Scoovale
09-23-2016, 09:44 AM
Hi everybody, I wish to share some information regarding the treatment for Cushing disease in the Traditional Chinese Medicine. I was researching for my dog and I have been reading of some dogs (USA) and horses (Germany), which had been successfully treated with Traditional Chinese Medicine (they started in combination with Trilostane and some of them could later stop it). Through articles and books I could focuse on what is seen as the main Cushing treatment in animals, consisting in a TCM formula called Rehmannia 14, often used in combination with Ophiopogon and Rehmannia 11 (depending from the sympthoms). These are each one a combination of many different herbs that has been developed during centuries of chinese medicine practice. They are not be underestimated as they are strong real medicines. Professor Ronald Koh of the Lousiana University had published a very good article about TCM teraphy for Cushing in dogs
(https://www.tcvm.com/Portals/0/SummerFall2015.pdf)
and, because I wanted to know more about it, I have contacted him. He was so nice to answer my email (which I have would have never thought!)
and,because I believe that we need to have so many options as possible, I wish to share his answer with you. He wrote:
"TCVM which consist of acupuncture, herbal medicine and food therapy, could replace Trilostane and Mitotane to my experience. However, in some cases that with severe Cushing’s disease, the combination of western and TCVM medicine is needed.
TCVM mainly addresses clinical signs from Cushing’s disease, but it also regulate the cortisol production. I have great results in using TCVM to get the cortisol level back to normal in 6-9 months.
The ingredients are as follow:
1) Ophiopogon Formula : Glehnia Lophatherum Pueraria Scutellaria Phragmites Ophiopogon Crataegus Massa Trichosanthes Mume Prunus Anemarrhena
2) Rehmannia 11: Poria Rubus Astragalus Rosa Moutan Cinnamomum Mantidis Dioscorea Cornus Rehmannia Alisma
3) Rehmannia 14: Poria Aconite Moutan Cinnamomum Dioscorea Cornus Rehmannia Alisma
The dosage: 0.5g per 10 pounds twice daily. For any dog that are more than 60lbs, you may give 3g twice daily.
The therapy may take up to 6-9 months or longer.
My herbals are usually from www.tcvmherbal.com
I strongly recommend that the patients be assessed by veterinarian whom are certified in acupuncture and/or herbal medicine. You may find a TCVM vet near you on this website: www.tcvm.com
Please let me know if you have any question.
Ron
Ronald B. Koh, DVM, MS, CVA, CVCH, CVFT, CCRP
Assistant Professor & Service Chief
Integrative Medicine and Rehabilitation
Louisiana State University
"
---
I could find two companies who sell these formulas and they both reside in Holland. One of them I find particularly good, they are very helpful and the prices are a bit better.
Sanjiao: http://www.sanjiao.de/
the other company is called Euroherbs but they sell only with medical prescription (or veterinarian) while at Sanjiao you get it with or withouth prescription but with is cheaper. Both generally use to deal with doctors and not with private clients, therefore is always good to underline that you are working together with your veterinarian (which is the best to do anyway).
Sanjiao proposes to give for a dog 25 kilos, Rehmannia 14 2 times a day, 1 to 2 grams with food but at least 2 or 3 hours away from Trilostane. Never take it at the same time. He offers granulates. I can see a difference between the proposed dosage but I am thinking that Sanjiao wishes not to recommend higher dosis for security reasons. That should be ideally decided with a TCM doctor.
I believe that the option offered by the traditional chinese medicine is good whenever there is an Addison risk or an intolerace. For instance my dog, Scooter, has his cortisol running down very fast and he is now taking 5 mg a day (55ibs dog). I will try Rehmannia 14 if I see that is cortisol in not stabilizing yet.
I hope I could give you some good hints. I am still in contact with professor Koh, if you wish to ask him something I would be glad to help.
Valentina
(https://www.tcvm.com/Portals/0/SummerFall2015.pdf)
and, because I wanted to know more about it, I have contacted him. He was so nice to answer my email (which I have would have never thought!)
and,because I believe that we need to have so many options as possible, I wish to share his answer with you. He wrote:
"TCVM which consist of acupuncture, herbal medicine and food therapy, could replace Trilostane and Mitotane to my experience. However, in some cases that with severe Cushing’s disease, the combination of western and TCVM medicine is needed.
TCVM mainly addresses clinical signs from Cushing’s disease, but it also regulate the cortisol production. I have great results in using TCVM to get the cortisol level back to normal in 6-9 months.
The ingredients are as follow:
1) Ophiopogon Formula : Glehnia Lophatherum Pueraria Scutellaria Phragmites Ophiopogon Crataegus Massa Trichosanthes Mume Prunus Anemarrhena
2) Rehmannia 11: Poria Rubus Astragalus Rosa Moutan Cinnamomum Mantidis Dioscorea Cornus Rehmannia Alisma
3) Rehmannia 14: Poria Aconite Moutan Cinnamomum Dioscorea Cornus Rehmannia Alisma
The dosage: 0.5g per 10 pounds twice daily. For any dog that are more than 60lbs, you may give 3g twice daily.
The therapy may take up to 6-9 months or longer.
My herbals are usually from www.tcvmherbal.com
I strongly recommend that the patients be assessed by veterinarian whom are certified in acupuncture and/or herbal medicine. You may find a TCVM vet near you on this website: www.tcvm.com
Please let me know if you have any question.
Ron
Ronald B. Koh, DVM, MS, CVA, CVCH, CVFT, CCRP
Assistant Professor & Service Chief
Integrative Medicine and Rehabilitation
Louisiana State University
"
---
I could find two companies who sell these formulas and they both reside in Holland. One of them I find particularly good, they are very helpful and the prices are a bit better.
Sanjiao: http://www.sanjiao.de/
the other company is called Euroherbs but they sell only with medical prescription (or veterinarian) while at Sanjiao you get it with or withouth prescription but with is cheaper. Both generally use to deal with doctors and not with private clients, therefore is always good to underline that you are working together with your veterinarian (which is the best to do anyway).
Sanjiao proposes to give for a dog 25 kilos, Rehmannia 14 2 times a day, 1 to 2 grams with food but at least 2 or 3 hours away from Trilostane. Never take it at the same time. He offers granulates. I can see a difference between the proposed dosage but I am thinking that Sanjiao wishes not to recommend higher dosis for security reasons. That should be ideally decided with a TCM doctor.
I believe that the option offered by the traditional chinese medicine is good whenever there is an Addison risk or an intolerace. For instance my dog, Scooter, has his cortisol running down very fast and he is now taking 5 mg a day (55ibs dog). I will try Rehmannia 14 if I see that is cortisol in not stabilizing yet.
I hope I could give you some good hints. I am still in contact with professor Koh, if you wish to ask him something I would be glad to help.
Valentina