Herbal Health
by Mary Conley
It was my experience having a ferret close to 15 years ago that led me to include herbs in his health regime. Houdini came to us from a store, a lively little creature with a curiosity I had never seen in an animal before. We live on a farm and have had many different animals, and over the years each has had an herbal regime to balance out their health. Some herbs are more successful than others. I grow my own herbs organically and since I have a pharmacy background also make my own medicines.
Herbs for ferrets are something that should be considered very carefully, and with the advice of a holistic vet. Many people think herbs very safe since they are something anyone can grow in their garden. But herbs are to be respected as a medicine, and each dose configured carefully as to animal, size and weight, as well as health. Herbs are used today to bring health back into balance. Herbal medicine seeks to treat the underlying “cause” of an illness and to do away with that cause. They are used to retrain the subject’s body to take over for itself and make it’s own recovery. Since many illnesses come from a compromised immune system, many herbs are used to support immunity, except where to do so will further injure the patient.
Ferrets are very prone to colds and can get them from us. So during each winter season I begin a regime of building immunity to the germs out to get my little fuzzies. Calvin came to us from Rockey’s Shelter in Parkton, Maryland, and Miss Jazzy came to me from a pet store. Calvin is 2, and Jazzy will be one in March of 2003. So far both have done very well on this regime.
There are many ways to take herbs: through the skin as an oil; as a tea; as a tincture made with either an alcohol or sugar base (glycerin); as leaves sprinkled on food, as a poultice or compress. For my daily use of herbs I either sprinkle a little dried on my ferrets’ food, or make up a tea and add a few drops to their water. If a case is particularly difficult I will resort to a tincture. Tinctures are made by keeping some dried herbs in an alcohol or glycerin solution for 2-4 weeks. But alcohol and glycerin may have too much sugar for a ferret to consume on a daily basis, so I prefer to make up a tea. Ferrets are tiny creatures and do not need a lot of herbal medicine. Remember we are stimulating the body to begin to make it’s own recovery. I use about a quarter of a teaspoon of dried herb to a cup of boiling pure water. Tap water in many communities is so filled with chemicals it can destabilize your herbs. I let it steep for 15 minutes and remove the herb. Then I let it come to room temperature and add no more than 5 drops to each water bottle. If they are getting a serious condition I may do this up to 4 times a day.
The herbs I will consider using this season include the following:
Used daily as a preventative ~
Echinacea
- helps to support the immune system (is considered an immuno-stimulant),
but also has an affinity for the lymph system, and urinary tract.
Hyssop - is a gentle herb that acts as a preventative to stave off an oncoming
infection. This is a very easy herb to grow, inside or out, is a member
of the mint family, and one of those herbs fuzzies love to roll around in.
Used if illness occurs ~
Mullein
- lubricates, soothes, and protects mucous membranes; attaches to difficult
deposits of mucous and gently carries it from the body. Mullein is one of
my favorite herbs because it is so gentle. It is also antiviral being used
with marshmallow in cases of a virus that can hang on for a long time. It
is one of those herbs with a strong affinity for the respiratory tract as
well as skin and ears. I make a weak mullin oil for ear cleaning by immersing
3 tablespoons of dried herb in a cup of olive oil, adding in some garlic
root, then letting it sit for 4 weeks over the summer. To be sure it lasts
the season I add in some vitamin E drops as a preservative, although olive
oil rarely goes rancid. Then I dip in a cotton swab and gently run it inside
of the ear. My fuzzies don’t particularly like having their ears bothered
but the mixture is safe and comfortable. If you warm the oil a bit it is
even soothing when there is an infection, ear mites, or other irritation.
Marshmallow
- this is one of the only plants where I use the roots, along with the dried
aerial parts. This herb also has an affinity for the respiratory system,
as well as the skin, digestive, and urinary tracts. One should be aware
that this herb can lower blood sugar, and is considered an immuno-stimulant.
However, this is considered one of the safest plants for animals according
to Mary Wulff-Tilford. It is particularly good for surface skin irritations
and excessive itching that may accompany dry heat. I make a tea and use
it as a wash after giving my fuzzies a bath. Just rubbing the tea into the
skin can be soothing. In cases of digestive ulcers it is very gentle, providing
a soothing lubricating barrier between delicate mucous membranes and substances
that contribute to irritation.
For respiratory conditions this is one of those herbs that does not do well if made into an alcohol-based tincture, so I use a weak tea in their water bottles (see directions above). Marshmallow is soothing to the respiratory tract, stopping difficult coughs, and is also effective used in combination with mullein and echinacea. Whereas mullein will attach and remove mucous, marshmallow will soothe areas that are sore and inflammed.
Horsetail
- I always keep a bit of dried, powdered horsetail on hand when I trim nails.
Horsetail stops bleeding if I clip too close on a nail. I gather some of
the powder up in a bit of gauze and hold it on the nail. Of course by then
my fuzzy has a bit of Ferretone on his or her tummy to quiet them down.
Herbs are wonderful for teaching the body to achieve its normal homeostasis or balance. Usually a ferret does not know it is a medicine you are giving them. One of my best experiences is taking my fuzzies out to their own patch of the herb garden and letting them roll around and just enjoying nature. Have a happy and healthy holiday!
~ Mary L. Conley, Herbalist, N.D.
The Conley Farm - organic herbs
Online Classes ~ Herbgrow30 AT aol DOT com