Robert McDowell's Herbal Treatments
03 June 2007
Herbal Help for Humans and their Companions
The brain is a giant immune system gland that operates on hope, joy, and optimism. The gland turns off in response to mental attitudes of fear and depression.The question is raised as to how many people are dying because they have been programmed to die. The observation is made that doctors who tell their patients they have a terminal disease are programming their patients to die. Is this malpractice?
Thus to obtain the best chances for a patient's recovery it behoves a doctor to not only avoid programming his patient negatively, but to go further and program the patient positively by encouraging optimism, hope and confidence. It is the capability to do this that allows some doctors to constantly achieve better results than others.
It's pretty simple--look after your immune system and it will look after you. It is immensely powerful in sound health but it becomes diminished in many people because of the many challenges it receives, challenges for which it was not designed.
This week we feature:-
- Feline - Diarrhoea
- Canine - Herbal Support for Chemo and Radio Therapy
- Equine - A Healthy Horse
- Human - Gout
- Home Remedies - Kelp
- Reader Feedback
Feline - Diarrhoea
Feline Diarrhoea is one of the more common illnesses and indicates a problem in the intestines or colon. It is a symptom of some underlying disease. It can be caused by a viral or bacterial infection, it could be a disease of the intestine or colon wall; for example, inflammatory bowel disease. Other causes include foreign body ingestion or dietary indiscretion. Diarrhoea can be mild and self-limiting; or debilitating and life threatening.
In the case of an acute attack of diarrhoea knowing the cat's activities and whereabouts previous to the outbreak of diarrhoea may help determine the cause. If the cat has been to a boarding kennel, grooming parlour, or even run away for a few hours, it may have contacted a virus from another animal. If the cat has a history of getting in the garbage it may suggest the problem is due to an intestinal foreign body or ingestion of spoiled food. The history may suggest the problem is a simple one due to a different brand of cat food, or too many table scraps.
However if the problem has been going on for a long time this may indicate a chronic condition such as inflammatory bowel disease.
Considering its complex architecture, the delicate interplay of its components with other organs and glands in the digestive system, and the many challenging and vitally necessary tasks it must constantly perform, it's no wonder that things might go wrong with the feline digestive tract now and then. Digestive system disorders in general are among the most frequently observed health problems in cats. Many of these disorders are primarily associated with organs such as the liver, pancreas and gall bladder--all of which play a crucial role in the digestive system.
Put your cat on simple raw food diet with small amount of slippery elm powder (1/4 teaspoon) mixed through it.
In the gastro-intestinal tract, Slippery Elm acts directly. Its mucilage content coats, soothes, and lubricates the mucus membranes lining the digestive tract. It is high in fibre, and so helps normalize intestinal action; it can be used to relieve both diarrhoea and constipation.
Anitra Frazier gives the following recipe for Slippery Elm Bark syrup in her book, The New Natural Cat, which applies equally well to our canine companions when adjusted for weight:
Into a small saucepan place 1/2 cup cold water and 1 teaspoon powdered slippery elm bark. Whip with a fork. Bring to simmer over low flame, stirring constantly. Simmer 1 or 2 minutes or until slightly thickened. Cool and refrigerate. Keeps 7 or 8 days. Give a teaspoon of syrup (5 cc) for an average-size cat (again, about 10 pounds) 5 minutes before a meal to minimize diarrhoea.
However my cat tolerates slippery elm very lightly dusted on his chicken and has had no diarrhoea problems since starting this daily regime.
My mix includes the following herbs Slippery Elm, Chamomile, St Mary's, Vervain, Yarrow, Passion Flower, Blue Flag along with the Bach Flowers Rescue Remedy, Scleranthus, Wild Oat and Aspen.
Canine - Radio Therapy and Chemo Therapy Herbal Support for Dogs and Horses
Simply speaking, cancer occurs when one of the most fundamental tasks of the human body , the immune system is not functioning.
Whenever a cell is replaced, and there are millions every week replaced as part of normal life, there is a chance of a few cells being malformed or imperfect, a healthy immune system sorts through them all and eliminates any which are not perfect.
Chemotherapy tries to kill any groups of cells which are defective and self replicating, in order to do this it must depress the body's immunity in order to poison the cancer cells it is targeting. Understandably this does nothing to help the rest of the body to continue to function in a healthy way. For it to be effective chemotherapy does not differentiate in the cells it kills- cancerous or healthy. In reality it is very crude, but it is all the oncologists have, and it gives owners some sort of hope.
I don't support chemotherapy, however more and more, in powerful and debilitating doses it is being given to dogs and horses. As a side treatment I offer herbs to minimise the detrimental side effects of it.
http://www.herbal-treatments.com.au/dog_chemotherapy_support.html
http://www.herbal-treatments.com.au/dog_radiotherapy_support.html
Herbs are both effective and gentle in supporting the whole body, you treat your own animal at home, and in almost every single case we improve vitality and longevity.
Read more about canine cancer at the site below
http://www.herbal-treatments.com.au/article_theriseof_canine_cancers.html
Equine - A Healthy Horse
Hello, I am looking for a natural way to supplements my horse with vitamins and minerals. I saw your recommendations of the grains, green food, wheat germ, molasses and so on. Could you tell me how much of each he should get? Thank you
Robert Replied:
I suggest you keep your horse primarily on hay and pasture 24/7 day and night. Don't lock him up in a stable and if you need to give extra dry grass try to get meadow hay rather than something pasteurised.
