Mary Allen
Preventing and healing illnesses at the same time when feeding: This is possible if you know a few herbs and use them in a targeted manner. You don’t have to look for – the plants can be found on everyone’s front door.
Let your food be your medicine, and your medicine your food,” said the Greek physician Hippocrates. His concern is as relevant today as it was 2,400 years ago and is becoming increasingly relevant for pets as well.
As convenient as processed food may be, it never reaches the health value of fresh food. Rabbits should therefore be given herbs and twigs every day that supplement the concentrated feed with valuable secondary plant substances. Secondary plant substances are, for example, bitter substances, tannins, essential oils, mucilage, flavonoids. The primary substances fat, carbohydrates and protein are required for the structure and operation of the organism, while secondary plant substances are used by the plants to interact with the environment (protection from pests, attracting pollinators, mechanical stability, UV protection).
Aperitif and Digestive Schnapps in One
Many secondary plant substances have health-promoting effects, and they are more valuable in a natural combination, as they are in the plant, than individual substances isolated in the laboratory. In addition to the important inhibitory effect against viruses, fungi, and bacteria, they soothe inflammation, stimulate the immune system, improve appetite and digestion. It is worth taking a closer look at the substances and their effects. But be careful: With rabbits, the following always applies: “Too much is unhealthy.” Small amounts of herbs on a regular basis work better than a large amount every now and then.
Bitter plants are particularly important for rabbits, as they act as an aperitif and digestive schnapps in one: They increase the secretion of saliva and gastric juice, stimulate appetite and digestion, tonify the stomach, and intestines, strengthen the liver, and prevent fermentation processes in the digestive tract. This prevents the dreaded drum addiction. Protein digestion is improved, which strengthens and stimulates the entire organism. This makes bitter substances important helpers, even during convalescence. Bitter substances are chemically inconsistent substances that have their bitterness as the only thing in common. Dandelion, mugwort, chicory, artichoke, and yarrow are popular bitter plants for rabbits.
Tannins are found widely in the plant kingdom. They owe their name to their ability to cross-link proteins and thus transform animal skin into leather. As a remedy, of course, they are used in much lower doses than in tanning; the effect is similar: they thicken the surface of the skin and mucous membranes and thus have an irritation-reducing, astringent, hemostatic, anti-inflammatory, and germicidal effect.
Many plants contain tannins, cruciferous plants and poppy-related plants are tannin-free. Suitable for rabbits are, for example, rose, lady’s mantle, plantain and plantain, raspberry and blackberry, Ruprechtskraut (smelly cranesbill). In the case of diarrhea, plants that are particularly rich in tannins such as blueberry leaves, elm, walnut, and oak are used.
Essential oils are volatile substances that are responsible for the fragrance of plants. These are not individual substances, but complex mixtures of different fragrances; for example, around 400 different components are required for the fine scent of roses. Plants smell not for our pleasure, but to attract pollinating insects and to protect themselves from pests. The latter happens directly through the inhibitory effect of essential oils on pathogens. But there is also a particularly ingenious, indirect way: when infested with pests, plants produce certain scents to attract beneficial insects. These eat the plant pests and thus help the plant to get rid of its pests.
Essential oils are used as medicines in humans and animals, inhibit harmful microorganisms, and are excellent digestive aids that have an antispasmodic and flatulent effect. Harmful intestinal bacteria are pushed back, but the normal intestinal flora is not affected. Fennel and anise seeds, savory or mugwort, which contain essential oils combined with bitter substances, are suitable for rabbits. But the fragrant substances are also healing for respiratory diseases, soothe the inflamed mucous membranes and inhibit the disease-causing microorganisms. A well-known example of this is thyme.
Medicinal plants with essential oils have as different effects as they smell. They often stimulate the uterus to contract, which means that such plants should not be fed during pregnancy. These include mugwort, its relative, wormwood, but also sage and rosemary.
Another group of secondary substances forms mucilage. They swell in water, the increase in volume stimulates intestinal movement, so that mucilage can be used as a mild laxative. But they also protect and soothe inflamed mucous membranes and bind inflammation-causing substances.
Mucilage as a Laxative
For this reason, small amounts of slime plants should be given to all digestive diseases, including diarrhea. Linseed, but also bindweed, marshmallow, mallow, and buckhorn are rich in mucilage. While herbs are fed directly to rabbits, it’s important to know that mucilage is never brewed like tea. Put them in cold water and let them swell overnight. In the morning they are ready for use.
Flavonoids are found in all parts of the plant above ground. They are responsible for the color of the flowers, but also for the color of the leaves and fruit. It is estimated that there are several thousand flavonoids with different structures, and their effects are as varied as the flavonoids themselves: germicidal, anti-inflammatory, immune-stimulating, vascular, and cell-protective. They intercept radicals in the body cells; these are reactive molecules that are produced in the metabolism and damage the cells if they are not eliminated in time. Today, radical scavengers are also marketed as expensive dietary supplements, although nature generously provides them to us. For example, birch twigs, meadowsweet, hawthorn, St. John’s wort, or milk thistle are suitable for rabbits.
Plants offer a variety of active ingredients as a health food for rabbits, in the spirit of Hippocrates. And last but not least, fresh herbs and branches of nature are perfect for rabbits as gourmets.