Harnessing the Antimicrobial Power of Plants for Your Dog's Health, with Dr Carol Hughes

Today, I am talking with Dr Carol Hughes, a leading expert in canine microbiome research, whose episode where we spoke specifically about the microbiome is by far one of your favourites! But today we are going to be discussing one of Carol’s other passions, and that is plant antimicrobials.  Carol has been researching plant antimicrobials for over 20 years, and this is a fantastic complement to our discussion of the canine microbiome, because plant antimicrobials offer a potential alternative to conventional antibiotics that wreak havoc on the microbiome, and instead, target specific pathogenic bacteria without disrupting the entire gut system. In this episode, Carol begins by sharing with us her fascinating story of how she first got into this line of research via horses, and you’ll be amazed to hear that Queen Elizabeth I is part of this story! We also preface this chat with understanding the context we are in where we have lost our knowledge about plants, and how we must reclaim it in an era of antibiotic resistance. Carol then dives into:  * How plants come to have antimicrobial properties * How plants can help us target pathogenic bacteria - and how plant antimicrobials may be the microbiome’s only hope! * How you can use plant antimicrobials, and which ones you can choose right from your kitchen for your dog’s health * You'll also have a brand new understanding of nature therapy when you hear how trees help heal our illnesses! And so much more! Carol is an absolute fount of knowledge, so I know you are going to find some real gems in this chat. If you’d like to reach out to Carol, or you’d like to learn more about how to order a microbiome test and report for your dog, visit her website https://www.biome4pets.com If a holistic approach to caring for your dog resonates with you, and you are interested in learning more about how you can put the pieces together, Stacey Renphrey of Hozho Hounds and I are launching our F.E.T.C.H. membership which is designed to teach you the same holistic framework that we use in our canine nutrition and wellbeing practices, so that you, too, can confidently take control of your dog’s health journey. Comment F.E.T.C.H., or DM me on Instagram.com/mysticdogmama, or send me a message on my website https://mysticdogmama.com for more information. Links to microbiome episode with Dr Carol Hughes: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/episode/0QVygc5af1q1IXIeQgGlBQ?si=bd38af272e5f49c1⁠ ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/mystic-dog-mama/id1718816917?i=1000673658722⁠ ⁠https://youtu.be/lGhU7UaM10o?si=PkX3RD_AXzh2CkBz⁠ This episode is sponsored by Aspirationery ,which in full transparency, is another project of mine where we create books, notebooks, and stationery to support you in becoming all you aspire to be. I’m really excited to announce that we have released a Spanish language version of our popular My First Period Tracker for Young Girls and Tweens in order to increase menstrual literacy and empower young people to become advocates for their menstrual health. You can learn more about our books on our Instagram https://instagram.com/aspirationery *Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of your own veterinarian or doctor.