Mary Allen
A walk is always relaxing. And doubly recommended for rabbit owners: If you walk through the woods and fields with your eyes open, you will discover some fine food or medicinal herbs for the long ears as an additional plus.
Nature is now green all over again, so it’s high time to spoil our rabbits with fresh herbs and at the same time stock up on dry herbs for the winter. Along forest paths and streams and at the edge of meadows you will find numerous fodder plants that rabbits like to eat and which at the same time strengthen their health. The dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) hardly needs to be introduced, every child knows it. The rabbits love their leaves and stalks, which strengthen their liver and overall metabolism. The plant is also milk-promoting, ideal for lactating females.
Red clover (Trifolium pratense) can be found in almost every meadow. It is a good forage plant and increases fertility. In addition, it strengthens weakened and older animals. Shepherd’s purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris) is also found in meadows and at the edges of fields. Rabbits like to eat it and it is also an important emergency plant: shepherd’s purse stops bleeding, for example after a difficult birth, but also in the case of internal and external injuries.
Valuables from Meadows
Lady’s mantle (Alchemilla Vulgaris), the medicinal plant for all female creatures, can be found in near-natural meadows with good moisture levels. It strengthens the ovaries and uterus and thus helps the females to have healthy litters and problem-free births. In contrast to the lady’s mantle, the buckhorn (Plantago lanceolata) is almost ubiquitous. As a fresh plant, it has an antibiotic effect, stimulates the appetite, and ensures a healthy intestinal flora. So it is excellent as the first green fodder for young animals. It also strengthens the lungs and bronchi. When dried in the hay, it no longer has an antibiotic effect but retains its other good effects.
Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) and Dost (Origanum vulgare) can be found on sunny roadsides. Both plants are familiar to us primarily as kitchen spices. The essential oils that enhance our food are also powerful active ingredients. Thyme helps with stomach and intestinal problems, diarrhea, bloating, and inflammation in the digestive tract. Other areas of application are infections of the airways, pneumonia, and colds. As a side effect, thyme stimulates the sex drive. Due to its uterine stimulating effect, it should only be fed in small amounts to pregnant females.
Dost, the «pizza herb», is also an excellent plant for young animals. It also protects against digestive diseases, ensures a healthy intestinal flora, and at the same time inhibits coccidia; its essential oil is even used as a growth promoter in industrial animal breeding. Dost strengthens the immune system and is an important detoxification plant.
Interesting Things about the Creek and the Edge of the Forest
Sometimes you come across a particularly beautiful plant on streams or damp places: the purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) grows up to 1.5 meters high and is particularly noticeable with its purple inflorescence. In addition to its hemostatic effect, it is above all a reliable remedy for diarrhea. The glycoside salicin, together with the high tannin content, is responsible for the good effect.
Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) is also moisture-loving and stands out due to its tall growth and whitish clouds of flowers. It inhibits bacteria, strengthens the immune system, and, with its active ingredients that strengthen the mucous membrane, is perfect for treating young animal diarrhea. It helps with too much acid in the body and is therefore also given for sour-smelling diarrhea.
At the edge of the forest, we pick a few beech and hazel branches. They are employment and nibbling fun for the long ears. Hazel leaves also support the functions of the liver and bile and strengthen the lung tissue. Beech leaves cool the body internally, an ideal supplement on hot days. Strawberry leaves, which we also find at the edge of the forest, are also cooling. The rabbits love the leaves, which also contain a lot of iron and thus serve as a tonic.