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From:
Sukie Crandall <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Sat, 10 Aug 2002 16:00:48 -0400
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Actually, Boneset was used for fevers which is why another of its names
is feverwort, and it sounds like the compound might be similar to the
willow one that led to aspirin but I stink at organic chemistry and could
easily be completely wrong on that score.  The Boneset name derived from
it being used for dengue fever (commonly known as "bone-breakers" or
"breakbone" fever for the possible side-effect of the extreme muscle
cramps that can come from it).  Don't take my word for this.  Check in
_Tyler's Honest Herbal_ available from Haworth Herbal Press.  The
co-authors are Steven Foster who is the author for over ten books on
herbs (uses, cultivation, etc.), and Varro Tyler PhD ScD, Distinguished
Professor Emeritus of Pharmacognosy at Purdue U., past president of the
American Society of Pharmacognosy, American Association of the Colleges
of Pharmacy, American Council on Pharmaceutical Education, and the
American Institute of Pharmacy, as well as several research fellowships.
for some time his love in life has been figuring out which herbs work how
they work, which ones don't etc.  He also includes some cautions in his
books, but the _PDR for Herbal Medicines_ is usually a better text for
that aspect, and sometimes the _Herb-Drug Handbook_ is.
 
For the most part boneset is quite safe in the human literature.  No one
knows for ferrets, of course.
 
One caution pointed out by the last text i mention above is that boneset
has an antagonistic effect to some immunosuppressant medications so if a
ferret is on such a med (as a number with malignancies, IBD, and some
other things are) use caution.  Of course, ALWAYS check with your vet
before using an herb.
 
A ferret-specific caution: ferret responses to aspirin vary widely.  Some
are fine with it, but some will hemorrhage for minute amounts as one of
our's did years ago.  (She really needed a clot-buster, too.) If the
compound is similar to aspirin note that possible caution.
 
It can cause diarrhea, swaating, or contact irritation in some people but
none of these were serious.
 
In the Ferret Health List Mike Janke has put the info on a vet who uses
herbs and I'd be inclined in such a situation to arrange a consultation
between that vet and the treating vet in case the veterinary herb expert
knows of some ways that members of Carnivora may react badly to any given
herbal medication that differ from human responses.
 
The rule of thumb is that anything strong enough to heal is strong enough
to harm, so it always pays to learn about any medications used: herbal,
standard, OTC, holistic, etc.  Yes, I read package inserts and i look up
things that don't have package inserts.  The reason is that once I
understand possible side effects, or what conditions or essential meds
preclude the addition of any other type of med the safer everyone here
is.  Many risks aren't going to happen, but some must be avoided
carefully depending on the chances of the problem happening and the
severity of the problem.
 
Haworth Herbal has a website and their books can be gotten by finding
that.  They seem to be hung-up today but i think that they are at
haworthpressinc.com though folks can find them with a search engine.
The many assorted _Physician's Desk References_ including the herbal
one and the one for supplements can be obtained from 1-800-678-5689,
and the handbook on drug interactions can be learned about at
http://www.onlineRD.com/herb
[Posted in FML issue 3871]

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