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Herbal medicine
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Western herbs-Herb Pharm PO Box 116, 347 E. Fork Rd Williams, OR Nature's Herb Co 1010 46th St Emeryville, CA 94608 Nature's Sunshine PO Box 1000 Spanish Fork, UT 84660 Turtle Island Herbs 4949 N Broadway Boulder, CO 80304 Chinese herbs-Brion Freeze Dried Herbs/Sun Ten Products 9250 Jeronimo Rd Irvine, CA 92618 Health Concerns 2236 Mariner Square Dr Alameda, CA 94501 Herbal Apothecary 360 Oak San Anselmo, CA 94960 Institute for Traditional Medicine and Preventive Health Care (ITM) 2342 SE Sherman Portland, OR 97214 K'AN Herb Co 339 Rio Del Mar BIvd Aptos, CA 95003 Kang Jian (USA) Inc 9300 Flair Dr# 105 El Monte, CA 91731 McZand Herbal PO Box 5312 Santa Monica, CA 90405 Spring Wind Herbs El Cerrito, CA
Other herbs described by Dr. Schwartz were Panax ginseng, Echinacea
purpurea, Hydrastis canadensis, Rhizoma coptidis, Radix isatidis seu baphicacanthi, and Lantago major.
506
Herbal medicine Speaking at the 1999 AVMA meeting, Dr. Cheryl Schwartz pointed out that as the use and success of herbal medicine grows worldwide, people in this country are beginning to inquire about using herbs for themselves and for their animals. She reported that in many parts of the world, herbal medicine spearheads the treatment of cancer, chronic immune disorders, and other diseases. "The usage of herbs has relied on centuries of empiric evidence of efficacy," she said. "Although many of the herbs have not been subjected to the standard Western drug protocols, much information is now becoming available, thanks to Asian and European researchers." She then provided some veterinary dosages and indications for the use of herbs, taken from her own clinical experience over a five- to 13year period (depending on the herb). She said that herbs can be used within the confines of Western medicine, but they can be most versatile when used as part of the traditional Chinese medical patterns. Many current clinical problems seen in practice today seem to have vague, chronic symptoms that are not amenable to Western treatment. Many of the "ain't doing right" syndromes, where all the blood work, x-rays, and biopsies fail to give diagnosis, may find identifiable and, therefore, treatable patterns of imbalance in traditional Chinese medicine. "Herbs can be used to treat these disorders," she said. Following is an example of a description she provided for an herbal remedy she uses for animals: Ganoderma lucidum (Chinese: lingjai) mushroom. This tree mushroom, weighing up to 1/2 kg, has been found to enhance the immune system by promoting metabolism, regulating blood pressure, and inhibiting tumor growth, especially of the liver. In traditional Chinese medical terms, ganoderma is considered a Qi or vitality tonic. Its major active constituent is the polysaccharide beta D glucan, which appears to have no cytotoxic effect, but instead eliminates tumors by activating the immune system's macrophages, helper T-cells, and complement system. Polysaccharides may also be influenced by cell surface receptors, recognizing the tumor cells as foreign. Studies in Japan have shown that injecting Ganoderma lucidum inhibited up to 98% of implanted sarcoma 180 into mice, as compared with a control group injected with a placebo solution. In fact, over a five-week period, complete regression of tumors was found in 80% of the mice. Further experiments in Korea with tumor implants in mice, corroborated this experiment within a 28-day period, finding that the average tumor weight in the control group was 4.5 g, whereas those mice treated with ganoderma extract had tumor weights of 0.6 grams, with 1/3 having complete remission, The principal veterinary use is after surgery, to regain strength; after cancer surgery, chemo-, or radiation therapy; with active liver, lung cancer to help prevent further metastasis, and possibly control tumor size; with low thyroid to help stimulate immune function and increase metabolism; and to stimulate IgG and IgA in immune-suppressed young animals. The herb is available in pressed pill (tablet) form and powder from Health Concerns as Power Mushrooms (750-rag tablets), and from Kang Jian Inc as ling chih (side effect: stool may become slightly soft). No dosage for horses was given, but for large dogs it is two tablets, SID or BID. JOURNAL OF EQUINE VETERINARY SCIENCE
Western herbs-Herb Pharm PO Box 116, 347 E. Fork Rd Williams, OR Nature's Herb Co 1010 46th St Emeryville, CA 94608 Nature's Sunshine PO Box 1000 Spanish Fork, UT 84660 Turtle Island Herbs 4949 N Broadway Boulder, CO 80304 Chinese herbs-Brion Freeze Dried Herbs/Sun Ten Products 9250 Jeronimo Rd Irvine, CA 92618 Health Concerns 2236 Mariner Square Dr Alameda, CA 94501 Herbal Apothecary 360 Oak San Anselmo, CA 94960 Institute for Traditional Medicine and Preventive Health Care (ITM) 2342 SE Sherman Portland, OR 97214 K'AN Herb Co 339 Rio Del Mar BIvd Aptos, CA 95003 Kang Jian (USA) Inc 9300 Flair Dr# 105 El Monte, CA 91731 McZand Herbal PO Box 5312 Santa Monica, CA 90405 Spring Wind Herbs El Cerrito, CA
Other herbs described by Dr. Schwartz were Panax ginseng, Echinacea
purpurea, Hydrastis canadensis, Rhizoma coptidis, Radix isatidis seu baphicacanthi, and Lantago major.
