Do you want to know what herbs are good for dogs? Seeing our four-legged friend healthy is a dog owners’ top priority. Thankfully, herbs offer a source of nutrient enrichment, disease prevention and illness treatments that promote overall positive health in our furry buddies.
Medicinal herbs are used to treat and prevent diseases, while simultaneously promoting better general health as well. Some common herbs and spices in the media for promoting well-being are:
- Cilantro [nutrients]
- Turmeric [anti-inflammatory]
- Garlic [cancer fighter]
- Cinnamon [blood sugar]
- Ginger [anti-inflammatory]
- Basil [anti-inflammatory]
- Parsley [vitamin boost]
- Fresh mint [cancer fighting]
- Rosemary [blood and heart health]
- Cayenne pepper [antioxidant]
However, just because these are beneficial for humans doesn’t make them safe for your dog! It’s important to be knowledgeable about these substances, as some can be toxic and even deadly to dogs. Now you may be wondering, what herbs are good for dogs? Doggie Herbs has you covered!
What Herbs are Good for Dogs?
Medicinal herbs can be used to treat and prevent diseases, while simultaneously promoting better general health as well. While human health connects to this, it has been found that Chinese herbs are much more superior and safer for use with dogs. These herbs are effective and gentle with our furry companions as they offer a more holistic approach than traditional western practices. Which Chinese herbs are most utilized in care and treatment of dogs, you may be wondering? Some common Chinese herbs for pets are:
- Chaga Sclerotium
- Chai Hu
- Dong Chong Xia Cao
- Dong Quai /Dang Gui
- Du Huo Ji Sheng Wan
- Elderberry Fruit
- Ginseng / Ren Shen
- Goji Berry
- He Shou Wu / Fo-Ti
- Huang Qi /Astragalus
- Huang Qin / Chinese Skullcap Scuttelaria
- Jade Windscreen
- Licorice root
- Lions’ mane
- Maitake
- Milk Thistle
- Reishi Mushroom
- Shan Yao / Mountain Yam / Dioscorea
- Shiitake
- Shu Di Huang /Rehmannia Root
- Turkey Tail
- Yi Mu Cao / Motherwort
- Yunnan Baiyao
Knowing that these Chinese herbs for dogs exist and are beneficial is only part of the equation. Each herb holds particular benefits for your dog. Understanding the use of each is important to ensure your dogs health remains balanced.
Good Herbs for Dogs: Cancer
Herbs have been utilized within cancer treatments for animals, both directly and indirectly. The work of Susan G. Wynn and Barbara J. Fougere has found that herbs for dogs are beneficial when:
- helping manage the side effects of western treatments (i.e. chemotherapy, radiation or surgery)
- directly used as a treatment alternative
- used in combination with western practices
- aid in the prevention of cancer development
- strengthen other body systems that’re impacted by the cancer itself or treatment
These scientists have also discovered that Chinese herbs have the ability to improve overall quality of life and support cancer remission. The following are mushrooms and herbs within Chinese medicine that yield such results:
Chaga: High in antioxidants, B vitamins, minerals, and enzymes to boost immune properties.
Cordyceps: With antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties, cordyceps mushrooms can be helpful with particular types of cancer and tumors.
Lion’s Mane: Help regenerate damaged nerves and improve cognitive functions.
Maitake: Helpful to dogs experiencing side effects from medications and or treatments associated with their cancer or tumors.
Reishi: Stimulate and enhance the immune system, while also having anti-inflammatory and cell support effects. Cancer and tumors can also make a dog extremely tired, but reishi mushrooms also increase energy.
Shiitake: Contain glucomannan, a fiber that helps moderate blood sugar, and lentinan, a substance with antibacterial, anti-parasitic, and antiviral properties.
Turkey Tail: Known for immune bosting benefits and cellular health properties, with antimicrobial, antiviral, antiallergic, and anti-inflammatory features too.
Good Herbs for Dogs: Immune Health
A dogs immune system holds the ability to fight off threats and maintain a healthy balance throughout all the entire body. There’re a variety of Chinese Herbs for dogs that’re utilized to boost your dog’s immunity:
Astragalus (Huang Qi): The superior, tonic, herb because it effectively: promotes digestive, respiratory, cardiovascular and liver health, boost energy, strength and stamina, as well as balance blood pressure levels.
Bai Zhu (White Atractalodis): Used to repair liver damage, and as a diuretic. It can also help treat congestive heart failure.
Dang Gui (Ren Shen): Reduces swelling, heals tissues and helps in strengthening blood cells. It can also be used as a pain reliever.
Elderberry: Antioxidant properties work to: decrease inflammation, relieve stress, support cholesterol and blood pressure, promote heart and eye health, as well as increase energy and circulation. When these systems are well supported, the immune system is better able to function too.
