Believe it or not, we humans can learn a lot from our senior dogs when it comes to medicine, particular the use of plants and essential oils.
Herbs have been used for medication since time immemorial—from the Sumerians who used laurel and thyme 5,000 years ago to Ancient Egyptians who used garlic, mint, opium for its medicinal value.
Most people don’t realize it, but we owe much of what we know about medicinal herbs and plants from our furry canine friends. There’s even a medical term for animal self-medication: zoopharmacognosy.
Zoopharmacognosy is based on the process by which animals self-medicate, and choose herbs, plants, and other natural remedies that are best suited for them. It is essentially rooted in animal instinct.
Amazing Alternative Medications For Your Senior Dog
One example of this is osha root (Ligusticum porteri), also called bear medicine, a plant native to the western United States and Mexico. The story goes that Native Americans noticed bears rolling around in this plant, eating the roots and applying a root mash to injuries. They also observed bears seeking out this plant upon awakening from hibernation. The plant’s respiratory and digestive cleansing properties may explain this; osharoot is known for its powerful antiviral and antibacterial agents, used for bronchial infections and sore throats. (Because of osha root’s popularity, it is now at risk of disappearing.) They have been attempting to do this… has not been very successful as some plants need their natural environment to produce properly.More.
One example of self-medication is when you catch your senior dog chewing on grass. This can induce diarrhea, which in turn expels worms that may be in your dog’s body. Don’t you just love your dog’s initiative?