As any animal may be allergic to any substance, including herbs, watch for any unsolicited reactions. For the most part, if an herb doesn’t agree with the animals, vomiting, diarrhea, appetite, or energy loss may occur. If this happens, stop administering the herb, and the effects should depart within a day.
Dried herbs that can be mixed directly with foods or made into teas known as infusions or decoctions. When tinctures are indicated, they are diluted with distilled or spring water, as tinctures are made from alcohol and will burn your animal's stomach. So please don’t use them undiluted. Sometimes the herbs will come in capsules or tablets. The dosages indicated is based on the weight of your animal. Those who are weaker, or more sensitive, may require a lower dose at first, working up slowly to avoid any side effects.
Herbal Therapy for Allergies
Most herbal therapy recommendations are extrapolations of studies and results on humans. While herbal therapy can be effective in dogs with allergies, so many other therapies are just as effective in treating atopic dermatitis in pets, and herbs are not used as frequently.
Topical Treatments
Good topical treatments are pepper mint, chamomile, calendula, juniper, lavender, rose bark, or uva ursi herbal rinses and can provide temporary relief from scratching.
Alfalfaalfalfa is a green food used as an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and a diuretic to cleanse the body.
Aloe: Aloe is a soothing rinse or topical cream or gel and also an anti--inflammatory. Aloe is used externally.
Burdock root: Burdock is used for its cleansing properties as well as diuretic effects. Burdock ia a good liver tonic. It is also known for its benefits for any skin condition with oiliness, flakiness, and inflammation. Its diuretic action removes toxins and waste from the body.
Dandelion: Useful for its ability to stimulate the liver, as a diuretic, and for its inflammatory properties, dandelion is also a healthy green food providing a number of vitamins, mineral, and other nutrients to the pet.
Echinacea: Echinacea is used as an immune stimulant and as an antimicrobial herb.
Garlic: Garlic is useful for atopic dermatitis because of its immune-stimulating, antibacterial, and antifungal properties. Garlic also contains chemical that can reduce the production of inflammatory prostaglandins. Garlic and nutritional yeast are often used to control fleas, though scientific proof is lacking as to their effectiveness; some owners report positive results. Too much garlic can be toxic to pets.
German chamomile: Chamomile is an anti-inflammatory herb with antimicrobial properties and the ability to heal wounds. This makes it useful for dogs with atopic dermatitis and/or skin infections. A chamomile infusion should be applied topically to inflamed or infected skin.
Ginkgo biloba: the bioflavonoids in ginkgo may inhibit histamine release by mast cells and decrease the production of chemicals, such as leukotrienes, that promote inflammation. Ginkgo also contains terpene molecules called ginkgolides. Ginkgolides antagonize platelet activating factor (PAF). PAF, a chemical produced by the body, triggers allergies.
Goldenseal: Used as an antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory herb, goldenseal can be applied topically to open sores of inflamed skin. Pets with allergic conjunctivitis (runny eyes) may benefit from eye drops made from goldenseal. Goldenseal should not be used in pregnant animals or in pets with low blood sugar, as goldenseal further lowers blood sugar. Long term use of goldenseal may cause hypertension and over stimulate the liver.
Licorice root: Licorice root is known for its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and immune-stimulating properties.
Yellow dock: a cleansing herb that stimulates liver function and evacuation of the bowels to remove wastes from the body, yellow dock is useful for chronic skin disorders that may be attributed to toxicity in the body. It is most commonly used on a short term basis at the beginning of therapy to get a “quick cleansing.” Excess yellow dock can lead to intestinal cramping, vomiting, and diarrhea; it should not be used during pregnancy.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Herbal Therapies
Angelica and rehmannia: These tone the body and move blood to relieve rash and itching by extinguishing wind.
Dictamnus: This herb has antifungal action and relieves fire toxicity (excess heat is one of the imbalance TCM identities).
Ganoderma, ginseng, rehmania, licorice, bupleuroum, scute, zizyphi fructus (jujube), and sophora: These are among the more common herbs containing plant steroids that can mimic the action of synthetic corticosteroids. Plant steroids usually have milder actions with minimal side effects compared to synthetic steroidal drugs.
Gardenia: An herb to clear heat, it reduces inflammation and redness, and also has good antibiotic effects.
Licorice: this root is used in TCM and Western herbal therapy. In TCM, it is used to harmonize the body and nourish tendons and muscles.
Moutan, arctium, and lithospermum: These herbs cool and detoxify the blood to decrease itching. Arctium also has good antibiotic effects.
Schizonepeta, cicada, and siler: all are used to relieve wind.
Sophora, clematis, and kochia: These herbs are used to drain dampness and relieve weepy skin lesions.
Tribulus and anemarrhena: these herbs can decrease itching and inflammation.
USING HERBAL TREATMENTS
Herbs are most often used in powder, capsule, and tincture (concentrated liquid) form. Many products mode for humans can be used by pets. Unfortunately, the correct dosage for pets has not been determined for many herbs. We have to rely on clinical experience and extrapolation from human data. The following guidelines serve as a starting point for herbal therapy for dogs:
Both Chinese and Western herbal therapies can be useful in treating the atopic pet. It is important to try different herbs or combinations in order to match the correct therapy with the pet. While most pets can be successfully treated with other therapies without the use of herbs, some owners prefer herbal medicine, and some cases require a trial with herbs if they do not respond to other therapies.
My dog is a true best friend. Our pets give us so much joy. Take the time to try and figure out what they are telling you.
If advice you receive on the internet or otherwise does not seem right, then don't trust it.
