A fresh look at optimum diet for animals

The food your animal eats should provide all of the nutritional components which are necessary for all organs and systems of a healthy body to perform in harmonious unison. A properly functioning body does an amazing job at preventing disease and healing itself, and to do this it requires the energies and nutrients of a well-balanced diet. more

"I've seen amazing results and health improvement in my dog Shasta, simply by switching her diet from kibble/canned food to raw food. The raw food diet strengthened her immune system dramatically. She no longer suffers from allergies to fleas and at 11 years of age her health and vitality are radiant." Shirley, author of this website.  Shasta's homemade raw food recipe

About commercial pet food: In his best selling book, "Pet Allergies: Remedies for an Epidemic", Alfred Plechner, DVM, paints a dismal picture for the future of our pets: "The most common and most visible symptoms of nutritionally caused deficiencies are allergies of one kind or another. Because many commercial foods are woefully deficient in key nutrients, the long term effect of feeding such foods makes the dog hypersensitive to its environment. . . . [I]t's a dinosaur effect. Animals are being programmed for disaster, for extinction. Many of them are biochemical cripples with defective adrenal glands unable to manufacture adequate cortisol, a hormone vital for health and resistance to disease."Allergies can be, and often are, unrecognized deficiency diseases.Recognizing nutritional deficiencies will save you a great deal of frustration and allow you to make the necessary adjustments in your dog’s diet.

Raw Food Recipes Booklet - For those of you who would like to make your own raw food diet, this booklet will give you some answers and ideas. It provides very specific weekly raw diets for dogs based on their weight. It will provide some insight on how much variety to offer, how much to feed and even discusses supplements!

    * How much variety should I offer?
    * How do I know what my dog needs?
    * How much should I feed?

Feline Raw Diet Recipes

Raw Cat Food Diet Recipe Made WITH Real Bones   and  Raw Recipes for Felines    Step-by-step pictorial and guidance to making and feeding RAW cat food produced by Anne Jablonski. Read Anne's open letter to veterinarians

SeaCrest Keeshonden Feline Diet The cat is a creature who has total dependence on raw meat. Cats are obligate carnivores, and need a lot of meat in the diet. I believe that the grain based commercial diets are killing our cats. Cats are now dying of kidney disease, get diabetes, hyperthyroidism, IBD, etc. Commercial foods have only been popular for cats for the last couple decades. Before that, Fluffy was fed a variety of people food, and got a chance to hunt for herself. While I truly believe cats belong indoors in today's world, it has limited their diet. While indoor/outdoor cats can hunt and often choose that over commercial foods, indoor kitties aren't given that option. It scares me to think that we may be slowly killing our felines. My raw-fed cats have great teeth (unheard of in many cases), great coats, great condition, their coats gleam, they're incredibly soft. And VERY active!!! Even the vet has noticed a difference (not that he's seen the younger 2 for anything besides routine care...) 

Concerned about salmonella and other bugs? The digestive systems of dogs and cats are short, acidic, and handle bacteria well. This is why they are not susceptible to salmonella, parasites, or e-coli from tainted meat as humans are. Humans have very long digestive tracks which allow food to 'linger' for 24 hours or more, thus allowing more time for parasites to get into their bloodstreams.  Some people add Fulvic acids to their pet's raw food diet. According to research, Fulvic neutralizes toxins and can eliminate food poisoning within minutes. When it encounters free radicals with unpaired positive or negative electrons, it supplies an equal and opposite charge to neutralize the free radical. fulvic acid acts as a refiner and transporter of organic materials and cell nutrients. According to A. Szalay, fulvic acid has the ability to dramatically detoxify herbicides, pesticides, and other poisonsthat it interacts with – this includes many radioactive elements. This detoxification process may extend to animals and humans.

Concerned about Zoonosis? "Zoonosis is an infectious or parasitic disease, which is naturally passed from vertebrate animals to humans, and vice versa, e.g. tuberculosis, rabies or brucellosis. "Dogs and especially cats can shed Salmonella organisms in both their feces and saliva, meaning that transmission can occur via licking. A pet dog or cat licking your hand is a very common occurrence. Sometimes a pet may lick the face of a child, helping germs spread more easily. Animal saliva contains many pathogenic agents.   ---  Learn about Healthy Alternatives to Raw Food The Next Best Choice to Raw Food -  Healthy kibble for dogs and cats.

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Note from Shirley - I fed my former dog Shastaa homemade grainless balanced raw food diet which included raw meat, raw eggs, raw veggies, seavegetables, grounded flaxseeds, etc. (see recipe). My new dog, Kuuma, is very finicky and won't eat veggies, flaxseeds, etc. He only likes to eat raw meat such as chicken, pig feet, beef heart, etc. However, I won't feed my dog meat exclusively. I believe that flaxseed or flaxoil, coconut oil, kelp, glyconutrients, eggs, greens and other nutrients are important to support a dog's health. Therefore I supplement Kuuma's raw meat diet with healthy kibbles, which he seems to enjoy.

I discovered a new way of feeding my dog veggies.  Instead of storing my the pulpe of my green juice in the refrigerator or freezer until I am ready to prepare a batch of raw dog food, I store the pulp in an airtight container at room temperature. A month or two later, the pulpe is completely decomposed or pre-digested by naturally occuring friendly bacterias. This is "yogurt" for my dog, shock-full of nutrients and pro-biotics. It smells like poop, and the dog loves it!  Why Do Dogs Eat Poop?  Some people warn against feeding dogs broccoli, cabbage or cauliflower (cruciferous plants) because they claim that it can produce gas, which may at some point cause a portion of their belly to invert, requiring euthanasia or surgery. Other people say that broccoli and cauliflower should be lightly blanched (lightly steamed) in order to rid them of  the harmful toxins. Shasta and Kuuma have never had gas from their food, let alone an inverted belly. I've also heard that an overuse of cruciferous plants can interfere with thyroid functioning in people and animals. I give Shasta small amount of cruciferous plants. They have never suffered any adverse effects from these vegetables. I feed her mostly grounded or pureed raw carrots and greens (the pulp from my green juice)
 

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Much Healthier On A Raw Diet: a testimonial
Darcie Krueger

I was born, grew up, lived and worked on ranches until I was 27 years old. We grew our own food: meat, veggies, and fruit. Our dogs got to eat whatever didn't make it into the freezer or onto the table...raw food. I don't remember ever taking a dog to the vet for anything. Our dogs lived to a ripe old age and worked cattle right along side us and our horses. It's kind of embarrassing for me really. The fact is that I started feeding popular dog foods to my dogs after I moved to town. I should have known better. My dogs were ill a lot, had bad, scratchy coats, allergy symptoms, icky teeth, really bad breath, some were fat, and some very, very skinny. The thing I remember most is that my dogs tried to tell me...we call it finicky but it's really the dog telling us the food isn't good for them. Has your dog turned his nose up at his food? You probably did the same thing I did. Add a little gravy! Who knew that those dog foods were bad for dogs?! The dogs did!

