Traditional Chinese Medicine has been practiced in Asia for more than 5,000 years. During that time an enormous and extensive amount of information has been gathered and documented. The Chinese were great observers and became very astute at describing the interrelationships that they saw between themselves and their environment. They built on this information and continually tested and reformulated the material. What has emerged is a system of thought, a theoretical construct, heavily rooted in philosophy and logic. This system has withstood the test of time. Scholars, theoreticians and clinicians alike continue the process of critical thinking of this vast amount of knowledge today.

There are more than 25,000 Chinese herbal formulas that have been documented. By definition, an herbal formula will contain at least two different individual herbs. Most herbal formulas contain six to twelve herbs in various combinations. Something like Gan Cao (Licorice Root), may be used in a formula to harmonize and moderate the characteristics of the other herbs; it has the ability to soften the violent properties or toxicities of other herbs. Its naturally sweet taste makes many formulations more palatable. Fu Ling (Poria), may be added to a formula to leach out dampness and promote urination. It could be used in a formula for a patient with diarrhea or fluid accumulation in the lungs. Gou Qi Zi (Lycium Fruit), nourishes and tonifies the liver and kidneys. Pharmacological and clinical research shows that it does, in fact, have a protective effect on the liver. Long Yan Rou (Longan Fruit), in traditional Chinese medical terms, is said to tonify the heart and spleen, nourish the blood and calm the spirit. Research has proven that concentrated preparations of Longan Fruit have a potent antifungal effect against major types of pathogenic fungi.

Herbal combinations can come in several forms: Decoctions (tang), which are solutions or suspensions that are easily absorbed. Plasters (gao), which are used externally for such things as abscesses, boils and painful joints or muscles. Powders (san), which are easily absorbed and pills (wan), which are pulverized and come in various sizes.
In veterinary medicine I have found decoctions in a vitamin and mineral based solution and patented herbal pills to work best. We will occasionally put the powdered form into '0' or '00" size capsules if it improves client compliance. Some clients have purchased the capsules and equipment at the local pharmacy or from us and done this themselves. Patented medicines are also useful in veterinary medicine. These are preformulated and generally in the form of tablets, capsules, pills, tinctures and freeze-dried herbs. Many of the tinctures are alcohol based and this is often offensive to our pets. These frequently have to be diluted before they are administered.

The use of herbal therapy often requires dosing two or three times a day. This can be tedious and often times stressful for both owner and patient, especially if you happen to have an unwilling participant. In an attempt to increase client compliance, I have composed a list of "feline and canine snacks". This handout is routinely distributed to all clients. They are instructed to use it as a resource of food choices to try when medicating their pet becomes a problem. I recommend offering one of these snacks without anything mixed in first, that way you can know if he finds the boiled rice, tofu, carrots or whatever, appealing. When and if it becomes necessary, the herbal preparation can be mixed with that special great tasting treat and hopefully never be noticed. My clients have had great success using this method.

Your pet will obtain maximum nutritional value if the vegetables and fruits offered are raw and organic. If this is not possible, steaming or minimally boiling will get them to a consistency which can easily be mixed into their regular food. Last year when one of my own cats was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, I too, needed to find a fast and efficient way to administer his herbal formula twice a day. Cut up whatever vegetable(s) you choose and put them in a mug and fill it with water so the vegetable pieces are covered. Place the mug in the microwave for 3-3½ minutes. The vegetables come out in a soft consistency that can be mashed up with a fork and mixed with the herbal formula and your pets own food. My Dixie's favorite combination is a piece of red potato and two small baby carrots. I usually make enough for his evening meal and keep it covered in the refrigerator.

Some Chinese herbs can have very potent tastes and be very aromatic. This will be appealing to some of our pets and not to others. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the taste and temperature of a medicinal substance partly determines its therapeutic function. There are five tastes: bitter (Ku), sour (Suan), salty (Xian), sweet (Gan), and acrid (Xin). Bland (Dan) substances are those which have none of these tastes. Bitter herbs are said to drain and dry; sour herbs are astringent and prevent or reverse the abnormal leakage of fluids and energy; salty herbs purge and soften; sweet herbs tone, harmonize and somewhat moisten; acrid herbs disperse and move; and bland herbs leech out dampness and promote urination. Fu Ling (Poria) and Gou Qi Zi (Lycium Fruit) are considered sweet herbs. Chinese herbs also express a characteristic property of temperature: cool, cold, warm, hot, neutral. Gou Qi Zi and Fu Ling are neutral. Long Yan Rou is warm.
The Chinese herbalists realized that the characteristics of each herbal plant were influenced by the climate, location and soil that it was nurtured in. Herbs grown on the north side of the slope tend to be more tonifing and strengthening. Those grown on the lowlands or near water are beneficial for urinary tract infections. Herbs which grow in cold climates have more strengthening and healing properties, while those grown in warm climates are more eliminating. High desert regions support herbs that nurture the spleen and pancreas, while those grown in fertile soil aid digestion and assimilation.

Certain herbs have particular influences on specific organs. These actions and functions have been tested time and again through the millennium. The terminology may sound a little strange to those of us in the western world because we are not used to hearing of medical conditions like "Deficient Kidney Yin" or "Liver Fire Rising." We are not used to getting a prescription for herbs to be taken home, boiled and drunk as a tea. It is simply a different language, the language of a healing art that has existed thousands of years before anyone ever heard of allopathic, chiropractic, homeopathic and all the others.

The first book focusing on individual herbs and their description was the Classic of the Materia Medica written by Wang Shuhe during the Han Dynasty (206 BC to 220 AD). This work was declared a Classic by the Emperor of China 80 years after his death and became the basis of Chinese Medical Herbology.

Chinese medicinal herbs in general are safe. There are, however, contraindications. Some herbs influence the effectiveness of other herbs, making them toxic, producing undesirable side effects or minimizing the clinical value of other herbal components. There are prohibited combinations, dietary incompatibilities and contraindications during pregnancy. The art of Chinese herbology in veterinary medicine should only be practiced by licensed veterinarians who have formal training and experience in the practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Herbology.

The American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association (1-410-569-0795) and the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society (1-303-682-1167) will be helpful in finding the closest practitioner in your state. The American Veterinary Medical Association classifies Chinese Herbology as a form of holistic medicine, along with Veterinary Homeopathy, Chiropractic and Energy medicine.