3 Medicinal Herbs That Help Improve Health In Pets
Since its benefits were discovered, medicinal herbs have been used throughout our history. Although its use has been focused on human health, there are some medicinal herbs that help improve the health of pets. In the following article we will talk about some of them.
Medicinal herbs and pet health
If we talk about herbal medicine, we refer to a practice that has been carried out for thousands of years. And it is that both traditional and current medicine have based their methodology on medicinal plants or herbs. The key element that makes these plants beneficial, to a greater or lesser extent, is the so-called active principle.
The active principle of each herb is made up of a series of substances or molecules that have a certain beneficial therapeutic effect for the body. The extraction of the active principle is carried out by different methods.
As with human health, there are a number of plants that contribute to improving the health of pets. But it is important to emphasize that not all medicinal herbs are totally harmless, since some of the natural components can interfere – or even be potentially dangerous – for our pet.
Therefore, it is always advisable to consult with a veterinary professional before starting a treatment with medicinal herbs. He will solve all your doubts regarding type of treatment, dosage and others. After this, if you decide to try medicinal herbs, we are going to give you some useful details about some of them.
Rosemary and juniper: aromatic and healthy herbs
Rosemary, a plant known to all, has a more frequent use than we think in animal health. The main reason is that it is often used as a natural preservative in pet food. Aside from this use, the reality is that rosemary is a source of vitamin B6 and calcium, and it has antioxidant properties.
Its use is also indicated for the treatment of fleas in dogs. By applying an infusion of rosemary, the antiseptic power of the plant is released, while slightly reducing itching in our pet.
Juniper bushes ( Juniperus communis ) also hide many beneficial properties. Among the best known are its diuretic and antiseptic power, which can help improve the health of pets from the point of view of urinary infections.
But juniper can also be applied to treat, for example, the discomfort derived from intestinal parasites. In this sense, it has been found to be highly effective in combating some species of parasitic worms in cats.
Milk thistle: a great help in the health of pets
It is one of the medicinal plants par excellence, so its application in veterinary medicine is also common. Milk thistle ( Silybum marianum ) is a very common herbaceous plant in most areas. One of the active principles of this plant is silymarin.
This compound acts on liver cells, and is that it acts as a protector of the liver and gallbladder. It is indicated for the treatment of some diseases related to the liver and, in some cases, it can be administered to the animal to help this organ to purify and metabolize some drugs.
Other beneficial herbs for your pet
Apart from those we have discussed, there are countless plants with beneficial active ingredients for your pet. One of them is aloe vera, which has many benefits on a topical level. Related to the skin, yarrow extract applied to wounds is also a good balm.
Finally, we want to reiterate that it is always advisable to consult a veterinary expert before applying a treatment of this type. In this way, we will be making sure that the health of our pet is in good hands.
