Robert McDowell's Herbal Treatments
20 May 2007
Herbal Help for Humans and their Companions
Illness is seen as a disturbance of the harmony between the body and inner life. Healing as its restoration, needs to embrace Body, Soul and Spirit. If the whole human being is addressed, the therapies used must draw upon art as well as science.This week we feature:-
- Feline - Flu: Feline Upper Respiratory Tract Disease
- Canine - Vomiting Up Undigested Foods
- Equine - Shivers
- Human - Planter Fasciitis
- Home Remedies - Garlic
- Reader Feedback
Feline - Flu: Feline Upper Respiratory Tract Disease
Cat flu is a common cat disease caused by the Feline Herpes Virus or Calici-virus.
Feline Herpes Virus is the more serious of the two. It is also known as Feline Virus Rhinotracheitis which is an older term for the virus.
Feline Herpes virus infects the membranes of the eyes, the lining of the nose, pharynx, sinuses, and throat.
Symptoms include sneezing, nasal discharge, conjunctivitis , discharge from the eyes, loss of appetite, fever and depression. Occasionally, mouth and eye ulcers and excessive drooling of saliva may be seen. The very young, very old and immuno-suppressed cats are more likely to develop severe disease and possibly die as a result of their flu.
Cat flu viruses are spread in three ways.
Our herbal recommendations include:
1. Boosting the Immune system with Maritime Pine Bark.
2. Address the virus and flu symptoms with the blood cleanser.
3. Address corneal ulcers. A common residual effect of cat flu is a persistence of the virus in the corneas of the eye. Periodically, with stress, the virus, which lays dormant in nerves of the face, will reappear forming oval corneal ulcers that are slow to heal. Eyewash externally & Colloidal silver at a dose of 5 mls twice daily for 4 weeks initially when the symptoms first appear. 2 drops in 15mls of colloidal silver wash the eyes am & pm. Make a fresh batch each time. At night time use 1 drop of castor oil into each eye prior to bedtime.
http://www.herbal-treatments.com/cat_eye_wash.html
Canine - Vomiting Up Undigested Food
Imagine turning up to every meal excited and hungry only to get the same dried up pellet over and over again. Dog's traditional diets were meat and bones and you can do no better than these.
The dog food companies would like us to believe that their product is as good as raw food and bones but in reality it is full of additives which over time have a range of detrimental effects on dog health.
Let's treat with a diet change and also as if he has a tummy upset.
Go to your health food store and buy colloidal silver, acidophilus and slippery elm powder or tablets.
Give him 5 mls of the silver twice daily. This is a side-effect free antibiotic.
Give him the human dose of acidophilus and slippery elm tablets once daily. You can mix these into quality yoghurt to feed. These will replace important gut flora required to digest food and soothe and line any inflammation in an irritated gastro-intestinal tract.
I also recommend that you place your dog on a diet of raw meat and bones i.e. beef/mutton bones with meat on them or raw chicken necks and wings, mince; definitely no processed food and snacks. You can also add some freshly cooked or raw vegetables and oats or rice.
If your dog is not already on this type of diet, then I suggest that you introduce it slowly.
The following articles discuss the importance of diet in greater detail:
http://www.herbal-dogkeeping.com/articles_digestive_system_ofadog.html
http://www.herbal-dogkeeping.com/articles_give_your_dog_abone.html
Equine - Shivers
Dear Robert,
I have a 17.3 hand warm blood that has shivers in his hind leg (right now in both legs due to scratches on his fetlocks). Anyway, this horse is quite low in energy and laid back, however...he's a worrier and startles easily and is a HUGE dramatic "spooker". He will forget about any respect of space and just plow right into me if something frightens him. Often times he may turn and attempt to bolt. He really does not ever appear nervous or high strung...just that out of the blue he'll startle and most of the time I have no idea what even sets him off.
His eyesight and hearing are good. I just need help with his startle and bolt response. He is too big to be doing this and unfortunately due to his shivers, I cannot do any lunging or round pen work...as it's very hard on his leg. Any help appreciated!
Robert Replied:
To cover all aspects of the Shivers I use three of my standard treatments initially and together.
1. Anti Inflammatory Healer (AIH) to help get rid of the over-reactivity and inflammation which builds up. See:
http://www.herbal-treatments.com/horse_anti_inflammatory_healer.html
2. We must rebalance and rejuvenate the nervous system which has gotten out of balance and is not governing things properly and has gotten itself lost: See:
http://www.herbal-treatments.com/horse_nervous_rehabilitation.html
3. In addition we provide healing and rebuilding for any ligament or bone problems which are beginning. See:
http://www.herbal-treatments.com/horse_tendon_bone_healing.html
A single course of the #1, and #3. are normally all that is required with perhaps the nervous system mix #2 continuing longer to do some long term work on what has always been overactive.
