Herbs have long been used to treat and prevents ailments in humans, and apart from smelling good and adding oomph to your cooking, certain herbs are helpful to our canines too. Here are five that may help you save a few bucks on vet visits:
1. Aloe Vera
Great as a treatment for burns, scrapes, and minor irritation, aloe vera can also be given internally to help with conditions such as gas, constipation, and infections.
2. Calendula Flowers
The flowers of this easy-growing herb may be used to treat cuts, scrapes and wound, on both you and your dog. The flower petals, however, can be applied directly as a wound dressing or made into a tea to be used as an antiseptic wash. The antiseptic quality of the herb helps prevent the growth of bacteria.
3. Ginger
This medicinal herb works great for dogs with tummy upsets – it can be boiled into a tea or tincture and fed to Fido.
4. Milk Thistle
This herb contains the flavanoid silymarin which is helpful for the repair of damaged liver cells and may offer protection for new liver cells. It is a popular anti-inflammatory and antioxidant that can be used as a dried herb or tincture. However, it may interact with certain drug or hormone-related cancers and should not be taken by sick dogs or pregnant and nursing dogs.
5. Burdock
Burdock is known for its ability to cleanse the skin and for its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant effects. The root contains cleansing constituents that help treat skin conditions, dandruff and acne. Burdock cleanses the excretory system and blood of impurities and also facilitates toxin elimination through the skin. It also acts specifically on the skin to speed up healing. This herbs comes in many forms including capsules, dried herbs, liquid extracts, teas, and tinctures. It is mainly taken internally, although if the skin is unbroken, a topical treatment may be applied by soaking a cloth in the tincture or tea. However, it shouldn’t be given to pregnant or nursing dogs.