Herbal Medicine for Dog

Herbal medicine for dogs is something that is growing in popularity. Herbal medicine for dogs and flower essences or remedies are similar to homeopathic remedies, but they are used to treat behavioral problems. Rescue remedy, a combination of five flower essences, is often used to calm dogs with separation anxiety and to help dogs that have been rescued from shelters, puppy mills, or abusive owners. Flower essences are created out of 38 different botanicals by either floating the blossoms in water for a number of hours or boiling them for half an hour. Each tincture is preserved by mixing it 50/50 with full-strength, 80-proof brandy. Drops of this mixture are diluted in additional brandy and bottled for personal use. Before ingesting, patients are advised to further dilute the remedy by putting two drops in a 30-milliliter (1-ounce) dropper bottle and filling it with mineral water. Since many pharmaceuticals are developed by isolating a chemical found in a plant, the use of herbs to cure diseases and heal injuries is more acceptable than homeopathic remedies to many people. Herbal medicine is well-known throughout history; in the US, it was used by settlers and natives alike for everything from headache cures to poultices for wounds. Use of the whole herb rather than the drug extracted from a chemical in the herb may limit side effects, and herbs can be added to the diet to enhance general health. There is also some evidence that some herbs may prevent or lessen the potential for development of some diseases. As homeopathic and herbal remedies grow in recognition, more and more pet owners are likely to gravitate to their use and more and more veterinarians will be amenable to using them as part of an arsenal of products available to enhance pet health.