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Ashwagandha and Giloy is good for pets? Answer is no

A clinical researcher and liver specialist has raised an alarm over the use of herbal products for pets that contain Ashwagandha

By Ground report 21 Feb 2024

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Ashwagandha and Giloy is good for pets? Answer is no

A clinical researcher and liver specialist has raised an alarm over the use of herbal products for pets that contain Ashwagandha and Giloy, two herbs that have been linked to liver damage and abortion in humans.

The liver specialist, who goes by the handle @theliverdr on X (formerly Twiter), shared a case of a young woman who developed severe liver injury after consuming a proprietary herbal product for “general wellness” for several weeks. The product contained 39 herbs and four preservatives, including Ashwagandha and Giloy.

He said that Ashwagandha and Giloy are among the best documented, most studied, and well-confirmed causes of severe hepatitis and that Ashwagandha also contains withanone, which can damage DNA and promote cancer development. He cited several studies and reports that support his claims and urged consumers to be aware of the ingredients in their herbal supplements.

The user also criticized a company called FurBallStory, which sells herbal products for dogs and cats, such as a syrup that contains Ashwagandha and Giloy, among other ingredients. He said that there are no studies of Ashwagandha and Giloy on efficacy and safety in dogs and cats, and that the company is selling herbal mumbo-jumbo based on flimsy evidence from low-quality human studies. He called for legal action against the company and the vets who prescribe such products.

TheLiverDoc also expressed his frustration with the increasing use of Ayurveda in veterinary medicine in India, which he called a “new cancer”. He said that most of the vets he visits for his pets prescribe “utter nonsense, very expensive herbal supplements” that have no scientific basis.

Why Ashwagandha and Giloy not good for pets

Ashwagandha and Giloy are two herbs that are commonly used in Ayurveda, a traditional system of medicine in India. However, these herbs may not be good for pets, especially dogs and cats, because they can cause liver damage and abortion.

According to some studies and reports, Ashwagandha can cause liver injury and abortion in humans and animals, and it also contains withanone, which can damage DNA and promote cancer development. Ashwagandha is banned in Denmark and some other European countries due to its harmful effects.

Giloy can also cause liver injury due to the presence of alkaloids and other compounds in the plant. Giloy has been associated with several cases of severe hepatitis in humans.

There are no studies of Ashwagandha and Giloy on efficacy and safety in dogs and cats, and their use may pose a risk to their health and welfare. Therefore, pet owners should be cautious and consult their veterinarians before giving their pets any herbal products that contain these herbs.

Increasing use of Ayurveda in Veterinary Medicine

The controversy reflects a broader trend of the increasing use of Ayurveda in veterinary medicine in India, which has a rich and ancient tradition of herbal and animal health care. Ayurveda, which means “the science of life”, is a holistic system of medicine that originated in India more than 4000 years ago. It encompasses preventive and curative aspects of diseases, as well as health promotion and longevity.

Ayurveda has a branch called Pashu Ayurveda, which deals with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases in animals. It also has a branch called Mriga Ayurveda, which deals with the care and conservation of wild animals. Ayurveda has a vast literature and knowledge base on various aspects of animal health, such as anatomy, physiology, pathology, pharmacology, surgery, and breeding.

Ayurveda is widely practised and accepted in India, both by humans and animals. It is taught in veterinary colleges and universities and is integrated with modern biomedical approaches. It is also used by subsistence and commercial farmers, pet owners, and wildlife conservationists. Ayurveda has a national network of veterinary hospitals and dispensaries and a multi-million-dollar industry of herbal products and services.

Ayurveda advocates a natural, holistic, and individualized approach to animal health, based on the principles of balance, harmony, and vitality. It uses various modalities, such as diet, lifestyle, herbs, minerals, metals, animal products, massage, yoga, meditation, and surgery, to prevent and treat diseases and enhance well-being. It also considers the environmental, psychological, and spiritual factors that affect animal health.

Ayurveda claims to have several advantages over modern biomedicine, such as being safe, effective, affordable, accessible, and culturally acceptable. It also claims to have solutions for some of the challenges and limitations of modern biomedicine, such as antibiotic resistance, side effects, drug interactions, and ethical issues.