herbs

Ruby eating a mixture of herbs and flowers

Types of cinnamon

Herbs and Teas

Other herbs to offer

Alfalfa is rich in calcium, magnesium, potassium, carotene and other minerals and vitamins. It detoxifies the liver and has an anti fungal agent. It stimulates the appetite. The un sprouted seeds are said to be toxic.

Aloe Vera treats wounds, burns, cuts, bites. Prevents infections and acts as a pain killer. Some feather pickers are treated successfully with water and aloe gel mixture. The aloe vera plant is on the toxic plant list because there is one part of the plant that is said to be toxic. This is the yellow sap between the skin and the gel. Simply rubbing off the yellow sap is all you need to do. The yellow sap is more noticeable in older aloe stems. There are also some parrot owners who swear by giving parrots the whole stem and it has done no harm at all.

Cayenne chillies have large amounts of vitamin A, B-complex, C, calcium, phosphorous, iron. It's a great digestive aid, anti inflammatory and helps with arthritis.

Chamomile is loaded with calcium, it acts as a calmer when offered to parrots as a mild tea. Soothes the nerves and digestive tract. And a calmative for the traveling parrot.

Cinnamon Has a mild anti-fungal effect for Candida and other types of yeast and aspergillus. Mild anti-bacterial effect against strep and staph bacteria.

Dandelion (super food) has lots of vitamins A, B1, C and blood purifying substances. It can prevent arthritic conditions.

Echinacea Has an ingredient in it that stimulates immune responses. May speed recovery in some cases of poxvirus and in debilitated birds. Has anti-bacterial properties

Eyebright Protects and maintains the health of parrots eyes. A strong tea made out of eyebright is excellent as a wash for your parrots eyes as well as any other animal.

Teas

Herbs To Avoid

Aconite, Borage, Calamus, Chapparal, Colstfoot, Comfrey, Deadly nightshade, Epheda or Mia Huang, Foxglove, Germander, Juniper berry (not toxic in tiny doses. Repeated doses cause convolutions & kidney failure) Liquorice, Ma Huang, Life Root, Lobelia, Pennyroyal, Pokeroot, Sassafrass, Yohimbe, Wormwood

According to legend, tea was first discovered by the Chinese emperor and inventor Shennong in 2737 BCE. It is said that the emperor liked his drinking water boiled before he drank it so it would be clean, so that is what his servants did. One day a servant began boiling water for him to drink, and a dead leaf from the wild tea bush fell into the water. It turned a brownish color, but it was unnoticed and presented to the emperor anyway. The emperor drank it and found it very refreshing, and cha (tea) came into being.

One of the most common tea leaves used comes from the plant Camellia Sinensis, a flowering plant native to China. Scientists have since discovered that drinking tea is nutritional, contain beneficial minerals and many other health benefits.

Herbal teas are also beneficial for parrots and some people use certain types of teas to assist in ailments, diseases and even feather plucking. It is recommended by some caregivers to keep herbal teas in your first aid kit. While you can offer your parrot herbal teas, you should consult your avian vet or bird nutritionist before using herbal tea to cure something.

Herbal teas should be offered at room temperature and with no milk, honey or sugar added to it.

Here are some teas and their benefits.

Anise Tea is used for constipation, has anticonvulsant effects and it can help birds to get through such unpleasant situations. Fennel tea can be used as an alternative to anise tea.

Anise Seed Tea is used for treating respiratory irritations, soothes inflamed airways and eases coughs.

Black Tea stimulates your birds circulation. It has been used as a remedy for stress. High in antioxidants, maintains healthy blood vessels.

Calendula Tea is high in beta carotene, used as an antibacterial and anti inflammatory, beneficial for the skin. It detoxifies the body and aids in digestive problems.

Chamomile Tea should be kept in the first aid kit. It is one of the most useful and widely used herbal teas. It’s used as an anti inflammatory, eases discomfort when they are ill or have a disease, a natural calmer and sedative, settles indigestion, relieves muscle spams, anxiety and insomnia, it’s high in antibiotics. Inhalation of chamomile tea vapours is effective to the respiratory system of sick parrots. And it has been known to treat diarrhoea. There are also some references that suggest chamomile tea helps birds to help with pluckers. It is an anger and irritability suppressant.

