Herbal Wormers?

Pony · #41 02/02/12, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MDKatie

And also about the tobacco. Ugh. If tobacco is going to be used as a dewormer, so much tobacco has to be given to kill parasites that it would also be toxic to the animal.

Well, opinions are like noses, of course.

Still, I know folks who successfully use tobacco and their animals are just dandy.

steff bugielski · #42 02/02/12, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MDKatie

I don't really have an opinion either way, because I haven't personally used the herbals. I do know the breeder I bought one of my does from said they used Hoegger's herbals. A year later I saw her and she said they had the vet run fecals and the goats were loaded with parasites, and now they don't use the herbals anymore. It obviously didn't work for them.

One thing that bugs the heck out of me is when people call conventional dewormers "chemicals". Herbal wormers contain chemicals too, that's what makes them work. The chemicals in the herbs are toxic to the parasites. It would more accurate if the "chemical dewormer" was called "conventional dewormer" IMO.

That's like saying garlic is a chemical or Fenegruuk. Those are not chemicals they are herb and plants growing in nature.
Chemicals like the ones in the chemical de-wormers are manufactured in a lab.

lazysheep · #43 02/02/12, 11:05 PM

southerngurl,
thanks for posting your experience and opinions. I agree whole-heartedly. I've used Hoegger's exclusively for years, and not weekly as recommended but sporadically, with consistent routine fecals all negative for years. Must consider that we are in a low-load area of eastern Washington however. Each goat-herder must determine what is best for their animals. As for humans, I have/am using naturopathy to fight all sorts of ailments with successful results. No drugs!! No FDA! (at least so far, no fda)

southerngurl · #44 02/03/12, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steff bugielski

That's like saying garlic is a chemical or Fenegruuk. Those are not chemicals they are herb and plants growing in nature.
Chemicals like the ones in the chemical de-wormers are manufactured in a lab.

She is correct, they do contain chemicals, technically. Water is a chemical.

The difference is one chemicals is manmade and synthesized, the other is natural- and, I believe, God made

DQ · #45 02/03/12, 07:06 PM

Everything is made of atoms. Substances are just specific combinations of atoms. Whether they are put together in a lab or occur naturally (often both) they are all chemicals. If a substance has the properties that make it fix a problem, it might be cause a problem; doesn't matter whether it came from a lab or your backyard. It either works or it doesn't and there is really no need to speculate. Anthelmentics and modern drugs are designed to target specifics based on the chemical makeup of the target. It is about interfering with a part of the physiology of the pathogen or the pathologic manifestation of a natural process. Whether that occurs because of administration of a molecule made in a lab or contained in an "herb" is a rather moot controversy.

Does a "chemical" wormer interfere with the lifecycle of a parasite? yes. How else would an "herbal" wormer work? If you are going to argue that it "supports" overall health and that is how it is a "wormer" then you could also argue that water and food are wormers. Use what works based on good science. IMO