best results are achieved when we take what we need from each type of medicine. An example of this would be a dog or cat with reoccurring urinary tract infections. Antibiotics would be used to treat an active infection but herbs would be used to change the underlying pattern within the body to prevent further infections and restore balance to the body.