Herbs and flowers are one of the best ways to supercharge your rabbit s or guinea pig s nutrition. Most of them are also readily available fresh, and all of the ones below can be found in dried form for easy storage, or for feeding out of the growing season. Our animals forage by nature they move around an area picking out leaves, flowers, grasses, bark, twigs, bark. They eat a wide variety of plants, and get all the phytonutrients, micronutrients, minerals, enzymes, amino acids and other nutrition components they need. When we feed them a limited variety, we diminish that natural nutritional balance. So explore the plants below, and see what your animal likes best! BASIL What it is good for: warming effect helps with nervous exhaustion after a fright, or any cold situation BIRCH What it is good for: soothes mouth pain, anti-inflammatory, diuretic
BLACKBERRY What it is good for: increases circulation, which has a cooling effect in hot weather or during fevers BORAGE What it is good for: reduces stress, mild laxative, expectorant, tonic, anti-inflammatory Vitamins and minerals: iron Other good stuff: saponins, mucilage, tannins CALENDULA What it is good for: general tonic, supports heart, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antifungal, stress relief, reduces muscle tension and spasms Other good stuff: carotenoids, saponins, flavonoids CHAMMOMILE. What it is good for: pain relief, stress relief, anti-microbial, antifungal CHICKWEED What it is good for: anti-inflammatory Vitamins and minerals: vitamin C Other good stuff: saponins, flavonoids
CILANTRO (Coriander) What it is good for: toxic metal detox, anti-anxiety, antifungal Vitamins and minerals: vitamins A, B complex, C, and K Other good stuff: antioxidants CLEAVERS What it is good for: laxative, diuretic, anti-inflammatory, astringent, lymph system detox. COLTSFOOT What it is good for: respiratory expectorant, very high in fiber COMFREY - What it is good for: strengthens and heals bones, stress relief, calming, digestive aid, supports immune system Vitamins and minerals: vitamin A Other good stuff: mucilage, tannins, saponins
CORNFLOWER What it is good for: nervine, tonic and digestive aid Other good stuff: flavonoids DANDELION What it is good for: blood purifier, respiratory support, anti-inflammatory, bladder support, astringent, regulates constipation and diarrhea Vitamins and minerals: choline, potassium Other good stuff: carotenoids DILL What it is good for: protects against carcinogens, anti-bacterial, strengthens bones, great fiber content Vitamins and minerals: calcium, vitamin A
ECHINACEA What it is good for: immune system support, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, antiseptic, antimicrobial ELDER FLOWER What it is good for: respiratory expectorant Other good stuff: flavonoids, mucilage, tannins EUCALYPTUS What it is good for: dried and powdered, sprinkle around to living area to repel fleas EYEBRIGHT What it is good for: make tea, cool, and use as eye wash
FENNEL What it is good for: bloating and gas, strong anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, good source of fiber Vitamins and minerals: vitamin B (folate), tons of vitamin C, potassium Other good stuff: flavonoids, anethole FENUGREEK What it is good for: protects liver, helps with weight gain during recovery Vitamins and minerals: vitamins A, B1, and C Other good stuff: alkaloids, saponins, mucilage, high in proteins GOLDENROD What it is good for: anti-inflammatory Other good stuff: saponins, tannins, flavonoids KAVA KAVA What it is good for: calming LAVENDER What is it good for: helps circulation, stress, and exhaustion, mild sedative, lowers blood pressure
LEMON BALM What it is good for: anti-bacterial, antiviral, eases bloating and gas, and reduces stress, antidiarrhea. Other good stuff: flavonoids LINDEN What it is good for: immune support, calming, detox, anti-anxiety, anti-inflammatory, soothing gastrointestinal upset, anti-spasmodic, antioxidant Other good stuff: flavonoids, tannins MARJORAM What it is good for: helps with coughs, mouth inflammation, throat, digestive issues, and calms, helps with colic pain MARSHMALLOW What it is good for: mouth inflammation, digestive and urinary tract inflammation Other good stuff: mucilage, tannins, pectins, quercetin MEADOWSWEET What it is good for: pain relief (salicylic acid), protects stomach and intestines (tannins)
