TRAITEMENTS

COMPLEMENTAIRES
ET PARALLELES

COMPLEMENTARY AND
ALTERNATIVE VETERINARY
MEDICINE

Veterinary phytotherapy: An overview

Marlene J. Smith-Schalkwijk

Introduction
Plants have been used around the world for medicinal
purposes for as long as humans have existed. Observers
of groups of wild monkeys, horses, and carnivores have
reported that these animals selectively eat certain plants
or herbs to alleviate problems, such as parasites or
other intestinal ailments. Herbs and plants are still used
extensively in many groups of people living closer to
nature than are our "civilized" western societies. Prior to
the medieval witch hunt, the main form of treatment in
case of illness relied on the oral and written traditional
knowledge of herbs. Many modern drugs find their origin in plants or fungi, such as atropine (Atropa
belladonna, deadly nightshade), valerian (Valeriana
spp.), digitalis (Digitalis purpurea; purple foxglove),
penicillin (Penicillium spp.), and streptomycin
(Streptomyces griseus).
Public awareness of the sometimes toxic or undesirable side effects of some allopathic drugs and education through literature and the Internet have revived
interest in herbal medicine. Many pet owners who use
herbs themselves are now requesting the same herbal
treatments for their pets. Just as the use of herbs is
growing in the art of human healing, the trend is taking
place in veterinary medicine. Can we use these herbs
safely on pets and livestock? How do we deal with
clients' requests?
The following article explains some of the different
disciplines in herbal medicine and how they work, and
if there is a future in veterinary herbal medicine.

East or West?
All of the herbs, roots, and fungi used traditionally in
Europe, China, India, Africa, and Northern America
have a common origin. In China, herbs and herbal formulas are described and categorized according to the philosophy of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The formulas
are often extensive and complex, in order to avoid toxicity and to promote synergism. Single herbs can be
toxic, if consumed in large quantities or over an extensive period. Herbs with similar characteristics are added
to formulas to create a synergistic effect. Other herbs
might be added to direct the formulation to the desired
location of the body. For example, aromatic herbs, such
as eucalyptus, might be used to help to take the formulation to the respiratory tract. Other herbs, such as
Holistic Veterinary Health Care, 2311 Rosewall Crescent,
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Can Vet J Volume 40, December 1999

licorice, might be added to aid digestion, soothe the

digestive tract, or balance the formula.
Western European herbs are used according to Western
diagnostics, similar to the way in which diseases are
diagnosed. For instance, in the case of anemia, a herb (or
combination of herbs) might be prescribed to promote the
generation of red blood cells.
In India, herbal medicine has always been, and still is,
an important part of the health care system. A lot of
research has been done on many herbs, and they have
been analyzed as to their active ingredients. Ayurvedic
medicine has been used with great success over the
entire world; for example, boswellic acid is extracted
from the resin and bark of the Boswellia serrata tree. It
has anti-inflammatory properties and is included in
formulas for treating arthritis.

How does herbal medicine work?

This question can be answered in several ways. Herbs are
divided into different categories, according to their
shape, taste, therapeutic action, or active ingredients.

Shape
Originally, many plants were used for medicinal purposes because of their similarity to the organ, the
disease to be treated, or the area where they grew. For
example, a root in the shape of a man ought to be good
for man; ginseng is an example of this (1).
Therapeutic action
Groups of herbs can also be divided into their therapeutic
uses, such as astringent, tonifying, anti-inflammatory,
sedative, warming, cooling, antiparasitic, topical, blood
stimulant, etc. (2). Division according to therapeutic
effect will be different in the Western herbs compared with the Chinese herbs, because of the different
philosophy and "medical language."

Taste
This category is mainly in Chinese herbal medicine.
The herbs are grouped into the following tastes: bitter
(Chinese gentian root tastes bitter, it has an affinity for
the liver and gallbladder); sweet (ginseng root is sweet
and slightly bitter, it has an affinity for the digestive
system and lung); sour, these herbs have an astringent
action and are used for excessive urination or diarrhea
(Cherokee rosehip tastes sour and can be used for
incontinence and diarrhea); acrid; and salty (sargassum
or seaweed promotes urination). This shows that a
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certain taste of a herb has an affinity for a specific

organ (2).

