Chinese herbal medicine is one of the five branches of Traditional Chinese veterinary medicine. I am fortunate to have the knowledge to apply Chinese herbal medicine to many of my patients with chronic conditions such as Cushing's disease, kidney failure, chronic urinary tract infections, seizures, cancer, allergies, asthma and arthritis. The list of conditions that I can use these herbal medicines on could go on and on. I see good results in many patients that have not received adequate or lasting results with conventional modern medicines and pharmaceuticals. I think Chinese herbal medicine is powerful in that regard! It's incredible to me that something so ancient, simple, and with reduced side effects can be such a powerful medicine for so many conditions.
Western Herbal vs. Chinese Herbal Medicine
Many clients are familiar with herbal remedies, but usually Western herbals. Echinachia is an example of a Western herbal. We know it can help strengthen the immune system and help us fight colds or the flu. The major difference between Chinese herbal medicine and Western herbal medicine is that Chinese herbal medicines are given in a formula of multiple herbs and Western herbs are generally given as a single herb. Chinese herbal medicines also use minerals and some animal products in addition to plant based roots, seeds, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits, and petals. A Chinese herbal formula is a recipe of herbals from the Chinese materia medica (or formulary) to create a supplement that is balanced. The side effects of a single herbal will be balanced with one or more herbals to create balance in the formula. In my experience, Chinese herbal medicine appears to have fewer side effects compared to pharmaceuticals and this is most likely due to the balance created by combing multiple herbals in a formula.
Chinese Herbal Medicine Use in Dogs and Cats
Use of Chinese herbal medicines in veterinary medicine (especially dogs and cats) is much newer than its use in humans. In the United States, Chinese herbal medicines have been used for less than 40 years. Chinese herbal medicine has been used in humans for over 1000 years! Compare that to pharmaceuticals that are used and/or tested in animals before application in people. It is comforting to me that humans have been the "guinea pig" for these traditional medicines. Many formulas were developed hundreds of years ago and are still used because of their effectiveness.
Pattern of Imbalance vs. Disease
In our modern culture, pharmaceuticals are used to treat specific conditions or diseases. All patients with the same condition are treated with the same medicine. For example, take the case of a dog with arthritis. If the dog is limping or stiff and has evidence of degenerative joint changes on a radiograph we would diagnose arthritis or degenerative joint disease and prescribe an anti-inflammatory pain medicine. By contrast, an arthritic dog treated with Chinese herbal medicine would receive a formula based on the pattern of imbalance. Therefore, every arthritic dog doesn't get the same formula since there are at least three choices for arthritic dogs. One pattern would be too much heat in the body where the dog would pant, have preference for cool areas of the house, have panting and/or increased thirst, and maybe do better in the winter months. The second pattern of imbalance would be a patient that has too much cold in the body and have preference for warm areas of the house or lie in the sun, the body might feel cold especially the feet and ears, and the arthritis might be better in the summer. The last imbalance might be too much dampness in the body which might be a dog with an oily coat, obesity, and worse on rainy or humid days. These three dogs all have arthritis and would be treated with the same anti-inflammatory medicine if we use a pharmaceutical, but three different Chinese herbal formulas since their patterns of imbalance are different. For this reason, examination of the patient is crucial when prescribing Chinese herbal medicines. If the cold patient gets the herbal formula that is best for the hot patient it might make the patient feel worse.
Integrated Medicine
Many clients are concerned with using herbal medicines with pharmaceuticals. Only in rare cases can the two not be used together. The good news is that you don't have to choose one therapy since most of my herbal patients get both conventional pharmaceuticals and Chinese herbal medicines. Treatment with both may be the most effective treatment for the patient. For example, the "hot" arthritic dog treated with an anti-inflammatory will have reduced pain but can also get herbals that help with reducing the excess heat signs in the body. The quality of life is enhanced when we can help with pain and the other symptoms that are associated with the body's imbalance.
Forms of Herbal Medicine Available
Chinese herbal medicines are generally in tablet, tea pill, capsule or granular form. See the pictures below for details. Some Chinese herbal formulas can also be used topically as a salve, dry powder, ear drop, or eye drop. Many clients are sometimes uncomfortable with the "volume" of herbal medicine given. It's important to remember for herbal medicine especially that volume does not always equal potency. Most herbals are ground in the whole plant form so only small amounts of active ingredients are present in the final product. Contrast to pharmaceuticals, where the active ingredient is synthesized, purified, and concentrated to create a potent powder or tablet. We are comfortable with the small size of our modern medicine in capsules and tablets and sometimes feel out of the comfort zone with the herbals most of time only because of the volume of granules needed, or number of capsules or tablets needed. Herbals are much less potent and therefore more volume is necessary to achieve the desired effect.
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| Teapills |
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| Herbal powder/granules and capsules with powder |
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| Herbal Tablet |
Safety
Most of the herbal products used in Chinese herbal medicine are only native to regions in Asia, specifically China. Safety of these raw products is cited as a major concern of many who use or oppose Chinese herbal medicine. The products that I prescribe are produced in the United States by companies with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and who diligently get third party testing for toxins and impurities such as heavy metals, antibiotics and antifungals, mold, bacteria, pesticides and insecticides. Some herbals need to be processed by cooking or stir-frying to reduce the toxicity of them. The companies that I use ensure the raw ingredients are properly processed and tested prior to creating the formulas and final products. Some people may also know that traditional medicines in Asia sometimes use products from endangered plant and animal species. The companies I use do not use these endangered products. Examples of these products would be tiger bone, rhino horn, and bear bile. It's also important to know that ephedra is not used in any Chinese herbal product produced in the United States.
Example of Commonly Used Chinese Herbal Formula
To illustrate what a Chinese herbal formula really is, look at the ingredients of a very commonly used supplement below. The indications for this formula would be vomiting, diarrhea, and poor appetite. I have used it successfully in herding breeds with anxiety induced low appetite and body weight. I have also used it in patients with liver disorders and poor appetite. It can also be used in pets with anxiety induced appetite or digestive concerns. In people it can be used for treating PMS. The formula name: Xiao Yao San can be loosely translated as Free Wanderer, Rambling Ease, or Going With the Flow.
Formula Name: Xiao Yao San
Bupleurum (Chai Hu)
Angelica (Dang Gui)
Peonia (Bai Shao Yao)
Atractylodes (Bai Zhu)
Poria (Fu Ling)
Licorice (Gan Cao)
There are six herbs in this formula that work together to restore harmony and balance to the liver and digestive tract. 50% of the herbs work on the liver and 50% work on the intestines.
I have spent more than 165 hours of continuing education in the last two years to gain more knowledge in this branch of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM). The intention of this post was to introduce the reader to basic information about the benefits and applications of Chinese herbal medicine in veterinary patients. I have witnessed the healing power that Chinese herbal medicines can provide to patients, especially with chronic diseases. It's safe to use this medicine in both the young and old. It can be safely and successfully combined with modern medicines, including chemotherapy. It can dramatically improve the quality of life in older pets with incurable conditions. If you haven't considered its use for your pet, I encourage you to take a second look. If you have already witnessed the benefits of its healing properties, I encourage you to share your experiences with others or by leaving a comment on this blog.
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