It started with a sniffle. I noticed Anabelle sounded congested one day. She seems to have some trouble breathing but did not seem in distress (that would’ve been a vet or ER visit, if severe enough).
My mama bear instincts kicked in and I went to my mini-apothecary. What did I grab? Echinacea, Goldenseal and Manuka Honey. In one day, Anabelle’s symptoms were gone.
Today, we’ll cover how these natural products work and why they should be a part of your home apothecary, too.
Echinacea: Immune System Booster
Echinacea is an herb that’s been around for a very long time. The Plains Indians used it to heal and we were introduced to it in the late 1800’s by a traveling salesman named Joseph Meyer. The plant is called a purple coneflower and looks very much the part. It’s native to North America.
A key “ingredient” in echinacea is a natural phenol called echinacocide. Phenols control the activity of a range of enzymes and cell receptors in the body. Echinacocide is a natural antibiotic and it is broad-range like penicillin, killing various bacteria, viruses, fungi and even protozoa, responsible for a range of digestive disorders in our pets.
Another ingredient in echinacea is echinacein, a neutralizer of the naturally occurring substance in the body called hyaluronidase. Some bacteria, like Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, and Clostridium perfringens, produce hyaluronidase as a means of using hyaluronan as a carbon source. So, neutralizing this is a pretty good idea to help protect against these bacterial invasions.
I’ve been using Echinacea for many years on myself, my family and my pets. For us humans, I’ve found it very helpful in fighting germs produced from:
- coughs and colds
- helping to heal wounds
- bronchitis
- upper respiratory infections
- gingivitis
- influenza
- canker sores
- yeast infections
- ear infections
- vaginitis
- some inflammatory conditions
In our dogs and cats, like in my Anabelle, it is very useful at the first signs of an infection, whether a cold, cough, a yeast infection, healing wounds, sores and the like. Being a detective for our pets means noticing the details, the finer points of their behavior and that includes the first signs they give you that they are “off.” That is when you begin giving echinacea.
I like to pair it with Goldenseal, not in the same tincture as is made by some manufacturers, but in two separate tinctures, and I’ll tell you why. Echinacea can be taken several times a day, if needed. Goldenseal cannot. We do not take Goldenseal more than 3-4 times a day, as it can become toxic in the system after that. So, mixing them in the same tincture limits your ability to use the echinacea as often as needed, when your dog or cat is fighting something.
That being said, we never want to keep boosting the immune system artificially, even with a natural, do no harm herb like echinacea and here’s why. Prolonged immune system boosting artificially creates an environment where the immune system stops responding to the booster. It’s like it’s become desensitized to it.
So, when you give echinacea, it’s only in response to symptoms it can help alleviate and only for the period of time needed to do that. Then, we stop and save it for the next time we need it.
Important Note:
If you find your dog or cat has a reaction to the echinacea, stop. Some may be sensitive to what’s called antigens in the herb, which means the pet’s body doesn’t recognize the echinacea ingredients as friendly and creates antibodies to fight it off, hence, an allergic reaction. Once you stop, the reaction goes away. Most dogs and cats will not experience this.
Also, if your dog or cat has a disease that triggers an immune response but why isn’t known, echinacea may aggravate this.
How To Give Echinacea
I use the tincture, preferably with glycerin as the base not alcohol. You can buy on Amazon or in Whole Foods.
Mix 12-20 drops in water and give 3 times daily until symptoms resolve. Choose 12 drops for dogs and cats under 10 lbs; 15 drops for those between 10 – 30 lbs and 20 drops for those over 30 lbs.
Let’s look now at Goldenseal and why it is also a great choice for your natural health tool kit.
Goldenseal: the Great Antimicrobial
Goldenseal or Hydrastis Canadensis is a perennial herb commonly found in the deep woods from Vermont to Arkansas. It received its name from the golden-yellow scars on the base of the stem. When the stem is broken, the scar resembles a gold wax letter seal.
But that factoid is just the tip of the iceberg of the benefits goldenseal provides us. It is an antimicrobial, like echinacea, but is also rich in alkaloids, which has anti-inflammatory properties, is an astringent, an anti-parasitic and stimulates the liver.
Goldenseal contains the chemical berberine, which helps fight bacteria and fungi. For example, it can prevent the bacteria Escherchia coli (E. coli) from binding to urinary tract walls. Berberine also has properties that can lower blood pressure and improve irregular heartbeats.
When I called goldenseal the great antimicrobial, that because it can be used for so much. For example, with digestive disorders, it helps resolve inflammation in the gut and stimulates the appetite. I’ve used goldenseal myself for this purpose.
It is used in ear and eye washes, for yeast infections, the common parasite giardia, tapeworm, kennel cough, colds, flu, urinary tract infections, skin rashes, ulcers, wound infections, itching, eczema, I can go on and on!
How To Give Goldenseal
Again, I use the tincture, preferably in a glycerin not alcohol base. Give 5-10 drops mixed in water per 20 lbs of body weight, using fewer drops for smaller dogs and cats and increasing up to 10 drops for larger dogs. Only give 2-3 times a day. Stop once you see symptoms resolve. Prolonged use of goldenseal is not advised and, as mentioned above, using too often and for too long can result in toxicity.
As an eyewash, you can add 10-20 drops to a saline solution and apply a few drops into the affected eye 2-3 times a day until resolved.
