HOLISTIC MEDICINE UPDATE
Dr. Jordan Kocen, DVM, MS, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist

Herbal Medicinal Options in Veterinary Medicine
The recent increased interest in non-conventional therapies has led to the appearance of many herbal products on the shelves at health food stores, in mail order catalogues and on the Internet. This, of course, has led many pet owners to wonder if these products can be used in the companions to treat their health problems.

There are two main classes of herbal products available: Western herbal and Chinese Herbal. In general, Western herbal products are single herbs for a single problem. For example, St. John's wort may be used for depression or saw palmetto for benign prostatic hypertrophy. Sometimes several herbs will be mixed together to treat a specific problem, such as when ecchinacea and goldenseal are blended to help someone get over a cold. Chinese Herbal products are almost always used in combination. A typical formula will contain 6-16 individual herbs. These products are formulated to treat a syndrome, not just a single problem. I have about a half a dozen formulas that I regularly use for "arthritis" in animals.

The choice of formula depends on the presentation of the patient. Some animals are more weak than painful and some are more painful than weak. Some are worse in cold, damp weather, and some are not. These presentations represent different syndromes, or you could say, different forms of "arthritis." By correctly diagnosing the syndrome, one can select the best medicine to provide optimum relief. All medicinal products should be chosen by someone who possesses knowledge about the product and an understanding of the problem being treated. That herbs are natural does not mean that they are safe. When used incorrectly, the patient can have problems. Relative to most drug therapy, the herbal products are safe, but a response to herbal therapy does not always follow a course similar to drug therapy.

The biggest problem I see at this time regarding the use of herbal products is that too many products are being used in the wrong cases. This is a waste of herbs and leads many people to conclude that herbal medicine doesn't word when, in fact, they were just using the wrong medicine.

The proper use of herbal medicine requires as much study as conventional drug pharmacology. The response of the individual to the same product will vary, just as with drug therapy. It is the knowledge of the practitioner, rather than the use of the product itself, that leads to fewer problems. Aspirin can be used safely in dogs and cats, but our knowledge of its effects in these species determines the dosage recommendations and potential problems that may occur.

These is a long, rich history of the use of herbal products in all cultures of the world. Anyone who studies the field learns where the individual medicines work and where they don't, and what works best in combination. There is a misconception that the action of herbs is due to an "active ingredient." Historical knowledge of the herb is based on the part or the entire plant being used. Chemical extraction of specific components does not standardize the action of the herb; it creates a drug, which will have its own properties and side effects. Concern that the products are not standard from year to year due to variations in growing conditions is valid, but not a major concern. The overall effect of the herbal combination tends to be standard, so moderation in an individual component does not significantly alter the therapeutic properties. This has been borne out in hundreds of years of herbal use and study.

Herbal products have potential to help many of our animal patients. They can be used as the sole form of therapy or as an adjunct to conventional drug therapy. Their use should not be arbitrary or capricious, because while they are safe, they can have strongly medicinal effects. When used properly they have the ability to significantly expand the range of medical problems that can be treated safely and effectively.