Since 2014, when we created Herbalist for Animals Winter Sun, we have seen how interest has grown in a more natural way of caring for animals and in accordance with their nature. We have witnessed how the number of people who were interested in natural food, products and therapies to prevent the appearance of diseases or deal with them in a less aggressive and more holistic way was growing.
We have also observed how integrative and holistic veterinary practices are increasing. One of them is Anna Barberán Bultó, founder of the clinic Pure Animal Life in Reus, Tarragona. Once she finished her veterinary studies, Anna decided to delve deeper into holistic medicine and started with homeopathy, she continued with nutrition, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurvedic medicine, clinical psychosomatics and applied Zoopharmacognosis.
In the following interview you have a summary of our conversation with her:
You define yourself as a holistic veterinarian, what is a consultation with you like?
First of all, I would highlight that I integrate my knowledge in Traditional Chinese Medicine (MTC), Ayurveda, nutrition, homeopathy, phytotherapy, applied zoopharmacognosis, to the usual clinic and What I am looking for is the trigger that has generated the current imbalance, the disease, that is, its cause. And I don't just treat the symptoms, I also treat the cause. I cannot conceive the veterinary clinic without taking into account all the environmental, genetic, nutritional, emotional factors...
Specifically, a holistic veterinary consultation consists of good anamnesis of the patient. This means that you ask not only the symptoms you have, but also the nutrition you have, if the symptoms have coincided with a specific event (emotion), the type of symptoms, that is, if they improve or worsen at some time of the day, with some type of food, in some season of the year, with cold or heat, etc.
Then, I identify the patient constitution. We are all born with a physical constitution that makes us more prone to suffering from one disease or another. After gathering all this information, I perform an exhaustive scan. I observe how he is in the consultation, movements, expressions and attitude. I analyze the skin, hair, secretions, pulses, tongue, the reflex points of each organ... things that I did not pay attention to when I worked as a conventional clinic. If necessary, I also order additional tests such as blood tests, x-rays, etc.
Finally, all the clinical findings are put together together with the patient's history and constitution and the a conclusion (diagnosis/cause). And it is treated in the most harmless way for that patient. Not all patients are candidates for all therapies/treatments.
Holistic veterinary consultations last longer due to this exhaustive examination and because we respect each patient's time to build trust and ensure that the experience at the veterinarian is not a traumatic event that does not help the treatment.
We know that you apply Ayurvedic medicine on animals, can you tell us more about it?
Ayurvedic medicine is the traditional medicine of India and the oldest on record. Furthermore, the WHO considers TCM and Ayurvedic medicine to be the most complete medicines. If we look at the meaning of the word Ayurveda, we will see that “ayur” means life and “veda” means science or knowledge. Therefore, Ayurveda is the science or knowledge of life. Its goal is to maintain life and live it fully, not only physically, but also emotionally and mentally.
In addition to prevention, Ayurveda also treats imbalances, that is, diseases. Use nutrition above all, but also certain daily and seasonal routines, personal care in terms of hygiene, massages, etc.
As each individual is unique and different, the lifestyle, eating habits or other treatments will be different. Ayurveda considers that from the moment we are born, we have a predetermined constitution, which marks us on a physical, mental and emotional level, as well as on a physiological level. This constitution will determine, among other things, the functioning of our organs, how our digestion will be or how we will sleep.
How is Ayurveda put into practice with animals?
In order to tailor the treatment, we first have to analyze the constitution of each animal (prakruti) or the imbalances it may have at that time (vikruti).
Although you can massage animals and meditate with them, Pranayama and Yoga are applied on their own. Therefore, We focus on Ayurvedic nutrition and phytotherapy.
With regards to Phytotherapy, I don't use many Ayurvedic remedies for two reasons. On the one hand, because I have other plants closer that have similar effects. And, on the other hand, because, for geographical reasons, we resonate more with a nearby plant rather than with a plant that grows thousands of kilometers away.
Regarding nutrition, An Ayurveda proverb says: “When the diet is good, the medicine is not necessary, and when the diet is bad, the medicine is not effective.". Of course, each animal has different dietary needs.