You can also use the dried herb boiled in water.
Do not use goldenseal in pregnant, newborn or hypoglycemic dogs.
Goldenseal stains bright yellow, so beware if you’re using topically.
How Is Manuka Honey Different From Other Honey?
The third healing substance I chose for Anabelle’s cold was Manuka Honey. How is Manuka different from other honey?
Honey, in general, is a wonderful food. It is antimicrobial, which means it’s antibacterial and antiviral, and it’s also anti-fungal, and this is because it naturally contains the powerful antiseptic, hydrogen peroxide. And, that’s just regular raw, unpasteurized honey.
But, Manuka? That is on another plane entirely. Manuka honey is made by the special bees in Australia and New Zealand by pollinating the flowers of the Manuka tree, also called Leptospermum scoparium. The components that make up Manuka honey make it a more powerful antimicrobial and anti-fungal.
There are three components that Manuka honey possesses: Methylglyoxal (MGO), Dihydroxyacetone (DHA) and Leptosperin.
These ingredients allow Manuka honey to treat bacteria, viruses and fungi like:
- Escherichia coli – the dangerous e. coli.
- Proteus mirabilis
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa
- Salmonella typhimurium
- Serratia marcescens
- Staphylococcus aureus
- Streptococcus pyogenes
- Candida albicans
You can use Manuka Honey for immune system support (hence my choice for Anabelle’s cold), skin infections and wounds, gut health, oral health (it has been shown to combat oral bacteria leading to bad breath and gingivitis), and more.
But, all Manuka Honey is not created equal. There is even a grading system to denote the more powerful healing properties in the honey. It’s called UMF or Unique Manuka Factor.
What you want to look for is a higher than 10+ MGO factor. Below that and the healing properties are not powerful enough to do the job we’re looking for. We use a Manuka with an MGO factor of 850+! It’s serious stuff, but you don’t need an MGO that high for it to work wonders.
I would let Anabelle lick some off of my finger 3-4 times a day. She loves it; it takes like really nice…honey!
If you’re interested in buying the Manuka Honey we use, you can get it on Amazon here. It is made by a company called Australia’s Manuka and it is cold extracted raw honey, which I recommend. This honey is crafted from the jellybush, found in the coastal forests of Byron Bay, Australia. This plant gets its name from the thick, gel-like quality of its honey, which contains both hydrogen peroxide releasing enzymes and the Unique Leptospermum Factor (ULF).
Leptospermum has been shown in lab results to be very effective at killing pathogens and the growing crisis of antibiotic resistance has led to greater interest in utilizing this type of honey in treating wounds and antibiotic resistant pathogens.
How To Feed Manuka Honey to Dogs & Cats
Start out with smaller amounts, increasing gradually. Like with any other very sweet food, do not feed to diabetic dogs or cats.
- 1/2 tsp twice a day for a small dog – under 20 lbs
- 1 tsp twice a day for a medium dog – 20-60 lbs
- 2 tsp twice a day for a large dog – 60 lbs+
Other Tips for Resolving Infections
I’ll conclude with three other tips for treating illness in dogs and cats.
Garlic
Raw garlic can be fed to your dog but NOT to your cat. Garlic is extremely toxic to cats.
For dogs, it is a great antimicrobial, a great natural biting insect repellent (ie: fleas, ticks, mosquitos that transmit heartworm and parvovirus).
We feed our pups about 1/3 a clove of garlic each in their breakfast every day. Even living in year-round flea and tick-infested South Florida, our dogs don’t have fleas. Maybe I’ll find one flea on one or the other periodically, but it’s off with a flea comb and that’s it.
Ginger
Ginger can be fed to dogs and cats. It is ginger root we’re after. Ginger is a great stimulator in the body, causing conditions to move faster through the system. That’s why we use ginger to help move nasty pathogens out.
It is also great to ease an upset stomach. Ginger can be given in tincture, capsule or dried form.
You can put a few drops of tincture mixed in food (generally giving ginger on an empty stomach is not advised as could cause upset). You can sprinkle some ginger root powder from a capsule on their food, as well. And, you can brew a ginger tea and give some that way.
Give 1 capsule (550mg) of ginger root for every 20-30 pounds of body weight for a dog or cat, but I would start slowly and work your way up to this. Some cats and dogs don’t like the taste, as it’s a bit strong, as you know. And, if you give too much too soon, it can cause an upset. Go slowly.
The Happiness Protocol
Finally, another powerful tool in your kit is one that costs nothing and can’t be purchased in a store. The Happiness Protocol is just that; giving your dog or cat love, attention and the other things they need to thrive.
For dogs, that means time to sniff around outside, maybe a snuffle mat where they can forage for food or treats and for dogs and cats, enough playtime with their best friend – you. Studies have shown that The Happiness Protocol is real. The endorphins created, when your dog or cat is getting what they need emotionally, affects their immune system positively, making it stronger and more resilient.
There are many ways to address infection in our babies without running to the vet and administering suppressive antibiotics. These are a great start.
That being said, if your dog or cat is very ill, ALWAYS go to the vet or emergency room. It is always better to be safe than sorry. And, if you find your pet not responding to these natural protocols, have them checked out by your vet to make sure nothing more serious is going on.
For more tips on healing your pets naturally, go here.
As always…to their health!
Jody
