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Herbs For Your Animals
By Suzanne Nee

After the loss of some of our beloved animals we chose to remove any harmful plants from the flower beds, but were faced with looking at a dissolute, barren landscape. We needed to add something for color that would not be toxic to the animals.

We decided on herbs for several reasons.

• 1. I was into using them for home remedies for myself,
• 2. Home grown herbs are wonderful for cooking
• 3. Many plants are medicinal and we would be able to use them for the animals
• 4. If the goats got out again they could eat all they liked.

I have listed five of the herbs that are easy to grow inside or out, the entire plant can be used, are easily available, and can be used for all the above reasons. All plants need to be planted in full sun. Can be grown indoors for winter use in large pots.

Description: Hardy perennial that grows 1-3 feet with small, dull white, sometimes pink, flattish clusters with a strong scent which appear summer through fall. Leaves are narrow, feathery and deeply cut dark greyish green. This plant is rich in vitamins and minerals.

Uses: Stop bleeding, slow healing wounds, as a drench it is good for colic, fevers, diarrhea, digestive upset.

How to Use: For bleeding, wounds, abscesses, use leaves crushed and placed as a poultice right on the wound. For drench seep entire plant, a heaping handful in a pint of water for an hour. Drench in small a mounts several times a day. Two handfuls of herb, raw, finely chopped .

Description: Hardy perennial, 2-3 feet, with flowers that are a shaggy head with tight clusters of tubular, scarlet blooms. Leaf is toothed, oval, pointed dark green with red veining, smell is strongest in the immature leaves.

Uses: nausea, flatulence, and insomnia, palpation of the heart, retained afterbirth, eye ailments, uterine disorders. It will increase milk yields and prevent miscarriages.

Feed several handfuls daily, morning and night.

Description: Shining oval shaped leaves, and tall umbels of white, starry flowers. With a very strong odor.

Uses: Fever, pulmonary, skin and stomach problems, worms, also liverflukes, mange, ringworm, ticks and lice. It is the most powerful immunizer against infectious diseases.

How to Use: When available use the leaves as well as the root(cloves), shredded into a mash of bran and molasses, for goats, sheep, a handful of leaves and several whole roots.

For external use take a handful of minced cloves to a pint of water, then simmer for several hours. Allow to stand and brew covered. Do not strain, apply as needed.

Description: Tiny, dark green, very aromatic leaves and whorls of small, lilac pink flowers that smell very sweet.

Uses: Digestive, inflammation of the liver, rickets, retention of afterbirth, metritis, Worms including hookworm.

How to Use: Brew one handful, finely cut up, mixed in the food. Give one cup morning and night. Mix with vinegar for biting insects.

Description: Gray, rather woolly, aromatic foliage. Flowers are blue-gray and very fragrant.

Uses: nerves, debility, paralysis, stomach ailments, female ailments, fevers, wound infection, scanty milk yield and loss of milk. Externally: wounds, bruises, hair loss, sore mouth, and throat ailments: give with honey. It is also a proven fertility herb.

How to Use: one teaspoon of herb to two small cups of water, or two handfuls of herb finely cut, made into a mash with bran and molasses daily. External use: one big handful brewed in 1 1/2 pints water.

There are many other wonderful herbs that can be planted in the garden or along a fence, or directly into your pasture. Something's can even be found right in your own backyard. Blackberries, Raspberries, and Logan Berries for instance most people already have and can be used for many ailments.

Loss of appetite, a few leaves will entice a doe to eat again, Raspberry are used also for a difficult kidding, upset stomachs, and diarrhea. Don't be afraid to explore what you can use. Most plants are nontoxic, but do check with someone that is familiar, or read up on the plant you are using.

Some excellent reference books are, "The Complete Herbal Handbook For Farm and Stable", by Juliette de Baircli Levi, "Herbal Recipes", By Diane Manseau, and many other plant identification books can give you information pertaining to herbs.

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