Application of herbal medicine
Drenching
The application of liquid preparation through the mouth is
called drenching. It can be used for swine, ruminants and poultry. Hold the head
level so that the medicine does not an into the lungs. For swine and ruminants,
use a bamboo tube, a softdrink bottle, a wine bottle or a bottle gourd. Use a
dropper or straw for poultry.
Drenching
Swine
· Lie the animal on its front on
the ground and tie it down or ask someone to hold it.
· Tie the snout with a piece of
rope. Hold one end of the rope tightly or tie it to a post so the animal's mouth
is open and it cannot bite your hands or the bottle. Put the end of the bottle
into the mouth and slowly pour the liquid into the mouth. Make sure the animal
swallows the liquid.
Swine
Swine - continue
Ruminants
1 Tie the animal to a tree or pole.
2 With small ruminants, mount the animal and hold it between
your thighs.
3 With one hand, hold the upper jaw so that the animal opens its
mouth. With cattle and buffaloes, you can use a rope through the nose ring to
hold the mouth open. With the other hand, put the end of the bottle in the side
of the animal's mouth and slowly pour the liquid into the mouth.
Ruminants
Chickens
Birds can be held by the person who will administer the medicine
or by someone else. Use a syringe or dropper or you can use a rice or sorghum
straw.
Hold the upper beak with the left thumb or first finger. Push
the lower beak down with your finger or the medicine dropper. Hold the head
level so the medicine does not go into the lungs.
Drop or squirt the medicine into the mouth.
Chickens
Force-feeding
The application of solid preparations through the mouth is
called "force-feeding". It is used for ruminants, swine and poultry. The
procedure is similar to that for drenching. After you have put the solid
medicines into the mouth, make sure that the animal swallows them. In ruminants,
this can be done by massaging the throat. An easy way to force-feed animals is
to put solid medicines either into a banana or cooked sweet potatoes and feed
this to the animal.
Force-feeding
Medicine mixed with feed and water
In all species, both liquid and solid medicines can be given
with feed and water. They can be:
· Mixed thoroughly
with the feed.
· Mixed with some of the feed;
give the remaining feed only if the animal has eaten all of the medicated part.
To treat individual poultry, put the bird and the medicated feed together under
a basket until the feed has been eaten.
· Dissolved in drinking water.
Use only as much water as the animal can drink at one time.
· Sprinkled on the feed
("top-dressing").
Topical application
Poultice
· A poultice is a
soft, usually heated preparation that is applied to a sore or inflammation.
· If necessary, keep the
poultice on if necessary by tying a cloth or strip of banana trunk or coconut
leaves over it.
Poultices are used for swine, ruminants and poultry.
Fomentation
A fomentation is a warm, moist substance (such as a wet cloth)
applied to the affected parts of the body. It is used to ease pain and
inflammation in swine and ruminants.
Compress
A compress is similar to a fomentation, but is always dry.
This is used for swine and ruminants.
Direct application
Rub the preparation directly on the affected part.
This is used for swine, ruminants and poultry.
Nasal application
Drop medicine directly into the nostril or apply it as vapor as
shown in the illustrations. This is used in all species.
Nasal application
Vaginal application
This application is used in cows and sows that have an infection
of the birth canal, for example: after retained placenta or other birthing
difficulties.
To apply solid medicines
1 Clip your nails, clean your hands thoroughly and
apply vegetable oil to them as a lubricant.
2 Clean the animal's vulva with soap and warm water.
3 Take the medicine in one hand and cup this hand into a
cone-shape.
4 Insert this hand into the vagina when the muscles of the birth
canal are relaxed (for instance, between contractions during birthing). Leave
the medicine in the vagina and slowly pull your hand out.
To flush the vagina with liquids
1 Clean and wash the stalk of a papaya leaf and
lubricate its tip with vegetable oil.
2 Insert the stalk slowly about 10 cm
deep into the vagina.
3 Pour the liquid medicine into the vagina through the
hollow stalk until the liquid flows over.
Anal application
This can be used for ruminants and swine.
1 Shape the medicine into a small ball.
2 Carefully push it into the animal's anus. If this is
difficult, dip the ball into the water or oil before inserting it in the
anus.
In the eye
This can be used in all species.
Use a rice straw, sorghum straw, medicine dropper or plastic
dropper. Apply remedy directly into the eyes.
In the eye
Fumigation
Fumigation is the use of smoke to drive away insects.
Burn dried leaves. Cover the fire with fresh banana leaves to
make a lot of smoke.
Fumigation
Hanging bouquet
Bind plants into a bouquet and hang inside the houses. This can
be used for poultry, swine and ruminants.
Hanging
bouquet