Changes in our dogs after starting raw food: 

• Kari our Golden Retriever, rescued at 8 years old, grew young again! She lived to be 17 years old. She passed away quietly February 2002 of old age. 
• Bruno (born 1994), our rescue boy, grew sleek and strong, his nose turned black, quit having bellyaches, and he can breathe again. Bruno can hold his own at a full run all day long. 
• Dancer's (born 1995) fear of thunderstorms lessened from uncontrollable fear to wanting a hug and she changed from a skinny minny to a beautiful girl with a gorgeous coat. 
• Tilli (born 1996) lost her baby fat that just wouldn't go away no matter how much she exercised. Now she has an svelte figure. She's the Frisbee dog. Energy galore. 

We've only been to the vet for rabies shots, an old tooth that needed to come out, and a broken leg. Remember when Bruno broke his leg a few years ago? Recovered quickly. Our vet just couldn't believe it. Quick healing, perfect blood work, and clean teeth. Kari had a broken molar when she came to live with us. At 16 it finally started to bother her. The vet couldn't believe how perfect her blood work was and even gave us a discount on the surgery because her teeth didn't need cleaning.  learn more

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Samples Recipes of Raw Pet Food  -  The Importance of Bones and Calcium, Phosphorous in Carnivore's Diet

Dr. Richard H. Pitcairn, D.V.M., Ph.D - Dogs and cats, their kind in the wild, eat a large amount of calcium. This happens because they chew on, and swallow, bones which have large quantities of calcium in their makeup. It is assumed that with time they have adapted to having this kind of diet. It is not completely clear that they must have this much calcium to be healthy. In other words, perhaps they can adapt to lower levels. It certainly seems that way for many of the animals I have known that, for one reason or another, have had small amounts of calcium in their diets. They often seem just fine. There is evidence that the growing animal is the one most sensitive to calcium deficiency. This makes sense if we remember that it is during this time that the bones of the body are rapidly enlarging. They are made up primarily of calcium and phosphorus. In any case, it seems wise to supply the amounts of calcium that are typical of the natural diet and our recipes are formulated with that consideration. To give you some idea of how much more calcium is "required" by a dog compared to a human being, consider this comparison. The amount of calcium the average woman needs is the same as that required by a small 10 lb. dog. A larger dog, say a 100 lb. German Shepherd requires about 10 times as much as this average woman. It is difficult to find sources of calcium that can add this much to the diet. The natural source is bones and we find that this is also the most ample source with which to formulate diets. 

"The common practice of feeding meat without bones (or bone meal) is nutritionally disastrous for dogs and cats. There are far too many people giving eggs and meat to their pets without providing a balance to all the phosphorus they contain. Meat contains no calcium, and lots of phosphorus; bones contain lots of calcium. Eggs contain lots of phosphorus; the shells contain calcium. That is nature's balance. If we feed meat without bones or eggs without shells, or aren't sure of the correct ratios of those things to feed, we must use something to replace them. It is a common and tragic mistake to give a diet far too high in phosphorus to cats and dogs." Christie Keith from Natural diet.... what is it?   Raw fat is also vitally important in carnivore's diet for optimum health and performance.

The following websites offer samples and recipes of raw food they feed their pets  (he sample recipes may be at the bottom of these pages)

• SeaCrest Keeshonden Diet  Day by day detailed recipes: the dogs eat a diet based on raw meaty chicken bones. This makes up about 75% of their main diet. The rest is made up of crushed veggies, fruit, organ meat, beef bones, some starches and raw meaty chicken bones. 
• John Miller, professional dog-fancier offers dozens of  recipes. (they are not raw-food recipes but they are well worth looking at) 
• Feeding a Natural Diet    Christina Bredenkamp
• The home of Aniak Siberians - Our dogs are fed a natural diet. A "Back to Basics" approach
• Maria Zorka's website: Detailed photos and decriptions about how to make balanced, nutritious raw meals for cats and dogs. Also includes original, every growing articles, testimonials, nutritional and other information related to healthful living.  Includes Original Herbal Articles by author, Mary Wulff-Tilford.
• Bodhi's Natural Diet: This is what I have found to work the best at this time for Bodhi and my budget, since he is retired from heavy training. 
• Sample recipe of what Shirley (author of this website) feeds her dog Shasta everyday At 12 years of age, Shasta remains in good health. She rarely has to see a vet because she is so healthy. She eats raw eggs, raw organically grown veggies, kelp, flaxseeds,  raw whole fish, raw bones, all sorts of raw meats including organ meats and I make sure that all meats I purchase for her at the market is NON-IRRADIATED.  I fast her on water every other day. 
• Illinois Cocker Rescue: Rescued Cockers: From Poor Health to Vitality within two months on a natural raw diet.
• Yorkshire Terrier owner: "BARF( Bones And Raw Food)  is best - I use natural and organic food - I treat with homeopathy  - I give lots of unconditional love. 
• Anne Robinson from Menlo Park, CA: sample raw diet for her Collie and Siberian Husky.
• Naturally Reared German Wire-haired Pointers. Willow's diet is now completely raw and natural and includes absolutely NO commercial kibble.
• Naturally Reared Afghan Hounds. Mary and Peter Voss have been involved with Afghan Hounds (both breeding and rescue) since 1989. Their philosophy: "a dog will catch it's food and devour nearly all of it...the flesh (good source of protein), fat (a good energy source), bone (high in calcium and helps keep teeth clean), muscle and organ meats, and the stomach contents (filled with plant material consisting of herbs and grasses). The philosophy behind the idea of Natural Rearing is to try and reproduce the way in which dogs feed in their natural state. Natural-Rearing diets are based on fresh foods such as raw meats, raw bones, raw vegetables and herbs. Because dogs in the wild would not eat every day, 1 day of fasting (only for adult dogs) per week is also part of the Natural-Rearing diet. This allows the animal to cleanse it's body of toxins."
• Poodles and Dalmatians Read how Dave and Marlene helped  their sick Poodles and Dalmatians recover their health with a raw diet. See their sample diet and chart for feeding ratio.
• Jubilee Airedales are raised on a species-appropriate diet of raw meaty bones, raw meat, and raw vegetable. The Jubilee Diet is a combination of the diets presented in Ian Billinghurst's 
• Raw Feeding FAQ - step by step guideline
• books, Give Your Dog a Bone and Grow Your Puppies with Bones; and in Kymythy Schultze's book, The Ultimate Diet : Natural Nutrition for Dogs and Cats.
• Wendy Volhard's website has a great deal of information about pet nutrition But Wendy differs from others in that she mixes grains with her homemade raw pet diet and adds vitamins. 
• Riveriene Farm  All their dogs are presently reared and maintained successfully on their explication of Dr. Ian BillinghurstsBARF program (BARF = bones and raw food). Learn about their specific feeding programs. Riveriene Farm consults and teach alternative feeding methods for dogs (and cats). 