Active components
Modem Western research is directed mostly towards
the active ingredients in the herbs. Theoretically, one
should be able to extract the active ingredient, make
it synthetically, and obtain the same effect! Experience
has shown that, in many plants, the active ingredient,
once isolated from the other plant material, either
does not have the same effect or is toxic. For example,
hawthorn fruit (Crataegus spp.) is used for hypertension; it also has a vasodilating effect and lowers
serum cholesterol. If the active ingredient, a glycoside,
is isolated and used by itself, it loses its effect (2).
Many active ingredients have been identified in medicinal plants, namely polysaccharides, steroidal compounds (saponines), flavonoids, alkaloids, aromatic
compounds (essential oils, alcohols, ketones), glycosides,
and many others (1). The discovery of the influence
of some of these polysaccharides on the immune system
has revived interest in plant therapy. Polysaccharides
found in Astragalus membranaceus and Echinacea
purpurea have been shown to have an influence on the
immune system (1). Polysaccharides found in
Ganoderma spp. and some other species of mushroom
have been found to stimulate the natural killer cells
and tumor necrosis factor; their antineoplastic effect is
a hot topic in cancer research (1). Some of the saponines
have anti-inflammatory effects. Licorice has an antiinflammatory effect on the intestinal mucosa and is
found in many intestinal formulas (1). Some flavonoids
have antiviral, antibacterial, vasodilative, antiallergenic,
and liver protection effects; those from honeysuckle
(Lonicera spp.), forsythia (Forsythia spp.), and isatis
(Isatis tinctora) are examples of these (3). Some of the
alkaloid-containing herbs have also sparked the interest
of cancer researchers. Alkaloids found in Berberidaceae
and Menispermaceae significantly increase the number
of white blood cells and antagonize the leukopenic
effect of cyclophosphamide (1). The essential oils are
used to treat upper respiratory diseases, such as the
common cold and influenza. They are also found in
many dermal formulas.

Cats are more sensitive (aspirin), so more caution is

required when using herbal combinations.

Conclusion
The use of herbal medicine in veterinary medicine is
becoming more popular and more educational courses are
now available. Extensive research data are available
on the effect of herbs, from their therapeutic effect or the
perspective of their active components. Some of this
material can be found in the suggested reading list.
After completing the course on herbs given by the
International Veterinary Acupuncture Society, and after
many more hours of study, I have applied many herbal
combinations successfully to animals for a large variety
of diseases, including atopy, asthma, recurring bladder
stones, arthritis, immune-mediated diseases, cancer,
liver failure, renal failure, and several diseases affecting
the older geriatric patient. The study of herbal medicine
has contributed greatly to expanding my medical knowledge and to helping my patients. I have experienced that
certain herbs or supplements can be incompatible with
each other or allopathic medicine. Simple examples of
this are glucosamine sulfate, vitamin C, and the homeopathic remedy Arnica montana. These supplements
all have a slight anticoagulant effect. If combined with
NSAIDS, such as meloxicam, phenylbutazone, or aspirin,
a potentially fatal gastric or intestinal bleeding can be initiated. This should be considered when major surgery is
being planned.
More information can be obtained from the American
Holistic Veterinary Association (AHVMA) and the
International Veternary Acupuncture Society (IVAS).

References
1. Dharmananda S. Chinese Herbal Therapies for Immune Disorders.
Portland: Institute for Traditional Medicine and Preventive Health
Care, 1988.
2. Bensky D, Gamble A. Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica.
Seattle: Eastland Pr, 1986.
3. Bensky D, Barolet R. Chinese Herbal Medicine Formulas &
Strategies. Seattle: Eastland Pr, 1990.

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Application in the veterinary practice

The demand for herbal medicine in veterinary practice
is growing rapidly. Telling your clients that herbal
medicine has not been proven and has no value will only
antagonize them and send them to the nearest herbalist
(properly qualified or not), thereby encouraging nonveterinarians to diagnose conditions and treat animals
without being licensed to do so. Extensive literature
and materia medica are available on the use, toxic
effects, and incompatibility of many herbs in humans, but
little research has been done on the safety of herbal
combinations in dogs and cats. Livestock has been
treated with herbs for many centuries. These animals are
designed to digest and process plants; they are very
responsive to herbs!
For most of the herbal combinations, the antagonistic
and synergistic effects on humans are similar for the dog.
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Can Vet J Volume 40, December 1999