The opinions expressed here are opinions only. No contributor is liable for the use or misuse of any advice or information provided. No recommendation has been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Contributors are not qualified to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. All responsibility for the application of any information taken from these pages is wholly upon and at the discretion of the individual choosing to use it. Consultation with a holistic veterinarian is encouraged.
|
HolisticBird Pet Bird Health Discussion Lists List Guidelines for HolisticBird list Articles & Discussions Pet Bird Diet Avian Nutrition Bird Behavior Healthy Bird Environment Help for Ailing Birds Healing Methods Resources
|
|
Notice: Some of the herbs listed may not be safe for birds. Check with your Holistic Vet for a treatment program suitable for your bird. |
| Please review these links before administering herbs Calculating Dosages for Birds Dangerous Herbs List Administering Herbs to Birds Glycerin / Alcohol base |
See also:
|
|
Herb |
Components |
Uses |
Cautions |
| Alfalfa | salty, bitter, cooling, neutral | arthritis, fatigue, pituitary gland, mineralizes, blood thinner | seeds unless sprouted. |
|
Aloe Vera (aloe barbadensis) |
aloin, aloes, muco- polysaccharides cool, moist |
Burns, wound healing, laxative, radiation, frostbite, anti-biotic, anti-viral, immune stimulant, anti-inflammatory | allergenic for some. Inner-leaf latex is purgative. Do not use whole-leaf juice unless a laxative is desired. |
| Angelica (Angelica sinensis, Dong Quoi) |
essential oils and fatty acids: ligustilide, safrol, carvacrol, ferulic acid. aromatic, pungent, warming |
antibacterial, ant fungal, immuno-stimulant, anti tumor, stimulates progesterone secretion, reduces arrhythmia | . |
| Anise | . | excess mucus, estrogen, whooping cought, colic, intestinal cleanser | . |
| Astragalus (astragalus membranaceus) |
sweet, warm | Anti-viral (papillomavirus and herpes) synergistic with inteferon, deep immune building | . |
| Bayberry | drying, cooling, astringent, aromatic | polyps, blood builder, jaundice, goiter, | . |
| Bearberry (Uva Ursi |
hydroquinone, arbutin, allantoin | diuretic, astringent, urinary antiseptic, cystitis, herpes & flu virus. | . |
| Bee Pollen |
linolenic acid, sterols, amino acids, vitamins, enzymes, minerals, trace elemets | lower blood fats, suppress atherosclerotic plaques | use commercially processed products to avoid allergies. |
| Beet root | sweet, nourishing | liver cleanser | .. |
| Bilberry (vaccinium myrtillus) |
. | antiviral: herpes, influenza. anti-fungal, yeast, bacteria, protozoan. antihistamine, improves vision. | . |
| Birch (betula spp) |
methyl salicylate | poultice, tea, fevers, rheumatism, | . |
| Black Cohosh | . | estrogen, bronchitis, nerves | . |
| Blessed Thistle (Cnicus benedictus) |
bitter, cooling drying | diuretic, diaphoretic, febrifuge. Indigestion, appetite stimulant, liver, gallbladder, candida | . |
| Bloodroot (sanguinaria canadensis) |
tormentil, tannic acid | astringent, polyps, tumors, wound healing | Not to be taken internally. Poisonous. Causes death. |
| Blue Cohosh | . | nerves, cramps, induces labor, spasms | carcinogen |
| Blue Flag | . | lymphatic cleanser, swollen glands, clogged liver | . |
| Blue Vervain | bitter, cooling, moistening | tranquilizer, virus, insomnia, expectorant | . |
| Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum) |
sesquiterpene lactones bitter, acrid, cooling, drying |
reduces fever, body pain, influenza, induces perspiration | purgative in large doses. |
| Boswellia (Boswellia sernata) |
gum resin containing boswellic acids | anti-inflammatory, arthritic rheumatic | . |
| Buchu (agathosma betulina) |
limonene, diosphenol, glycosides, flavonoids | urinary, kidney, prostate | . |
| Burdock | bitter, sweet, alterative | blood purifier, liver detox, gout, arthritis, skin blemishes | . |
| Calendula | hot, dry, astringent | blood cleanser, tumors, skin pigment disorders, healing salve for cuts and wounds | .. |
| Cayenne (Capsicum frutescens) |
capsaicin, pungent | general stimulant, used internally and externally for pain, improved digestion., circulation | . |
