Natural Solutions for Dog Asthma

Natural Solutions for Asthma in dogs:

Asthma can be a burden on all the dogs main systems, causing fatigue, tiredness irritability, anxiety, panic attacks. However a few good Natural solutions for these multi-leged critters are available in both essential and herbal for:

Essential oil Method requires a defuser close to but not where the dog can get at it.
Fill your diffuser with tap water and add the following essential oils:

• 1 drop of Eucalyptus essential oil
• 3 drops of Lavender essential oil
• 2 drops of Lemon essential oil

The lemon essential oil will clean the air of toxins  thus creating a freshness to the air. The Lavender ant-micro bile properties will aid in defeating any bacteria’s in the air and lungs particularly suseptible  by asthma. The Eucalyptus essential oil will aid in maintaining open brachial and nasal airways particularly those irritated and inflamed by allergens. 

The Herbal Method:
 Requires either making a Tea, Concoction, Tincture or Sprinkling the powdered form of the herb on their food. Some herbs that work well are:

• Marshmallow root 
• Sage (Be careful using if your dog has epilepsey)
• Slippery elm bark
• Rose Hips For vitamin C ( 125 mg. twice daily after feedings) if dog gets diarrhea reduce dosage until diarrhea stops.
• Mullein: for its nutritional properties and will aid in the stopping of coughing Give 8 ounces daily orally (add food grade vegetable glycerine to sweeten no sugar)

Making a Concoction:

1. Bring 2 cups of distilled water to a Boil
2. Add herbs and lower heat to a low simmer( Do not let boil!!!)
3. continue to simmer on low heat for 15 minutes. (30 minutes if using bark or root herbs)

Finally, strain and press the herbs (all the potent enzymes remain within the soaked Plant parts) adding  a more concentrated effect to the concoction and becoming more potent overall for its application.  Let cool and use as needed. 

Herbs for Congestion

Herbs For  Congestion:

Target: Respiratory System

Category: Medicine

Excessive Mucus/phlegm  cause excessive stress on the respiratory system as well as the Central Nervous System.  Excessive mucus build up excretes through an airway passage/opening(s) causing irritation to both nasal and bronchial passageways . Excessive amounts of phlegm or mucus can trigger a bronchial spasm which in tern causes more irritation. The first thing we have to do is determine what is the cause of the Congestion (cold, Flu, Allergies etc) ?

If congestion is caused by allergens then histamines may of been released by pollen or a food or dairy enzyme.  if this is the case we need a herb with anti-histamine properties, and for this particular scenario Licorice Root would be the Herb of Choice taken as a tea. But this herb can effect blood pressure levels if you have a blood pressure problem do not use this herb.

If Congestion is caused by excessive coughing  then their may be a bronchial spasm present, In this case we need a herb with antispasmodic properties; Cayenne tincture is a wonder of an antispasmodic but just 1/4 to 1/2 of a drop of tincture on the tongue or 1 drop of tincture  in 6 ounces of warm water.

Expectorants:
These are herbs that will expell mucus and or phlegm and these herbs must to be used carefully such as anise seed is a powerful expectorant and if taken before you go to bed you will be up all night bringing up mucus and or phlegm  The best way to take this is in a tea form as the heat will aid in breaking up the large amounts of phlegm into smaller quantities to be expelled. When broken up in smaller amounts there is an unlikely hood of a bronchial spasm to become present.

A few Good Expectorant Herbs are but not limited to: 

• Anise
• Peppermint
• horehound
• mullein
• wild cherry
• licorice
• elecampane

Demuculant: These are herbs that aid the mucus membrane with a soothing effect by softening the mucus membrane. As they soften the mucus membrane it begging the healing process.

A few Good Demuculant herbs:

• Licorice:
• Slippery Elm Bark
• Marshmallow Root
• Mullein
• Irish Moss
• Comfrey
• Cornsilk
• Flaxseed

A Powerful Lung Tonic:

• 1/2 ounce Comfrey root
• 1/2 ounce Horehound
• 1/2 ounce Elecampane root
• 1/2 ounce Ground Ivy
• 1/2 ounce of Ginger Root
• 1/2 ounce Cayenne
• 1 1/2 lbs of raw wildflower honey

Directions:
simmer the first four herbs in 3 pints of water for 25 minutes strain over the ground ivy and cayenne  add the honey while hot. allow to cool and bottle.

Dosage: “Adults” 1-2 tablespoons every 2 hours.

Recipe #2

Another Powerful Healing Tonic:

• 1 ounce of Horehound
• 1 ounce of Mullein
• 2 ounces of Licorice Root
• 1/2 ounce ground ivy

Directions 
bring 16 ounces of water to a hard boil
add all herbs lower heat to a low simmer
simmer for 15 minutes
let cool and bottle
Dosage: “Adults”6 ounces 2 times daily

A  SYRUP recipe to sooth a sore throat:

• 1 ounce licorice root
• 1 ounce marshmallow root
• 1 ounce wild cherry bark
• 1 pint raw wildflower honey
• 1 1/2 pints of distilled water

Directions:

Bring distilled water to a boil  add honey lower to a low simmer for 20 minutes Remove any scum
Add herbs  keep on a low simmer for 20 additional minutes
Remove from heat and let cool strain and bottle and keep in a cool place
Dosage: “Adults” 1 tablespoon as needed.