Raw Feeding Calculator As a general rule, a normal active dog require about 2% of its body weight per day. A highly active dog may require about 3% of its body weight per day. No two dogs are alike in their metabolic rates, age, or activity levels Puppies can use up to 10% of their growing body weight. Use the online calculator to calculate the amount of food needed by body weight.
 

Ready-To-Eat Healthy Raw Pet Food

NATURE'S VARIETY FROZEN and FREEZE DRIED RAW FOOD Made with fresh raw USDA meat and fresh USDA raw ground bone. No cooked bone meal and no need for bone supplements. If you'd like to add even more veggies to your food, use your own good fresh vegetables. Kelp and Alfalfa? It's in there! NO seconds, only good fresh food.

Sample Ingredients: with RAW Chicken, Beef, or Lamb: 
Chicken sample: Ground Raw Chicken Bone, Chicken Morrow, Chicken Cartilage, Turkey, Turkey Liver, Turkey Heart, Apples, Carrots, Sweet Potatoes, Broccoli, Lettuce, Spinach, Ground Flax Seeds, Chicken Eggs, Montmorillonite (clay), Dried Kelp, Salmon Oil, Cold Pressed Olive Oil, Apple Cider Vinegar, Parsley, Honey, Persimmons, Blueberries, Duck Eggs, Pheasant Eggs, Quail Eggs, Garlic, Alfalfa Sprouts, Millet Sprouts, Quinoa Sprouts, Wheat Sprouts, Grapefruit Seed Extract, Rosemary, Sage, Clove. (I encourage you to visit this site. It provides detailed description of raw pet food ingredients and their health benefits. Shirley)

Healthy Pet bulletin board  is designed to enable you to interact with fellow pet lovers (dogs, cats, ferrets, birds, more). Post messages, reply to questions, meet friends, learn and more. 

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Feeding a Natural Diet
by Christina Bredenkamp

Making the change to feeding raw foods can be so very traumatic ... to the owner! The dog would be very happy to acquire some nice raw beef or chicken. But we, as the owners, make all of those decisions for our pups.  My own diet, which varies with what is available, consists mainly of turkey and chicken necks. The turkey necks don't have any fatty skins on them so I have to add fat to the diet. I do this by adding a few chicken necks which have lots of skin on them. I also give chicken backs sometimes. They are very crunchy but also provide lots of fats. Remember that these fats are from natural sources. They have not been degraded by heating, causing them to become rancid and unuseable by the body. My 130# Dane bitch eats 2# of turkey necks and 3-4 chicken necks twice a day. I throw in a chicken liver once a day or so. About every third meal I feed a 1/2 pound veggie patty made according to Billinghursts' recipe. My patties are packed and frozen in 1# weights (which for me provides 2 feedings) in sandwich ziplock baggies for ease of feeding. The necks are packed and frozen in one gallon ziplock baggies with 4 - 5# of turkey and chicken necks in each. Again very easy to use. I take what I need out of the freezer once a day and allow it to thaw while the previous days' food is put into her 2 bowls for that days' feeding.

If for some reason she won't eat a meal, it isn't a bad thing. Fasting helps the body rest. Don't sweat it. Just pick up the food within 20 minutes and return it to the fridge for the next timed feeding. They are usually hungry enough to eat the next time. Of course, if your dog won't eat for a two days, something else is wrong and you need to find out what. A trip to the vet is in order. One thing I no longer really worry about is bloat. I still practice the usual precautions, but since I am not feeding cereals that will swell up in the tummy and take more than three times the digestion time needed (unnatural for a dog's short digestive system designed for raw meats), I don't worry. I have experienced bloat in 3 of my dogs (before feeding BARF). I still watch for symptoms, etc. But now I don't worry. YEAH! Raw foods pass through the stomach in 4 hours, not over 12. The enzymes are still intact for use by the body to convert the food into nutritional building blocks. It gets to the intestines quickly rather than spoiling in the stomach trying to be digested into something that the dog still can't use. The changes you will see in your dog will amaze you! Our allergies disappeared. Skin is smooth and supple with a glossy coat. No greasy coats or infected ears. Wounds heal fast. Fat turns to muscle. Stamina increases. Play increases. Vet bills decrease. You have a happy, healthy dog.

Yes, you do need to watch for problems. Like turkey necks that get thrown back up and re-eaten because they were so long! I cut mine in half now because it grossed dear hubby to watch that. Too large food chunks can also choke an animal, no matter what kind of food is being fed. Do watch for bones being thrown up. They will be undigested bones, nice and clean. Usually with grass. If your dog wants to eat grass, then let it. They are doing it for a reason. Usually because of a tummy upset. It also cleans out the colon. The grass catches the bones in the tummy that don't digest and helps bring them out one way or the other. This can be a sign that you need to cut back on the foods with bones and feed more veggies or less boney foods. Also, they can pass bones in the stool and sometimes that can cause problems. I don't feed meats with large/long bones in them, like turkey legs or chicken legs and thighs. These are weight bearing bones and can splinter more easily. The necks have small bones that can pass through if undigested. I feel better with this. They also contain lots of cartilage which is a natural source of glucosamine and chondroiton. NEVER feed cooked bones. They all splinter and can pierce the gut, causing a lifethreatening condition. Try going the healthier route and give your dog a raw bone! 

