Got a note from someone claiming he/she [doesn't] "get this science stuff",
and I figured that what the heck, as long as I have a blaring headache from
ragweed season I may as well use looking some of these up as an excuse to
lie down.  Then when I read some of the reports I figured that I'd send it
here instead.  It may have to be in two or three parts.  Was told that many
people are giving these to their ferrets so you'll be interested if that's
so.  Some were benign; some might have very real clashes with the
propensities of ferrets to adrenal disease, or to insulinoma; some may be
able to worsen dehydration; some may interact badly with common
medications; some may be useful; some DO taste good; some fit a combination
of these categories.  More than one can be downright toxic.  In at least
two occasions ones were listed as very commonly being substituted with or
cut with a different and dangerous plant, or with multiple plants being
called by the same herb name.  Note that I personally sure would avoid
anything diuretic for an animal which is dehydrated, or suffering loose
stools, or receiving a diuretic like Lasix/Furosemide for heart disease or
liver illness.  I wouldn't offhand give anything which might increase blood
levels of Digoxin to an animal receiving Digoxin.  Ditto a compound for
diabetes to a ferret with insulinoma.  Ditto a plant which is estrogenic to
a ferret which is suffering hyperestrogenism from adrenal disease.  Ditto
any plant which lowers blood pressure if giving a drug which affects that
(See Carla's post yesterday.).  An important warning which has been all
over the news media recently is that an herb which does stimulate the
immune system as echinacea does (in at least one tested form) must NOT be
given if steroids such a Prednisone, or chemotherapy is being used since it
might counteract the medications.
 
Those things said here are the ones I looked up, and both the good and bad
about them.  You can look up these or others and tell us all more, of
course.  I have multiple resources here but stuck to things like Science
News, the New York Times, and MOSTLY two books by Tyler since his work is
praised by people on BOTH sides of the fence as being well researched and
fair, and his educational background is smack-dap ideal for the topic.  In
fact, his publisher for these books is an herbal press.  (He's who led me
to using Horehound candies in addition to my meds for my allergies.)
 
Oh, and anyone who wants to learn more about why honey and other sweets
should NOT be given to a ferret with insulinoma will find past multiple
postings from specialist vets by using the FML's search function.
 
Scullcap: One Tyler section begins "That a really worthless ... plant ...
could be recommended ... says much about the gullibility of human beings".
It does have some dangerous side effects, though -- like liver damage.  One
problem is that several things are commonly sold as scullcap so if one or
all cause damage is still to be resolved.  Deaths (among humans) have
occurred.
 
Hibiscus: Mild laxative and diuretic effects substantiated.  In one
experiment in which this was INJECTED DIRECTLY INTO A VEIN (dog) it
temporarily lowered blood pressure for a very short time.  There are some
possible indications of potentially useful effects which still require
better studies even before they even can be verified, but this plant might
have some promise for future studies.  Hey, it tastes good.
 
Dandelion: The young leaves taste good and they are chock full of Vitamin
A.  It's known to be a mild diuretic and mild laxative.  Few side effects
except for those who are allergic.  Not ANY hard substantiating data for
any of the therapeutic claims so far except the diuretic one, and there is
a compound from it under study for that use.
 
Betony: This was such a Middle Ages cure-all that it was even used to rid
people of demons, which is why there are some sayings about it.  It does
have astringent properties due to high tannin levels.  One Russian study
which needs verifying indicated that it slightly lowered blood pressure.
Six new compounds from it are being tested.  One Australian species has
been connected to staggers in sheep (NOT good).  In small doses it can help
treat mucus membranes but too much causes SEVERE stomach irritation.
 
Burdock: None of the beneficial claims have held in hard studies, but there
WERE 14 compounds found which attack bacteria and fungii IF the fresh
material was used.  Problem is the stuff sold in the States is dried and
then those properties go away.  SAME problems encountered with a study
which indicated some possible anti-mutagenic properties MIGHT be present --
in FRESH material (not dried).  There is an EXCELLENT reason to avoid it,
though.  The roots look similar to those from belladonna and nightshade,
and deaths (human) have occurred from POISONINGS.
 
