Animal Herbology Certification

This first module invites you to reflect on the importance of animals in our society. You will see several striking examples of animal intelligence and how animals self-medicate.

You will also explore the perception of animal herbal medicine and discover some of the sometimes justified criticism it faces. You will then study dosages, particularly for cats and dogs based on their weight, as well as galenics, i.e., the different ways of preparing and administering medicinal plants.

The module presents:

• ·        A spotlight on the importance of animals in our society.
• ·        A definition and examples of animal intelligence.
• ·        The complementary nature of herbal medicine and veterinary work.
• ·        The responsibilities of the animal herbalist.
• ·        The instinctive self-medication of animals.
• ·        An initial note on the importance of diet for good health.
• ·        The different galenic forms: SIPF (integral suspension of fresh plants) and EPS (standardized plant extract), infusions, decoctions and macerations, bandages and poultices, mother tinctures and alcoholates, powders in capsules and capsules.
• ·        A presentation of the totum of plants.
• ·        General dosages by dosage form.
• ·        General recommendations for dosages for cats and dogs.

Module 2 focuses specifically on maintaining good health in dogs and cats.

You will begin by learning what defines a healthy dog. You will learn about their diet, nutritional needs, care requirements, and what constitutes an ideal living environment for them. The course will also introduce you to the BARF raw food diet, which is closest to the ancestral diet of canines. Menus are provided for adult dogs and puppies.

Next, you will study cats: their behavior, their specific relationship to smells, their diet, and their nutritional needs. Here again, examples of homemade menus are presented for adult cats and kittens.

Both dogs and cats are prone to intestinal parasites, so the module will conclude with a focus on natural remedies with deworming properties.

You will discover:

• ·        Recommendations for physical activity for dogs.
• ·        How the carnivorous diet of dogs has influenced their anatomy.
• ·        Proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates in canine nutrition.
• ·        The composition of commercial dog food.
• ·        Homemade food.
• ·        The ancestral diet, known as BARF, with sample menus for adult dogs and puppies.
• ·        Other care for dogs.
• ·        An overview of cat behavior.
• ·        Cats' favorite smells, including certain plants such as catnip, olive trees, and lavender.
• ·        Cat nutrition in detail.
• ·        Examples of homemade meals for cats and kittens.
• ·        Other care for cats.
• ·        Signs that a cat is in good health.
• ·        Why deworm your dog or cat and what natural treatments to use to curb the spread of parasites.

Now that you have studied the essentials in the first modules, in this third part you will learn about essential natural remedies.

To begin with, the course presents the importance of a healthy environment for the well-being of our four-legged friends. Just like humans, the many pollutants found in water, furniture, small objects, household and cosmetic products, as well as cigarettes and pesticides, expose animals to an unimaginable number of harmful substances.

The course then provides a non-exhaustive overview of complementary natural therapies, so that you know what is available and, if you are interested, can explore the subject further on your own. You will also receive a range of essential natural remedies, which will be studied in detail in the following modules, and which we recommend you have at home.

The module presents:

• ·        Environmental pollutants: in water, household objects and furnishings, household products, cosmetics, pollutants such as cigarettes, dewormers, and pest control products.
• ·        Homeopathy.
• ·        Veterinary acupuncture.
• ·        Gemmotherapy.
• ·        Bach flower remedies.
• ·        Oligotherapy.
• ·        Apitherapy: honey, propolis, royal jelly, bee venom, pollen.
• ·        Hypnosis.
• ·        Lithotherapy.
• ·        Reiki.
• ·        The essential natural remedies kit: aloe vera, colloidal silver, green clay, turmeric, coconut oil, etc.
• ·        Some hydrosols: linalool thyme, Roman chamomile, true lavender, orange blossom.

This fourth module gets to the heart of the issues and places the training in a holistic approach, in harmony with the seasons.

To begin with, the first part of the course will teach you how to adjust the dosage according to the galenic form and the nature of a symptom (acute or chronic). As some dietary supplements and plants are only available for human use, you will learn how to adapt their dosage to the animal's weight. You will also learn what to do in the event of poisoning, so that you can respond appropriately if an accident should unfortunately occur.

As announced in the module title, the second part of the course invites you to explore herbal medicine from the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). You will study its fundamental principles and the links between organs and seasons.

You will begin a detailed study of the organs, their functions, the signs of imbalance in animals, and the appropriate plants. The liver, gallbladder, and thyroid will be the first topics covered.

Here are the key points of the module:

• ·        How to adapt dosages correctly.
• ·        Adapting human dosages to animal dosages.
• ·        What to do in case of poisoning.
• ·        Approaching disorders with traditional Chinese medicine: Qi, Yin and Yang, the Five Elements theory.
• ·        The links between organs and seasons, with a summary for each season.
• ·        The study of the liver: its roles, diseases, suitable plants: milk thistle, desmodium, black radish, dandelion, etc.
• ·        The study of the gallbladder: its role, disorders, suitable plant: artichoke.
• ·        The study of the thyroid: its roles, the two major thyroid disorders in animals, hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, and the plants for each case.

Module 5 continues the descriptions of plants related to summer according to TCM. You will study the heart, blood vessels, and small intestine, their respective roles, and the disorders that can affect animal health.