506
Herbal medicine Speaking at the 1999 AVMA meeting, Dr. Cheryl Schwartz pointed out that as the use and success of herbal medicine grows worldwide, people in this country are beginning to inquire about using herbs for themselves and for their animals. She reported that in many parts of the world, herbal medicine spearheads the treatment of cancer, chronic immune disorders, and other diseases. "The usage of herbs has relied on centuries of empiric evidence of efficacy," she said. "Although many of the herbs have not been subjected to the standard Western drug protocols, much information is now becoming available, thanks to Asian and European researchers." She then provided some veterinary dosages and indications for the use of herbs, taken from her own clinical experience over a five- to 13year period (depending on the herb). She said that herbs can be used within the confines of Western medicine, but they can be most versatile when used as part of the traditional Chinese medical patterns. Many current clinical problems seen in practice today seem to have vague, chronic symptoms that are not amenable to Western treatment. Many of the "ain't doing right" syndromes, where all the blood work, x-rays, and biopsies fail to give diagnosis, may find identifiable and, therefore, treatable patterns of imbalance in traditional Chinese medicine. "Herbs can be used to treat these disorders," she said. Following is an example of a description she provided for an herbal remedy she uses for animals: Ganoderma lucidum (Chinese: lingjai) mushroom. This tree mushroom, weighing up to 1/2 kg, has been found to enhance the immune system by promoting metabolism, regulating blood pressure, and inhibiting tumor growth, especially of the liver. In traditional Chinese medical terms, ganoderma is considered a Qi or vitality tonic. Its major active constituent is the polysaccharide beta D glucan, which appears to have no cytotoxic effect, but instead eliminates tumors by activating the immune system's macrophages, helper T-cells, and complement system. Polysaccharides may also be influenced by cell surface receptors, recognizing the tumor cells as foreign. Studies in Japan have shown that injecting Ganoderma lucidum inhibited up to 98% of implanted sarcoma 180 into mice, as compared with a control group injected with a placebo solution. In fact, over a five-week period, complete regression of tumors was found in 80% of the mice. Further experiments in Korea with tumor implants in mice, corroborated this experiment within a 28-day period, finding that the average tumor weight in the control group was 4.5 g, whereas those mice treated with ganoderma extract had tumor weights of 0.6 grams, with 1/3 having complete remission, The principal veterinary use is after surgery, to regain strength; after cancer surgery, chemo-, or radiation therapy; with active liver, lung cancer to help prevent further metastasis, and possibly control tumor size; with low thyroid to help stimulate immune function and increase metabolism; and to stimulate IgG and IgA in immune-suppressed young animals. The herb is available in pressed pill (tablet) form and powder from Health Concerns as Power Mushrooms (750-rag tablets), and from Kang Jian Inc as ling chih (side effect: stool may become slightly soft). No dosage for horses was given, but for large dogs it is two tablets, SID or BID. JOURNAL OF EQUINE VETERINARY SCIENCE