Herbal Medicine

I am so proud to announce that I have been accepted as a Registered Herbalist (RH) through the American Herbalist Guild!

To become a Registered Herbalist, I was reviewed by my peers as confirmation of my clinical skills. In order to be accepted I had to meet stringent criteria including education and training where I have over 2000 hours of comprehensive training (the minimum is 800 hours) in botanical medicine achieved through formal education. The designation ‘Registered Herbalist’ establishes a recognized level of expertise and commitment to the practice of herbalism. This Registration is very important to me as herbal medicine plays a big role in my practice and it is important that any practitioner who uses herbs is well educated and experienced in their use. My hope is that by becoming a RH, other veterinarians will see the benefit of herbal medicine and start to integrate it into their owner practice. -Dr T

Veterinary herbal medicine has been used for centuries by cultures around the world. Not only has its traditional use proven its value, but ongoing current research shows how herbs are acting in the body. 

Herbal medicine, including Western, Traditional Chinese, and Ayurvedic, looks at the individual within a holistic framework, taking into consideration mental, emotional and physical aspects of the patient and not just the conventional diagnosis. 

Conditions where Herbal Medicine treats and supports patients with…..

• Cancer (palliative care)

• Skin conditions

• Arthritis

• Chronic Diseases, including (but not limited to): Renal Disease, Liver disease

• Autoimmune Conditions- immune mediated hemolytic anaemia (IMHA)

• Behavior Issues

• Neurological

• Gastrointestinal- IBD, leaky gut

Herbs are beneficial for everything from dogs with chronic ear infections to cats with chronic constipation. As a stand alone therapy or integrated with conventional medicine, herbs treat gastrointestinal, behavioral, endocrine, musculoskeletal, neurological, dermatological conditions, as well as preventative medicine. 

Herbal medicine goes beyond simply replacing conventional medicine with "natural" remedies. Veterinary herbal medicine looks at the patient in an entirely different way, while remembering that the body has the ability to heal itself and sometimes needs some extra tools to help it do so.  The role of the herbalist in the healing process is to consider the a whole patient and implement changes including diet, herbs, and supplementation. These changes help to foster an increased state of balance and health - thus maximizing the body’s self healing capabilities.

THE OVERALL GOAL IS TO ENHANCE HEALTH AND PREVENT DISEASE, RATHER THAN JUST TREAT THE DISEASE PER SE.  HERBAL MEDICINE CAN BE USED AS A SOLE THERAPY, OR INTEGRATED WITH CONVENTIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS TO CREATE A SYNERGISTIC EFFECT FOR BEST RESULTS. 

Our Herbal Apothecary

We have an extensive apothecary in our office including tinctures (a liquid form), capsules, and powder. How are herbs administered to our patients?  We have an extensive apothecary in our office. as it’s not a simple as going to the market, buying an herb you think will work to give to your pet. Dosage is extremely important. Understanding species and toxicity levels is extremely important when administering herbs to pets.

Herbs can be administered in easy ways. For instance, wrapped in your pets favorite food, infused into water, or in pill form.  We have discovered many tips and tricks to help administer herbs over our years of veterinary practice.

WHAT NEXT?

Are you interested in finding out if herbal medicine might be right for your pet? We are ready whenever you are! Let's start the process of getting your beloved friend feeling better. Call today to book an appointment. 732.842.5883