by Nancy Anderson One of the fundamental components of herbal medicine is in the application of a holistic view and, as an increasing number of pet owners are becoming interested in pursuing a more holistic approach to health, the marketing of pet products is rapidly co-opting the term, misusing it and clouding its meaning. Holistic, as it pertains to health, is an approach that encompasses key foundational aspects (including physical, psychological, and social) as part of the whole dog as an individual, while also appreciating the physiological interconnectedness of the whole body. There is no such thing as a holistic dog food or a holistic flea spray or a holistic treat. There is, however, the consideration of how nutrition, exercise, social activity, and more affect the health of the whole animal. The physical aspect of health is, of course, the largest. It involves not only proper nutrition and herbs, but lots of exercise. Real exercise, where they can stretch their legs and chase and play out in the fresh air and sunshine (or rain, if it happens to be raining that day… they won’t melt!). We appreciate that dogs will sleep on the couch all day and night, but that’s not what their bodies were designed for, and it contributes to a decline in health. We hear a lot in holistic circles about feeding real foods and reducing the number of vaccines, but another important element in canine health (just as it is in ours) is exercise. It’s not anthropomorphizing to suggest that the psychological and social components of health are also important. Dogs require positive environments with healthy relationships in order to thrive. Training and playing are great, but the manner in which those take place does have a profound effect, even if not clearly visible. Do you understand canine body language so that you know the signals that are being given by the dogs at the dog park, and when your dog is stressed? (There’s an app for that! It’s called Sue Sternberg’s Dog Park Assistant.) Force-free, positive training with your dog in a capacity that (s)he enjoys (or is genetically wired for) establishes teamwork and can benefit the mind in many ways. Provide a crate so that your dog has a safe place when feeling stressed. Sit on the floor and pet your dog from head to tail on a regular basis (it also helps you to identify new bumps and lumps, ticks, etc.). We make fun of ourselves for talking to our dogs, but give yourself permission to do that – a lot! It’s a compassionate connection and they benefit by those small interactions. Anxiety disorders may be caused not only by being left alone, but by a lack of positiveengagement. Dogs do have an emotional life and meeting its needs can go a long way toward achieving health of the whole dog. A holistic approach is one that plans for health, not disease. In our current, conventional model, we feed dry, processed food, administer multiple vaccines annually, and then, when the dog becomes sick or develops chronic illness, we suppress the symptoms with antibiotics and steroids. The big dog food and pharmaceutical companies are making a lot of money, but our dogs are experiencing a higher incidence of cancer and autoimmune diseases, among others. A holistic approach to health is preventive. Just as in dog training, we want to set the dog up for success rather than wait for a problem to occur and then work to correct it. If we consider the health model that we’re used to in the 21st century — where we feed processed food, wait for illness, and then combat it with the suppression of symptoms — it becomes clear that this reactionary approach fails to address the cause of the complaint. Herbs can be used in this manner, but that’s not to say that they should. Using 450mg of a standardized isolated chemical constituent to reduce symptoms sounds very much like a conventional approach. Let’s look instead to a holistic view of herbs, for it may inform a holistic view of health. Each plant contains many (sometimes hundreds of) chemical constituents, some of which may be identified as medicinal in action; but there is an orchestra of chemical activity occurring in the plants, where some depend on others and it’s the complex interplay between these constituents that drives the medicinal actions present in the plant. So, sometimes, when the chemical or compound is isolated, it loses the action for which it was identified. How short-sighted (and arrogant?) of us humans to assume that we know better than Nature. The phytochemistry of plants is complex, and we do not yet fully understand the symbiosis of these chemicals in the plants. By utilizing the whole plant, we are providing the full array of actions as intended. And so it is with health. Ask a qualified herbalist what herbs would be best used in supporting your dog’s health, and he or she will first ask you a lot of specific questions about your dog. We may identify that a particular issue is occurring in the body, but without considering the interplay of that condition with others – how it’s influenced by other conditions and other organs in the body (and the energetics therein) – we are missing the larger picture. How short-sighted of us humans to expect the more complex underlying issue to be resolved when we are merely suppressing a symptom – a symptom which is providing a clue to the larger issue. It’s not about refusing prescription drugs; it’s about not needing them. It doesn’t mean