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that a particular plant is known for like the Herbs are classified by many of their aspects
willow bark and acetylsalicylic acid the active One very important one is the energetics of a
ingredient in aspirin. We have dismissed the herb which is assessed according to its taste:
other components as irrelevant but they play
• sour
also an important role. The plant is the active
ingredient, the key ingredient. • bitter
• pungent
There are many reasons to use herbs: • salt
• the whole herb or whole extract is already • sweet
understood from history and clinical trials.
Each has a particular quality that is key to the
• The herb’s constituents have complex
efficacy in what we are trying to achieve in our
actions that may benefit the patient
patients.
through additive, antagonistic or
synergistic effects.
We can also look at a particular property of a
• Some components may not be stable herb, like if it’s an anti-inflammatory, but we will
when isolated. look at other properties to decide. Not all the
herbs that are anti-inflammatory will work on
• Most active ingredients might be
a particular patient, and the energetics of the
unknown.
herb will help us decide which one to use. For
example, if the patient likes to spend most of the
Herbs offer a different approach to chronic time in a cool place, possibly feels hot most of
disease and chronic disease is an epidemic that the time, we would not use a herb like ginger or
we face today and our companions are mirroring turmeric which will give them even more heat.
it.
If you would like to learn more about how holistic
One key aspect that herbs have over herbalist vets are using herbs to treat their
conventional medication is the fact that herbs patients The British Association of Veterinary
have an effect on the patient’s vital force, or Herbalist will be holding “ a week of herbalism”
vitalism, which has provided the foundation between the 12 and 18th of October 2020 in
for medical thinking since the times of which there will be different daily FB chats and
Hippocrates and Galeno. Vitalism embraces Zoom meetings that will be open to the public
the interrelationships of mental, emotional and where you can learn more about herbalism for
physical body experience and holistic thinking your pets and you will be able to ask questions
about the human and animal body has served of the experts.
as the basis for almost all traditional systems of
medicine. “Disease is an impairment of vitality”. Check the www.herbalvets.org.uk page where
you will be able to check the details shortly and
As a herbalist the approach to disease is where you can find a herbal vet that will be
different to that with conventional medicine, it’s a working in your area, and please join the British
holistic approach. We look at a general level first Association of Veterinary Herbalists facebook
before concentrating on specific symptoms. The group for life chats and news and also if you
characteristics of the patients are a key factor have any questions.
on the decision-making process in choosing a
particular herb or combination of herbs.
Anna Mas,BVSc, MRCVS,
We will look at the history of each patient
including family history, diet, lifestyle, previous ANNIMAS,
conditions, current medication but also other Natural Healing Vet
aspects like if it prefers to be in the cold areas or
hot areas. annimas.co.uk
35
K9 NEWS DIGITAL / OCTOBER 2020