Chicory: This is a member of the daisy family and since Compositae members
are common allergans that danger must be taken into account.  Otherwise,
side effects are minimal, and it has an interesting taste.  Other than the
mild laxative effects the other claims for it have NOT been proven.  There
is an interesting direction for study, though, since an Egyptian study
found a possible digitalis-like compound in the roots.  There is some
other preliminary work indicating that it might be helpful in protecting
livers from damage due to carbon tet or paracetanol.  Somehow I doubt the
ferrets here work in a dry cleaning plant, though.  Basically safe for most
and flavor is worth a try, especially if you have a lot of dry cleaning
around ;-).
 
Echinacea: Two problems with this plant are the same ones that exist for
ginseng -- basically that over-harvesting has threatened (or in the case of
one ginseng actually endangered) wild populations, and that most of the
stuff written (both good and bad) has NO hard data behind it.  Allergies
have to be taken into account since it's also a member of Compositae as is
Chicory (and others including Chinese Mums that are used in a tea I love
for stomach upset).  Here's a bit of amusing history: one of the first uses
for this herb was to treat poisoning by herbs!  It is a Native American
medication which was introduced to the world at large due to H.C.F. Meyer
of Pawnee City, NB, starting in 1871.  After sulfa drugs turned out to be
more effective it fell into disfavor in the 1920s.  Most of the studies on
it have been done in Germany but NOT with the forms most commonly seen in
the U.S. -- instead with topically applied forms or ones which are
injected.  NO conclusive studies existed at publication for the ingested
forms so they might or might not work, or might or might not have problems.
It DOES stimulate the immune system in at least one other form which has
been tested; now it's a matter of seeing how this holds up in further
study.  Three possible mechanisms have been proposed but none proven.
Except for the considerations mentioned significant side effects have not
been reported.  I'd suggest that you be sure to use horticultural forms
rather than wild to protect the wild populations.  (And you wondered why
the prairies are looking different...)
 
Ginseng: Some problems with this are like the problems with Echinacae but
worsened.  Basically, there is almost NO hard data on it, but a huge load
of superstition and speculation.  In addition, at least one species is now
endangered in the wild due to harvesting pressures, and I doubt people here
want to drive anything into extinction.  (At least I hope you don't.) NO
matter what it is called the stuff on the U.S.  shelves tends to often be a
blend of various Araliaceae species, but far too many samples are cut with
Silk Vine Bunge (Periploca) which has some very nasty effects when combined
with Digoxin -- causing increases in blood serum levels of Digoxin, not an
effect you'd want a ferret to encounter given the toxic properties of
improper levels.  BTW, all the hard studies which have been done to see if
it can help with sex lives show absolutely no effect -- zilch, nada -- so
don't worry about your ferrets becoming Don Juans; it's just a superstition
(unless it works for you and then what the heck, one man's placebo is
another's ahem).  There appear to possibly be some compounds which help
users adapt to mild stresses like diet or temperature changes.  There are
some indications that further study is needed to see if it might help with
some diseases and disorders, but only a few of these apply to ferrets.  One
is ulcers but we know that treating those with the proper antibiotics and
medicine "bandages" can clear those up.  Another is anemia, but most
ferrets which get anemia have a hormonal problem like heat and an herb sure
isn't likey to offset something so drastic as that.  Here's a kicker:
ginseng appear to possibly be good for people with diabetes.  Now, if that
proves accurate when it is finally subjected to hard study is it possible
that since ferrets usually get the OPPOSITE problem with insulinoma that
ginseng might make that worse or increase the tendency to develop it?
Known side effects include insomnia, diarrhea, and skin eruptions.  There
were some studies reporting worse side effects that were flawed so that
data is as subject to the "grain-of-salt" you should use as the opposite
ones purporting marvelous results.  Here's the kicker: there is a good but
preliminary study indicating some estrogenic effects.  Now, with ferrets so
prone to adrenal growths do we really want this?  All In all, at this level
of knowledge, I'd sure avoid it.
 
Carla, Ela, and Alicia, if this person writes to you, too, you now have
fewer plants to talk about.  Aren't I a kind soul to save you work?  :-)
(Yep, this IS a hint to the person that I will NOT be doing the others on
the list!)
[Posted in FML issue 2789]