HERBS AND SPICES FOR YOUR DOGS HEALTH Holistic medicine for dogs includes the use of herbs and spices to treat wounds, ameliorate and remedy ailments and diseases. This is the approach that I take with my dogs. I use herbs, spices and neutruceuticals to treat and remedy ailments. Herbs and spices offer a natural and effective alternative that can be used in a strategic fashion to support health. Your dog’s best defenses against ailments and diseases is healthy immune system. A healthy diet supports a healthy immune system. Fresh foods can be an excellent addition to your dog’s daily diet - fruits and vegetables, fatty fish, eggs, goat milk yogurt or kefir, cheese, herbs and spices. In addition to the health benefits, dogs do like the taste of many herbs and spices. Homemade food including grain-free nutritionally complete meals, broth, smoothies and treats can include healthful herbs all of which can boost the immune system. However, herbs and spices should not be indiscriminately given to dogs. Some herbs and spices are very powerful and can have side effects will others are mild and less likely to cause issues. Before you decide to give a herb or spice to your dog make sure you know its use, side effects, toxicity (if any) and safe dosage. A few of the daily herbs I give my dogs... Aloe Vera juice (100% food grade) contains amino acids, folate, iron, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, zinc, vitamin A, C and E. It has anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-allergy agents and is an anti-oxidant. 100% pure Aloe Vera juice can be taken internally to boost the immune system, help reduce the symptoms of allergies and to help the healing of wounds. Aloe Vera gel can also be used topically to help wounds heal - 100% Aloe Vera Gel is best. Basil is rich in essential vitamins, minerals, phyto-nutrients, electrolytes and oils that are essential for optimal health. Basil is an anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and anti-oxidant. Basil is well known for its multiple disease preventing and health promoting properties. You can use fresh basil or dry basil. Cinnamon is an anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-septic, warming and soothing, calming, carminative (anti-flatulent). Cinnamon is said to have one of the highest anti-oxidant levels of all food sources. Cinnamon can help remove the alfatoxins present in foods. Cinnamon is also good for keeping teeth clean and fighting bad breath. Flax Seeds are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, anti-oxidants, nutrients, minerals and vitamins that are essential for optimal health. Flax seeds also help pass toxins out of the body. Use GROUND flax seeds not whole flax seeds. Garlic- You may have heard that garlic is bad for dogs. Well, garlic has been used for many years by holistic veterinarians. The confusion about whether garlic is good or bad seems to have arisen from confusion with its close cousin, the onion. Both garlic and onion contain thiosulphate, the substance responsible for causing ‘Heinx Factor’ anemia in dogs. However the amount of thiosulphate found in garlic is much lower than in onions, in fact the amount in garlic is barely traceable! When garlic is ingested in reasonable amounts there are no harmful effects, but there are plenty of beneficial qualities... Garlic contains germanium - an anti-cancer agent; Garlic helps to regulate blood pressure; Helps strengthen the bodys defences against allergies; Helps regulate blood sugar levels; Garlic is high in vitamins, minerals and nutrients: Calcium, Potassium, Zinc; Protein; Vitamin A, B, B2, C; Garlic is an aid to fighting and treating: Diabetes; Liver, heart and kidney disease; Garlic is a natural flea repellent and de-wormer. When I refer to garlic I am talking about garlic in its pure form - garlic cloves. A safe dosage for garlic is 1 small clove/30lbs of body weight per day. Ginger is an anti-coagulant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, carminative. Ginger also helps in the absorption of food stuff - thereby helping to keep your dog’s teeth clean and helping with digestion. Ginger also helps in treating nausea such as motion sickness. Ginger helps boost healthy blood circulation, so it is very helpful for a dog that is prone to vascular damage of the extremities. Parsley is high in fiber, rich in anti-oxidants, vitamins and minerals which help fight cancer and enhance the functioning of all organs. It also helps the body pass toxins and fights bad breath. Fresh Parsley is best but you can also use dry parsley. Rosemary is high in fiber, rich in vitamins, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, anti fungal, anti-septic, disease preventing and health promoting properties. You can use fresh or dry rosemary. Turmeric is high in fiber, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, rich in vitamins and minerals and offers protection against anemia, arthritis, cancer, stroke (cardiovascular health), and neuritis. You can use powder (most commonly available), crushed or fresh root. I use the powder form (ground turmeric). Also, if your dog is overweight you might want to try adding either turmeric or curcumin to his/her daily diet...new research by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has confirmed that curcumin helps to speed up metabolism... My dogs have never had an allergic reaction to the herbs or spices that I give them, but just like with any other food stuff, some dogs may react to a herb or spice when other dogs will not. I always recommend that if you are going to introduce new food stuff to your dog, introduce only one new item at a time. Wait a few days before introducing the next new item. While certain herbs and spices do not create a hazard by themselves they can interfere with conventional western medicines. Make sure you do your homework or get advise prior to introducing herbs and spices to your dogs health care regimen. Stay tuned for a comprehensive list of safe/beneficial herbs as well as not safe/potentially harmful herbs for dogs!
Posted on: Sat, 13 Dec 2014 03:53:41 +0000
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