There are no “superfoods” or formulas that work equally well for everyone. There are animals that eat natural food with quality supplements and “superfoods” and continue to have digestive and skin problems... In these cases, it has not been taken into account that there are foods that, in particular, are not favorable for that animal.
For example, if your constitution is mostly pitta, it means that you have a very high digestive capacity and a high body temperature, therefore, a raw diet may be a very good option. But if, on the other hand, your constitution is Vata, which has a very irregular digestive capacity, with a tendency to gas and constipation, with a lower body temperature, these types of foods are not recommended at all.
Furthermore, Ayurvedic Medicine is influenced by the quality of the food and even the utensils with which it is cooked, right?
Indeed, if the food is not of quality or is not cooked with quality utensils, it will provide us with a series of substances that do not nourish us and give our body extra work to eliminate them. Many of them can even accumulate and give rise to various imbalances.
Processed foods are full of preservatives, dyes, and industrial stabilizers. In addition, fruits and vegetables grown on a large scale contain traces of pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, waxes, etc. All these additives and other substances subtract nutrients from your diet, overloading the digestive system with elements that do not provide any benefit to the body, on the contrary, they give it work to eliminate them. And in the worst case, they often contain harmful substances such as hormone disruptors.
Nature is wise and always gives her best at every moment and in every climate. For this reason, within our possibilities, we should always choose organic, local and seasonal products. This way we would largely avoid toxic industrial chemicals that can significantly harm health. That is why “detoxes” are so important, also for our furry friends.
I think there is, in general, a great change in consciousness on a personal level. People are increasingly aware of environmental problems and their impact on their health.
However, in many cases dogs and cats are still fed highly processed foods. In fact, around 80% of clinic visits are due to inadequate nutrition.
Do you use an Ayurvedic approach in all your consultations or especially in some cases?
Ayurveda shares many bases with TCM, which I use daily in the clinic, both to treat and to maintain/prevent. I use Ayurvedic medicine in some cases, more than in treatment, in maintenance.
For example, when I do nutritional counseling and suggest foods to use on menus, I take into account the Ayurvedic constitution of that patient. I also take this into account when choosing a cooked menu, the type of cooking, or a raw/raw menu.BARF.
The results are good assimilation of nutrients and resolution of imbalances caused by inadequate nutrition.
The fear that many animals suffer, especially dogs, of loud noises such as firecrackers and, in general, fears are related to the kidney and bladder in TCM, what do you think of these physical correlations when it comes to treat behavioral problems?
I think it is something that always has to be taken into account. Behavioral problems are a very serious topic. For me it is essential to know the language of each species and understand the natural behavior of the species. That is to say, the work of a good ethologist or educator.
Trauma or undigested emotions can also lead to behavioral problems. When we don't feel well, our behavior inevitably changes, sometimes we don't even know why we are like this, imagine them! Plus, they don't tell us. That is why it is so important to know how to read them, empathize, know them, understand them...
In short, many behavioral problems are solved in the holistic veterinary clinic.
And vice versa? Do you usually detect behavioral disorders from physical problems? Do you collaborate with ethologists or canine/feline educators?
Yes, There are many physical problems that can trigger behavioral problems., starting with nutrition, followed by the intestinal flora or an energy deficiency or excess in any organ that can trigger a migraine, unpleasant emotions... A musculoskeletal problem can also generate a behavioral problem.
For example, chronic muscle pain can be caused by stagnation in the liver. When we unblock that liver, the patient goes back to who he was. Or a ligament problem caused by poor diet.
There are several canine and feline educators who refer their clients to my clinic to be able to detect where the imbalance is and thus be able to solve the behavioral problem.
Finally, we would like to know your experience with several natural products that, in our experience, are proving very effective:
CBD: For me it is like a “wild card” it has so many different therapeutic properties that it is a very useful resource in several pathologies, one of the best known is cancer.
Artemisia Anna: star plant for immunity, also thanks to its antiparasitic properties it is used in the conventional protocol for prevention and treatment of leishmaniasis
Mycotherapy: I have had very surprising results with lion's mane mushroom on digestive issues, but in general, all medicinal mushrooms are wonderful!