"My animals diet, which varies with what is available, consists mainly of turkey and chicken necks. The turkey necks don't have any fatty skins on them so I have to add fat to the diet. I do this by adding a few chicken necks which have lots of skin on them. I also give chicken backs sometimes. They are very crunchy but also provide lots of fats. Remember that these fats are from natural sources. They have not been degraded by heating, causing them to become rancid and intolerable by the body." Christina Bredenkamp, Great Danes

A Healthy Alternative to Feeding Raw Food
One of the alternative to feeding pets raw food is Life's Abundance, a natural kibble pet food for Dogs and Cats.  Life's Abundance chicken meal is made from chickens raised without hormones or steroids.  It contains only natural, wholesome ingredients and is nutrient dense with vitamins, minerals, fats and fatty acids which are essential for the optimal health of your dog or cat. It is free from corn, wheat, dairy, by-products, artificial colors or flavors. Click here to view the commercial dog food comparison chart

This Premium Health Food for Dogs or Cats  is formulated by Dr. Jane Bicks, a highly respected and nationally recognized holistic veterinarian. (author of 12 minute FREE audio presentation Do You Really Know What's In Your Pet's Food?).   Their chicken meal, fish meal and eggs are derived from human-grade processing plants, probiotics for a healthy digestive tract, and  is rich in powerful antioxidants from fruits, vegetables, flax seed meal,  and other natural sources. 

Learn about Life's Abundance and the Daily Nutritional Systems.

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Minerals and vitamin deficiency
Our soil, plants, and especially commercial foods are woefully deficient in key nutrients.  Scientists theorize that mineral deficiency subjects us, and our animals,  to more diseases, aging, sickness and destruction of our physical well-being than any other factor in personal health. I supplement my dog's diet (and my diet too) for optimum health with the following:  flaxseed oil (linseed oil) or grounded flaxseeds, kelp and  fulvic minerals and/or marine phytoplankton (naturally occuring absorbable plant derived minerals), bee pollen rich in naturally occuring vitamins and clay to promote healing and to detoxify. Shirley

Excerpts from Juliette de Bairacli Levy's marvelous book "The Herbal Book for the Dog- A Complete Handbook of Natural Care and Rearing"

About prey eating (pp 15-16):
"In the wild, hair and underskin are part of a natural flesh diet and supply essential roughage to exercise the strong muscles of the digestive tract, acting also as a mild laxative....Animals in the wild, after tearing off some outer skin and flesh of their victims, unfailingly show a preference for certain organs of the body: first the intestines, then the eyes. The intestines supply a good source of demi-digested starch and green herbage.... The other chose organs are the eyes, which animals gouge out with great eagerness. (Seagulls, which are partly carnivorous, always greedily seek the eyes of drowned bodies, animal or human.) It is no doubt some mineral salts which attract the carnivorous animals, phosphorus and iodine normally being present in the eye tissue. Dr Weston A. Price.... states: '.... they know that the tissues forming the back part of the eye are good for food. Science has recently demonstrated that the retina of the eye is one of the rich sources of vitamin A.'.."

About eggs (p 38):
"Eggs from hens, ducks, or turtles are a rich source of mineral salts and vitamins.... Eggs must be fresh, as staleness renders them indigestible. They should be fed raw, because cooking causes them to adhere to the digestive tract.... Eggs are quite a natural food to the dog, for dogs will seek out and eat the eggs of sea-birds and other birds, such as game-birds, which lay their eggs on the ground. Eggs are very *unsuitable* food for sick animals because of their highly fermentative properties. During the heat of fever, for instance, they rapidly poison the body instead of strengthening it. Egg-and-milk has long been the most misguided of orthodox medical-recommended invalid foods; the giving of such food has done about as much to spoil cures by orthodox treatment as has the popular use of the destructive sulphonamide group of drugs. It is claimed that raw egg-white harms health: I do not agree. Egg-stealers, such as foxes, weasels, cats and rats keep very well, thank you!"

Learn more about Juliette de Bairacli Levy, an extraordinary women and champion for natural health and well being of animals and children.

William Winter DVM:"Following my great success recommending raw natural diets, I began to explore other aspects of Ms. Levy's Natural Rearing.  I explored fasting.  To this day I do not believe that I have ever discovered a healing technique quite as powerful.  I have recommended fasting for 10,000 to 20,000 animals and have seen true miracles over these years of practice. Ms. Levy says it is one of the TWO MOST IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF NATURAL REARING.  The other being a raw diet.  It can be said that I will start every chronic patient on a fast and begin recommending fasting for all animals beginning at about one year of age." 

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Need help/support?

• Sample Recipes of Home Made Rawfood Diet for Animals Get inspiration from breeders and pet owners who share their ideas, experience and recipes about RAW homemade meals. 
• Raw Recruits Support Group This is a group of like minded souls who have come together for the well being of their pets. They are a Support Group for people who have chosen to feed their cats and dogs a Species Specific Raw Diet and to care for them as much as possible in an Holistic way. Many of them have fed a raw diet for many years, some only more recently. How did they get here? Some came here through recommendations by friends, but many of us were struggling alone after reading books by Pitcairn, Volhard and Billinghurst. They were looking for that "bit extra" and for others who shared our beliefs and could give us support. They have found that support with Raw Recruits.
• There is also a email list you can join. Find support, help, feedback, motivation, etc. about all issues related to BARF diet (BARF = Bones and Raw Food - it refers to a type of diet fed to dogs and cats, which totally excludes all commercial dog foods.  also check out the (BARF = Bones and Raw Food) 

