From Essiac/ 4 Herb Tea to 3 Herb Tea to Hyper Jia Bing Herb For Feline Hyperthyroidism !?! (*Correction: Jia Bing Fang Herb)
So it's been almost 2 weeks now since I started adding Essiac/ 4 herb Tea (that I brewed myself) to my cat's meals in hopes of helping my one cat Dottie to get better after being diagnosed with feline hyperthyroidism, kidney disease, heart disease, dental disease and a urinary infection. I decided that I too would drink the tea just to see how it would make me feel. So my 3 elderly cats Roscoe, Felix and Dottie, along with myself were drinking the tea. I added the tea to their food twice a day and I drank it between meals twice a day. Although the tea is primarily meant to cure cancer, I have read some amazing reviews about it helping with other health conditions. So I thought it would be worth a try since I decided to take Dottie off the conventional thyroid medication that was prescribed for her.
After drinking 4 herb tea for approx 5 or 6 days I realized that something was wrong. I was experiencing some unusual pains in my body. So last Friday, August 23rd, I decided to stop drinking the tea after having an insight during my morning meditation. I recalled why I actually stopped drinking the tea years ago. I believe at least one of the 4 herbs is a warming herb. My korean acupuncturist, who helped cure me of SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth), insisted that I do not ingest warming herbs. In fact, my recent bouts with bronchitis and pneumonia were probably caused by the warming herbs in my parasite pills that I decided to take although they were not recommended. What can I say? I'm a rebel. I love to run tests on myself. So anyway, I couldn't remember which herb was the warming herb but I had a hunch.
So I went online to do a little research and it turns out that I was wrong about any of the herbs being warming. All of the 4 herb tea herbs are cooling in nature in TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine). That's odd! I was a bit relieved to hear that, however I became a bit perplexed. What could be the issue I was experiencing with these wonderful healing herbs?
I recently re-read an article called, "Essiac: Nature's Cure For Cancer." In this article the guy being interviewed, Dr. Gary Glum, states that the original tea recipe actually only contained 3 herbs. Rene Caisse decided to add a 4th herb to the mix! I discovered that Turkey Rhubarb is the extra herb that Rene Caisse added to the herbal remedy. The original recipe called for: Sheep Sorrel, Burdock Root and Slippery Elm. I wondered if it could be possible that Turkey Rhubarb is contraindicated for certain people such as myself?
So I decided to do a little more research on Turkey Rhubarb and I discovered something quite interesting. Turkey Rhubarb is used as a laxative, antiphlogistic, and haemostatic in the treatment of constipation, diarrhea, jaundice, gastro-intestinal hemorrhage, menstrual disorders, conjunctivitis, traumatic injuries, superficial supportive sores and ulcers. It is also applied externally for thermal burns. In TCM terms it Drains Heat and accumulations from the Yang ming level, Clears Damp Heat, Cools the Blood, Invigorates Blood, eliminates Stagnant Blood and Clears Toxic Heat and purges knotted Heat and stool from the colon. Yeah... so what does that all mean? Ha ha! So then I read that purging formulas (especially cold purge and water expelling formulas) can cause digestive disorders and that they should only be used for as long as it takes to achieve the desired action. Ah ha! Eureka! And that's when I realized that Turkey Rhubarb may not be correct for me! At the present time I do not suffer from constipation or any other gastro-intestinal issues! But taking Turkey Rhubarb apparently was causing an issue!
So on Sunday night, August 25th, exactly one week after brewing 4 Herb/ Essiac tea, I decided to brew 3 Herb tea (the original recipe) without Turkey Rhubarb. On Monday, August 26th, the cats and I all drank the 3 herb tea! My stomach felt weird again the next morning and so I stopped drinking the tea altogether! I was hoping that the cats felt okay. They all seemed okay and were loving their food with the tea in it! But I was still concerned... so I went online to do more research on all the herbs!
So "Sheep Sorrel has been used historically to treat inflammation, scurvy, cancer, and diarrhea. Health benefits include:
May kill cancer cells and prevent them from spreading.
Also may reduce tumor size.
Helps purify the blood.
Has diuretic features, aiding in kidney function.
Anti-inflammatory.
Has have been known to ease gastrointestinal discomfort, making it a valuable ally for those with sensitive stomachs.
