Herbs: Slippery Elm

"What the heck is slippery elm?" is the normal response when I mention this herb.  While it is an uncommon herb, it is a very useful one.

Slippery elm comes from the inner bark of the elm tree, Ulmus rubra.  It is harvested, dried and then powdered.  Unfortunately, the harvesting does damage the tree and if not done correctly, the harvesting will kill the tree.  Commercially, slippery elm comes in bulk powder (the form I use) or as capsules of dried powder.  I know it also comes in tablets, syrup, and lozenges, but I have never tried any of these forms.

Slippery elm, as its name implies, is 'slippery'.  I mix the powder with water, gently cook it, and allow it to cool to form a gelatine-like substance.  The basic recipe is 1 teaspoon of powder in 1/2 cup of water in a small sauce pan and stir. Simmer over low heat, stirring constantly, until it begins to thicken. Let cool. Give 1 tsp of cooled syrup 1/2 hour before a meal. Cover and refrigerate the rest. (It will be okay for about 7 days.)  It has a earthy smell and taste which some cats do like enough to eat off a spoon.

For other forms of slippery elm, the 1/8 tsp of the powder can be mixed with food, but added water is also needed.  (1/8 tsp is about 1 capsule.)  Most cats do not object to it being added to food.

So what is this stuff good for?  I use it mainly to coat the intestinal tract when it's upset.  Specifically, when  a cat is vomiting or has diarrhea, slippery elm soothes the intestines and helps return the intestines to normal function.  It will not stop diarrhea, but will calm the intestines so that the need for the diarrhea is removed.  (Most diarrhea is caused by something irritating the intestines.)  It also has the appropriate carbohydrates to encourage 'good' bacterial growth in the intestines and can be used as a stool softener.

Other than intestinal problems, another good use is for CRF cats with mouth ulcers.  The slippery elm coats the mouth and makes the ulcers less sore, so a cat will eat.  Obviously, the slippery elm must be given as a decoction, and not mixed in with the food.

Slippery elm is also reported to help with urinary tract infections and open skin wounds.  I have never tried it for these problems because I use other herbs for these problems which I believe would work better.

Herbs: Echinacea

As you may have noticed, I do use various herbs when treating or supplementing my cats.  I know most traditional Western veterinarians scoff at the effectiveness of herbs in treating serious diseases and medical conditions.  I also know, based on first-hand observations, herbs can be a powerful tool to restore health to a cat.

One of the most common, and unfortunately now one that is widely touted, herbs is echinacea.  Echinacea usually refers to the purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) but can also refer to several closely related species of echinacea, each with varying degrees of medicinal properties.  The plant grows naturally on the prairies and scrublands of the US, but as it has a pretty purple flower, it's now grown as an ornamental.

Echinacea has been used by many people, including Native Americans, to help fight infections.  While echinacea does not kill bacteria or viruses directly, it does strengthen the immune system to attack these 'germs'.  And it does work.  Isabel, my silver Persian, has had a runny nose lately, probably from a chronic sinus infection.  So, for about a week, I have been adding drops of echinacea to her food.  That's really all I have changed and now, her nose is clearing.  While this may be a coincidence in some people's view, I have seen this occur with other problems -- from URI to abscesses.  For infections, this is a great herb to use.

But there is the problem -- it does work.  And if it works on one thing, then there are people that suggest it to be used on everything!  I've seen claims that it will cure ringworm, cancer, and even stud tail in cats.  I personally think it might help, but I doubt it would cure any of those three without some other medicine.  Echinacea's effects are noticeable, but with very serious infections or diseases, it generally does not seem strong enough on it's own.  Still, if you look in a grocery store, there it will be.

Unfortunately, what is in the grocery store may not be the most helpful.  The cheap, common version is powdered leaves and stems compressed into a tablet.  There's two problems:  First, the buyer has little way of knowing how much active herb is in the tablet.  Second, leaves are considered less potent.  From my readings and my own use, it's the roots which are the most effective.  And they are the most effective as an extract in alcohol.  The glycerate form is fine and a bit more palatable to cats, but does spoil quicker. (Extracts can remain usable for over 5 years!)

There are two constraints when I use echinacea.  First, since it boosts the immune system, the immune system must be functioning to some degree.  Some conditions like FeLV so destroy the immune system that there is little left to work with.  Other problems such as cancer, overwhelm the immune system.  In either case, echinacea can help but I wouldn't use it as the primary treatment option.  Second, since it boosts the immune system, it can only be given in short cycles and not as daily treatment.  What I mean is, after 2-3 weeks, it's effectiveness diminishes, so I have to rest the cat's immune system for at least a week before again using the echinacea.  Many books recommend 3 on, 1 off, but I've found 2 on, 1 off to be better for most minor problems.