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Improving Your Animal's Immune System and Overall Health with Nutritional Support
A groundswell of nutrition conscious veterinarians are beginning to recommend to their clients that they supplement their animals diet with a daily dose of flaxseed oil and other important nutrients.When the diets of animals were fortified with flax, within three weeks their coats developed a beautiful sheen, and dandruff was greatly diminished. There are amazing testimonials about animals recovering from cancer, diabetes and other severe degenerative illnesses with a nutritional product called Transfer Factor. "My colleagues and I have found this product (transfer factor) to be very effective in modulating the immune system. Transfer factor is a "soup" of immune-modulating factors, which contains a leukocyte-type molecule that can passively transfer immunity from one mammal to another by stimulating cell-mediated immunity and is antigen specific.  Richard Bennett, Ph.D., an Infectious Disease Microbiologist and Immunologist from the University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, believes this could be the most significant development in animal health care in decades. We have a great number of veterinarians and clients who are experiencing very positive results in a broad area of disorders, including periodontal. "Charles W. Brown, DVM      more

Dr Wendell O. Belfield, D.V.M. "Their pets may have diarrhoea, increased flatulence, a dull hair coat, intermittent vomiting or prolonged scratching. These are common symptoms associated with commercial pet foods." In 1981, as Martin Zucker and I wrote How to Have a Healthier Dog, we discovered the full extent of negative effects that commercial pet food has on animals. In February 1990, San Francisco Chronicle staff writer John Eckhouse went even further with an exposé entitled "How Dogs and Cats Get Recycled into Pet Food". more about the poison in pet food

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Holistic Animal Health and Optimum Pet Nutrition 
A growing number of veterinarians state that processed pet food is the main cause of illness and premature death in the modern dog and cat. In December 1995, the British Journal of Small Animal Practice published a paper contending that processed pet food supresses the immune system and leads to liver, kidney, heart and other diseases. Dr. Kollath, of the Karolinska Hospital in Stockholm, headed a study done on animals. When young animals were fed cooked and processed foods they initially appeared to be healthy. However, as the animals reached adulthood, they began to age more quickly than normal and also developed chronic degenerative disease symptoms. A control group of animals raised on raw foods aged less quickly and were free of degenerative disease. For a return to health, pets require a diet which strengthens the immune system and most closely resembles that which they would get in the wild. It's really easy to do. Click here to learn more...

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Animals are not the only creatures on earth who can benefit from raw foods Learn about the Incredible healing power of raw foods for humans (Including personal accounts of cancer cures)

Most human illnesses and diseases are due to a deficiency of vital nutrients. When you supply your body with the proper nutrients, in a form that your body can use, it knows how to repair itself!"more

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Sodium Deficient Diet

Wild Health: How Animals Keep Themselves Well and What We Can Learn From Them
For millennia, humans have observed animals in the wild eating plants and minerals and applying naturally occurring topical antitoxins from the same sources to combat infectious wounds, parasites and internal disorders. Herds of elephants risk injury and death in a perilous journey to hidden salt caves where they supplement their sodium deficient diet. 

 Learn more about real salt for human and animal health

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Overweight Pet: Weight Management for Dogs and Cats 
Obesity is a significant health problem in many pets, and can contribute to major disease. There are many easily identifiable causes of weight gain in pets.

Rearing Healthy Pups and Kittens
Pet owner often complaint that their new puppy is sick with diarrhea, vomiting, running eyes and ear infections. A lot of money is spent on veterinary care and medication, often with poor result. Learn how to wean your pup or kitten to natural raw food diet. Learn about alternate method of vaccination. You will see all symptoms of ill health clear up in a few weeks and your animal will thrive. Breeders who have changed their animal's diet and used alternative methods of health care and vaccination have observed dramatic health improvement in the young and adult alike, including larger litters and less complication of prenancies and birth such as premature birth, smaller litters, frequent C-section required, tiny or weaker puppies; sick pups and high rate of puppy mortality.

Feline Natural Diet
"I've been feeding a natural diet to my cats for over six years now. Initially I used the diet developed by Dr. Jeffrey Levy, a homeopathic veterinarian living in Williamsburg, Massachusetts." 

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Natural dog and cat food  Quality pet food with only natural, wholesome ingredients and nutrient dense with vitamins, minerals, fats and fatty acids which are essential for the optimal health of your dog or cat. learn more

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SICK OF DRUGGING YOUR PET? 

Dr Charles E Loops DVM - "After 10 years of traditional veterinary practice I became tired of having no treatment for chronic disease, incurable conditions, and a plethora of allergic maladies which seem to plague all veterinary practices. I was frustrated with giving animals cortisone because I had no other solutions, or using antibiotics for infections which I knew were of viral origin. There is so much that can be done for an animal, bird, or reptile that is ailing by utilizing homeopathic medicine." 

For years dog health supplies have included toxic materials to artificially maintain dog health as a temporary measure. The time has come to change to a more natural approach toward animal health. Natural remedies have been shown to achieve more immediate, more complete and longer lasting health, vitality, quality and longevity of animal lives. Learn about herbal remedies and other safe alternatives to drugs, chemo, radiation and surgery 

Michael Dym, VMD - "Over the past 40 years and 17 generations of dogs and, cats we are seeing tremendous increases in chronic ill health in our pets that was rare back in the early 1960's. Most of these illnesses revolve around breakdown in our pets' immune systems, and include chronic skin/ear allergies, digestive upset, thyroid/adrenal/pancreatic disorders, seizures, gum/ teeth problems, degenerative arthritis, kidney/liver failure, and cancer across all ages and breeds. We are also seeing a record number of behavioral and emotional disorders including alarming and unexplained fears/aggression., as well as difficulty focusing/training and paying attention. The analogy of these compared with escalating immune/behavioral diseases in children is quite disturbing. The two biggest factors in our pets' population health decline over these generations has been the severe overuse of multiple vaccines and nutrient poor and toxin filled commercial pet foods. We have also failed to address the underlying cause of disease by only sup pressing symptoms with antibiotics, cortisone and related drugs, so the disease progresses and goes deeper. Homeopathy offers a viable alternative in truly curing pets and making their bodies healthier." 