| Cascara Sagrada | . | liver purge, gall bladder, laxative | . |
| Catnip | . | fevers, virus, relaxant, digestion | . |
| Chamomile (matricaria chamomilla) |
flavanoid apigenin, essential oils: alpha-bisabodol., soothes intestines | digestion, soothing, antispasmodic, bowel gas pain, sedative. eye wash | some allergic response. |
| Chaste berry (vitex agnus castus) |
volatile oils, | reduce sexual desire, adjust production of female hormones, progesterogenic, endometriosis, PMS. | . |
| Chickweed | bland, salty, cooling, drying | emulsifies fat, obesity , blood purifier, dissolves fatty tumors, aids fat metabolism | . |
| Cherry (Prunus spp) |
hydrocyanic acid (cyanide) benzaldehyde amygdalin |
bark: cough sedative fruit: gout |
All parts except fruit toxic in large doses. |
| Cinnamon | . | digestion, antiseptic | . |
| Cleavers | . | goiter, diuretic, liver, skin | . |
| Comfrey | bland, cooling drying | lungs, bones, muscle, digestion, poultice, fast wound healing.. not for deep wounds | carcinogen |
| Cornsilk | soothing, bitter, mucilant | kidneys, bladder, liver | . |
| Cramp Bark | . | cramps, lung, heart, uterus | . |
| Damiana | . | diuretic, nerves, depression, mucus | . |
| Dandelion | bitter, salty, cooling drying | liver, diuretic, spleen, urinary tract | . |
| Daisy | . | . | . |
| Devil's Claw | bitter, cold, | inflammation, liver tonic, arthritis, headaches, cholesterol | . |
| Dill weed | . | nervine, gas, digestion, calmative | . |
| Dong Quai | . | stimulates progesterone, nerves, female glands | . |
| Dulse | . | thyroid, depression, female problems, palpitations, enhances absorption of calcium | . |
| Echinacea | bitter, acrid, cooling drying | antibiotic, antiviral, lymph, prostate, | . |
| Elderberry | . | respiratory, lymph | . |
| Elder flowers | . | cough, colds, fevers, allergies | . |
| Elecampane | warming, stimulating | bronchitis, phlegm, cough, lungs | . |
| Eye Bright | astringent, tonic, cooling, drying | eye-wash, feather spray, sinus, cataracts, upper respiratory | . |
| False Unicorn | . | digestion, cough, kidneys | . |
| Fennel | . | suppresses appetite, indigestion, colic, spasms | .. |
| Fenugreek | sweet, bland, warming | mucus, lungs, lymph, cholesterol, weight gain | . |
| Feverfew | bitter, cold, aromataic, dry. for exploding headaches | pain, migraines, sinus, | . |
| Garlic (allium sativum) |
alliin & allinase convert to allicin when garlic is crushed. quercetin, cyanidin, selenium, over 75 sulphur compounds. | Allicin is destroyed in cooking. Use fresh cloves or dried. Antibiotic, viral, fungal, tumor, parasitic. antioxidant, lowers cholesterol, inhibits clotting and inflammation. | Can cause heinz body anemia in dogs and cats. |
| Gentian | . | liver, jaundice, spleen, circulation, digestion | . |
| Ginger | aromatic, warming, pungent stimulating | indigestion, colic, nausea, circulation, vertigo | . |
| Ginko | aids vasoconstrictive headaches. | circulation, memory, muscular degeneration, stroke | . |
| Golden Seal | bitter, cooling, drying | infections, pancreas, blood sugar, antibiotic, urinary | Substitute with Oregon grape when possible. |
| Goto Kola | . | memory, brain, pituitary, depression, senility | . |
| Grapefruit seed extract (GSE) | . | antibiotic, antifungal | must be diluted before use. must use probiotics after use. Do not use in eyes. |
| Hawthorn | . | heart, adrenals, blood pressure, stress, angina, arteriosclerosis | . |
| Hops | aromatic, bitter, cool, dry. estrogenic | nerves, sleep, alcoholism, spastic, hyperactivity | . |
| Horehound | bitter, aromatic, cooling and drying | expectorant, antispasmodic, lungs | . |
| Hydrangea | cooling, soothing | bone spurs, kidney stones, gall stones, bladder infection, arthritis | . |
| Juniper Berries | irritating diuretic, hot, dry | infections, urinary infections diuretic, pancreases, diabetes | poisonous to birds |
| Kava Kava | . | nerves, relaxant, pain killer, antifungal, anticonvulsant, muscle relaxant | do not overdose, can paralyze muscles |
| Kelp | . | thyroid, goiter, pituitary, obesity | . |
Kudzu (chinese Gen gen) |
sweet, acrid, cool. dehydrogenase inhibitor, diadzin, diadzine, Riboflavin. | May cure alcoholism. Goes to stomach an and spleen. | . |