The fifth module presents :  

• The study of the heart, its role, and its relationship to summer.
• Plants suitable for the heart: hawthorn and olive tree.
• The study of blood vessels and their role in TCM.
• Plants for blood vessels: Madagascar periwinkle, ginkgo biloba, red vine, feverfew, horse chestnut, sweet clover, witch hazel.
• The study of the small intestine and its role, particularly in TCM.
• Plants for the small intestine: alchemilla, walnut, Ceylon cinnamon, noble laurel.

Traditional Chinese medicine distinguishes a fifth season, located at the end of summer and the beginning of autumn, and associated with the Earth. In this sixth module, you will discover the organs related to this period, as well as the plants that can be used to relieve them in animals. You will also learn how to stimulate or regulate appetite as needed.

In addition, you will study diseases of civilization that affect our animal friends just as they affect us: pancreatic diseases such as diabetes and pancreatitis, osteoarthritis, and joint inflammation.

Here is the course content:

• ·        The study of the upper digestive tract and its different parts: mouth, esophagus, stomach, and duodenum.
• ·        Yellow gentian, used to increase appetite.
• ·        Guarana and caralluma, used to regulate appetite.
• ·        Digestive plants suitable for reflux or vomiting: lemon balm and ribwort plantain.
• ·        Plants specifically for the stomach or in cases of gastritis: cranberry, licorice, and wild pansy.
• ·        The role of the pancreas and the plants that support its functions.
• ·        Diabetes in animals.
• ·        Pancreatitis in animals.
• ·        Osteoarthritis and joint inflammation.
• ·        Plants to relieve osteoarthritis: devil's claw, figwort, blackcurrant, meadowsweet, willow, turmeric, horsetail, stinging nettle.

This module focuses on autumn, the season associated with the lungs in TCM. It begins with an invitation to pay attention to your own lungs, in particular through a breathing exercise. This activity will help you release stress and tension, so that you can then be fully available during your sessions.

You will then explore the role of the lungs, the plants recommended to support them, as well as the immune system and the plants that strengthen its protective defenses. Two other organs are also key components of this system: the large intestine and the skin. You will finish the seventh module by studying them, again accompanied by the appropriate plants.

The module explores:

• ·        The study of the lungs, their role, and their association with autumn.
• ·        Plants for the lungs: Scots pine, niaouli, inula odorata, eucalyptus radiata.
• ·        Some synergies for lung pathologies.
• ·        Immune mechanisms.
• ·        Plants with anti-infectious properties: echinacea, cypress.
• ·        Two mushrooms for immunity: reishi and shiitake.
• ·        The role of the large intestine and its relationship with the lungs in TCM, as well as associated plants.

This module covers the last season in TCM, winter, which is associated with the kidneys and the urinary system in general. You will learn about the roles and pathologies of the kidneys, bladder, and prostate.

The module then covers two major systems whose health is often neglected in animals: the endocrine system, which plays an important role in regulating many physiological processes, and the bones, which are essential for mobility and whose proper functioning is perhaps even more important in animals than in humans.

The module concludes with a brief presentation of some plants that support behavior and mood.

You will learn about:

• ·        The kidneys, their role, and their pathologies.
• ·        Plants for the kidneys: orthosiphon, hawkweed, bearberry.
• ·        The functioning of the bladder and its importance in TCM.
• ·        Plants for the bladder: tribulus, birch, cranberry, heather, and ash.
• ·        Prostate problems in dogs.
• ·        Plants for the prostate, some of which have already been studied in previous modules, as well as hops.
• ·        The different glands of the endocrine system and their respective roles.
• ·        Plants for the pituitary gland.
• ·        Plants for the ovaries and uterus: clary sage and raspberry.
• ·        Plants for the mammary glands, particularly mucuna.
• ·        Plants for the testicles, particularly ginseng and ginger.
• ·        Bones and bone disorders.
• ·        Plants for bones, including horsetail.
• ·        Plants recommended for behavior and mood.

The ninth module concludes the training. At this stage, you will be familiar with the most effective plants in animal herbal medicine. This final module completes your learning by introducing you to the most common ailments affecting our four-legged friends.

In addition to the general information covered in the previous modules, this section also provides additional details on how to differentiate the care required for different animals: dogs, cats, horses, as well as birds, reptiles, and rodents.

A bibliography concludes this course, allowing you to expand your knowledge if you wish.

Here is the content of the module:

• ·        Final advice on the most common problems.
• ·        Skin abscesses.
• ·        Dental abscesses.
• ·        Allergies: food, skin, seasonal, flea.
• ·        Weight loss and loss of appetite.
• ·        Joint pain and the difference between osteoarthritis and arthritis.
• ·        Asthma in cats.
• ·        Burns, wounds, and bruises.
• ·        Conjunctivitis.
• ·        Constipation.
• ·        Cat coryza.
• ·        Depression, stress, and anxiety.
• ·        Lick dermatitis.
• ·        Diarrhea.
• ·        Gingivitis.
• ·        Bad breath.
• ·        Obesity.
• ·        Fleas, ticks, and insect bites.
• ·        Vaccinations.
• ·        Old age.
• ·        Additional advice depending on the species.
• ·        Details regarding rodents: diet, behavior, and care.
• ·        Details for birds: diet, behavior, and care.
• ·        Bibliography.