Dr. Pat Bradley, DVM, Conway, USA -  "The most common problems I see that are directly related to vaccines on a day to day basis are ear or skin conditions, such as chronic discharges and itching. I also see behaviour problems such as fearfulness or aggression. Often guardians will report that these begin shortly after vaccination, and are exacerbated with every vaccine. In a more general and frightening context, I see the overall health and longevity of animals deteriorating. The bodies of most animals have a tremendous capacity to detoxify poisons, but they do have a limit. I think we often exceed that limit and over-whelm the body's immune system function with toxins from vaccines, poor quality foods, insecticides, environmental toxins, etc. This is why we've seen such a dramatic increase in allergies, organ failures, and behaviour problems." (NOTE: a growing number of holistic veterinarians use Transfer Factor before and after vaccination to minimize the side effects and help the animal recover) 

Dr. Blanco, D.V.M - "You take healthy animals and often very quickly after you vaccinate, you can see simple things like itching of the skin or excessive licking of the paws, sometimes even with no eruptions. We see a lot of epilepsy, often after a rabies vaccination. Or dogs or cats can become aggressive for several days. Frequently, you'll see urinary tract infections in cats, often within three months after their [annual] vaccination. If you step back, open your mind and heart, you'll start to see patterns of illness post-vaccination."  more about vaccinosis

Will Falconer, DVM - "Most of the chronic diseases we commonly see in animals (and humans) have an immune basis, e.g. diabetes, allergies, asthma, thyroid disease, inflammatory bowel diseases, repeated ear infections, cancer, etc. While they can be cured through the careful use of homeopathy, the road to cure can be a long one -- often years if the animal has had years of disease. Transfer factors can significantly shorten the course, by giving a much needed balancing effect to the immune system. If the immune system is overactive as in allergies, ear infections, asthma, diabetes, or hypothyroidism, Transfer Factor can balance this overactivity so the system is not attacking its own organs, overreacting to things that shouldn’t be perceived as a threat. If, conversely, the immune system is under-active as in mange, parasites, viral infections, or cancer, Transfer Factor Plus can clearly stimulate it to better meet the challenges it needs to be alert to."  Prevaccination Protection  Dr. Falconer D.V.M. explains how to protect your animal from vaccines damage

Sam Jones, DVM - "Two cats, both about 8 years old, had severe diabetes. It was impossible to get the insulin requirements adjusted. They had lost weight to a point that they were skin and bones. Both cats had no quality of life left. After one week of being on transfer factors; we were able to get their insulin requirements adjusted. It is now 6 months and they have regained their weight and have a great quality of life and health."

Our pets are prone to suffer from minerals and trace mineral deficiency. For optimum health, I supplement my animal's diet (and my diet too) with the following: fulvic minerals , marine phytoplankton (consist of an immense arsenal and array of naturally occuring powerful phytochemicals, biochemicals, supercharged antioxidants, free-radical scavengers, super oxide dismutases, nutrients, enzymes, hormones, amino acids, antibiotics, antivirals, and antifungals), bee pollen (rich in naturally occuring vitamins), kelp (marine plants), the right kind of salt (not common table salt) and therapeutic clay  (to promote healing and to detoxify) and with omega 3 oils. Shasta does not drink tap water. I give her only energized, alkaline microwater which is free from toxic chlorine and fluoride. I never cook or warm up food in a microwave oven. Please read about the Hidden Hazards of Microwave Cooking.   Shirley

Just like humans, domesticated animals like dogs and cats are affected by the health hazards of modern living. Pollution, poor nutrition, stress and unhealthy lifestyles can lead to a variety of illnesses and conditions that are very similar to those experienced by humans. These days, emotional and psychological problems like depression, anxiety, ADHD and behavioral problems are just as prevalent in pets as they are in their owners. Similarly, physical ailments such as diabetes, arthritis, chronic fatigue, digestive disorders, cystitis, kidney and liver disease, skin disorders, obesity, thyroid dysfunction and other problems are becoming more and more common in domesticated animals. Many, if not most of these conditions can be prevented by helping your pets to live a healthier lifestyle. For pets already suffering from existing conditions, a combination of lifestyle changes and natural medicine can work wonders! 

 Deadly, Contagious Dog Flu Virus - Dr. Cynda Crawford, an immunologist at the University of Florida's College of Veterinary Medicine who is studying the virus, said that it spread most easily where dogs were housed together but that it could also be passed on the street, in dog runs or even by a human transferring it from one dog to another. Kennel workers have carried the virus home with them. Read what Dr. Falconer D.V.M.  recommends to protect your pet  from the  Canine Flu disease

Dr. John Hanover, DVM  - "Young puppies and kittens with respiratory infections are given Shipibo Treasure Tea which they will lap up even when they will not drink water. I frequently recommend Amazon Herbs for my patients, especially geriatric animals and our Search and Rescue dogs.”   more...

Dr. Jerry Tennant, M.D. says that marine phytoplankton contains almost everything one needs to sustain life and to restore health by providing the raw materials to make new cells that function normally. Learn how phytoplankton saved a dog's Life 

CHLORINATED and FLUORIDATED WATER.... A BIG NO-NO !!!  There is a perception among many people that bottled water is somehow more healthy or pure than water from their tap. This is simply an illusion of marketing. A four-year study by the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC), released in 1999, found that one-fifth of the sampled bottled waters contained known neurotoxins and carcinogens such as styrene, toluene and xylene. Another NRDC study found that, out of 103 brands of bottled water, one-third contained traces of arsenic and E. coli. This means that out of a sample of 1,000 bottles sold in the U.S., at least 300 would have some level of chemical contamination. It is well known that the average city water today contains over 500 chemicals that do not belong in it. Part of this is due to the fact that most delivery systems in the U.S. include cement, asbestos pipes, cast iron, PVC (porous to certain solvents, herbicides and pesticides) and that lead, cadmium and other toxic metals leach out of valves and couplings of pipes between a water treatment plant and a faucet in the home. Why Purified and Distilled Bottled Water are Bad For You and Your Animals

Safe, toxin-free, Ionized, Energized, Drinking Water helps to naturally flush toxins and acidic waste from the body and is a powerful antioxidant. Ionized Water makes more oxygen available to our cells than distilled, reverse osmosis, filtered only, bottled or tap water and is the best possible drinking water. "Disease and early death is more likely to be seen with the long term drinking of purified water. Avoid it except in special circumstances." Zoltan P. Rona M.D

Site map

 

Home: ShirleysWellnessCafe.com (aka: MyWellnessHouse.com) is a free educational site site dedicated to help promote holistic health for you, your family, and your animals. 
 
