Herbal Supplements
Herbal remedies are often advertised as safe and natural alternatives to chemical based drugs, however many herbs are effective because they have powerful pharmaceutical properties. In fact many of the chemical based drugs used in conventional medicine today were synthesized from these very plants. Like chemical based drugs, these herbs have the potential to cause adverse side effects and drug interactions.
The following is a list of herbs that may cause adverse effects related to seizures, complied from information in Mosby's Handbook of Herbs and Natural Supplements. I've included the herbs that may lower the seizure threshold and herbs that may be toxic to the liver since many epileptic dogs take Phenobarbital which is a known liver toxin. The absence of an herbal product from this list does not mean that it is safe for use with dogs with epilepsy. Please check with your veterinarian before adding any herbal supplements to your dog's medications.
Herbs that may cause seizures:
| Allspice (high doses) | Guarana |
| American Hellebore | Hyssop |
| Anise | Jimsonweed |
| Bethel Palm | Lobelia |
| Black Hellebore | Mayapple |
| Borage | Melatonin |
| Carline Thistle | Nutmeg |
| Chinese Cucumber | Peach (pits only) |
| Clematis | Pennyroyal |
| Dondurango (overdose) | Pokeweed |
| Ephedra | Pulsatilla (overdose) |
| Eucalyptus | Sage |
| Evening Primrose Oil | Skullcap |
| Flaxseed, Linseed (overdose) | Squill |
| Fumitory (overdose) | Wormwood |
| goldenseal |
The following herbs may cause liver damage or hepatitis:
| Bayberry | Grapeseed (theoretical) |
| Bearberry | Gum Arabic |
| Betony | Horse Chestnut |
| Bistort | Khat |
| Bitter Melon | Kava |
| Black Root | Lady's Mantle |
| Boneset | Lecithin |
| Borage | Melatonin |
| Buchu | Monascus (rare) |
| Butterbar | Parsley |
| Celandine | Piperine |
| Chaparral | Poplar |
| Comfrey | Skullcap |
| Cowslip | Yew |
Skidmore-Roth;
Mosby's Handbook of
Herbs & Natural Supplements,
