These days, more and more
Canadians are turning naturopathic or herbal therapies. In some cases, patients
seek out alternative medicines only after all of their more conventional options
have failed them. But natural remedies aren’t always a last resort.
Canadians make an estimated 425-million visits to alternative medical therapy providers every year. Compare that to just 338-million annual visits to U.S. primary-care physicians, and you’ll notice a trend. The trend isn’t unique to humans either. More and more pet owners are choosing herbal and alternative remedies in favor of the more traditional, and more expensive, Western alternatives.
Take acupuncture for example.
This natural procedure has been helping humans for centuries. When used on
pets, it can help relieve severe pain or alleviate discomfort from arthritis.
Homeopathy also offers healthier alternatives for chronic skin disorders,
without all of the long-term side effects of cortisone.
Specific herbs and alternative
remedies have also been shown to promote better health in everything with a
heartbeat. Some improve vitality, some encourage a healthier immune system,
while others still increase an individual’s resistance to disease. It’s true! The
proper and regular use of holistic or complementary medicines can improve your
pet’s quality of life.
If you’re looking to discover
which holistic options will help your pet the most then you’ve come to the
right place. Below, you’ll find a comprehensive breakdown of the most popular,
and parrot friendly, herbal and alternative remedies on the market today.
HERBAL
TREATMENTS FOR PARROTS
Years ago, only the most progressive
bird keepers used herbal remedies to care for their pets. That’s because, back
then, there were no guidelines or recommended dosages readily available to the
public. But, as time, technology and the herbal medicine market progressed, the
bird community established a reliable system of instructions and dosage levels.
In order to determine the
appropriate dosage for small to medium sized birds, parrot owners used the
recommended dosage for a 10-pound human infant. Using that number as a
base-line, bird keepers went on to calculate one-tenth of an infant’s dosage.
The resulting number went on to determine a single dose for their beloved
parrot.
Looking for the right herbal remedy to treat your parrot? The following is a list of other herbs and the conditions for which they can be used in the treatment of parrots. Please remember to consult your avian veterinarian before administering any of the below herbal remedies as a precaution.
§ ALFALFA
o Helps
alleviate the symptoms of allergies and arthritis by removing toxins from the
body.
o Purifies
the blood by neutralizing acids.
o Stimulates
appetite.
o Aids
in the absorption of protein, calcium and other essential dietary nutrients.
§ ALOE
o When
applied topically, aloe gel can help heal small cuts, abrasions, and rashes on
parrots’ skin.
§ CAYENNE
o Contains
capsaicin, which helps stimulate appetite.
o Great
natural treatment for sinus congestion in parrots.
o When
used topically, cayenne has potent anti-inflammatory properties.
o
Parrots love the taste!
§ CALENDULA
o Rapidly
heals wounds, abrasions and skin conditions.
o Great
for birds who are prone to feather picking.
o Great
for birds with skin allergies.
o Often
used as an anti-inflammatory.
§ CHAMOMILE
o One of nature’s
safest (and mildest) sedatives.
o Used to calm birds in
stressful situations.
o Has
been shown to kill the yeast fungi Candida albicans as
well as certain staph bacteria.
§ CINNAMON
o Fights
against the fungal effect of candida and other types of yeast,
and aspergillus.
o Has a
mild, anti-bacterial effect against strep and staph bacteria.
§ DANDELION
o Helpful
in diseases of the liver and digestive organs.
o Useful
in the treatment of arthritis.
§ ECHINACEA
o Stimulates the immune system.
o May
speed recovery of poxvirus and in debilitated birds.
o Possesses
anti-bacterial properties.
§
EYEBRIGHT
o Promotes eye health.
o
A strong eyebright tea can be used as a wash to aid
discomfort from irritated eyes for all pets.
§ GARLIC
o Powerful anti-oxidant.
o Contains
anti-parasitic properties used to kill intestinal parasites.
o Protects
the liver from chemical pollutants in the air, food, and water.
o Researchers
at the University of Cambridge in England found that garlic juice is as strong
as the popular antifungal drugs Amphotericin and
Nystatin, when treating against Candida (a common fungal
problem in parrots).
o Garlic should
be used sparingly, and in the form of fresh garlic slices. Avoid the use of garlic
powder. One or two thin slices once or twice a week is sufficient.
o Too
much garlic may cause anemia in some animals if used excessively for a
prolonged period of time.
§ GINGER
o Prevents
motion sickness when parrots must travel.
o Add a
few drops of ginger extract to the water, along with slices of fresh ginger the
night before a planned travel.
o Useful
in treating nausea and regurgitation.
§ KAVA KAVA (member of the pepper family)
o Has mild
sedative and tranquilizing effects.
o Can
be used to treat feather plucking and hyperactivity.
o Use
with caution: kava kava is quite strong, and therefore must be used sparingly.
§ LAVENDER
o Has
been shown to eliminate nervous tension, relieve pain, disinfect the skin,
enhance blood circulation, and treat respiratory problems.
§ MILK THISTLE
o Seeds
contain silymarin, a flavonoid that has been shown to treat liver disorders.
o Milk
thistle is the main herbal ingredient of Aloe Detox, and the number one herb
for the treatment of all liver problems.
o Has
been used to treat liver disorders without side effects for years.
§ OREGANO
o Highly
enjoyable for many parrot species.
o Most birds are
also greatly appreciative if a piece of fresh thyme makes it into
their feed bowl. Not only does thyme smell great but it eradicates
worms, helps with diarrhea and has antibacterial properties.
§ PASSION FLOWER
o Passiflora
incarnata, often referred to as Maypop, acts as a gentle sedative.
o One
of the best natural parrot tranquilizers.
o Hyperactive
parrots, or those with compulsive behavior patterns like feather destruction,
may benefit from Passion Flower.