Aids in digestion.
Contains a large amount of Vitamin C, so this herb would help with scurvy or for overall immunity
You should not use this herb if you have kidney stones, arthritis or gout due to the oxalic acid content
No, sheep sorrel (Rumex acetosella) is not good for cats: it contains oxalates that can be toxic to cats, even in small amounts. Symptoms of sorrel poisoning in cats include:
Gastrointestinal upset, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
Mouth irritation
Throat swelling
Suffocation
Depression
Rapid breathing
Labored breathing
Dark colored mucous membranes
Weakness
Muscle fasciculations (twitching)
Large amounts of sorrel can cause more severe symptoms, such as seizures, arrhythmias, and secondary renal injury. If you suspect your cat has ingested sheep sorrel, you should contact your local veterinarian immediately. You can also call the APCC at (888) 426-4435 or Poison Control at (800) 222-1222.
To prevent your cat from ingesting sheep sorrel, you can cat-proof your garden, supervise your cat's exploration, and offer them safe plants
No, sheep sorrel, also known as red sorrel, is toxic to cats and can cause severe poisoning even in small amounts. The plant's leaves, stems, and roots contain soluble oxalates that can be toxic to cats if they are digested. When a cat chews the plant, the raphides break down and release calcium oxalate crystals that can lodge in the cat's throat and digestive system for up to two weeks.
Symptoms of sorrel poisoning in cats include:
Gastrointestinal upset, Drooling, Vomiting, Weakness, Muscle fasciculations, Seizures, Arrhythmias, and Secondary renal injury.
If you suspect your cat has ingested sheep sorrel, you should contact your local veterinarian or the APCC at (888) 426-4435 as soon as possible. You can also try to prevent your cat from eating sheep sorrel by using cat-proofing and safe plant alternatives."
Ummm... so here's the thing... my cats have been ingesting Sheep Sorrel in 4 herb/ Essiac tea for almost 2 weeks now and no one is poisoned! Hmmm! But this information is surely concerning!
So "Burdock Root is a superior tonic herb used to prevent and heal illness. It is a great herb for skin conditions and benefits the liver. Health benefits include:
It is an excellent blood purifier, and eliminates many toxins from the body in this way. It also helps to aid the body in perspiring so as to help release toxins from the body through the skin.
It is one of the best herbs to use, internally and externally, for chronic skin problems such as eczema, psoriasis, acne, ringworm, and even poison ivy.
Used as a diuretic to help with fluid retention. This also helps with kidney and bladder infections. Can also help eliminate uric acid.
Helps to restore good bacteria to the body after taking antibiotics.
Helps advanced cases of arthritis by reducing swelling and helping to break down calcification deposits on joints and knuckles.
A tea makes a good wash for acne, burns, sores, and swelling.
Used as a mild laxative.
Has been said to help repair liver damage, and also to keep liver damage from becoming worse. This could be due to the detoxifying effects of the root.
Should not be used by people who are taking insulin as it can lower blood sugar levels.
Can increase diuretic quality of other herbs."
Okay, this seems safe for cats!
Slippery Elm- "Slippery Elm is a mild-flavored, highly nutritious herb. Some have considered storing it for times of famine. It is used for all inflammation both internal and external. It is also used in many combinations and poultices because of its cohesive quality that helps hold the other herbs together. Health benefits include:
Is a great contact healer both internally and externally, since it coats, relaxes, and heals all inflamed tissues including irritated and inflamed mucous membranes of the stomach, bowels, and kidneys.
Soothes a sore throat.
Strong mucilaginous herb that helps absorb toxins in the bowel. This makes it a good treatment for diarrhea, bowel weakness, and is just soothing for the entire intestinal tract.
Contains astringent compounds that shrink inflamed tissues. This makes it good to use for asthma, bronchitis, colitis, and inflammatory bowel disease.
Great to use at the first sign of tooth decay. Putting a little powder onto the tooth will stop the pain and prevent further decay.
Great to use on boils, burns, cuts, rashes, and any other skin irritation or wound
Should be taken with LOTS of water.
No known drug interactions.
Okay, it's safe for cats!
