Customer Reviews

Herbal Handbook for Farm and Stable

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This excellent herbal has all sorts of information helpful in raising healthy pets and small livestock. We read it carefully, and found that its dietary and lifestyle guidance usually enabled us to keep our animals healthy with very little veterinary attention. When they did show signs of illness or injury, we typically found advice in Levy's book that enabled them to recover well and promptly. Once when a goat collapsed with milk fever, we rushed to look up the recipe for a drench. We mixed it up quickly and helped her to lift her head to drink. (We had called the vet, but he couldn't get to us in less than half an hour.) We were amazed, weak as she was, to see how eagerly she drank the warm liquid. Within minutes, she got to her feet; by the time the vet arrived, she was leaping up onto the top of her concrete shelter as usual. The doctor was very impressed, and said that without the drench, he didn't think she would have lived until he got there.


Two or three times over the years, we had chicks develop tarry diarrhea. They would begin to stagger, then died within hours. We gave all the chicks water and a special mash with healing herbs, and no more got sick; nearly all recovered almost as quickly as they had fallen ill. (Chicken books generally say flocks whose chicks show these symptoms should be promptly destroyed.) We treated goats, chickens, ducks, turkeys, dogs and cats, and even a pony, with diet, herbs, supplements, and poultices, generally with good and often dramatic results. We even used some of Levy's remedies for ourselves, and were delighted when she published "Herbal Handbook for Everyone," about human health, based on the same herbal wisdom.

The essence of self-sustainability is to be able to rely upon your own skills to solve problems as they arise on your farm, in a way which respects and compliments nature. This book provides sound advice that can aid in the prevention and the care of ailments that afflict various livestock. While alternative livestock are not covered in this book, the concepts can be applied across the broad spectrum. Used in conjunction with the Merck Manual and with the counsel of your veterinarian, you will be able to deal effectively with your animals to keep them healthy.