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 Robert McDowell's Herbal Treatments
 02 December 2005

Herbal Help for Humans and their Companions

Advent- The Four weeks Leading to Christmas

THE SEASON of Advent means there is something on the horizon the likes of which we have never seen before...

What is possible is to not see it, to miss it, to turn just as it brushes past you. And you begin to grasp what it was you missed, like Moses in the cleft of the rock, watching God's [back] fade in the distance.

So stay. Sit. Linger. Tarry. Ponder. Wait. Behold. Wonder. There will be time enough for running. for rushing, for worrying, for pushing, for now, stay. Wait. Something is on the horizon.

Jan L. Richardson, Night Visions: Searching the Shadows of Advent and Christmas


This week we feature:-

Canine - Green Stools

Green stools could be caused by a variety of reasons. If the green stool occurs along with vomiting and/or diahorrea, the dog may be showing symptoms of an irritated bowel.

A dog's stool may be affected by things they are eating. Certain additives in what dogs consume, especially if he is on a commercially produced diet, mix with the bile in their stomachs and in turn create anywhere from a green-ish to a definitely green stool.

Have you changed your dogs diet in any way? If you haven't already, change the dog's diet to a more raw & natural diet.

Purchase slippery elm powder & dose 2 dessertspoons mixed into a little yoghurt or chamomile tea until it forms a paste & feed 1 x a day only.

This will calm & line the whole gastrointestinal tract especially good for an irritated bowel. Continue this treatment for 12 weeks.

If the diet change isn't making a difference, the dog may be eating plants or other things that may be affecting its stool. Check the backyard for any plants that may be hazardous to his health.

If he still seems healthy, is eating drinking and exercising as normal, this may be just a sign that the body is adjusting to the herbal mix & it should all get back to normal within a week or two.



Equine - Equine First Aid Kit

My first aid kit is available on the website only and it comes in a simple sealed plastic box with a printed sheet of instructions.

To put it into context;
My practice is based entirely around free email or telephone consultation service to all my clients on a daily basis and as I develop a relationship with each individual, and follow progress with their horse's ailments, I am constantly educating the owners.

The first aid kit I provide, although containing only pretty simple remedies really, relies on folk having a basic understanding of my approach to illness and a familiarity with alternative treatments. Mostly my customers get a kit to carry with their tack on trips or to keep in their tack shed to give them something to start with in a situation before getting on to me directly for more specific advice or treatment.



Human - Bursitis

Bursitis is the inflammation of a bursa (a flat sac of synovial fliud that allows normal movement of joints and muscles and reduces friction). This occurs at major joints such as shoulders , elbows, hips and knees. It can be caused by chronic over use, injury, gout, arthritis or infections.

Bursitis causes pain and limits movement.

My recommendations are: Firstly, the athletes oil seen on the site below will definitely bring relief.
http://www.herbal-treatment.net/herbs_athletes_oil.html

Or at least obtain some linseed Oil and wintergreen oil to rub on the effected area.

This is found under the bones section of my web site.

And Secondly as an internal treatment take the blend below
http://www.herbal-treatment.net/herbs_anti_inflammatory.html
: Oats, Devils Claw, White Willow, Guiacum, Burdock, Pine Bark, Rosehips, Comfrey and Yarrow as well as the Bach Flower Remedies Oak, Rockwater, Honeysuckle, Vine, Walnut and Rescue Remedy.

I find this combination very useful and safe in reducing inflammation and pain while at the same time reducing, fully or partially, dependency on pharmaceutical drugs.



Home Remedies - Taking Care of yourself During Christmas Festivities

  • Alcohol severely depletes B-vitamins, thus contributing to mood swings and depression. Make a point of eating a large bowl of B-vitamin enriched breakfast cereal the morning after a boozy evening.

  • Caffeine might make you feel more alert when needed, but high consumption jangles your nerves and raises adrenaline levels during stressful situations. This negatively affects the body's recovery systems. Choose decaf or, even better, one of the excellent herbal coffees around, such as dandelion coffee. A weak tea gives less of a jolt than coffee.