Turkey rhubarb-
Turkey rhubarb is a powerful laxative that can promote bowel movements and help relieve constipation. It works by irritating the lining of the colon, which stimulates the muscles in the bowel to contract and eliminate stools. It also increases the secretion of bile, which helps with digestion.
Rhubarb is LIKELY SAFE when the root is consumed as food. It is POSSIBLY SAFE for most adults when taken by mouth in medicinal amounts for up to 3 months. Rhubarb can cause some side effects such as stomach and intestinal pain, watery diarrhea, and uterine contractions.
Yes, turkey rhubarb (Rheum palmatum) can cause digestive problems, including intestinal pain and cramping, diarrhea, and electrolyte imbalances.
Other side effects include:
Icterus, Hepatic enlargement, Renal insufficiency, Proteinuria, Dependence on laxatives, and Dehydration.
Long-term use or higher doses of turkey rhubarb can lead to more serious problems, such as bone loss, muscular weakness, and irregular heart rhythm. It should not be used by people with a history of kidney stones or kidney disease, liver disorders, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis), or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Adverse effects include acute intestinal pain and cramping (can often be offset with carminatives), and high doses may cause diarrhea with mild griping, icterus and hepatic enlargement, renal insufficiency and proteinuria.
Renal insufficiency, also known as kidney failure, is a broad term that describes when the kidneys are not functioning properly and require treatment or further diagnosis. It can be caused by a number of conditions, including renal artery stenosis, which is when the arteries that supply blood to the kidneys narrow
Is turkey rhubarb habit forming?
Use only sporadically as it can be habit forming.
Side effects might include stomach pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and cramps. Rhubarb leaves are possibly unsafe. Rhubarb leaves contain oxalic acid, which can cause stomach pain, diarrhea, vomiting, seizures, and death."
Oh G-d! Have my cat really been ingesting this for almost 2 weeks! This made me very nervous!
However then I found a website for a Holistic vet in Australia who promotes Essiac/ 4 herb Tea for cats and dogs!
Medicinal Herbs for animals
Dr Clare Middle BVMS, Dip.Ac.,Dip.Hom.
Introduction
Introduction
Herbs can give great results for many animal ailments.
I have listed ten safe, well researched herbs which I use in my veterinary practice for treating dogs and cats.
1. St Mary’s Thistle is so useful for animals with hepatitis of any kind, especially if your pet’s blood test shows high liver enzymes, and a cause cannot be found. Conventional medicine simply does not have a specific treatment for liver disease. Much research and many animals have shown the effectiveness of this herb for healing liver disease. No dog should be on long term cortisone (prednisolone) treatment or longterm anti-epileptic treatment (phenobarbitone) without being on St Mary’s Thistle continually, or a complex thereof, as this will help the liver withstand the side effects so much better.
2. Andrographis is equivalent to a “herbal antibiotic” and liver detoxifier, so is a good start for animals with skin allergy and infection who have been weakened by a lot of cortisone treatment. Add albizzia if itching due to allergy is severe. A natural diet and homoeopathic treatment are generally needed here also.
3. A combination of reishi and shitaki mushrooms can work wonders for chronic skin or sinus infections for genetically low immune systems. This often applies to such breeds as bull terriers, staffies, ridgebacks, cats with cat ‘aids’ or pedigree cats with long term sinusitis.
4. Kidney degeneration mix – buchu, couch, parsley, crataeva and withania can keep old cats and dogs with kidney disease going for months or years longer than without treatment.
5. Nervine herbs such as passiflora, skullcap, chamomile, valerian and St John’s wort can be very beneficial and safe for treating stress, anxiety, phobias and tension from musculo-skeletal pain.
6. Gymnema has much research to show how it can help stabilize diabetic cats and dogs. Many diabetic cats can be treated without the need for insulin. The blood glucose must be monitored carefully by a vet until stable.
7. Comfrey can help broken bones to heal, so is a good help in difficult or slow to heal surgically repaired cases, or for young animals with greenstick (in-line) fractures which have been examined by a vet and do not need surgical repair.
8. Gastritis/colitis blend – slippery elm, marshmallow, agrimony, licourice are a frequently used combination for vomiting, diarrhoea, irritable bowel syndrome and colitis. Use psyllium husks for chronic constipation – it works magically. Put a pinch in each meal for cats, up to a teaspoonful for large dogs. It is safe to use this long term.
