Famous for its lubricating qualities, this tree bark soothes and supports normal bowel function

A medium-sized deciduous tree that grows throughout the Eastern U.S., slippery elm has been valued for centuries as an herbal remedy for gastrointestinal issues.

Prepared from the inner bark of the slippery elm tree, the remedy was used by Native Americans for GI issues including loose bowels and stomach problems. And it’s still very popular today.

Slippery elm supports your pet’s GI tract with a variety of benefits, including:

• Mucilage is a viscous or “slippery” gel that forms when slippery elm mixes with digestive juices, coating and soothing the mucus membranes lining your pet’s stomach and bowel.
• Mild laxative effect, to encourage healthy bowel movements.

This remarkable bark provides outstanding support for your pets’ normal bowels, GI function and occasional constipation or loose stools, helping them get back to normal after an upset.

With the above said, Dr Karen Becker states that while slippery elm has been studied in humans, no animal studies exist. But because its effects are generally mild, she feels comfortable using it with her pet patients.

This mightily little flower is a favourite for settling stomachs.

A member of the daisy family, chamomile grows abundantly in pastures, along roadsides and in other well-drained, sunny locations in the Northern Hemisphere.

Chamomile is one of the oldest, most widely used plants in the world. Valued for its ability to help settle stomachs and calm the mind and body, people love to drink it as an herbal tea.

Chamomile is loaded with beneficial compounds that promote your pet’s healthy digestion, including:

• Flavonoids – Powerful antioxidants, these help protect your pet’s bowel from damage caused by free radicals.
• Sesquiterpenes – Promote a healthy digestive system
• Coumarins – Sweet-smelling compounds that promote healthy cellular function.
• Apigenin – A special antioxidant flavonoid that also binds to receptors in your pet’s brain and promotes calm feelings after a bout of GI distress.

Chamomile is considered one of the safest and most useful herbal pet remedies known today.

Beyond its overall calming effects, it’s also known for supporting your pet’s healthy digestion and helping to relieve occasional gas, cramping and discomfort.

It can also be very helpful for calming occasional stomach upset due to excitability and for supporting already normal inflammatory responses in the gut.

Used by humans since antiquity, these aromatic seeds promote your pet's digestion too.

A popular plant often found in home gardens, fennel, or Foeniculum vulgare, is native to the southern Mediterranean. The herb was well-known to the ancient Romans, Egyptians, Indians and Chinese.

The Romans grew it, especially for its fragrant seeds. Even Emperor Charlemagne reportedly encouraged its cultivation throughout Central Europe.

Fennel seeds contain a unique combination of phytonutrients, including:

• Rutin – Reduces oxidative stress in your pets’ GI tracts.
• Quercetin – Increases your pets’ gut microbial diversity, potentially helping to protect against leaky guts.
• Glycoside – This molecular compound shows antioxidant activity.

Dr Karen Becker writes that she routinely uses fennel seeds to support pets’ digestive processes, reduce gas and GI discomfort, and help calm their GI tracts.

Fennel also provides an additional benefit for pets who’ve just experienced a bout of uncomfortable digestion and may be hesitant to eat anything… 

It helps increase appetite. Plus, it even helps freshen doggy breath.

Inside the Aloe Vera Leaf - there's an abundance of benefits for your pet's healthy digestive system. 

The Aloe vera plant is a member of the succulent family, originating from North Africa.

In its true whole-leaf form, Aloe can be toxic to cats and dogs. The outer portion of the leaf contains a substance called aloin or latex, which can cause GI upset and laxative effects.

A high-quality Aloe vera supplement intended for pets won’t contain any of the portion of the outer leaf.

The inner portion, however, is a whole different story…

Aloe vera is considered a superfood, courtesy of its rich supply of phytonutrients and polysaccharides, which support your pets’ immune function and already normal inflammatory responses.

The gel inside the Aloe vera leaf also contains many important substances that support your pets’ digestive health and get them back on track after a GI episode, including:

• Vitamins
• Minerals
• Enzymes
• Amino Acids
• Polysaccharides

Aloe vera has been used for hundreds of years to relieve digestive distress.

It soothes stomach irritation – something your cats will appreciate if their tummies are unhappy. And it has been shown to support healthy normal gastrointestinal motility and mucus secretion in the colon – things your dogs will appreciate if they have gotten backed up.

An iconic vegetable valued for more than just its novelty and flavour.

A member of the thistle family, artichoke, or Cynara cardunculus, is a perennial plant native to the Mediterranean region. The most active compounds in the plant are found in the leaf.

And some of the most valuable compounds in artichoke include:

• Caffeoylquinic acid – an antioxidant that helps support normal detoxification.
• Luteolin – an antioxidant that supports an already normal inflammatory response.
• Cynarin – another antioxidant that supports healthy bile production to aid in the digestion of fats.
• Inulin – a prebiotic that promotes the growth of beneficial gut microbes.

Also, Dr Karen Becker writes that researchers have found that artichoke leaf extracts offer more potential health benefits than the artichoke itself.

She further adds that studies show that the use of artichoke leaf extract helps reduce occasional GI symptoms, supports a balanced intestinal microbiota, and helps ease spasms in the GI tract.

This revered root provides soothing support for the mucosal barrier in your pet's GI tract.

Licorice root has been used for thousands of years in Eastern medicine for its soothing properties. Its use with animals is probably as ancient as it is with humans.

Liquorice is so popular that in China, it is used more than any other herb, including ginseng.

Unfortunately, liquorice also contains compounds that can increase blood pressure, including glycerrhizinic and glycerrhetinic acids. To avoid the risk of blood pressure issues, these components must be removed.

When these compounds are taken out, what’s left is called deglycyrrhizinated liquorice, or DGL.

Dr Karen Becker states that research shows that DGL:

• Supports a healthy mucosal barrier in the GI tract.
• Helps soothe digestive distress.
• Supports adrenal function and an already normal inflammatory response.

And she shares that she especially recommends liquorice root when she has a patient showing signs of digestive distress, such as cramping, bloating, gas and loose stools.

A reliable old remedy for upset stomachs.

If you’ve ever personally experienced digestive distress, there’s a good chance you’ve reached for a cup of peppermint leaf tea or a peppermint oil capsule.

Peppermint has been used for centuries as a digestive aid. An aromatic herb in the mint family, its leaves contain phenolic compounds, including rosmarinic acid and flavonoids such as luteolin and hesperidin.

This herb’s leaves also contain essential oils, including menthol, menthone and limonene, which lend its distinctive invigorating fragrance.

Dr Karen Becker also writes that animal studies show peppermint relaxes your pets’ digestive systems and provides abdominal comfort, courtesy of its menthol. Also, it helps prevent the smooth muscles in the gut from contracting, which helps relieve spasms.

She further adds that peppermint may also help relieve digestive symptoms such as occasional gas, bloating and indigestion.