Robert McDowell's Herbal Treatments
02 October 2005
Herbal Help for Humans and their Companions
You Eat What You Are!Ideas from Hamish Mackay
Have you noticed when not feeling your normal/whole self you may be more readily led to the consumption of less wholesome food, dare I say junk food. It momentarily makes us feel good but soon after, an even lower state of well being takes over.
If you resist this feeling and eat a salad or fruit you may feel you have cheated yourself but an hour or so later you feel so much better!
Interestingly if you set out feeling good about yourself in the first place the idea of having junk food will usually never enter your head. Food for thought?
This week we feature:-
- Canine - Ear Drops and Pain?
- Equine - DSLD - Degenerative Suspensory Ligament Desmitis
- Human - Osteoarthritis
- Home Remedies - Ginger
- Reader Feedback
Canine - Ear Drops and Pain?
It is true that if the external ear canal is inflamed to the point that the skin has been damaged then the alcohol will sting. Mostly when a dog shakes its head it is just clearing the liquid from its ears, a standard response for ordinary water or sea water in the external ear canal. This doesn't necessarily indicate that he dog is in pain. The rapid evaporation of the alcohol can also be uncomfortable but again not super painful. I can only suggest that most dogs will manage the discomfort and will quickly heal and no longer feel it after just a few days application. I have used the drops myself under all sorts of conditions and the only time it was very painful was when I had actually perforated my ear drum in a surfing accident. That was seriously painful but it is not the sort of injury which dogs experience as they are not so prone to inner ear infections as humans or to high impact injury such as falling from a great height onto water and violently pressurising their ears. Some herbs sting as some taste nasty. This is a feature of herbal medicine, not all of it is sugar coated .
Equine - DSLD (Degenerative Suspensory Ligament Desmitis)
Yes we can help you with this condition & the treatment I recommend should assist in pain relief & repair of the ligament & structures effected by this disease.
The best bet is not to be trying to deal with the symptoms but to speed up the normal healing of the underlying injury or strain.
I recommend the folowing treatments the links are attached for further description cost & dosage.
http://www.herbal-horsekeeping.com/horse_anti_inflammatory_healer.html
http://www.herbal-horsekeeping.com/horse_hoof_oil.html
http://www.herbal-horsekeeping.com/horse_tendon_bone_healing.html
The first is my Herbal Anti-inflammatory to replace Bute if your horse is in pain. Bute brings with it enormous problems of its own and if your horse gets to be on it for more than a few weeks you can end up with ulceration or other side effects.
The second is my Hoof Oil which drives healing herbs directly into the hoof and dramatically improves the circulation down there. It is often poor circulation which underlies the whole problem in the first places as it is insufficient to dissipate products of injury and the hoof can often break down from the complications of injury or even just a sudden dietary or temperature change complicated by slow healing.
The third is my Tendon and Bone healing mix which provides the correct herbal nutrients and impetus to healing. If you have raw linseed/flaxeed oil massage the area gently or employ the services of a qualifed Equine Chiropractor/massage therapist or accupuncturist to assist.
If your horse is on the heavy side it wont hurt him/her being put on a diet but it is best do to this in a starvation paddock rather than in the stall. This is because moving about is the way a horse gets to pump fluid up and down the limb and being locked up and forced to stand further reduces circulation to the legs.
Human - Osteoarthritis
I treat osteoarthritis by trying to reverse the processes which set up the problem in the first instance. Some of these processes are as follows:
- An overly acid constitution which seems to disturb the calcium/silica balance in the body leading to deposition of bone material in areas leading to problems. Eat acid /alkaline balancing foods such as lemons, umboshi plums, green teas. Avoid acid producing foods such as carbonated drinks, carbohydrates, meat, tea, coffee, alcohol, cheese and certain juices. Lemons are very acidic, however the end-products they produce after digestion and assimilation are very alkaline so lemons are alkaline-forming in the body. Likewise, meat will test alkaline before digestion but it leaves very acidic residue in the body so, like nearly all animal products, meat is very acid-forming. If your pH is too acidic, your body borrows minerals - such as calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium - from vital organs and bones to neutralize and remove the acid.
1) chewing well - saliva is very alkaline-forming so chewing every bite 20-40 times is ideal;
2) breathing deeply throughout the day;
3) exercising regularly to actively move the acids out of the body.