Here's how I used echinacea to treat Isabel's nose:

• I used it because this was a minor, not-life-threatening and chronic infection
• I use the glycerate extract from roots, which she doesn't mind
• I give her 2-4 drops mixed in food, twice a day for 2 weeks, then I'll stop for a week before giving her another round

Mandatory disclaimer:  I am not a vet.  If your cat is sick or injured, take your cat to a vet.  The information I have here is what I do for my cats.

Cats: A Health Survey of the Herd

Continuing on what I was saying about my cats and their health...

About every 6 months, I sit down and think about how my cats are doing individually and as a member of the herd.  It's a time to put my prejudices away and really think carefully about them.  I do this in part so I can adjust supplements, including herbs and nutricals.  There's no sense in using something on a cat for years just because it is a routine -- it wastes money, it may lose it's effectiveness, or it may actually harm the cat from long-term use.  But with herbs and nutritional supplements, I can't see the effectiveness of something in 2 or 3 weeks -- usually these products are slow to work.  So, each 6 months is a good time to reassess things.

So let's look at a couple of the cats:

Isabel taking a nap

Isabel -- She's my silver chinchilla Persian and about 4.5 years old.  To most people and vets, she's perfectly healthy.  I have a slightly less rosy opinion.

I did have to shave her this fall because her coat got terribly matted.  The reason it was matted was in the Spring of last year, she had a UTI and/or a large bladder stone.  The vet tried to get a urine sample by flipping her upside down, holding her down, and sticking a needle in her bladder.  It didn't work (and one vet tech has scares to prove it).  It did make her impossible to groom, especially on her tummy.  Eventually, she was so matted, I shaved her.  Since then, I have been working patiently with her to get her to trust me to groom her tummy and back legs.  That has gone very well, and she's back to trusting me.

On the down side, I know she has nose problems.  My vet says "It's just a Persian thing" but I disagree.  when she was antibiotics for the UTI, her nose improved.  I also know that with high doses of lysine, her nose and eyes improve.  (Her eyes water and stain her pretty face.)  So, it is a problem that can be fixed.  Lysine alone helps, but I have been giving her echinacea extract, off and on, for a couple of months, and this seems to hold it at bay.  But I'd like something more permanent, so I'm considering Chinese herbs, Immunoplex, and/or goldenseal nasal drops.  The last one may stain her fur yellow and is a fix for her nose, but not her immune system.  It would work to knock any infection down and then build the immune system to prevent it from coming back.

Her ears also have a lot of brown wax.  I'm not sure why, as she shows no sign of mites or food issues.  I'll thoroughly clean them this week and see what happens over a couple of weeks.  I do wonder if it's from the treats or the commercial food which hubby slips her when he feeds Clarissa lunch.

Psychologically, she's quiet and likes to be left alone.  Unfortunately, she's in the bedroom with Clarissa, the Tortie Monster.  While she has made great strides in trust since I've had her (she had spent the first 6 months under the bed), I'm wondering about trying some Bach flower essences.

I know I need to keep the lysine in her food (and at 150% the recommended level when she is have problems).  I'm going to try the Immunoplex for long-term immune building, the echinacea for another cycle, and maybe try just plain saline nose drops, which she will love (or not).

And then there is:

Robbie

Robbie -- He's a 10-12 year old Maine Coon/Persian cross.  He nearly died of liver failure when I got him ~6 years ago but has been basically healthy since then.  He did develop an intolerance to poultry products, so he get beef, rabbit, lamb, pork, and venison, plus some fish occasionally   When we got ringworm and ear mites, he did get both pretty bad and he got an allergic reaction to both.

Physically, I worry about him.  He has seemed 'off' for a year or so, but blood-work shows nothing and I can't point directly to anything.  He is thinner than he had been, and he has itchy skin in spots.  There is also a tendency towards constipation followed by a drop or two of blood.  But I can't say, "Look at this."  So to most vets, this would just be an over-anxious owner.  To my homeopathic vet, ... she does take what I say seriously, but can't figure out anything.

Psychologically, he's more timid, more likely to strike out in fear-aggression, and less snugly   I'm not looking the combination because it says to me he feels vulnerable.