| Lemon Balm | . | anti-viral, circulation, antipyretic, digestion | . |
| Lemon Peel | . | diuretic, immunity, antibiotic, colds | . |
| Licorice | sweet, bitter, warming, moistening | low blood sugar, coughs, hoarseness, sore throats, toic | . |
| Lobelia | acrid, biter | nervine, relaxant, coughs, congestion | Use cautiously, can kill. |
| Marshmallow | cool, moist, bland to sweet | kidneys, bladder, soothes digestive, urinary , respiratory | . |
| Meadowsweet | . | gastritis, antacid, pain, inflammation | . |
| Milk Thistle | bitter, cooling drying | liver tonic, hepatitis, rashes depression | . |
| Mullein | bland, salty, drying nourishes lungs |
lungs, pain, asthma, lymph | .. |
| Myrrh | sour, astringent, cooling, drying | antiseptic, inflammation, skin sores, lung. contains manganese | . |
| Nettles | salty, mineral rich | circulation, blood purifier, blood pressure, rheumatism, nourishing mineral rich | . |
| Oatstraw | . | heart, nerves, urinary problems, kidney stones | . |
| Orange Peel | pungent, warm dry | digestion, phlegm, coughs | . |
| Oregon Grape | bitter, cold, dry. replaces goldenseal | lymph, liver, acne, anti-inflammatory | . |
| Passion Flower | bitter, cooling | nervine, sedative, blood pressure | . |
| Pau D'Araco | sour, astringent, drying, cooling | blood purifier, prostate, ant tumor, anti fungal | . |
| Peppermint | cooling, drying | colds, flu, heartburn, digestions, nauseas | . |
| Prickley Ash Bark | . | heart, circulation, tissue builder | . |
| Purple Loosestrife | . | eyes, liver, gall bladder, kidney | . |
| Red Raspbery | sour, astringent, cooling, drying | diarrhea, female tonic, fevers | . |
| Red Root | . | Liver tonic, lymph, expectorant | . |
| Rose Buds | . | colic digestion, diarrhea, bioflavanoids | . |
| Sage | . | antiseptic, astringent, reduces sinus inflammation | . |
| St John's Wort (Hypericum) | . | nerves, insomnia, bronchitis, depression | . |
| Sarsparilla | sweet, bitter, warming, moistening | blood purifier, liver tonic, skin, male tonic | . |
| Saw Palmettto | . | prostaate male reproductive organs, digestion, | . |
| Schizandra berry | . | high blood sugar, sedative, sweating | . |
| Shavegrass | .. | bladder, brttle nails, circulation, bleeding | . |
| Siberian Ginseng | . | longevity, blood pressure, endurance, depression | . |
| Skullcap | . | nerves, insomnia, high blood pressure | Caution: see link info |
| Slippery Elm | cool, moist, sweet, bland soothing, nourishing | burns, colitis, lungs, diarrhea, coughs, digestive tract | Substitute with Marshmallow when possible |
| Spearmint | . | colds, flu, gas, dalmative | . |
| Spikenard | . | acne, pulmonary, expectorant, diaphoretic | . |
| Stevia | . | natural sweetner, diabetes, heart problems | . |
| Tansey | . | heart, colon cleanse, worms | . |
| Turmuric | Curcumin, a natural derivative of the spice turmeric, induces glutathione S-transferase activity and reverses aflatoxin induced liver damage (produced by aspergillus). |
||
| Thyme | hot, dry, aromatic | colds, coughs, indigestion, antiseptic | . |
| Una de Gato (Cat's Claw) | . | joint pain, immune builder, anti viral | . |
| Uva Ursi | dry, irritating, astringent, disinfectant | urinary tract problems, spleen, kidney | . |
| Valerian | bitter, aromatic, cooling, drying | nerves, pain, insomnia, anti-spasmodic | . |
| White Pine | hot, dry astringent | mucus, throat problems, lung, | . |
| White Pond Lily | . | tumors, prostrate, uterine problems | . |
| White Willlow | astringent, cooling, drying | pain killer, anti-inflammatory, fever, astringente | . |
| Wild Cherry | . | mucus, phlegm, bronchitis, fever | . |
| Wild Lettuce | bitter, cold, dry | pain killer, bronchitis, cramps, whooping cough, nerves | . |
| Wood Betony | aromatic | anxiety, blood oxygenator, liver, aches and pains | . |
| Wormwood | . | worms, cholagogue, stomaachic, anti-inflammatory | . |
| Yarrow | . | lung tonic, liver tonic, anti-inflammatory, antipyrretic, stops bleeding | . |
| Yerba Santa | hot, dry, resinous | lungs spleen, expectorant, alterative | . |
| Yohimbe | . | testosterone stimulant, impotency, frigidity | . |