Super Greens & Digestive Support for Animal Friends

A combination of herbs which enriches a meal

I am thankful to see an awakening of how we are feeding our dogs and cats. A movement towards feeding a diet appropriate for them a diet rich in raw or lightly cooked meat/offal, some vegetables, some cooked grains if needed and herbs such as super greens. Super greens are grasses, herbs and algae’s, with high nutrient content and are easy to absorb. Barley grass, Nettle leaf, Dandelion leaf, Comfrey leaf, Kelp, and Spirulina are a few helping replenish nutrients reserves and gently cleanse toxins from the blood, liver, kidneys and colon. It is the nourishment received from food and herbs that makes sure all organs and body systems are being cared for. Preparing a whole food meal is the foundation to their health and by adding a little boost of super nutrients will assure they are getting all needed for your dogs and cat’s ideal health.  

For strictly indoor cats and dogs that aren’t able to eat fresh grasses adding super greens helps with hairballs in cats and aids in digestive issues for dogs and cats that would eat grasses if were outside to induce vomiting when their stomach was upset. Super greens are one of the easiest ways to receive a high concentration of nutrients easy to assimilate and affordable! I like to blend Forco (digestive enzyme & probiotic) into my super greens for gut health.

Add a tsp. to a tbsp. to one or two meals a day this provides: 

• Antioxidants; which are known to help the body’s immune system stay strong.
• Predigested proteins to build the body and detoxify chemicals.
• Digestive supporting herbs which activate enzymes and prebiotics for healthy intestinal flora.
• A full spectrum of vitamins, minerals and trace minerals.
• Gentle blood cleansing properties, which impede the onset of arthritis and other degenerative diseases.
• Gentle liver cleansing properties, which are known to support immune and hormonal health, impeding cancer and other immune system dis-eases.
• Strong digestion and healthy elimination.

Nutrients are derived from the food we eat and work synergistically with other nutrients necessary for healthy cells and overall well-being and here is a list of how vitamins and minerals keep us and our animal friends in a good state of health. 

Vitamins  Minerals and Trace Minerals

Herbal Therapeutic Dictionary  
Materia Medica

Barley Grass

Barley Grass hordeum vulgare. Part used: stem Taste: sweet/salty Energetic: cooling Effective Form: fresh juiced, dried, powdered, tablets Properties: a nutrient rich plant, also known as a super green food, it is rich in chlorophyll, anti-oxidants, and is anti-aging. Medicinal use: Helps keep the immune system strong. Neutralizes heavy metals such as mercury, provides liver/blood health through its gentle cleansing properties, regulates blood sugar. Fresh juiced helps keep healthy strong cells which prevents cancer. Cautions: none

Comfrey Leaf 

Comfrey Leaf symphytum officinale: Part used: leaf & root Taste: bitter/sweet Energetic: cooling Effective Form: infusion, decoction, compress Properties: anti-inflammatory, astringent, demulcent, haemostatic, vulnerably (promotes wound healing), expectorant, nutritive tonic, alterative, antitussive (cough suppressant or reliever).

Medicinal Use: Heals flesh and bone injury by its property to speed up mitosis (cell-division). Used for ulceration anywhere along the gastrointestinal tract (colitis, hiatus, hernia). Supports the pancreas by regulating blood sugar levels, benefits the organs, and supports the lungs, stomach and kidneys. Soothing and healing for skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema, ulcers and healing wounds, helps varicose veins.

Helps with bronchitis, pneumonia, coughs, whooping cough, expels phlegm and soothes the throat. Externally: It draws poisons from boils, insect bites, stings.

Note: Comfrey leaf taken internally is best in a formula which is the best way to take your herbal remedies. Comfrey alone for healing flesh and bones should not be taken any longer than 8 weeks internally.

CFm. Weston et al., “Ven-Occlusive Disease of the Liver Secondary to ingestion of Comfrey.” British Medical Journal 295 (1987)

P. M. Ridker et al, “Hepatic Venocclusive Disease Associated with the Consumption of Pyrrolizidine-Containing Dietary Supplements,” Gastroenterology 88 (1985):1050-4

The issues of toxicity that have haunted comfrey in recent years have become a major subject of frustration for herbalists. In thousands of years of use by millions of people, only two reports of hepatotoxicity have been documented in humans.1 One of many constituents of comfrey is Pyrrolizidine Alkaloid (PA) the alkaloid that was isolated from the rest of the plant’s chemistry and then fed or injected into test animals in quantities or concentrations hundreds of times greater than those that would occur in nature causing liver stress. Common sense tells us that anything ingested in overabundance is potentially toxic. The average horse would need to eat several hundred pounds of the leaves each day before any toxic effects would be observed. Comfrey leaf PA content in fresh leaf is about 0.3 percent and is 10 times higher in comfrey root.

Dandelion leaf

Dandelion leaf taraxacum officinale Part used: leaf, fresh or dried Taste: bitter Energetic: cooling Effective Form: *infusion, capsules, tincture, fresh Properties: rich in potassium, beta carotene, vitamin D, vitamin B, vitamin C, pancreatic regulator, *galactagogue, *cholagogue, bile duct stimulant. Medicinal use: Used for water retention (diuretic) especially due to high blood pressure. Used in tonics for liver stagnation and gallbladder issues, extremely rich in minerals, keeps healthy teeth enamel. Helps rejuvenate the blood.

Nettle Leaf 

Nettle leaf urtica dioica Part used: leaf Taste: bitter Energetic: cool Effective Form: infusion, capsules, tincture, freeze-dried Properties: Very alkalizing to the blood, astringent, anti-inflammatory, *galactagogue. Rich in minerals, chlorophyll, vitamins, serotonin, is a natural antihistamine and blood cleanser/purifier. Medicinal use: Blood tonic, diuretic, expectorant, increases circulation, specific in bladder infections. Balances thyroid for fatigue, stops excessive bleeding, stops diarrhea and dysentery, helps with inflammatory skin conditions; eczema and psoriasis, acts as natural antihistamine for allergies. Supports upper respiratory health; asthma, excess phlegm, sinus congestion.

Spirulina

Spirulina spirulina platensis. Part used: whole organism as dried powder Effective Form: power, tablets, capsule Preparation: Mix into fresh made human or animal friend food. Humans add to a smoothie, protein drink, or just drink mixed in water Energetics: cooling Properties: Rich in vitamins especially B vitamins, anti-oxidants; especially beta carotene, minerals; especially calcium, trace minerals, amino acids, enzymes and prebiotics; for healthy flora, rich in chlorophyll. Medicinal use: A prime immune supporter. Helps cleanse the blood, supports circulation and heart health, supports health of liver, thyroid and adrenal glands.

Kelp

Kelp ascophyllum nodosum Part used: leaves Effective Form: tablets, capsules, powder, flakes, tincture, fresh Taste: salty Energetic: very cooling Properties: anti-biotic, anti-inflammatory, anti-coagulant, rich in carotene, iodine and chromium. Medicinal use: Cleanses heavy metals and toxins. Cleanses the blood (toxins can cause; rashes, eczema, psoriasis and inflammation). Softens hard masses, helps clear yellow or green phlegm, nourishes the kidneys, supports the immune system, and supports thyroid health; especially when blended with spirulina.