  • Herbal helpers to calm you down include chamomile or lemon verbena teas.

    Hangover cures
    The best way to avoid a hangover is obviously to drink less - women are advised to drink no more than one unit a day (that is one small glass of wine, one pub measure of spirit or half a pint of regular beer), and men can get away with two units - this lack of equality relates to differences in liver size. But if you are likely to over-indulge, try the following tips:
    • Avoid fizzy mixers as the carbon dioxide can speed up alcohol absorption.

    • Avoid pre-dinner drinks and only drink alcohol with your meal - it's not good on an empty stomach.

    • Avoid mixing drinks and stick to either white or red wine.

    • If you have symptoms such as a blocked nose, headaches or red cheeks when you drink, you may have an intolerance - switch your favourite tipple to something else that doesn?t affect you.

    • The hair-of-the-dog (drinking alcohol the next day) only works because it delays the onset of symptoms - better to have a good breakfast to balance your blood sugar!

    • Take milk thistle herbal capsules daily, starting one month before the party season, to support your liver and reduce alcohol damage.
    Also see:
    http://www.herbal-treatment.net/herbs_alcohol_hangover.html



    Reader Feed Back

    We were all thrilled to receive so many messages following the last newsletter, thankyou for sending your support.
      Comments from Kathy:- Your newsletters are perfect just the way they are!

      Comments from Carol: What a sad comment - splitting this type of newsletter for animals and humans - I do believe that all creatures should live in harmony... Natural herbs and products affect all in a similar fashion. Does Anne realise the sad truth that so many experiments are done on animals for our benefit!!! - I so enjoy learning about our canine and feline friends. We could learn so much from our pets behaviour. I must say, I welcome such a newsletter... it reminds me to read about Human health every now and again. Keep it up.

      Comments from Wendy: Hi Robert, as a horse and dog lover who does bodywork I love your newsletter and the way it crosses over- please don't change it. Regards, Wendy

      Comments from Tracey: Dear all,
      just a bit concerned about your advice re only giving pups raw chicken bones and no supplements. What about the pulped raw veg and essential fatty acids, kelp, green barley etc... blend. Also are you not concerned about the health of battery hens- they say they don't use any antibiotics or hormones anymore, however this is still not certain I feel. Anyway I know the newsletter is only a brief guide and there is more info elsewhere. Just concerned some people may be giving too much animal protein and nothing else. Thanks for the newsletter,

      Dear Tracey

      We agree with Tracey about pulped raw vegies, occasional sprinkle of rolled oats, or spoonful of crushed millet and linseed and cod liver oil.

      The life of battery hens is a frightening subject to research, see below for the facts I found.

      Battery ,Hens
      In Switzerland the battery cage has been prohibited since 1992. In Sweden it was prohibited in by 1998. Denmark is moving in that direction. In Australia 80% of those surveyed would like to see the cage banned.

      TV coverage of de-beaked, de-feathered, sick, dying and dead hens crammed into cages in filthy conditions, of eggs laid by living hens on the rotting corpses of their cage mates - scenes such as this have sickened viewers and convinced them they want no part of this cruel, polluting and unhealthy industry.

      The research suggests that "battery cages cause suffering to hens in at least 7 different ways"*:

      • Chronic frustration of normal behaviours including dustbathing and wing-flapping.
      • Chronic inhibition of comfort behaviours and increased incidence of frustration behaviours.
      • Chronic stress and disruption of social interaction.
      • Acute suffering during the pre-laying period every day caused by frustration of nesting behaviour.
      • Prevention of foraging and feather pecking.
      • Inability to maintain bone strength due to restriction of exercise.
      • Lack of perching opportunities and prevention of roosting.

      *Baxter MR (1994). The welfare problems of laying hens in battery cages. Veterinary Record 134:614-619. There are humane alternatives to battery hens


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     Wishing you and your companions the best of health and happiness.

    Yours Truly,
    Judith Burton for
    Robert McDowell

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