foregoing chemicals for the health of your dog while continuing to feed a bag of processed food made by Procter & Gamble. Conversely, it doesn’t mean feeding a diet of fresh, raw foods while continuing to administer multiple vaccines, year after year. It doesn’t mean giving an herbal remedy instead of Prozac® to counter anxiety issues without first providing adequate social outlets for exercise and play. (Of course, many canine anxiety issues are far more complex, but the example is merely to help illustrate the point.) Please note that ‘alternative’ is not the same as holistic. A holistic approach may employ alternative modalities (such as herbalism, acupuncture, chiropractic, homeopathy), but one does not equal the other, and conventional medicine can be applied in a holistic manner (though it rarely is!). A holistic approach is not necessarily in opposition to conventional therapies; rather, it seeks to achieve balanced health with the approach most appropriate for that dog at that time. Complementary modalities in treatment should do just that – complement other modalities. Conventional medicine that excludes all integrative modalities is no more complete or accurate than a holistic one that excludes conventional tools. Rather, integrated, they weave the appropriate treatment for that dog with that condition at that time. No approach that is exclusive of all others can really be truly complete. And isn’t that what we’re aiming for? Nancy utilizes herbs to help keep dogs vibrant, healthy and happy. She considers each dog an individual with his or her own unique needs and enjoys empowering others to see beyond the allopathic view of canine wellness. She works primarily with herbs native to New England, and feels that they work best as an adjunct to proper nutrition as the foundation of health. Learn more atThe Greater Dog. by Vincent Frano Lavender is one of the best loved and most well known herbs around. As a common addition to soaps, perfumes, lotions, and even cleaning products, Lavender is all around us. You’ll be hard pressed to find someone who isn’t familiar with its scent, at the very least. Most are familiar with its use in aromatherapy for its relaxing and calming effects, but Lavender has much more to offer. Lavender has become one of my most valuable medicine cabinet herbs and is now part of my daily routine. While Lavender may be used internally, it’s external uses are many and just as valuable. In fact, I prefer working with this herb externally and rarely use its medicine internally. It’s simple, gentle, and safe for just about everyone of all ages. Some people are allergic to Lavender and may develop a skin rash, so always do a spot test first if you are unsure. It is said that Lavender’s Latin name (Lavandula spp.) is derived from Old French lavandre, meaning “to wash”, eluding to its use as a bathing herb. A hot Lavender bath is certainly one of the herb’s most popular uses. For a relaxing bath I recommend making a strong tea, using dried or fresh lavender flowers, by steeping the herb for at least 30 minutes to an hour. Draw your bath and pour the strained infusion into the running water. Epsom salts may be added as well to aid in relaxing tense muscles. If you don’t have time to make tea, simply add 30 to 60 drops (roughly ½ teaspoon) of essential oil to your bath water. A hot Lavender bath does more than simply calm and relax your mind, it has a similar effect on your body. A body ravaged by tension or stress would do well with some Lavender. The herb is warming and stimulating, helping to loosen and move stagnation. This aids in the relaxing of tense or knotted muscles and in moving congested lymph. The steam from a hot bath disperses Lavender’s fragrant aroma, which has a calming effect upon the nervous system. Lavender’s scent is soothing, uplifting, and calming. It is beneficial to those who suffer from depressed mood, stress, anxiety, insomnia, and fatigue. One of my favorite uses for Lavender is treating tension headaches. An infused oil, salve, or essential oil in a carrier oil may be applied directly to your temples, forehead, and back of the neck. Additionally, all of these applications are wonderful in massages for the lymph glands (particularly along the neck), muscles, joints, breasts, shoulders, or feet. Every morning after washing up I will use a lavender salve to massage along my neck, jaw line, and behind my ears. I’ve noticed it has helped reduce the swelling of my lymph glands in that area, which had been a persistent issue for me. Lavender is a vulnerary herb and can be applied topically to acne, eczema, small wounds, and dry skin to aid in the healing process. A tea wash, salve, or infused oil are all useful in these cases. It is also a handy pest-repellant, particularly the essential oil, which can be added to bug sprays to keep away some insects. Of course, you can also keep a Lavender sachet by your pillow or apply some Lavender oil before bed to help relax you into sleep. These are just a few of Lavender’s many talents, which I encourage everyone to explore. It’s a valuable herb that goes far beyond its fragrant perfume, a benefit to men and women alike in this stressful, modern world. Vincent Frano is one of the artistic forces behind The Bower Studio, which will be vending their products this weekend at Herbstalk. Learn more at: www.thebowerstudio.com
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