Cat & Dog - Herbal Therapy in Veterinary Practice

What is herbal therapy?

Herbs are plants that contain ingredients with active therapeutic properties. These active ingredients may be present in the whole plant or only a part. Other parts of the same plant, or other plants in the same genus may have no activity or may, in fact, be toxic. A herb may be used in various forms, including teas, granular extracts (Chinese medicine), fresh herbs, dried herbs, oils or tinctures. It may be commercially available as a loose herb, capsule, tablet, liquid extract, lotion or cream.

Herbal therapy is the use of herbs, either as single products or in combination with other herbs, for medicinal purposes.

What is the history of herbal therapy in veterinary medicine?

Herbal therapy has been used for thousands of years in many human cultures. Over centuries a tremendous amount of clinical experience has been obtained by these cultures regarding which herbs work well for which conditions, and how they are best administered. It has been estimated that even today 75% of the world's population relies upon herbal medicine for basic health care. Early civilizations placed a great deal of emphasis on the health of the horses and cattle that were so integral to their lives. As a result, the history of veterinary herbal treatment parallels its history in human therapy.

In the late eighteenth century, advances in science enabled chemists to isolate and purify active ingredients in herbs. Further advances led to the ability to manufacture synthetic pharmaceuticals. At this point, herbal therapy diverged from mainstream medicine, since conventional medical researchers believed that it was safer and more effective to administer specific doses of the pure active chemical, whether it was synthetic or derived from plants. Advocates of herbal medicine maintain that whole herbs or their extracts were more efficacious and that the natural product contained other ingredients that acted synergistically with the active principle, increasing the efficacy of the medicine.

On which species of animals is herbal therapy practiced regularly?

It was not until the late nineteenth century that veterinary medicine turned from herbal treatments to conventional pharmaceuticals. While significant research exists for the use of herbs in veterinary medicine, most treatments used in dogs, cats, horses and ruminants are based solely on clinical experience or research data that has been obtained from work with laboratory animals and humans.

Animal treatments are frequently inspired by human herbal medicine, but veterinary expertise is required to select the appropriate formula and to address differences in metabolism between animals and humans, and between the various animal species.

Who practices veterinary herbal therapy and do I need a referral?

Herbal treatment must only be administered after an accurate diagnosis has been made. Because of the differences in physiology between animal species and humans, and the potential for harm if herbs are administered inappropriately, only a properly trained vet should prescribe herbal treatments. As veterinary herbal treatment grows as a specialty, there are increasing numbers of vets in private practice who have obtained the necessary training and experience in herbal medicine. In many cases, referral is not necessary but should be considered for the herbal management of very dangerous, refractory (unresponsive to treatment), or delicate conditions. For a list of veterinary surgeons trained in veterinary herbal medicine, go to www.herbalvets.org.uk

What conditions are most often treated with herbal therapy?

Herbal approaches have been developed for the management of almost all diseases that currently challenge conventional veterinary medicine, including epilepsy, chronic kidney failure, chronic lameness, hormonal disorders, behavioural disorders, allergic skin disease, liver failure, and inflammatory bowel disease. Other herbs may simply support the normal function of healthy organs by acting as 'tonics'.

How can my pet benefit from herbal therapy?

Veterinary herbalists' work, using whole plants or their extracts, produce improved outcomes and fewer side effects than many pharmaceutical products.

A few general actions of plants, confirmed by clinical and laboratory research, include the support of normal function of the liver, kidneys, heart, and immune system. Reduced inflammation and improved blood flow through damaged tissues can also be helped using herbs. In some cases, herbs can help with the normalisation of smooth muscle contraction; promotion of the differentiation, aging and death of tumour cells, and elimination of pain. In many cases, herbal medicine can eliminate the need for chronic medications. The components of herbal formulas may act together to give greater positive effects than would be possible when used individually. Such synergistic interactions between herb constituents have been repeatedly demonstrated in laboratory research of herbal formulas.

How successful is herbal therapy?

Herbal therapy should never be administered without a proper veterinary diagnosis. The success of herbal treatment will vary according to the age of the patient, prior treatment history and diagnosis. Since the science of medical herbalism hasn't caught up with herbal practice at this time, even scientifically trained practitioners must rely upon clinical experience and traditional knowledge when deciding on a herbal prescription. When high quality herbs from reputable sources are used, dosages are more consistent and the outcomes are more predictable.

How safe is herbal therapy?

Ongoing monitoring of the patient's symptoms and any laboratory abnormalities is required in management of chronic disease. If the wrong herb or the incorrect dosage is given, the patient's condition may worsen. In the hands of a knowledgeable veterinary herbalist, adverse reactions are uncommon and usually short-lived, but may still occur. Caution should be used when treating pregnant animals. If other therapies are being used in addition to herbs, or if the animal is very ill, extra care should be taken.

In many countries, herbs are not regulated with respect to quality control nor are there any requirements for demonstrating efficacy and safety. Quality of herbs will vary according to many factors, including growing conditions, age at harvest, time of harvest, handling after harvesting, and storage. Many plants will absorb and concentrate environmental contaminants within their parts, while others may become contaminated or adulterated during harvesting or processing. This has led to a preference among veterinary herbalists for use of products certified as organic. Reputable products should have an expiry date printed on the label.

What is the cost of herbal therapy?

Comprehensive herbal treatment involves a thorough history taking and physical examination, followed by a patient assessment and formulation of a treatment plan. It rarely involves a single visit, and costs will vary according to the specific condition being treated, the herbs required and the response of the patient. In general, treatment using veterinary herbal therapy is not prohibitively expensive. Over the long term, it often proves less expensive than conventional medicine.

Can herbal therapy be combined with conventional veterinary medicine?

Herbal therapy can be combined with other treatments.  Some herbs are very potent, and caution must be used when combining them with other medicines such as drugs, homeopathic remedies, and acupuncture, since these treatments can either potentiate or negate the effects of each other. As a complete and well-developed system of medicine, herbal therapy is effective as the sole form of treatment for most conditions except those requiring surgery.

Trained veterinary herbalists have the knowledge and skill to understand the interactions between different forms of treatment and to interpret the patient's response to therapy. If your pet is receiving herbal treatment from a practitioner other than us, it is imperative that both of us are kept updated about the ongoing treatment in order to provide optimal care to your pet. Herbal treatment of serious disease in animals without veterinary training is not advised and frequently ineffective. We would advise that you do not take advice from anyone except a fully trained veterinary herbalist.

How can I find out more information about veterinary herbal therapy?

The most efficient way to find current reference materials, links, and referral lists is to consult www.herbalvets.org.uk

Ask any of the vets at the practice and we would be happy to help you find appropriate herbal therapies for your animal.