From:
"Sukie Crandall"
Date: 2007-12-02 19:02:35 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: Ferrets and acupuncture
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
Julie, could you tell a bit more about the turmeric.
Turmeric reduces coagulation so will help blood flow.
I have wondered about it (and safe dose levels) for
ferrets who throw clots but don't tolerate more standard
anticoagulants.
What dosing are you using?
Does anyone else have such info to share, please?
Important:
Also, is it bringing down the ferret's blood glucose? One
thing that turmeric is being studied for is for possible use
in diabetes treatment. (It is also has anti-inflammatory
properties and those humans who have diets that contain
it on a very regular basis have lower rates of intestinal
malignancies than those who don't in epidemiological
observations.)
To date there are few actual hard studies on its active
ingredient, curcumin, though. In one, though, it was found
that it facilitates the release of bile to the small intestine, and
bile has well studied infection fighting abilities in the small
intestine so that may be one way turmeric helps the intestine
-- not just directly -- but through the action of the bile.
Animal studies have also found some anti-infection and
anti-tumor aspects. I don't have time to find such things now
for those who are also curious but in the Links section there are
some good herbals places like a university site
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/turmeric-000277.htm
which give balanced pictures and also PubMed has info. Also,
I recall it being useful in treating burns in rats in a study.
In the U.S. we have the problem that Congress back during
Reagan's time, I think it was, removed controls over the herbal
industry so the amounts in supplements vary widely. That
problem does not exist in much of Europe and parts of Asia.
There is a service which can be subscribed to which tests
products in the U.S. and publishes and email reports warns
about those which don't have what they say they do. Offhand,
I don't recall the name: Consumer's something-or-other...?
There is the chance of it interacting in good or bad ways with
steroids, blood thinners, and something else but I can't recall
what. Okay, it turns out that
http://www.brainybrawn.com/IMCAccess/ConsHerbs/Interactions/Turmericch_Interaction
s.html
hasn't been updated on turmeric in 7 years so try sites like the
university one for that info.
All of those are human health sites.
Okay, yes, it was there:
BEGIN QUOTE
Possible Interactions
If you are currently being treated with any of the following
medications, you should not use turmeric or curcumin in
medicinal forms without first talking to your healthcare provider.
Blood-Thinning Medications
Although no scientific reports have documented a bleed or
other adverse interaction, turmeric, taken in medicinal doses
may theoretically increase the blood thinning effects and,
therefore the risk of bleeding from, drugs such as warfarin and
aspirin.
Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)
Turmeric has shown protection in animals from the development
of ulcers due to this class of medications. NSAIDs include
indomethacin, ibuprofen, and many other drugs that are often
prescribed for pain and inflammation, such as that of arthritis.
Reserpine
Turmeric protected animals from increased gastric secretions
(secretions in the stomach that can lead to damage along the
walls of this organ) from reserpine used for high blood pressure.
END QUOTE
Note that some of those medications are not safe for ferrets,
for example ibuprofen.
ANYWAY: I would like to know the amount being given, what is
being encountered over time, and also if it dropped the blood
glucose.
For veterinary herbal info beyond the abstracts at PubMed places like:
http://www.vbma.org/
http://www.herbalchem.net/
and I know that the Links section and past posts will have others.
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