Robert McDowell's Herbal Treatments
05 May 2004
Herbal Help for Humans and their Companions
What makes it so hard to give up smoking when it is clear to vast numbers of intelligent people that it is not doing them any good.
Cigarette smoking involves both a physical and psychological dependency, both need to be addressed when coming to terms with quitting the habit.
Scolding them certainly makes no difference to their ability to give up. It has to come from much more than that , it has to be an internal decision, in fact a basic belief about them selves has to be the first thing to change.
Smokers may have high stress lives or jobs that makes them become irritated and snappy. They may be the type with a driven impulsive personality or live completely for their work.
Here at herbal treatments we recognised a need to acknowledge that some smokers just aren't ready to quit yet. However we wanted to support them along that path.
We decided to formulate a mix for the smoker who wasn't quite ready to give up the habit of smoking cigarettes but was becoming more conscious of taking better care of their health and build up some strength and immunity in preparation for giving up this highly addictive poison .
Read more about it at the site below.
http://www.herbal-treatment.net/herbs_smokers_support.html
This week we feature:-
- Canine - Uterine Infection
- Equine - Vitiligo or Leukoderma
- Human - Adult Onset Diabetes
- Home Remedies - Why does Robert so often recommend Rosehip Tea?
- Reader Feedback
Canine Uterine Infection
Pyometria is a uterine infection that can be deadly if left untreated and can still prove fatal even with proper medical intervention. This infection can of course only occur in unsprayed females since it involves the inside of the uterus itself. To read more about spaying see the following previous newletter site.
http://www.herbal-treatments.com/newsletters/herbal_newsletter_2003_12_07.html
Pyometria can occur after or during a heat cycle, as a result of a retained puppy or placenta after having given birth or from the use of non-sterile instruments. The uterus can fill with pus and in some cases actually ruptures.
The symptoms may include a foul smelling, thick and/or bloody vaginal discharge, and distinct lack of appetite, lethargy, depression, vomiting, and diarrhea as well as an elevated temperature. Under these circumstances usually the Vet would immediately recommend spaying the dog and place on antibiotics.
Clearly uterine infections are a serious risk to the dogs health. You must get on top of the infections quickly. Read the site below to see Robert's treatment regime.
http://www.herbal-dogkeeping.com/dog_uterine_infection.html
The ingredients in the mix include:
Echinacea, Garlic, Red Clover, Buchu, Crab Apple and Walnut. These all support each other to deal with the active infection as well as to cleanse the blood of the accumulation of toxins and to clear the pelvic cavity of toxic residues of infection which is the tricky part because it is these trapped toxins which constantly re-initiate an infection.
If you have resorted to antibiotic therapy, you could be promoting the emergence of resistant organisms which will end up making things much more serious still.
If you have been using antibiotics for an extended period on and off I would suggest you also use a course of Colloidal Silver and Thuja which I nowadays use routinely to deal with hospital staph and other man made infections:
http://www.herbal-dogkeeping.com/dog_colloidal_silver_antibiotic.html
Equine - Vitiligo (Leukoderma)
Vitiligo refers to a skin depigmentation from an unknown cause while the terms leukoderma and leukotrichia are used to decribe pigmentation loss in skin and hair, respectively.
The good news is that the depigmentation is unlikely to cause any health problems.
Leukoderma and leukotrichia often develop in areas of trauma and inflammation; consider the white hair regrowth from saddle sores one sometimes sees under poorly fitting tack.
Dermatology diseases such as onchocerca infestation, lupus, frostbite, burns, or sun damage can result in leukoderma. Reticulated (linear) leukotrichia is a genetic skin disorder found in Quarter Horses, Thoroughbreds, and standardbreds. It appears as a broken or wavy line of depigmentation down the topline of these horses. The skin is otherwise completely normal; the hair color is the only change.
There is a rare form of depigmentation called Hyperesthetic leukotrichia ; in these cases the depigmented hairs are exquisitely painful.