Some retraining is also helpful and I recommend Andrew McLean's ideas from the Equine Behaviour Centre in Victoria. http://www.aebc.com.au/home
Human - Plantar Fasciitis Program
What you need to address is the causal factor:
1. If you are overweight then address dietary & exercise changes.
2. If sport related then rest & stretching as well as rehabilitation exercises are required.
3. Look at footwear & it's affect on the PF also. NO stilettos for a while!
This can easily turn into a chronic condition for the effected foot but also be indicated in causing problems with the unaffected leg due to the way it changes stride & feet placement when walking.
If you haven't addressed exercises then read this and discuss with your Physiotherapist.
http://www.plantarfasciitisbraces.com/plantar_fasciitis_stretching_exercises.html
Herbally, we recommend the Athletes oil massaged into the foot daily.(this is a great oil for all aches and sprains but don't use on broken skin)
http://www.herbal-treatments.com.au/herbs_athletes_oil.html
As an internal support to strengthen the ligaments, connective tissues & reduce inflammation. Try the following:
http://www.herbal-treatments.com.au/herbs_bursitis_tendonitis_spurs.html This is a long term treatment, please consider a 3 to 6 month program for this condition.
Home Remedies - Garlic
The garlic flower was historically and traditionally used as a symbol over the door of the classical herbalist. Classical herbalists very rightly have great respect for this plant. Ancient Egyptians workers were entitled to a certain amount of garlic as part of their wages. Maybe we should all insist on regular partaking of garlic. The word garlic comes from Old English garleac, meaning "spear leek". Dating back over 6,000 years, it is native to Central Asia, and has long been a staple in the Mediterranean region, as well as a frequent seasoning in Asia, Africa, and Europe.
Its uses are many and varied.
It's good for virtually any disease or infection improving circulation, maintaining healthy cholesterol and blood pressure levels. Garlic is a natural antibiotic and immune system stimulant.
But it is also good for zapping bacteria, keeping your heart healthy, cholesterol levels, warding off coughs and colds.
New research shows that taking garlic during pregnancy can cut the risk of pre-eclampsia (raised blood pressure and protein retained in the urine). Studies reveal that garlic may help to boost the birth-weight of babies destined to be too small.
Louis Pasteur first verified garlic's antibacterial properties scientifically in 1858 , and during WWI garlic juice, water and sphagnum moss were used to bandage wounds . It was also used in WWII to prevent septic poisoning and gangrene . Even before Pasteur's discovery, garlic was a military disinfectant, and poultices of moss, garlic and wine were used to treat soldiers in the army of Ancient Rome . The lives of thousands of men have been saved by its use.
Modern day research helps explain the broad applications of this "miracle" herb. Garlic bulbs contain the amino acid allicin. When crushed, allicin is released. This chemical element is the component that gives Garlic its strong odour and is responsible for the powerful pharmacological properties of the plant. One medium clove of Garlic can equal the antibacterial action equivalent to 1% penicillin.
Garlic also contains about 0.5% of a volatile oil that is composed of sulfur-containing compounds. Garlic's sulfur compounds, in addition to Selenium and Vitamins A and C containing compounds, make it a potent antioxidant, protecting cell membranes and DNA from damage and disease.
Syrup of Garlic is an invaluable medicine for asthma, hoarseness, coughs, difficulty of breathing, and most other disorders of the lungs, being of particular virtue in chronic bronchitis, on account of its powers of promoting expectoration.
It is made by pouring a quart of water, boiled hot, upon a pound of the fresh root, cut into slices, and allowed to stand in a closed vessel for twelve hours, honey is then added to make it of the consistency of syrup. Vinegar and honey greatly improve this syrup as a medicine. A little caraway and sweet fennel seed bruised and boiled for a short time in the vinegar before it is added to the Garlic, will cover the pungent smell of the latter.
Bruised and mixed with oil, it has been proved to relieve whooping-cough if rubbed on the chest and between the shoulder-blades.
A clove or two of Garlic, pounded with honey and taken two or three nights successively, is good in rheumatism.
Let us know what you have used garlic for in your life:
http://www.gilroygarlicfestival.com
Reader Feed Back - Thank you to both our contributors for taking time to share with us.
I'm one of your biggest fans - reading the newsletter I mean. I have a little herbal garden pretty much based on what I've learnt from the home remedies section of the newsletter. No big trees, just little plants in pots. Its become my latest hobby and its really great because I've arranged all the aromatic plants and flowers around my room windows so the whole day and night its like living in heaven.
Neetu
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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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