Dandelion Root and Leaf Tea is high in beta carotene, iron, has an abundance of vitamins and minerals. It’s good for general health, digestion, has anti cancer properties, the flowers in tea aid in night blindness. Helps promote healthy kidneys and liver. Helps with good circulation, cleanses the blood, helps sore joints.

Fennel Tea is recommended as a common drinking tea for parrots and one that should be kept in the first aid kit. It helps with constipation and flatulence. It helps to avoid too much gas in the crop or abdomen while it has a yeast infection. You can also use anise tea as an alternative to fennel.

Green Tea is very high in antioxidants, strong polyphenols. It regulates cholesterol, reduces blood pressure, heart disease, boosts the immune system, helps in weight loss. It has also been suggested it reduces gene damage that leads to cancer.

Ginger Tea relieves arthritis, improves circulation and aids in nausea. It is great for parrots who get travel sickness.

Peppermint Tea aids in digestive upsets and has antiseptic properties.

Raspberry Leaf Tea is used as a potent tonic for breeding hens. It stimulates muscle contractions, helping the egg to pass through easier. In zoo’s the tea is used successfully in egg bound hens.

Rose Hip Tea is very high in vitamin C, maintains kidney and liver health. Helps cleanse the blood. Some have suggested it also aids in fatigue and helps in recovery of sick birds.

Stinging Nettle Tea has detoxifying, cleansing and healing effects, cleans the kidneys. The plant can also be used as a healthy foraging plant.

Thyme Tea is used as an anti fungal and fungal suppressive. It’s often used as a healing tea for yeast infection in birds.

White Tea is high in antioxidants, reduces gene damage that leads to cancer. It is anti fungal and antiviral agent. Good for bone density.

Fruit and Veg Nutrition

Frozen and Dried Food

Safe and Toxic Plants

Fennel reduces inflammation and helps prevent the occurrence of cancer. The high amount of vitamin C in the bulbs is antimicrobial and helps the immune system to function proper.

Garlic has many anti fungal, anti viral, anti bacterial substances. A natural antibiotic that is safe for parrots in small doses. I offer my parrots a thin slice every couple of weeks It's said to stimulate immune systems, kills parasites, aids in eliminating lead & other toxins from the body.

Ginger Root A mix of ginger tea is said to be great for colic or throwing up in baby parrots. Ginger tea (2 thin slices of fresh ginger in boiled water) is also great for traveling birds with motion sickness. I add thin slices of ginger to their sprout mixes every morning. I don't have a parrot in my house that doesn't like ginger! Leaves and stems can also be eaten.

Kava Kava from the pepper family has sedative and tranquillising effects. It has also been known to be useful for feather plucking and hyperactive parrots. The herb should be used sparingly as it is quite strong.

Lemongrass has similar properties to citronella and same repellant effects on insects. It can be crushed and rubbed directly onto branches, cage bars, anything where the bird is going to be. Eaten, it is anti fungal, anti infection. It's good for kidney disorders and regenerates connective tissue. It also stimulates your birds.

Milk Thistle (super food) Seeds have a flavonoid that is effective for liver disorders and is the number one treatment for all liver conditions. Milk Thistle has no known side effects.

Passion Flower acts as a sedative for parrots. It is also recommended for parrots that feather pluck or parrots that have a compulsive behaviour as or are too hyperactive.

Taheebo has anti-fungal properties effective against candida and intestinal parasites in parrots.

Kelp and other seaweeds such as Wakame, Undaria, Kombu and Nori protect parrots against bacteria known to cause cancer. They posses anti-fungal, anti-viral, and anti-tumor properties. They are powerful for immune responses.

Slippery Elm is used externally for wounds, burns, rashes, abscesses, boils, or insect bites, internally for the lungs, coughing, vomiting.

Valerian is used as a sedative and pain reliever, since it is strong it should only be used under the advise of professionals.

Witch Hazel can be topical a spray, it can relieve itching as well as has healing properties. Can be used as an alternative to aloe vera spray. Made up witch hazel usually is preserved with alcohol so avoid contact with the face area and avoid the parrot inhalating the spray.

Anise, Basil flowers, Dill, Milk Thistle - leaf & flower, Mint, Parsley, Bay leaf Chick weed, Coriander (cilantro), Oregano, Thyme, Turmeric Shepherds Purse, Sage and flowers, Sorrel, Lavender

Types of Dandelion

Types of Thistle

Ceylon (true cinnamon)

Cassia

Decaffeinated teas are recommended for parrots