Herbs and Wild Plants

Galens Garden Hedgerow Herb Mix
Animals in the captive environment do not have access to the plants they would naturally help themselves to in the wild. With the tendency to produce seeds rather than meadow hay and the increasing level of pollution, both chemical and animal, which affects many of our native wild plants, this 'hedgerow medicine chest' is less readily available.

Many of our native wild plants are not only excellent food for rabbits, guinea pigs and chinchillas but can be fed as supplements to the regular diet to correct illness or imbalance.

Most of the herbs and wild plants commonly fed to rabbits and guinea pigs are astringent (drying), although dandelion is a well known diuretic and laxative if fed in anything but small amounts. Some wild plants, such as borage, coltsfoot and comfrey should only be fed sparingly or when required as a first aid measure as they contain alkaloids which are damaging in excess. Clover and alfalfa are rich in protein and calcium.

The best way of providing herbs and wild plants as an addition to your rabbit or guinea pig's diet is to grow them yourself in your garden, tubs or window boxes.  After all most of them grow, well "like weeds"!

By understanding why animals in the wild would naturally select certain herbs or wild plants when they need them it makes it easier for the owner of a captive animal to give them the herbs or wild plants that they need to stay healthy.

Galen's Garden's Hedgerow Herb Blend


Galen's Garden produces Hedgerow Herbs, a blend of 20 different dried herbs and wild plants rich in naturally occurring minerals, trace elements and other plant ingredients such as chlorophyll, volatile oils, fibre and vitamins.  Feeding a pinch per day to chinchillas, guinea pigs or small rabbits helps keep them in top condition. Larger rabbits can be fed more.  The herbs used are the same as those used in human herbal medicine and are free from contaminants.

INGREDIENTS: Agrimony, Borage, Chickweed, Cleavers, Coltsfoot, Comfrey, Cornsilk, Dandelion, Golden Rod, Kelp, Lemon Balm, Marshmallow, Melilot, Nettle, Parsley, Plantain, Raspberry Leaf, Red Clover Flower, Shepherd’s Purse and Yarrow.

Herbs and Wild Plants
Constituents and Actions
Agrimony | Avens | Borage | Calendula | Cats Claw | Celery | Chanca Piedra | Chickweed | Chicory | Cleavers | Coltsfoot | Comfrey | Cornsilk | Dandelion | Echinacea | Elder Flower | Fennel | Fenugreek | Garlic | Goats Rue | Golden Rod | Groundsel | Inula | Lemon Balm | Maca | Mallow | Marshmallow | Meadowsweet | Melilot | Milk Thistle | Mouse Ear | Nettles | Parsley | Plantain | Raspberry Leaf | Red Clover | Rosehip | Shepherds Purse | Suma | Valerian | Yarrow

Herb uses, myths and herb/drug interactions
From Harvard Medical School's Consumer Health Information