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Animal Herbal Medicine
The goal of animal herbal medicine is:
- to lead their patients to health.
- to consider the interconnectedness of the mind, emotions, social and environmental factors with the animal body when determining the health status of the patient.
- to balance an optimal state in all processes underlying a body system or function.
- to prevent and treat underlying causes of disease from a holistic perspective, acknowledging and embracing centuries of empirical knowledge and traditional principles of the usage of plant medicine, whilst continuing to evaluate both herbs and human disease in a modern scientific context.
Does your animal need herbal medicine / therapy?
- Does your animal seem to have less energy and become less engaged?
- Do you want to ensure your animal is feeling well?
- Do you want to support a healthy digestive system?
- Does your animal suffer from skin allergies or irritation?
- Do you want to make a plan to help your animal approach aging with wellness in mind?
The History of Animal Herbal Medicine / Therapy
According to the World Health Organization, herbal medicine is one of the oldest forms of healing, with 80% of the world still using herbs as their primary form of health care.
The administration of herbal medicines to animals has a long-established history. Animals themselves seek out specific plants to aid in health and it is long established that many equine owners use herbal medicines for ensuring the health of their horses. The use of herbal medicines by non-veterinarians also has a long history, with pet owners wanting to elevate the health and wellbeing of their pets and alleviate suffering while addressing specific health issues.
Veterinary practice has its history and roots based in the use of plant medicine however practitioners using herbs medicinally for both humans and animals were in existence long before the first Western veterinary school. According to Australian veterinarian and herbalist Dr. Barbara Fourgere, the first Western veterinary school was The Royal School of Alfort and Jardins des Plantes, and was founded in Lyon, France in 1766 by Claude Bourgelat. It primarily focused on horses for the military and the health of agricultural livestock and contained a botanical garden on the premises. It was there, in this garden, that students learned to grow, dry and prepare the herbal medicines they administered to animals.
Herbal medicine has always been a fundamental backbone of animal health care. Veterinary medicine is rooted in herbal medicine which is why we feel it is so important to raise the awareness of the benefits of allowing appropriately trained professional members of the BC Herbalists Association to play a role in animal health care. With extra training pertaining to animal health, Registered Herbal Therapists in BC are well positioned for a role working with animals and are the experts in herbal medicine.
Plants used for their healing properties contain hundreds, or even thousands, of individual chemical components that are regularly isolated and extracted to manufacture the myriad of pharmaceutical preparations that are available today. Traditional use of the plant was the first step prior to scientific research and before an isolated chemical was patented into a drug. Plants are still, to this day, the primary source of many current pharmaceutical medicines. Herbal medicine is not only scientifically proven but is a fundamental backbone of medicine for both humans and animals.
What to expect from an animal herbal therapist?
Clinical Inquiry/Consultation: The initial patient visit involves a detailed intake of patient information regarding the primary health concern. A detailed history may or may not be warranted depending on the nature of the health concern, location and circumstance. Careful assessment provides a foundation for choosing treatment protocols.
Follow up consultations are scheduled to monitor progress, to make adjustments, to offer motivation, to ensure that the healing program, and herbal remedies are being used properly.
Clinical Assessments: Observation of the patient begins from the first contact. During the oral interview the Herbal Therapist notes any relevant observations, such as, the manner in which the patient presents, state of awareness, posture, skin color and any other indicators of the patient’s general state of health.
An Herbal Therapist's ultimate goal and commitment is to lead their patients to health. To accomplish this goal, they utilize different means of assessing the patient's condition depending on their level of training, experience, sensitivity and intuition. Even though today's Herbal Therapists are trained in Western types of clinical assessment procedures, they are also aware of and are trained in exploring the energetic underpinnings motivating symptoms.
Therefore, depending on each case, they may use their professional judgment to the best of their ability to use either one or the other or drawing upon a combination of both such assessments in the best interest of their patient.
Personalized Care Plan: The subjective data supplied by the client is combined with the objective data collected by the Herbal Therapist and is evaluated in order to develop a therapy plan for the patient. Herbal Therapists utilize various means to empower an individual to achieve the highest level of health possible. She/he chooses herbal remedies and other treatments that best address the underlying cause of illness/imbalance, and/or patient’s needs.
Education: The Herbal Therapist may recommend reading materials and other forms of self-study for the personal growth and wellness of the client. One of the goals of the Herbal Therapist is to teach the client how to best manage all aspects of their animal’s health so as to overcome and prevent illness.
Referrals: The Herbal Therapist may make referrals to other health care practitioners with different expertise when it is in the best interest of the patient to further their health and wellbeing. An Herbal Therapist acts with full awareness of their abilities and limitations and knows when to refer a patient onward for further treatment.
Choosing an Animal Health Practitioner from RAAHP means you are choosing quality care for your pet. High standards of education, training and experience set RAAHP practitioners apart. Collaborative, comprehensive, patient-centred care should be the goal of every member of your animal's healthcare team. Animal Health Practitioners collaborate and work effectively with other health care providers such as veterinarians, animal physiotherapists, animal acupuncturists and animal homeopaths.
We know you want the best care possible for your pet. Don’t settle for anything less. RAAHP is the only national registry of its kind in Canada and registrants meet the professional standards required to provide the exemplary care you expect for your pet.