Chinese herbal medicines are an integral component of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM). These are safe and effective blends of plant products that can be used as an alternative or complement to pharmaceutical drugs. They consist of synergistic herbal recipes which have proven to nourish the body in various ways.
Herbal Medicine utilizes herbal ingredients listed within the Chinese Herbal Materia Medica in particular combinations or formulas to treat particular disease patterns. Herbal formulas are administered orally and are typically given in powder form to horses and other large animals and in tablet, liquid or capsule form to cats and dogs.
Herbal medications can come in the form of a single plant, or have multiple ingredients within one formula. Many of these herbs and formulas have been used over thousands of years with gentle, yet reliable results. Chinese herbal medicine is based on the same theories of energy that are used to perform acupuncture, including the theories of Yin and Yang, and the Five Elements, and can assist and support acupuncture treatment. The herbs are administered by mouth, often in capsule or powder form. In some cases, their use may be discontinued once resolution of the problem has been achieved.
Herbal formulas can be used for the same indications as acupuncture, and oftentimes can be used with acupuncture and other modalities for improved outcome. One of the most common and rewarding uses of herbal formulas is in the treatment and prevention of animal cancers. In these cases, herbal formulas can be used with conventional oncology treatments to alleviate side effects of radiation and chemotherapy, as well as for the cancer cell fighting benefits of the herbal formula.