4) not eating a lot of dairy products. Although dairy products are both alkaline (calcium) and acidic (protein), when eaten in excess, they tend to cause stagnation in the body.
- A diet too high in calcium altogether which upsets also the calcium/silica balance leading to the same problems. This is very common in our dairy rich diets especially when they are unbalanced with organic silica. Essential addition to the diet is ground Millet and Linseed-1 tablespoon each day on porridge or muesli breakfast.
- Bone damage and wear and tear in people who have had injury through sport or accident which has resulted in healing overgrowth leading to bone changes and problems.
- Those who have carried abnormal amounts of tension in their structures, usually their backs, with the resultant attempts by the body to reduce the pressure by changing the bones themselves.
- Those whose illness history or treatment with various types of drugs have set up processes resulting in mal-absorbtion of minerals.
- Those whose physical structure, muscular tensions or even work environment has placed unbalanced loads on their bones resulting in high wear on specific areas as a result of compensation for such stresses.
Home Remedies - Ginger (Zingiber Officianalis)
Ginger yields an essential oil that is steam distilled from the unpeeled, dried and ground root. The scent is somewhat bitterer than the root but when used in aromatherapy the oil mixes well with sandalwood, cedar wood and patchouli, adding a woody-spicy scent to the mix.
Growing Ginger:
Ginger is a tropical plant that thrives in fertile, moist and well-drained soil. When growing naturally, "cone like spikes three inches long at the end of a 6-12 inch stalk; corolla composed of two ¾ inch yellow green segments and one purple lip, spotted and striped with yellow; occur between one inch long, overlapping, green bracts [specialized leaves]." (Rodale's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs). Commercial ginger doesn't flower, and bears no fruit. The ginger plant isn't very large, not growing more than four feet in height. The leaves are grass like and up to a foot long. The ginger plant requires a lot of water and partial shade.
Ginger (Zingiber officinale) Research suggests ginger root inhibits production of prostaglandins and leukotrienes, which are involved in pain and inflammation. In an uncontrolled 1992 Danish study, 56 patients who had either RA, OA or muscular discomfort took powdered ginger. All of those with musculoskeletal pain and three-fourths of those with OA or RA reported varying degrees of pain relief and no side effects, even among those who took the ginger for more than two years.
Ginger for Colds & Flu:
In the wintertime, many people suffer form colds and flu. Chinese medicine refers to this form of sickness as "invading cold" or "invading damp" which means that the system has been assailed by the cold weather. Whether in the form of: influenza, chills, coughs, or bronchitis, this is a condition that lasts far too long for anyone. Herbal help can be found as close to you as your spice rack or local grocery store. Spices are thought of as warm to hot, and ginger is strong enough to repel the assailant as it's an antioxidant.
Ginger Relieves Motion/Morning Sickness:
Whether a person is carsick, airsick, and seasick or has morning sickness, ginger is one of the most effective herbal remedies to get rid of that queasy feeling.
Ginger Tea - Ideally, this should be made with a fresh root. Grate a small piece of ginger [about the size of a nickel] into a mug. Add the juice of a ½ lemon. Fill the mug with boiling water. Stir in a teaspoon of organic honey.
Ginger Bath - Bathing in fragrant ginger is a luxury as well as a recipe for getting better. Powdered ginger is the recommended form and it should be added slowly. Start with the addition of 1 tablespoon's worth of ginger. If that isn't enough, add another. Don't add too much. You will feel your heart rate increase and you'll begin to detoxify your symptoms soon after bathing in ginger. Drinking plenty of water is recommended
Reader Feed Back
Baxter is continuing to progress. His overall health is what is impressing everyone the most. His main & tail are growing, his feet are growing, we have had no respiratory issues since the one episode last fall and his skin issues remained mild this season. Apple cidar vinegar is now a staple in our barn. His fall coat is beautiful!!!! The sarcoids themselves are continuing to change. Some fall off while other small ones seem to come up and then pretty much disappear. The large one (1 inch diameter) is shrinking at the base but I think it will take awhile yet for it to fall off. It's been about 10 months now so our progress is slow but definately in the right direction! Thank you all sooooo much for all your help.
JoAnn Ferreira and Baxter
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Wishing you and your companions the best of health and happiness.
Yours Truly,
Judith Burton for
Robert McDowell
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