9. Sheep Sorrel formulas (sheep sorrel, burdock, turkish/indian rhubarb root and slippery elm bark) for cancers of all types can give remission times in about 50% of cases and can give pain relief, and is safe.
10. Ginko biloba is often useful for old animals who have suffered a stroke or who have behaviour change due to senile dementia.
This herb is very safe, and is commonly prescribed for such conditions for people by doctors in Germany, where the government researches and recommends herbs for doctors to use for their patients in preference to drugs, as it saves spending money on hospital care later!)
Dosage
In general, the dose for herbs for dogs are similar to human doses per kg of total body weight.
Dogs generally need half a ml (15 drops) twice daily for a toy breed, up to a human dose for a giant breed (5ml twice daily). Therefore an average 20-30kg dog would need about 2 ml twice daily in food.
Cats need much less per kg body weight. I usually give cats 6 drops once daily in food of the alcohol tincture.
Mice, rats, rabbits and guinea pigs will often lap a drop of herb tincture off the end of a dropper twice daily. The most common herb I use with these little animals are sheep sorrel formula, noni juice (morinda berry) or the reishi/shitaki/maitaki mushroom extract for cancers or long term infections.
Most animals eat herbs in their food. If an animal strongly refuses herbs, lower the dose until accepted in food, or choose a different combination if totally refused. Animals will generally take herbs they feel are good for them, and if they do want to get better.
Herbs can be put in water for sick animals who are off their food, but drinking a lot of water, for example cats with kidney disease.
Herbal teas, ie made from pouring hot water onto the fresh or dry herb, and leaving to cool, are palatable enough to dose orally with a dropper or syringe. Chamomile tea is safe to give to anxious animals to calm them down, and peppermint tea is good for animals with a mild tummy upset.
Herb tablets can be given whole, or ground in a coffee grinder/pestle and mortar, and powder added to food.
Herbivorous animals such as horses, sheep and cows can much more easily be overdosed on herbs (compared to cats and dogs), as their ability to fully digest the active ingredients are far greater. This is true of horses to a lesser extent than cattle, sheep, rabbits, guinea pigs etc., but all these species have not had a lot of research carried out on them, so caution is required.
© Clare Middle 2015
My faith was restored and I decided to contact Clare to try to help my cat Dottie.
"Hi Clare,
I found your website while researching natural cures for my senior cat Dottie. She was recently diagnosed with kidney disease, heart disease, dental disease, hyperthyroidism and a urinary infection. I've been adding Essiac tea to her food (and now all of my cats food). I've also been taking it myself although I just removed Turkey Rhubarb to run a test to see if it works better without that herb. I was experiencing some odd pains that made me cautious. I also have Dottie on a new renal diet, along with colloidal silver, probiotics and I'm about to add wild alaskan salmon oil to the mix. The vet wanted her on hyperthyroid medication but that made her stop eating and was difficult to administer. Anyway, I saw that you recommend buchu, couch, parsley, crataeva and withania for kidney disease. Do you sell these herbs? Would I need a consultation? I live in California. I'm also wondering if these herbs could be mixed with the 4 herb/ essiac tea. And if this is all okay for Dottie who is dealing with multiple issues? And could all of my senior cats safely ingest these herbs since they like to eat out of each other's bowls? I also read that sheep sorrel is toxic to cats? It's difficult to know if I'm doing the right thing. I'm basically guiding myself with help from the internet. I'm hoping you will have some time to respond and answer these questions?
Thanks,
Jennie"
Clare responded...
"Hi Jennie
You would be best dealing with a more local integrative vet as they know the products, food etc available to you.
See if you can find one from www.vbma.org
Best wishes, Clare."
I went to the recommended website and found a Holistic vet right by me! In fact, this vet was recommended to me twice before I found them listed on the site! Three times is a charm I suppose! I scheduled an appointment for the very next day!
At the visit my cat Dottie received acupuncture. I'm not sure how we managed to pull that off. The vet advised weekly acupuncture, but I wasn't for it. I don't wish to torture Dottie with constant vet visits... and the fee is not cheap! Dottie was also prescribed a new food that totally contradicts what the other vets advised! Unbelievable! The conventional vets prescribed a renal diet low in protein. The holistic vet prescribed a thyroid diet high in protein! Oy vey!