 
 
 
 

Natural Animal Health  Overview of Natural,  Holistic Veterinary Medicine
 
 
 
 
 

Pet deaths prompt recall of pet food   The number of cases of kidney failure among dogs and cats that ate poisoned pet food could total in the tens of thousands says Dr. Paul Pion, president of the Veterinary Information Network. More accounts of stricken pets had been coming in since the numbers were tallied over the weekend. He said the final number for pets suffering from kidney failure could be in the tens of thousands. more on the recall

• Shop for Safe, All Natural Human Ingredients Healthy Pet Food
• Natural Treatment of Pet Kidney Disease
• Dr. Jones DVM - "The Truth Behind The Pet Food Recall"
• Class Action Lawsuit Filed Against Pet Food Companies

Do you have a question about holistic animal health or need assistance?        or use this contact form
or call 206-984-3009 or 323-389-0560
 

Veterinary Secrets Revealed!

E-book
Veterinary Secrets Revealed is the bible for solving your pet health problems with natural, at home remedies. Dr. Jones shows you more ways to treat your pet at home than I knew existed.

"These are all practical remedies that really work. No pet owner should be without this e-book." Dr. Jeff Serfas, Forestburg Animal Hospital

Natural Methods For Equine Health  Horses, just like any other animal benefit from natural veterinary care and prevention.
 

Hilarious 30 seconds videos. They will make your day! 
Dog protecting his bone
Dog being massaged by cat
Cat will not share meal with dog
Great Escapes - dogs are so smart! 
Dog born with no front legs walks like a human...you have to see it to believe it!
 
 

forNatural Immune Booster

Dogs love Dr. Miller's Holy Tea too!
Dogs enjoy drinking Dr. Miller's Holy Tea because it helps improve their digestion, thus eliminate bad breath and body odors. The tea also helps flush toxins and assists in cleansing waste and compacted fecal matter from the colon. learn more.
 

Gallery of Factory Farming Photos and Videos Witness first-hand what farm animals endure. (scroll down that page to view ALL videos)

Please sign the petition to help Enact the Protected Animal Law 
 

More at Shirley's Wellness Cafe:

Holistic Animal Health and Optimum Pet Nutrition
Natural Health for Children
Natural Health for Women
Natural Health for Men
Steroids' Side Effects - Anti-Inflammatory Diet and Natural Remedies 
The acid-alkaline balance's impact on health
Eyesight Conditions - Natural Solutions
Arthritis Conditions - Natural Treatment
Diabetes Alternative Medicine 
Health Issues: Consumer Alert!
Alternative Cancer Therapies
Antibiotic Resistance and Side Effects
Natural Herbal antibiotics
The New Healing Science of Glyconutrients 
What is Homeopathy?
Urine therapy: medically proven natural cure
Toxic Environment - Toxic Cosmetics
Detoxification for Optimum Health: Chemicals and toxins are the primary cause of disease and obesity 
Tonic Herbs for Longevity, Rejuvenation, Immunity
Raw Food and Juice Therapy
Therapeutic Fasting
Healing with Herbs and Other Natural Remedies
Water: the great healer
Clay Therapy - Our Earth, Our Cure
Bee Pollen: healing from the hives
Magnesium Medical Miracles
Marine plants to enhance health
Profound Life-Giving Properties of Marine Phytoplankton 
Guide to natural treatments for Fibromyalgia
Immune system: the body's defense department
Sunlight to restore health
Cayenne Pepper: the great healer
Wheatgrass juice: nectar of health and rejuvenation
Healing Earth: Fulvic Acid and Shilajit
Stem Cell Physiology -  Supporting Bone Marrow Adult Stem Cell Release Naturally 
A healing crisis: what is it?
Transfer Factor for people and animals
Emotional Freedom: overcoming stress naturally
Overcoming The Sugar Blues and Getting Off Prozac
Healing shingles/herpes zoster naturally and rapidly
Flaxseed Oil The Wonder Healer
Cholesterol Myth - Fats that Heal, Fats that Kill!
Salt Deficiency: the cause of many serious disease
Radiant, healthy skin: the natural way
Words Of Wisdom Follow Your Dreams!
Dangers of Modern Medicine: Iatrogenic Diseases 
Healing asthma: a drugless approach
Alzheimer's Disease: There is Hope! 
Healing eczema: a drugless approach
Healing psoriasis: a drugless approach
Parasites Infections: Symptoms and Natural Treatment (humans and  pets)
Basic Healing Principles
AIDS/HIV/AZT: truth behind the propaganda
The bitter truth about nutrasweet
Canola oil: how toxic is it?
Bovine Growth Hormones in your milk
Beware of Genetically Engeneered Foods
Radiation Emergencies: Protecting The Thyroid Gland
Weight Loss: natural and healthy solutions 
West Nile Virus - what the media won't tell you
Most Popular Natural Health Products Safe and Effective Remedies  for People and Pets
About the author of this website

Vaccines:
Free Google Videos. Doctors and parents expose how vaccines are crippling our children. 
Dr. David Ayoub, M.D. lectures on Vaccines, Mercury, Autism and other disease

Vaccines: deception and tragedy
Vaccines and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
Shaken Baby Syndrome or Vaccine-Induced Encephalitis?
Misdiagnosed Shaken Baby Syndrome: A Criminal Consequence of Vaccine Injury
AUTISM: is there a vaccine connection?
Criminal Consequence of Vaccine Injury
Anthrax Vaccine Facts and Gulf War Syndrome
Government Enforced Vaccinations: Vaccination Tracking Registry
How To Legally Avoid Unwanted Immunizations Of All Kinds
Vaccine Support Groups and Organizations
Animals: chronic dis-ease caused by vaccines
Nosodes: alternative to conventional vaccines
Library: Vaccine Controversy books

Holistic Children's Health :
Holistic Pediatrics (general)
Nutrition for Babies and Children
Attachment Parenting
Ear infections: alternative to tubes and antibiotics
Pshychiatry - betraying and drugging children for profit
Childhood vaccinations: are they really safe and effective?
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome: astonishing facts
Autism: is there a vaccine connection?
The Circumcision Decision: what I wish I had known...
Understanding your baby's needs
Natural Birth and Home Birth
Ritalin Free Kids: Helping Children, Not Drugging Them
Homeopathy for Children and Infants
Forced Drugging of Children Parents  facing jail over compulsory drug orders.
No longer blind: the story of Shirley's baby born blind and brain-injured

Holistic Animal health :
Do You Really Know What's In Your Pet's Food? by Dr. Jane Bicks DVM
Why RAW food?
Food Unfit For Pets
All Natural Healthy Pet Food 
Animal Nutritional Therapy
Natural Animal  Health
Homeopathy for animals
Pet Allergies: non toxic natural solutions
Rearing healthy pups and kittens
Saving Shasta's life: a holistic approach
Sample RAW pet food recipes
Toxic environment and your pet's illness
Alternative to antibiotics
Testimonials of amazing animal healing.
Preventing and Healing Animal Cancer without drugs or surgery
Holistic Health for Horses
Feline Holistic Health
Natural diet for pet birds
Ferret Natural Health Care and Optimum Diet
Vaccinosis: chronic dis-ease caused by vaccines
Nosodes: alternative to conventional vaccines
List of holisitic veterinarians
Managing flea bites and hotspots naturally
Improving your animal's health with kelp
Library: holistic animal health
Animal training and behavior library
Training Shasta for personal protection

Shop for all natural, non-toxic, safe products for your pet's health and well being.
 