Spotted leukotrichia is similar to the reticulated, but appears instead as multiple, body-wide spots of hair depigmentation. Arabians may develop vitiligo, undergoing a skin depigmentation for unknown reasons. The areas may spontaneously repigment in a few years.
Treatments for the actual depigmentation consists of treating any obvious underlying disorder such as removing trauma, deworming, and preventing sunburn or frostbite.
Steroids and anti-inflammatories have been attempted in some depigmentation cases with varying degrees of success. However some horse books simply state that there is no treatment.
I recommend an external oil that is rubbed onto the area consisting of a mix of the following.
Another of our very effective oils is the Scar healer which can be seen at the site below.
http://www.herbal-horsekeeping.com/horse_scar_healing.html
Adult Onset Diabetes
Adult onset diabetes Type 11 (non insulin dependend) is frighteningly common today , in USA about 6% of population has some form of diabetes.
It is a disorder where by the blood sugar levels are abnormally high due to the body not releasing or utilizing insulin adequately. Blood sugar levels naturally fluctuate throughout the day depending on when and what we eat. However levels increase slightly and progressively after age 50 especially if we live sedentary lives in fact 15% of those over 70 have diabetes.
Usually after eating, the pancreas is stimulated to release insulin to transport the glucose (sugars) to the cells for energy or storage. In type 11 diabetes sometimes the insulin is still released but our bodies develop a resistance to its effects resulting in excess glucose.
Overtime these excess levels of glucose cause damage to the blood vessels including a thickening and leaking that reduces the flow of blood which in turn can damage the heart, legs, brain, eyes and kidneys. Atherosclerosis is accelerated by poorly controlled blood sugar levels and healing of injuries is slowed down considerably. The repercussions of diabetes are many and severe and so it is best to proactively work at avoiding it.
So in the treatment of diabetes weight control, exercise and diet must all be considered. For more information see the site below:
http://www.herbal-treatments.com/herbs_diabetes_adult.html
On an energetic level it seems that many of those suffering from diabetes are those type of people that don't let their feelings out, they push their adrenals to their limits just to keep going and don't allow any "sweetness" into their lives.
Interestingly the onset of diabetes can often be associated with an emotional event in ones life such as a lost job or partner or some other life changing event and then 12 months later diabetes is diagnosed.
Herbalists in Australia don't treat the condition of Diabetes, but we do have at our disposal some very diabetic friendly herbs to boost adrenals and support the total overall effect of this disease on the sufferer.
Home Remedies- The Value of Rosehip Tea
Rosehip is also called Dog Rose (Rosa Canina) it grows wild and produces very small insignificant flowers but it does produce wonderful large glowing orange rosehips in autumn.The rosehip itself is difficult to crush as it is more like a vegetable amber with each molecule encased in this highly protective substance. This means that heat does not destroy it but does release all the goodness.
Rosehip is particularly high in Vit. C, and the minerals Calcium, Iron, Copper and Cobalt as well as Silicon and Phosphorous. It also conatins citric acid, mallic acid, pectin, carotene and tannin.
When you feel like you are "falling apart" thats when you need Rosehips to "cement" all your cells back together.
Rosehip balances the viscosity and flow of the veins and arteries to ensure a healthy blood circulation. Rosehip is ideal for bruising , trauma, tissue destruction, clotting or thrombosis, aneurysms, dental work and surgery.
Essentially it works on our lymphatics, immune system and circulation.
Rosehip is also an excellent tonic for the kidneys, try three cups a day they will love you for it.
In summer keep a jug of rosehip tea in the fridge with added lemon chopped in to it . If you need some added sweetener then try a little blackcurrant cordail which contains rutin that will also support veinous blood circulation .
Rosehip granules is also highly regarded when it comes to caring for horses take a look at the site below. http://www.herbal-horsekeeping.com/horse_rosehips_granules.html
Reader Feed Back
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Wishing you and your companions the best of health and happiness.
Yours Truly,
Judith Burton for
Robert McDowell