Fo-Ti (He Shou Wu): Promotes positive brain health. Antioxidants, minerals and vitamins also provide a source of energy, while decreasing pain.
Ginseng (Ren Shen): Contains minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants to keep your pet from getting sick.
Goji Berries (Gou Qi Zi): Rich in antioxidants and amino acids, these herbs help prevent the growth of cancerous cells, while also reducing cholesterol and blood glucose levels.
Isatis Root (Ban Lan Gen): It’s been proven to kill harmful pathogens that intrude the dog’s body.
Jade Windscreen: Jade Windscreen creates a “screen” to protect and ward off airborne pathogens, while boosting immunity.
Poria (Fu Ling): With the main function of cleansing important organs, these herbs also establish an immunity boost with antitumor and anti-inflammatory effects.
Siler Root (Fang Feng): Great at addressing issues that arise with: arthritis, tremors or seizures, and extreme itching. It also carries antimicrobial effects.
Turkey Tail: Full of antioxidants to reduce and inhibit cellular damage caused by imbalances. These mushrooms also contain polysaccharopeptides, which help boost the body’s immune system.
Good Herbs for Dogs: Organ Health
From hair and four limbs to a liver and lungs, the anatomy of your dog has many similarities to your own. Having these same organs, opens our dogs to similar vulnerabilities, such as: diabetes, kidney failure and liver diseases. Just as you have daily health practices that decrease the likeliness of harm to your organs, hrbs for dogs are a preventative way to keep your dog’s organ health in check too:
Chai Hu / Buplerum: A herb used to ‘awaken’ the liver. This results in the liver working more efficiently and self detoxing itself.
Dong Chong Xia Cao/Cordyceps. Cordyceps dramatically impact the immune system, kidney health function, and blood in positive ways.
Dong Quai / Dang Gui / Chinese Angelica: Proven to help the body produce high quality blood and increases circulation.
Huang Qi/Astragalus. Increases immunity, benefits the kidney (shows lowered protein count) and blood, and is used in diabetes treatment.
Huang Qin / Chinese Skullcap Scuttelaria: One of the best detoxing herbs.
Milk Thistle: Not only does this herb work energetically with the liver, but studies show that it can repair liver damage when used in high concentrations.
Shan Yao/Mountain Yam/Dioscorea. Shan Yao has the ability to boost kidney function and help in blood sugar control.
Shu Di Huang/Rehmannia Root. This herb yields benefits in the quality and quantity of blood in your dog’s entire body.
Yi Mu Cao/Motherwort. Increases circulation and helps the urinary tract function properly and effectively.
Good Herbs for Dogs: Orthopedics
Orthopedics is a branch of medicine that focuses on the correction and prevention of disorders within the skeleton and associated structures, such as tendons, joints and ligaments. When problems arise in these areas’ inflammation can occur, causing discomfort. Treat and prevent pain in your dog by using the following herbs:
Du Zhong / Eucommia Bark: Heals broken bones while strengthening and mending tendons and ligaments. Additionally, this herb lowers blood pressure, is anti-inflammatory and relieves hip, stifle, knee pain.
Hong Hua / Safflower: Used for pain, circulation and aiding nutritive blood to engorge muscles (providing healing and pain relief).
Jiang Huang / Curcumin / Turmeric: Provides circulation of healing blood and anti-inflammatory properties for optimal joint care.
MSM / Glucosamine / Chondroitin: A combination of supplements for joint lubrication and maintenance of overall joint health.
Mu Gua / Quince Fruit: Opens channel ways and allows more blood to reach and nourish tendons and ligaments for a speedy recovery.
Sang Zhi / Mulberry Twigs: Strengthens muscles and tendons, relieves pain, increases blood flow, and calms spasms.
Shen Jin Cao / Japanese Clubmoss: Used for tendon issues and pain including trauma by nourishing them with blood. This also helps with healing by allowing greater range of motion.
Tu Bie Chong / Eupolyphagia: Eupolyphagia has a dual action of breaking up stasis, which is present in all tears and injuries, and fuses dog tendon ligament together for quicker healing.
Yan Hu Suo / Corydalis: The go-to herb for pain and circulation improvements.
Yu Jin / Curcumin: Functions in reducing inflammation while improving circulation.
These herbs for dogs should be a part of your dogs holistic care, in order to prevent or relieve pain and illnesses. You’re likely left wondering: Where do I find such herbs for dogs? How do I safely incorporate herbs into my dog’s diet? Doggie Herbs offers a variety of easy-to-mix/add supplements that’re a simple way to add important health components to your dog’s diet without hassle. Each formula utilizes the best preventative measures to your dog’s health because of the synergy and combination of herbs found within them. Combining these, along with other incredible herbs, gives your dog the best all around health boost. Whether you begin feeding your dog medicinal supplements and herbs as a treatment, or to promote better overall health, there are inevitable benefits!