MILK THISTLE What it is good for: helps remove ammonia from blood and is effective liver and kidney detox, powerful mucilaginous remedy MINT What it is good for: firms loose stools, relaxes muscles of digestive tract and stimulates bile production, soothing to entire digestive tract, liver stimulant Vitamins and minerals: potassium, magnesium, calcium, phosphorous, iron, vitamins A and C NASTURTIUM What it is good for: strong antiseptic Vitamins and minerals: tons of vitamin C Other good stuff: phenols NETTLES What it is good for: general daily forage Vitamins and minerals: rich source of chlorophyll, high in protein and iron, huge source of silica (helps keep teeth ground down during chewing), vitamins A, B complex, and C, D, and K
OATS What it is good for: good for digestive problems, diarrhea, kidney and bladder problems, high in soluble fiber Vitamins and minerals: magnesium Other good stuff: antioxidants, beta-glucan, lignans, saponins OREGANO What it is good for: anti-bacterial, antioxidant, good fiber PARSLEY What it is good for: enriches blood, helps with kidney and liver inflammation and digestive disorders, strengthens bones, pain relief Vitamins and minerals: vitamin A, B6, B12, C, E, thiamin, pantothenic acid, choline, calcium, copper, folates, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorous, potassium, zinc PEPPERMINT What it is good for: aids in digestion, helps get rid of gas, anti-spasmodic
PLANTAIN What it is good for: antimicrobial, antispasmodic, respiratory expectorant, helps with diarrhea, soothes urinary tract and gastric infections. Mucilaginous, expectorant, astringent Vitamins and minerals: vitamins A, B6, C, potassium, magnesium, and iron PURSLANE What it is good for: powerful antioxidant Vitamins and minerals: vitamin A, B complex, and C, calcium, magnesium, manganese, and potassium Other good stuff: more Omega 3 fatty acids than any other leafy green RASPBERRY What it is good for: helps with digestion, contains quercetin, cooling and astringent, antioxidant Vitamins and minerals: vitamins A, B complex, C, and E, potassium, calcium, magnesium, manganese, zinc, iron, chromium
RED CLOVER What it is good for: very useful internal remedy for chronic skin and coat issues, anti-spasmodic Vitamins and minerals: Good calcium/phosphorous ratio, and lots of vitamin A B1, B2, B3, C, and K, chromium, magnesium, potassium Other good stuff: isoflavones, tannins, carotenoids, and flavonoids ROSEHIPS What it is good for: good source of fiber Vitamins and minerals: great source of vitamins A and C, healthy ratio of calcium and phosphorous Other good stuff: bioflavonoids ROSEMARY What it is good for: lowers blood pressure and is calming, used for rabbits who are showing signs of depression due to moves, death of bond mate, etc., invigorates circulation, stimulates digestion Vitamins and minerals: vitamin A, carotenoids, calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium Other good stuff: folates, SAGE What it is good for: dried and powdered, sprinkle around to living area to repel fleas
SASSAFRAS What it is good for: dried and powdered, sprinkle around to living area to repel fleas SHEPHERD S PURSE What it is good for: strong anti-diarrheal, use sparingly and short term Vitamins and minerals: choline, B1, B2, C, calcium phosphorous, potassium SORREL What it is good for: increases circulation, very cooling Vitamins and minerals: vitamin A, B6, C, and iron, magnesium, potassium, and calcium Other good stuff: flavonoids STRAWBERRY What it is good for: antiseptic and increases circulation (cooling) Vitamins and minerals: vitamins B5, B6, C, and K, manganese, iodine, potassium, folate, riboflavin, magnesium, and copper Other good stuff: omega 3 fatty acids THYME What it is good for: digestive pain relief, warming effect for stomach ache and chills
UVA URSI What it is good for: anti-spasmodic, urinary antiseptic Other good stuff: tannins WILLOW What it is good for: anti-inflammatory, pain reliever Vitamins and minerals: vitamins A, B3, C, calcium, phosphorous, and iron YARROW What it is good for: urinary antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant Other good stuff: contains over 120 different compounds used in herbal medicine, it is a one stop shop for herbal healing VALERIAN ROOT What it is good for: relaxant, anti-spasmodic Enjoy exploring a more natural diet for your little friend!