I really think with him the problem is his immune system being overactive.  The allergies and skin sensitivity all indicate that.  I have tried various things, with minimal improvement.  He has eaten more enthusiastically since I have been adding commercial raw food to his diet, which is where the venison, rabbit, and lamb come from.  I feel kind of lost as to what to do.  If I knew more about acupressure, I would try it.  I know there are a couple of Chinese herbal combinations with mushrooms that might help, so I'll poke around the Internet and see what I can find.

So, two cats looked, more to go....

But my whole point is I don't wait for clinical problems to appear before I tweak their care.  There is what is ideal health for a cat in general and then there is normal for a cat.  My goal is to move my cats' 'normal' closer to the ideal.

Cats, UTIs, and Herbal Treatment

Note to readers:  Somehow I had envisioned me discussing grand, eloquent discussions on weighty topics, but looking over the recent posts, I'm settling for less grand, basically readable, and fairly random posts.  And I'm not sure I care!

Today's topic is: Cats, UTIs, and herbal treatment

For those that don't know what a UTI is, it is short for urinary tract infection.  This can be from bacteria alone or from bacteria relating to bladder stones or crystals.  The cat will go from one box to another, peeing tiny amounts or just drops.  In males, if the inflammation or crystals get too much, the urethra can block and the cat can be dead within 12-24 hours.  (This is an emergency situation and I would take the boy to a vet, even on an emergency call.)  In females, the chances of blocking is slim.

So, Monday as I was getting ready to go to work, I noticed Olivia visiting several boxes, one after another, and peeing only drops.  She has done this before, I've had other cats do this, so I knew what it was and, of course, I went into panic-mode!  (Anyone who thinks I remain calm when my cats are ill doesn't know me.)

I knew I couldn't get her to a vet that night after work and I was out of antibiotics, so grabbed what I could figure out and tried it.  I gave her 1/2 a cranberry tablet, 1/2 a 500mg VitC, and 4 drops of echinacea glycerate.  And then did a whole lot of worrying the whole day.  Hubby reported good things at lunch -- no frequent trips to the box.

So, I've given this combination to her (echinacea in food, VitC and cranberry as pills) since Monday and she now is showing no symptoms at all.

I am so relieved.  And before anyone worries, I did mooch some antibiotics from a friend just in case.

My big concern is why this happened again.  I suspect it is stress related.  She's had UTIs 2 other times -- each near the time she got a bath.  I know she takes the blow drying, but maybe I'm underestimating the amount of stress it causes.  Or maybe her system is slightly 'down' -- a friend has recommended Immunoplex for a couple of months, to help build her immune system.  I'm also thinking of Cosequin to help strengthen the bladder.

I know, this is the part where I say, "I'll be sure to ask my vet.  And don't you try any of this without asking your vet."  Honestly, I may eventually mention it to my vet next time we chat, but I won't be making a special trip up there for her to tell me this is a great treatment.

Bad News about Sammy

I really don't feel like writing much, but I also feel guilty about not writing. Things haven't been going too well here.

As I wrote some time ago, my cat Sammy had a small growth removed. Well, it came back and spread. It spread to the inside of his mouth, among other areas. Figuring out what he can and cannot eat has been a challenge. My vet, a homeopath, has no more medicines to try on him, so I'm on my own. For the last week or so, I've been using creosote tea on his tumors. This has slowed their growth and spread down and helped make him more comfortable. (He isn't sitting around looking miserable with his tongue hanging out since I started using it.) The problem is the tumors in his mouth -- how does one teach a cat to gargle with a nasty tasting herb tea? There's a couple of other herbs to try but I'm worried about running out of time.

Unless one of these herbs works, there will come a time where I have to choose between euthanizing him or putting in a feeding tube to give him one more chance. Right now, he's active (as much as he ever was), he's interested in eating even though it's painful, and he seems like he wants to live. But if these things change, then I have a decision to make. I'm not thrilled with making this decision alone, as hubby will probably be on the road.

Needless to say, I haven't had much energy left to make art, or list things on eBay, or do anything else. And my attitude is bad as I'm tired of people saying stupid things, when they even bother to talk to me. (It's amazing how people stop talking to you when you have a dying cat!) I'll get thru this somehow and I'll get back to doing art. But there will be changes -- no more daily listing on eBay, no more 'giving' my work away, more important/personal art, and more time for me.

So, if I don't write anything for another 2 weeks, you can guess as to what happened. Maybe you'll be wrong and the 'voodoo' herbs will work. I hope so.