Transdermal herbal gel or foam to medicate animals ...

[Guest guest]

Hi All,

 

The question of transdermal herbal gel or foam as a vehicle to medicate

animals arose recently, not only in relation to treating skin problems, but

also as a means of getting active compounds into the blood circulation for

effects on tissues other than skin.

 

Karen Vaughan has given me permission to forward her response to my

questions to her on transdermal herbal gels or foams. [Many thanks Karen].

 

I wrote:

> An experienced veterinary colleague, Sagiv ben Yakir, reports improved

> clinical success in animals by putting Herbal Remedies in a Transdermal

> Gel/foam. This sounds like an easy method to medicate animals with

> specific herbs, herbal formulas, or extracts. It would have many

> advantages if the remedies are absorbed effectively. Questions:

 

> 1. How does one make an effective Transdermal Gel/foam to carry in

> specific herbs, herbal formulas, or extracts? Ingredients? Equipment

> needed and technical tips when making the vehicle? Storage and

> shelf-life of the vehicle?/

 

Karen replied: The gel bases can be purchased. Oils can be used

transdermally- for instance I infuse many herbs into olive oil for local

application. Liniments carry herbs using alcohol, turpentine or other carriers.

You can mix decoctions with oils if you have an emulsifier. (I prefer carriers

which are active.) Gels have reasonable lifespans. Oils depend upon the

degree of polyunsaturation and rancidity proclivities, ranging from 3 months

for almond oil to a few years with olive oil (and minutes with flaxseed oil).

Stainless steel pots, double boilers, jars with lids, strainers and funnels are

your main equipment.

 

> 2. Can one simply mix the Gel/foam with a powdered homogenate of the

> specific herbs or herbal formulas?/

 

Karen replied: It depends on the herbs, but generally that might work so

long as the gel is capable of carrying the desired constituents transdermally.

If the gel has both water soluble and oil soluble constituents then it is likely

possible.

 

> Or must one make a concentrated extract of the herb(s) or formula to

> mix with the Transdermal Gel/foam? If so, how does one make a

> concentrated extract without destroying key active ingredients (such as

> volatile oils, etc) in the herbs?

 

Karen replied: It depends on the herbs and the desired constituents. Many

western herbal books have information on the proper alcohol percentages

for different herbs. Generally resinous or oily herbs require higher alcohol

percentages and herbs with polysaccharides like Lingzhi or Fuling need

water extractions which can have up to 23% alcohol for preservation.

 

> 3. Does inclusion in the Transdermal Gels/foams of penetrants, like

> DMSO, iodine or alcohol, enhance the skin absorption of specific herbs,

> herbal formulas, or extracts?

 

Karen replied: I generally use some kind of penetrant, from black pepper in

the herbs to essential oils, alcohol or DMSO in the carrier.

 

> 4. Do you know specific herbs, herbal formulas, or extracts that are

> NOT effectively absorbed from skin application via such Transdermal

> Gels/foams?

 

Karen replied: You are looking at large molecules that won't fit through the

pores. Polysaccharides, for instance, like those in medicinal mushrooms

won't penetrate, although they may coat the skin and have topical value.

Minerals would have to be very small. Long protein chains may be too large.

Resins must always be in a Heat, the proper transdermal carrier and more

volatile herbs will enhance the absorption.

 

> 5. Do you know specific herbs, herbal formulas, or extracts that cause

> local or systemic adverse reactions from skin application via such

> Transdermal Gels/foams?/

 

Karen replied: All kinds of herbs and carriers are potentially irritating.

Depends on the irritation potential of the herb or carrier, the percentage in

the formula, the sensitivity of the skin, the animal and the symptoms. In

TCM, lots of the transdermal medication comes from martial arts tradition.

Check Tom Bisio's book:L " A Tooth from the Tiger's Mouth " and definitely

check out: " The Herbal Medicine Maker's Handbook " by James and Ajana

Green. Karen Vaughan, MSTOM, Licensed Acupuncturist, and Herbalist,

253 Garfield Place, Brooklyn, NY 11215, (718) 622-6755

 

BACKGROUND to my queries: Sagiv had mentioned transdermal foam/gel

in relation to treating skin (and other) problems in animals. Also, the

Chinese use skin-applied herbal packs and plasters for many non-skin

problems, for example, muscle and joint pain (sport injury, arthritis, etc).

Also, in conventional med / vet med, skin application is used as an effective

method of drug delivery, for example, in nicotine patches in humans and

iodine supplementation in cattle, etc.

 

For example: Plaster for pain relief and comfort up to 24 hours; for best

results, replace a new plaster every 8 hours; each piece (5g, 11 cm x 15cm)

contains: Rx Aconiti 0.15g; Rx Aconiti Kusnezoffii 0.15g; Rx Rehmanniae

0.15g; Rx Ampelopsis 0.15g; Rx Angelicae Dahuricae 0.20g; Rx Angelicae

Sinensis 0.15g; Rx Paeoniae Rubra 0.15g; Rz+Rx Notopterygii 0.15g;

Eupolyphaga/Steleophaga 0.15g; Rx Linderae 0.15g; Rx Glycyrrhizae

0.15g; Rx Angelicae Pubescentis 0.15g; Rx Scrophulariae 0.15g; Rx+Rz

Rhei 0.15g; Rml Salicis Babylonicae 0.10g; Cx Cinnamomi 0.10g; Myrrha

0.15g; Resin 1.00g; Herba Menthae 0.10g; Methyl Salicylate (USP) 0.10g;

Mentholum (U.S.P.) 0.10g; Zinc Oxide (USP) 0.15g; Borneolum

Synthetlcum 0.10g; Ferric Oxide (USP) 0.10g; Sesame Oil added to make

5.00g. Caution: External use only; Keep away from children; Do not apply

on open wound or irritated skin; Avoid contact with the eyes.

 

Prosero Pain Relief Patch: Active Ingredients: Menthol 4%; Methyl

Salicylate 10%; Inactive Ingredients: Zinc Oxide; Castor seed extract;

Chinese clematis extract; Beeswax; Myrrh; Frankincense; Chinese bitter

cucumber extract; Sesame oil; FD & C Yellow 5 (Tartrazine); D & C Blue 4;

natural rubber base.

 

See also: http://members.shaw.ca/panclinic/panclinic/ancient_remedies.htm

 

See also Medline hits for the search profile: (herbal AND (skin OR

transdermal) AND (plaster* OR patch* OR paste OR gel)) at

http://tinyurl.com/vxc5o

 

Best regards,