§ PAU D’ARCO (a.k.a. Taheebo)
o
Effective against candida and intestinal parasites
in both humans and parrots.
o
Anti-fungal properties.
o
Considered a “miracle bark”.
§ ST. JOHN’S WORT
o Contains
hypericum, which has anti-depressant properties.
o Often
used as a natural substitute for Haloperidol in some feather-plucking parrots.
o CAUTION:
St. John’s Wort could cause problem for parrots that live outside with access
to direct sunlight. A study of sheep that ingested extremely large
quantities of pure hypericum-perforatum and died of phototoxicity. This may or
may not apply to parrots. To date, there have been no studies published on the
use of St. John’s Wort in parrots.
§ SEAWEEDS (Kelp, Wakame, Undaria, Kombu, Nori, etc.)
o Protect
parrots from gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria known to potentiate
carcinogens.
o Contain
anti-fungal, anti-viral, and anti-tumor properties.
o Help
promote a strong immune system.
§ SLIPPERY ELM
o Used topically
to treat wounds, burns, rashes, abscesses,
boils, or insect bites.
o Used internally
to treat lungs complications, coughing, and
vomiting.
§ VALERIAN
o Used
as a sedative and pain reliever.
o Stronger
than most other herbal sedatives.
o Should
only be used after consulting an experienced herbalist.
§ WITCHHAZEL
o Applied
topically in a spray, it has astringent and healing properties.
o Used
to relieve itching.
o Can
be used in addition to or as an alternative to aloe vera spray I nthe treatment
of itchy skin.
o
CAUTION: Witch hazel is preserved with alcohol, so
it should not be sprayed near the face of a parrot.
HERBAL PRODUCTS TO AVOID
§ BORAGE
o Contains
toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids.
§ CALAMUS
o Can
be toxic.
§ CHAPPARAL
o Can cause
severe liver toxicity.
§ COLSTFOOT
o Contains
carcinogenic alkaloids.
§ COMFREY
o Contains
toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids.
§ EPHEDRA
o Can
cause a dangerous increase in heart rate and blood pressure.
§ GERMANDER
o Can
cause liver toxicity.
§ LICORICE
o Causes
sodium and water retention.
o Causes
the depletion of potassium.
§ MA HUANG
o Has
caused heart attacks, seizures, psychotic episodes and death in humans.
§ LIFE ROOT
o Can
cause liver toxicity.
§ LOBELIA (a.k.a. Indian Tobacco)
o
Can cause vomiting, convulsions, coma and death.
§ PENNYROYAL
o The
oil is highly toxic to the liver and can lead to blood clotting.
§ POKEROOT
o May
be fatal.
§ SASSAFRASS
o Ineffective
and carcinogenic.
§ YOHIMBE
o Though
some look to Yohimbe bark as a possible aphrodisiac for non-producing, mature breeding
parrots, the herb is currently is on the USFDA
unsafe herb list as of March 1977.
o There
is no proof of effectiveness in animal or human studies.
o Yohimbe
is a powerful drug which can cause the dilation of blood vessels in both animals
and humans.
o It
can cause weakness, paralysis, gastrointestinal
problems and even psychosis in humans.
o
Experimentation using this herb with parrots could be
fatal.
There is also very little government or
industry oversight or regulation in the sale or medical use of herbs. Which can
make things difficult for bird owners seeking out the best natural remedies for
their pets. Unfortunately, it’s up to us bird-keepers to learn as much as
possible on our own.
Thankfully you don’t have to navigate the complicated world of natural remedies on your own. Through exhaustive research and invaluable consultations with veterinarians and herbologists, The Parrot Shop has developed our very own line of parrot herbals, finely crafted to increase your pet’s quality of life! Take a look, and if you have any questions about any of the products below, shoot us a line at [email protected]
This fragrant blend of chamomile, lavender and
passion flower is designed promote relaxation, and is especially useful in calming
your bird during high hormone season. The Parrot Shop’s Calming Herb Blend is
recommended for birds who are prone to feather picking, screaming or suffer
from high anxiety.
Glowing and Gorgeous Feathers Blend
This all-natural blend relies on a combination
of chamomile, calendula, rose petals and lavender to promote healthy skin. The
Parrot Shop’s Glowing and Gorgeous Feathers Blend is great for restoring
feathers and skin back to bright and beautiful.
The Liver Detox Blend features Milk Thistle,
Dandelion, Burdock Root, Organic Oregano, Hibiscus and Rose Petals, and enjoys
the countless liver-healing properties. Highly recommended for birds who are
transitioning away from a fully seed-based diet or have a history of liver problems.
Made from Milk Thistle, Dandelion and Burdock
Root, this blend uses all-natural ingredients and enjoys many healing
properties. The powder can easily be dissolved in your Parrot’s water dish, for
more accurate dosage control. Great for birds who were previously on an all
seed-based diet and/or experiencing liver issues.
This fragrant blend of Marigold, Rose Petals,
Rose Hips, Hibiscus, Chamomile, Calendula and Lavender is a treat for
birds that crave edible flowers. Flowers have natural healing properties and
are a great addition to your bird’s diet. The Parrot Shop’s Botanical Blend is particularly
beneficial for Lorikeets.
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1 Comments
Nicholas Brown
Everywhere i've read says that Garlic is toxic to Cockatiels, but it is on your list...
The Parrot Shop
Hi there, garlic in small doses is actually beneficial for parrots. A few companies actually include garlic in their ingredients as well. Twin Beaks Herb Salad is one of them. It's always best to speak with your vet as well if you are unsure. Hope this clarifies :)