Sweetened
Herd Master
The Apothecary's Satchel
The very basic natural items [I think] every Natural Husbandry aficionado should have on hand
If I was told I could only pick out one reason why I thought natural/organic husbandry was the way to go I would simply say: Broad spectrum usage. Once you know the properties of an herb or natural product, you know it for all species in your care, with the exception of species sensitivities and individual allergy exclusions. It is important to know the proper method of delivery, whether your solution can be ingested or should only be used topically, as well as the correct dosage for the purpose. These all require some research, a little bit of past experience and, where acceptable, some experimentation. Always be cautious when using natural methods, and I am bound to say you should consult your veterinarian. Though I'm a natural/organic person, I truly believe modern medicinals have their place in emergency situations and, when used, you need to be aware of any potential conflicts with your current herbal treatment.The very basic natural items [I think] every Natural Husbandry aficionado should have on hand
There is a certain set of items I try to keep on hand at all times, budget permitting. I hope by sharing these you can both add them to your kit and suggest your own.
Oregano Oil
This item, above all, is something I desperately work to keep on hand. It is my go to item for infections, cough and even bloat if I'm out of vegetable/olive oil as I try not to use mineral oil (a petrol product). Use sparingly. Oregano oil is potent. One or two drops will often do the trick when ingested. It is not cheap (I pay $16 for 5ml).
Oregano oil (Oo) is an antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory. Unlike modern medications (Tylan, Oxytetracycline and so on), it has not been shown to breed resistant bacteria or viruses by using too little, the right dose for a less than recommended time period, or for an extended time period.
Topically it can stimulate bloodflow, but can be painful on an open wound. It can be mixed in with coconut oil and beeswax in smaller doses to be used as a salve to cover larger areas without the intensity while still maintaining its efficacy. Internally it is a pain killer (documentation can be found on it being more effective than morphine) on top of its other attributes and is fast acting. I have noticed a difference within 12 hours on animals that are sick with congestion or chicks with cocci. It is especially good at treating puncture wounds.
I have had great success using Oo to treat the following (either solo or as part of a regiment)
- Chicks with Coccidiosis, even those near death
- Chickens with large flesh wounds from dog attacks
- Cats with upper respiratory infections
- Puncture wounds, gashes and cuts, including on wounds with smelly infection that would have otherwise needed to be debrided
- Goats with upper respiratory infection
- Mastitis in cows (not the cow you may have seen me post about recently)
Caution: Your oregano oil must be diluted! Undiluted oregano oil can BURN fleshy surfaces it comes in contact with. At minimum, you should mix (or buy a premixed ratio) to 25%, using a 3:1 ratio of olive oil to oregano oil. Even at this dilution, the oil is incredibly strong and, literally, difficult to swallow.
Raw, Unpasteurized Honey
Honey used for healing purposes must be RAW(R), unpasteurized(U), and if you can get it with some remaining chunky bits of wax in it, even better, as you know it wasn't over-filtered. If your RU honey is crystalized, heat it very slowly on very minimal heat for the absolute least amount of time required to make it fluid.
RU Honey is also antifungal, antiviral and antibacterial (part of the reason it shouldn't be used for Kombucha). It is great for slathering on wounds and mixing in warm (not hot) water. When mixed with water, it goes through a chemical reaction that produces hydrogen peroxide, which can be integral in oxygenating the blood in order to assist and support a healing immune system and body. In the past, I have seen honey heal a large, 4 inch diameter hole on a horses leg due to a stallion fight, as well as be used to aid healing tissue while sloughing the hind end of a horse who had been bitten by a brown recluse and survived. Personally, I use it on wounds, when sick as a throat soother and to bind wounds if there is loose skin. I push it into the wounds and wrap a bandaid or bandage around it to hold it closed and the skin seems to knit up over night. It can be added to waterers to give chickens and other animals a boost.
In addition, it tastes great. Can't beat that.
Raw, Unpasteurized Apple Cider Vinegar with the mother
A nice addition to any daily health regimen (for you or the animals), ACV has highly bioavailable nutrients due to the fermentation process and existence of the mother culture. It provides nutrients key to vitamin and mineral uptake, helping the body by fueling it with the right levels of nutrition. It can be added to feed or water and is great for helping to balance gut flora. It is touted by people who use it as being a wormer, helping to keep the gut clear of intestinal parasites by causing undesirable living conditions, is great for the coat and as an extra boost in times of healing, stress or birth.
I have personal experience using this as part of a treatment regimen for coccidiosis in chicks, including those near death, with excellent results.
Aloe Vera Juice
AVJ is another one of my absolute favorites. While researching coccidiosis in chickens, I came across a series of papers from African scientists who observed tribes with livestock. They observed when animals were ill, the caretakers would feed them aloe vera or the juice therein. Chickens with high levels of internal parasites have been documented as specifically seeking out and targetting aloe vera plants where naturally available and consuming them.
AVJ is a system flush and must be used in conjunction with lots of water. I use AVJ to systematically flush the system of ill animals. Ratios in water depend on what I'm treating and how intensively I'm doing so. The major benefit to using AVJ to flush is it provides nutrients where other conventional system flushes can rob the body of nutrients and damage healthy gut flora levels at the same time. AVJ targets bad bacteria and pulls it from the system, which, in high doses, can sometimes cause a healing crisis, which is why I'll treat at smaller levels for longer periods. AVJ is another key ingredient to my Cocci treatment and I think this item, above all others, has brought chicks from the brink of death more than any of the other components.
Caution: Use very sparingly with pregnant animals and under the consultation of a vet.
Probiotics
These are the kickers to any and all treatment and you can probably see a pattern by this point: it treats the gut. Restoring good gut flora to an ill animal or person is an integral part of promoting healing. If you can allow the body to focus on the primary issue without having to fight off other problems, you will get results quicker. A gut filled with healthy flora at optimal levels will berate viruses and negative bacteria and flora levels with a ferocity that is unrivaled by medication. The most simple way to add probiotics to your treatment is with the use of Probitic yogurt without all the fillers. I use Astro's baltic plain yogurt. Yogurt is an excellent vector for convincing animals to consume oregano oil.
Other probiotics like Kombucha and other fermented products can also be used, but I find yogurt to be a good base, accepted by more animals (and people!) than some other ones.
These are what works best for me and what I try to keep on hand at all times. Do share what naturals you keep in your satchel as well, or personal experiences with any of the above. I hope this helps.