The holistic vet also prescribed Standard Process Feline Renal Support twice a day which has mixed reviews online. However, it appears that most of the reviews are positive. I'm hoping it helps! Dottie seems to like it! And finally, the vet prescribed a Chinese herb called Hyper Jia Bing! Nope! Never heard of it! Supposedly this safe herb will replace the toxic conventional medication that made Dottie stop eating! Wonderful! Ofcourse, the herb would work better if we did acupuncture weekly for $165.50 a pop. However, it could very well work without the acupuncture too! So I will take a gamble and hope that it works without the acupuncture! I was told to re-check Dottie's kidney and thyroid levels in 4 weeks and then we could possibly add another herb for the kidney. (This could very well be done without the blood test being performed.)
I was told to stop giving Dottie any other herbs which includes the Essiac 4 herb or 3 herb Tea I was giving her. Fish oil is good. Probiotics are good. Lycine is good. Colloidal silver is not good. And the food I've been giving her has to change as it's low protein and contains two herbs.
The change of cat food totally threw me off... I spent a nice fortune on low protein cat food that I researched and found myself online. So I contacted Chewy customer service to figure out what to do....
Michael G.: Hi, my name is Michael G., how may I help you?
Jennie: Hi. I would like to return some cat food I recently purchased and replace it with a different cat food... as per the vet's advice! Is this possible?
Michael G.: I'm so sorry about that! While I look into this for you, how are you and your pet doing today? What's their name by the way?
Jennie: I'm fine... just confused... one vet is saying low protein, and the next is saying high protein... My cat is Dottie... she has hyperthyroidism, early kidney disease, heart disease, dental disease... she loves the food I just purchased... as do all my cats... but now the new vet is recommending a different brand that thankfully you sell!
Michael G.: Wowza alot going on then
Jennie: Yeah....tell me about it! We purchased Forza-10 renal.... the new vet is saying Farmina Recoup canned food.
Jennie : We've already gone through a few cases of Forza 10
Michael G.: I've processed a refund of $439.82 to the Visa ending in -7109 and that will post back to your account in 3-6 business days. There’s no need to send anything back to us at this time. Please feel free to donate this to a local shelter or rescue.
Jennie Haiman: Wow! Seriously?
Jennie Haiman: I really needed the money... I have 3 cats... and i'm dealing with a lot~!
Jennie Haiman: You are an angel!
Michael G.:It's my pleasure! Is there anything else I can help you out with today?
Jennie Haiman: I'm going to go on your site and order the new food now!
Jennie Haiman: I hope Dottie likes it. I hope it's the right food!
Michael G.: If that is all I can help with today, I am going to wrap up our chat. It's been my pleasure and if you need anything in the future, we're always here to help
Jennie Haiman: So much confusion... she's 15. trying to keep her alive. She needs to gain weight.
Jennie Haiman: Thank you so much!
Jennie Haiman: Seriously... Thank you! :)
Jennie Haiman: Be well my friend!
Pretty crazy right?
So here's the kicker...
My neighbor has cancer again and he's currently getting chemo. He's very nauseated and down to 115 lbs. Supposedly the cancer is not going away and he may need another round of chemo. I ran into his wife and offered her the 4 herb and 3 herb Tea that I brewed. She was overjoyed. And her husband was very happy too. I told her she could have the rest of the herbs as well, but she said she wouldn't be able to brew them. So I told her that when they run out of the tea I would brew more for them. They were in awe! But I realize now that everything has lined up perfectly to create the greatest good for all parties involved. Even my mentor is starting to brew the 4 herb tea for his sick cat because I had mentioned giving it to my cats.
Yes, my holistic vet agreed that the 4 herb tea can be good for people and pets, but should only be consumed if one actually has cancer! So that's the story! 4 herb tea brought me to 3 herb tea which brought me to Hyper Jia Bing Herb! I thank my wonderful spirits for guiding me! What an adventure! I know that this will all work out in the end!
UPDATE: Correction! Dottie was actually prescribed Jia Bing Fang Herb!
Jennie H is a Reiki Master Energy Healer, Co-Founder of Self Saviorz Society California Non-Profit 501(c)(3), Poet, Author and Entertainer with goals to help raise the vibration and consciousness of humanity!
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