Choosing and Keeping Pigs(Firefly Books Inc., 2009), by Linda McDonald-Brown is an expert guide for anyone interested in keeping pigs. The book details everything readers need to know about caring for and keeping a pig, covering topics ranging from housing to health and habitat management. The following excerpt is from Chapter 3, “Pests and Diseases.”
In many countries, natural remedies are used as a matter of course if conventional ones are not available. Extracts of tea-tree oil, tansy, lavender and eucalyptus have had considerable success in the treatment of skin diseases and wounds. Vets use licensed medicines automatically and often have only a limited knowledge of alternative medicines. If you are interested in using natural medicines, you will therefore need to approach specialist companies for advice on the suitability of their products. Two of the more popular natural remedies are:
Tea-tree oil. This comes from the leaves of Melaleuca alternifolia, a plant native to Australia. It has long been used as a wound-healer by the Aborigines, and its value as an antiseptic is recognized worldwide. The two active chemicals in tea tree, terpenes and cineole, are well known for their ability to destroy most bacteria, fungi and yeast, and the oil is of great value in treating skin diseases and parasitic infestations.
Aloe vera. The Aloe vera plant contains more than 200 naturally occurring nutritional substances and possesses a number of health benefits. Aloe-vera gel applied locally encourages skin regeneration and can be used directly on wounds, sunburn and insect bites.
More from Choosing and Keeping Pigs:
• Health Problems for Pigs
• Plants That Are Toxic to Your Pigs
Excerpted fromChoosing and Keeping Pigs, by Linda McDonald-Brown. Used with permission from Firefly Press, © 2009.
