Herbal tincture and how long to use for joint support/degenerative joint disease

[DayshaG]

Good morning: It has been a while so I want to wish you all a Happy New Year! I was wondering your thoughts on when using an herbal formula (specifically Sustenance Herbs - Joint Works Pet, ingredients below), should I give my cats Bella and Maya a break from using this and if yes, how long? I have used it mostly daily in their food for at least a few years now. I also have been using Cosequin capsules since just a few months ago, so that is newer for them and to help with their joint support too. I am low on the tincture and before I ordered it thought I'd check in for your advice.

A proprietary herbal blend of: *Amalaki *Boswellia Serrata,†Soloman’s Seal Root,*Ashwagandha, *Eleuthero Root, *Devil’s Claw, *Curcuma longa, *Ginger Root, Glucosamine HCl (shellfish derived) 70 mg. per ml. Inactive ingredients: Distilled water, Raw Organic Honey, Organic Cane

Thanks,
Daysha

 

[Dr. Jeff]

Happy New Year Daysha!

should I give my cats Bella and Maya a break from using this and if yes, how long?

Yes. We're not big fans on palliating with supplements continuously.

The general answer to ho long is a few weeks. However, the full answer is that "it depends" on the full context of their symptoms.

If you are working with a vet homeopath, your best bet is to ask them.

 

[Dr. Jean Hofve]

Remind me how old they are now?

For nutritional joint support, like Omega-3 oil, hyaluronic acid or glucosamine, those can (and should) be given constantly and forever. Just having had my old arthritic joints x-rayed yesterday, it was a sharp reminder that they do not get better with time, and in fact have deteriorated severely. Keeping the joint fluid and cartilage healthy every day is crucial.

For herbs, though, that's a different matter. As Dr.Jeff said, that's palliative for discomfort--are they in pain? There's also a lot of sugar in that product, which is inflammatory. Not sure I would be giving honey to cats for any reason.

I'd concentrate on the nutritional support and leave the herbs for when they're really needed. And use clean herbs with specific functions and not a kitchen-sink full of ingredients. My favorite for arthritic discomfort is Boswellia Complex from Standard Process. It's only sold through health professionals so if your holistic vet isn't familiar, just go here and fill out the Cat Survey, and I'll get you hooked up. It's a free service I offer for everyone! Holistic Health Consulting - Standard Process Products | Little Big Cat - Dr. Jean Hofve