Watch these Free Videos: 

‘We Become Silent" A must see documentary about the threat to medical freedom of choice. The Last Days of Health Freedom' details the ongoing attempts by multinational pharmaceutical interests and giant food companies  to limit the public’s access to herbs, vitamins and other therapies. 
Prescription for Disaster  in-depth investigation into the relationships between the pharmaceutical industry, the FDA, lobbyists, lawmakers, medical schools, and researchers, and the impact this has on consumers and their health care.
Video library   (whistleblower doctors)
 

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Dr. Jerry Tennant, M.D. says that marine phytoplankton contains almost everything one needs to sustain life and to restore health by providing the raw materials to make new cells that function normally. Learn how phytoplankton saved a dog's Life 
 
 

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Possible Causes of Mysterious, Massive Death of Bees

Albert Einstein said:  "If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe, then man would only have four years left to live."
 

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Ayurvedic Remedy for Dogs
Natural herbal supplement geared towards optimizing your dog's overall health, appearance, and longevity.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Natural Animal Health category
Animal Diet and Nutrition category
 
 
 
 
 
 

WHAT VETS DON'T TELL YOU ABOUT VACCINES Read the comments of veterinarians who believe that vaccines are damaging our pets. This information will make you cry and aware of the scam that is the mainstay of the veterinary field. Learn the truth  about the terrible suffering of pets and their owners and what can be done to protect your animals from the drug companies and ignorant vets. 'Shock to the System' covers the latest information on the vaccine issue, and puts the other pieces of the puzzle into the picture. Diet, environmental toxins, pharmaceuticals and stress all play a part in the health of companion animals.
 
 
 
 
 

Do You Really Know What's In Your Pet's Food?     Listen to Dr. Jane Bicks D.V.M. twelve-minute FREE audio or video presentation to learn more about how you can improve the health, well-being, and longevity of your cherished pet. more
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Home-base Income opportunity
Share with others nature's gifts that assists us on our journey to optimal health and wellness.

• Optimum Animal Nutrition - raw food, no grains 
• Do You Really Know What's In Your Pet's Food? by Dr. Jane Bicks DVM
• Animal Nutritional Therapy(flaxseed oil, bee pollen, minerals, seaweed/kelp, Transfer Factor)
• Sample Recipes of Optimum Rawfood Diet for Animals 
• Ready-to-Eat Health Food (raw or kibbles) for dogs, cats and ferrets.
• Treating Animal Diseases Naturally: part 1 - part 2
• Toxic shampoos, toxic drugs, toxic environment affecting pet's health
• Testimonials: saving pets from toxic nightmare
• Testimonials of amazing cures  with holistic veterinary treatments
• Homeopathy for Animals: safe and effective alternative to conventional veterinary practice.
• Library: Books and video on Natural Health Care for Animals - Obedience DogTraining (and behavior problem solving) and Solving Cat Behavior Problems
• Herbs for Pets: Veterinarians Dr. John Hanover and Dr. Debra Rykoff's quick reference guide for using herbs for pets

• Preventing and Healing Animal Cancer: without chemo, radiation or drugs
• Overweight Pet: Weight Management for Dogs and Cats
• Juliette de Bairacli Levy: natural rearing
• Routine Vaccination: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association:"Are We Vaccinating Too Much?"
• Saving Shasta's life: the holistic approach: how I restored my dog's health and vitality- Shirley
• Managing allergies, flea bites and hot-spots naturally: a drugless approach 
• Rearing Healthy Pups and Kittens
• Holistic Health for Horses
• Holistic Health For Your Pet Bird
• Holistic Health for Cats
• Need Assistance or Support?: Join the free support groups and mailing lists.
• Holistic Veterinarians: listing 
• Animal Health Products   natural, safe, non-toxic 

Natural Health for Children:

• Alternatives to steroids, antibiotics, and ear tubes
• Homeopathy for children and infants
• Do you know what happens during circumcision?
• Health hazard and adverse effects of vaccines 
• Forced drugging of children: parents may face jail over compulsory drug orders
• Attachement parenting
• Resources for Children With Special Needs: the Holistic approach ADD/ADHD Helping Children, Not Drugging Them: In 1996 the World Health Organization warned that Ritalin over-use has reached dangerous proportions. Learn about alternatives to ritalin and other drugs 

Natural Health for Women:

• Candida: Conquering Yeast Infections: The Non-Drug Solution
• Infertility and Miscarriage
• Treating Menopause Naturally.
• Autoimmune low-thyroid can cause fatigue, depression, excess weight.
• Estrogen's Deadly Truth: a story of deception, betrayal, hidden agendas, propaganda and misinformation.
• Lifting the Curse of PMS
• Beating Breast Cancer with Nutrition

Enter Holistic Health for Women

Natural Health: Men's Sexual Functions:

• Optimal Prostate Health and Prevention Measure to prostate enlargement.
• Prostate Cancer: a drugless approach
• Homeopathic approach to impotence, bladder infections, prostate problems etc.
• The Male Andropause (like menopause)
• Male Herbs for Impotence

and more...

Enter Holistic Health for Men

Peter R. Breggin, M.D - "The drugging of children has gotten so out of hand that America is waking up to this. This is a national catastrophe." more

Julian Whitaker M.D - "Class action lawsuits have been filed in Texas, California and New Jersey charging Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis, maker of Ritalin, with conspiracy to create the psychiatric disorder known as ADHD in order to fuel the market for their product."