>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
 
I ADD:
Actually there are two plants that are often confused, even by the best
of us...and the references you mentioned are older and used way before
ferrets were introduced as pets.  There are 3 main pet texts that are
used by me in my "Herbs and Pets" course:
 
Wulff-Tilford, Mary.  "Herbs for Pets." California: Bow-Tie Press, 1999.
(Mary is also a member with myself on the Homeopathy List.)
 
Puotinen, C.J.  "The Encyc. of Natural Pet Care."  Ct: Keats, 1998.
 
You write:
>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.
 
I ADD:
The chemical constituents in Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum) include
flavonoids such as kaempferol, quercetin (which relieves pain and if
often confused with salicytic acid or aspirin), astragalin, and rutin;
eupatorin (a bitter crystalline glycoside), terpenoids, triterpenes;
sterols; volatile oil; resin; tannin; and inulin.
 
We advise in using herbs for tiny pets such as birds and small animals to
use a drop-dose method.  We then watch the animal.
 
You write:
>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.
 
I ADD:
This is why herbal medicine is so slow to catch on.  Humans and animals
react to the natural things placed on this earth to heal them (i.e.
plants and flowers) much faster and more thoroughly than they do to
chemically altered pharmaceuticals.  Naturals are recognized as just
that -- natural and are taken safely in by the body.  Many herbs (except
a few that are misused) are excreted harmlessly.
 
I remember working in a pharmacy when Barbara Walters did her 20/20 story
on St.  Johns Wort.  She interviewed psychiatrists and everything.  The
next day at work I spent the entire day on the phone telling folks "No
I'm not selling you any St.  Johns Wort (even though I make my own), and
you are not to stop your meds until you speak with your doctor." The
unfortunate thing is there is hardly any inclusion of herbal medicine in
med schools, or in vet schools.  I do have vets taking my pets course and
am so pleased that the trend is turning.
 
My point is that many people have been scared away from herbs because the
AMA is scared that they will gently replace a lot of pharmaceuticals.
Natural and alternative medicine seeks to heal the "cause" of illness,
not to treat the "symptoms."
 
Unfortunately this post raised a lot of anger in me.  I have dedicated my
whole life to making and educating folks on the safe use of herbs.  Many
of my friends have also.  Please do not be scared off of a wonderful
discipline for animals by this AMA -kind of thinking.
 
Warmly ~
Mary L. Conley, M.S. Natural Health; Dr. of Naturopathy
Herbalist
The Conley Farm - organic herbs
Online Classes ~ [log in to unmask]
[Posted in FML issue 3874]