Soak 2 or 3 cups of grain, barley perhaps, overnight and give each day this amount. Add pollard 1 cup per day or 2 if you are trying to recover any lost weight.
Add to a litre of boiling water and make into a tea each day 2 tablespoons of Chamomile Flowers and 2 tablespoons of Rosehips Granules. This will provide for digestive system support, vitamin C and Iron and many other useful ingredients.
See: http://www.herbal-treatments.com/horse_rosehips_granules.html
http://www.herbal-treatments.com/horse_chamomile_flowers.html
Use the tea above to dampen feed am and pm and add 2 desert spoonfuls of molasses.
Give a protein concentrate like copra meal 2 - 4 Kg's each day.
Give ground Millet and Linseed (Flaxseed) one cup each to protect and assist all bone and ligament strength and elasticity.
See also: http://www.herbal-treatments.com/articles_herbs_horse.html
This is all that is needed for healthy strong horses.
Human - Gout
Gout is a form of rheumatoid arthritis. Crystals derived from excess uric acid settle as tophi in the ears , thumbs , heel, ankle, instep or toes causing inflammation and excruciating pain.
It means the kidneys are upset (and disease can result if not treated) because they can't keep up with the uric acid secretion.
It implies a sedentary lifestyle with too much alcohol (usually beer) and purine rich meat.
Home Remedies - Kelp (Sea weed, Fucus versiculosus)
Kelp is used to strengthen and promote the glands. It controls the thyroid and regulates metabolism. It is a sustainer to the nervous system and the brain, and is a terrific boost for pregnancy and the developing child. It contains over 30 essential minerals and vitamins.
Kelp has been part of the Japanese diet for over 2000 years in sushi, noodles, soup, medicine, etc.
Kelp is one of the highest sources of minerals and vitamins. It is especially high in natural iodine plus all the cell salts that are so important to the proper function of the body and the thyroid. It is also known as bladderwrack.
Studies show that the intake of kelp in Japan is partly responsible for the country's dramatically lower breast cancer rates, as well as the presence of less obesity, heart disease, respiratory disease, rheumatism and arthritis, high blood pressure, thyroid deficiency and constipation.
Kelp should be good for everyone due to it's strengthening effect to the entire body. It is especially good for ailing and convalescent persons and during pregnancy. It supports the nervous system and is helpful for weight loss by raising the metabolism and burning excess calories.
The micronutrient values of sea vegetables greatly exceed those in soil based crops; more importantly, their trace minerals are in organic forms the body can readily absorb and use. Kelp is known to contain many vitamins, chelated minerals and essential amino acids. (chelated meaning - bound with a protein ion, or best explained as - in a form that can be absorbed easily and directly by the body). Because of its natural iodine content, Kelp has a normalizing effect on the thyroid gland. In other words, thin people with thyroid trouble can gain weight by using Kelp, and obese people can lose weight.
Physicians recommend the use of sea vegetables for obesity, poor digestion, flatulence, and obstinate constipation. It has been reported to be very beneficial to the sensory nerves, membranes surrounding the brain, spinal cord, and brain tissue. Other uses are for hair loss, goiter, ulcers, arteries, and nails. Kelp is said to protect us from the effects of radiation, and softens stools.
Kelp is beneficial for hair, skin and nails. It helps combat stress, eczema, glands and radiation poisoning. Kelp can also prevent birth defects, aid in pregnancy and strengthens the adrenal glands.
Seaweed is so packed with vitamins and minerals. It's literally super food.
Reader Feedback: Great News!
I just received my March 2007 edition of the Pet Food Industry magazine. This is THE magazine for the pet food industry and to my complete amazement Dr. Ian Billinghurst was on the cover and the heading was
"RAW..the next big thing?"
You have to realize that this article was probably done 3 months ahead of time and well before the pet food meltdown!
They did a 2 page write up on Dr. Billinghurst with a headline quote: "Australian Ian Billinghurst believes grain based diets are unsuitable for dogs and cats!" This coming from a magazine that deals with kibble manufacturers and suppliers for kibble products.
When I saw the cover and read the article it literally made me weep for joy as this is really a milestone for those of us who have advocated a raw diet for well over a decade! For someone like myself who was literally threatened by the boys from the pet food industry when I sponsored a seminar with the release of Ann Martin's book "Food Pet's Die For", and wrote articles in my newsletters prior to the book's release; It is a real victory!! I feel vindicated and humbled at the same time for all the people who had the guts and fortitude to be empowered and say "NO" to kibble and feed what we all know is Biologically Appropriate for our four footed companions!!
Raw feeding is now about 5% of the pet food business in the US and in Australia it is 20% according to their figures.
I wonder what it will be in the US in a year from now?
I also love this quote from Billinghurst," A diet based on the opinions of an expert committee has never been formally tested in any peer-reviewed research!!"
Definition of a RAW diet: "RESTORING ANIMAL WELLNESS"
Needless to say this article made my day!!
Cheers
Sandra
Von Hapsburg Danes
3 Generations of Naturally Reared Danes
Home of Maestro who stars in "Chestnut " The Hero of Central Park
Now available on DVD
http://www.vonhapsburgdanes.com
Thank you so much for sharing this with us Sandra
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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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