Discover the benefits of Ashwagandha in veterinary practice from a veterinarian using this adaptogen to support pet health, stress relief, and vitality.
With more and more research getting published on the benefits of ashwagandha for animals, IVCJ wanted to discuss the benefits with a veterinarian who actually uses this adaptogen herb. Editor-in-chief Dana Cox sat down with Keith Weingardt, a veterinarian and herbalist who uses ashwagandha in veterinary practice and has also created formulations with it.
Ashwagandha in the pet health industry
DC: Ashwagandha is pretty popular in the human health industry and it’s now starting to make waves in the pet health industry. Why is that happening?
KW: We’re using it more in veterinary medicine because it has such a high safety profile. And it has such a system-wide effect on how it can help the body find its way into balance. Ashwagandha falls into the class of herbs called adaptogens, which allows our body to really deal with the nonspecific stress that we are exposed to on a daily basis and helps us to achieve that balance that we’re all seeking in our bodies to be healthy. It’s the reason it’s so versatile and I think why it’s used now so much.
DC: So what are the most common uses of ashwagandha for pet health issues that you see?
KW: When I first started using ashwagandha as an herbalist, I found it very helpful when I was helping support patients who had endocrine disturbances. So, for example, animals with borderline low thyroid, where you could tell they were going to be hypothyroid, but they weren’t at that point where we need to reach for a medication or a synthetic supplement. We could help support their thyroid gland using something like ashwagandha.
Ashwagandha has also been helpful in veterinary medicine as a calming adaptogen. So you’ll find it in several calming formulas that are out there on the market now. We also find as an adaptogen that it really helps animals in the aging process; maintaining that vitality.
Formulating with KSM-66 Ashwagandha root extract
DC: So I understand that you’ve used it not only in your practice but as a formulator as well? Specifically KSM-66 Ashwagandha?
KW: Yeah, I think when we look at formulations, we seek to find ingredients and herbs that come from sources that we can really feel confidently that they’re clean. And that they are going to be therapeutic in their application. We look very carefully at what part of the plant the medication comes from and also how that plant is processed. KSM 66 Ashwagandha is prepared in a very traditional fashion that provides for the extraction of the constituents, not just Withanolides, which everyone always talks about, but all the other compounds so that we actually have the highest therapeutic potential for the plant.
And KSM-66 uses only the root. A lot of the ashwagandha that’s out there may also have leaf and stem that finds Its way into the medication where we really want to have the highest concentration of those therapeutic compounds and really have more of a full spectrum. We wanted the cleanest herbal supply with no solvents used and with the highest concentration of withanolides. But also all those other constituents that work together synergistically to help support the formulation.
I really like the adaptogenic part of its effects. When we’re working on supporting a patient’s immune system, adaptogens are fundamental. So many disease processes find a root of their issue is the effect of stress on the body. If we utilize things that are safe long term that help mitigate some of those effects of stress, that can help the big picture. So we’re supporting that organism to nudge it towards health. Ashwagandha checks all the boxes in that way and it plays well with other herbs when you’re combining them.
DC: Right, and I understand that with KSM-66, there is full transparency. So it’s something that you can count on.
KW: Yeah, transparency is huge when we’re working on formulations as an herbalist, so we want to make sure what we’re getting is what they say is there.
Case example using ashwagandha
DC: Do you have any success stories from your practice side or case examples that you can share with us where you’ve used ashwagandha?
KW: I had a patient who was suffering from cognitive dysfunction. It can actually have a more negative impact on the quality of life for the whole household. This dog, Oscar, was pushing his people to the end of their rope. Oftentimes, we see animals who start losing their cognitive ability, lose their normal sleep-wake schedule. So they tend to be up during the night vocalizing and antsy, with insomnia. That can really disturb the rhythm of a household. I put Oscar on ashwagandha and, within one week, the client was getting sleep, there was a relaxation. You could almost feel there was this unwinding of tension in Oscar’s body, and when you can see something like that, it kind of sticks with you. Then I started to play with it, utilizing ashwagandha with other adaptogens where I would kind of make my own formulations.
DC: It sounds like we need to get the word out about the benefits of ashwagandha in veterinary practice, and continue to follow the research.
KW: We take an oath in veterinary medicine – “Do no harm”, and when you look at something like an adaptogen, when the plant provides that kind of support in such a safe fashion, it’s something that we should look at further, there’s so much potential for it. They’ve been around for thousands of years. I mean, they were vaunted for their longevity properties. We keep trying to reinvent the wheel but ultimately the answer has been here in the plants all along.
AUTHOR PROFILE
Innovative Veterinary Care Journal bridges the gap between the worlds of allopathic and integrative veterinary care. Thousands of veterinarians and vet technicians are interested in ways to enhance their practice and update their skills…and integrative health is considered to be highly innovative and requested by patients along with a vast number of other traditional and emerging techniques. IVC features articles by some of the top experts, focusing on market trends in health treatments, new product features, industry news, how to create a strong retail experience, leading integrative modalities, and nutrition education not typically taught in vet school.
