Chamomile
an "in the weeds" substack
As an introduction to “in the weeds,” I will periodically dive deeper into particular herbs to give more safety and scientific information.
Blueberry’s story
Wild and wooly Blueberry has always had a sensitive tummy. She is playful and otherwise enthusiastic, but it was hard to get her to eat in the morning. I am thrilled to have her as a patient, she is super fun, yet her parents and I were worried about a digestive disorder. We tried different dietary approaches and some Traditional Chinese Herbal formulas and somehow could not get this otherwise healthy dog to eat regularly. The family preferred a natural medicine approach to advanced diagnostics. This pet did not act sick, and would eventually eat, so my challenge was to get the appetite jump-started.
Among us human beings, there is a tradition of imbibing an aperitif before a meal, with the idea these alcohol beverages were meant to stimulate the appetite. Some of these types of beverages take the form of ‘bitters,’ such as gentian, ginger, and yes, chamomile is also in that category. Going back to Egyptian times, bitters have been used for digestive ailments. Some bitters such as ginger and chamomile can stimulate the appetite and promote the flow of digestive juices, preparing the individual for a meal to come!
I learned of this property during my western herbal studies and suggested the use of chamomile for Blueberry. Chamomile is generally regarded as safe, but it is not recommended for use in cats as the plant contains coumadin, a blood thinner to which cats are very susceptible. In fact, there are cats who have snuck a sip (or more) of their owner’s chamomile tea and have developed bloody noses! Dogs tolerate this herb well unless they are allergic to this family of flowers. There are many forms of chamomile available commercially, as it is used as a tea, a tincture, a topical wash or ointment for a variety of disorders. It is a mild sedative, has anti-spasmodic and anti-inflammatory activity, anti-microbial and anti-allergic activity, among others.
Blueberry’s human mom had found her dog very picky about taking things in food, so she decided to purchase a capsule form of the whole herb to give by mouth. Right away, she found that her animal companion was much more eager to eat, and she has continued this practice, which helped her pet gain weight and eat proper food rather than always having to bribe her with treats.
So, can you give your pet Chamomile? The answer is, it depends! I would look for another remedy if treating a cat for sure. Chamomile tea is generally a safe thing to offer a dog as long as they do not have Aster flower allergies. Avoid the use of chamomile in pregnant individuals and those on opioid medications. When included as part of a topical remedy for skin disorders in a dog, I would caution to monitor for signs of a hypersensitivity reaction. And remember to ask questions if you are not sure about using herbs on your pet!
