Yunnan Paiyo, A Herb For Dogs With Cancer

Sheltie with Hemangiosarcoma Cancer

Denise asked for advice on using Yunnan Paiyo because she has a male Sheltie, Bandit, with hemangiosarcoma. Hemangiosarcoma is an aggressive cancer that starts in the blood vessels or lymph vessels of the skin, spleen, bone, or heart and spreads throughout the body. Metastasis is usually to the spleen, lungs, and liver. My own 11-year-old male Sheltie also has sarcoma, and this topic is dear to me.

Herbs for Cancer

Many herbal formulas, including Yunnan Paiyo, are used to treat hemangiosarcoma.We use some herbs to stimulate the clearing of masses, the “blood moving” herbs according to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). We also use herbs to support energy and the desire to live and enjoy life. In TCM, these herbs support the Kidney Yang and “shen” or spirit.

Yunnan Paiyo is an herbal formula from the Yunnan province in China that helps prevent bleeding, which is common with hemangiosarcoma. Yunnan Paiyo also helps with bleeding stomach ulcers, bruising, and pain caused by bruising. In addition to its benefit to those with cancer, Yunnan Paiyo is used for dogs active in sports, undergoing surgery, having dental extractions or taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Yunnan Paiyo is sold as a capsule that can be given whole or opened and sprinkled onto food. Dogs don’t seem to mind the taste of Yunnan as they do with many herbs, but it can be mixed with honey or meat for those that don’t delight in the flavor.

How Often Is Yunnan Given?

Yunnan Paiyo is often best when pulsed, which means given for a short term, then stopped and begun again. For example, it can be given for a couple weeks, then stopped for a week; given for a few days, stopped for a few days. The pulsing schedule is determined by the veterinarian, who considers all supplements and their individual effects.

We typically pulse Yunnan because it exhausts the TCM “fire” and “yin” elements if given in excess. Also, Yunnan has been associated with elevated liver enzymes (ALT, ASP, AST), but it is not clear if the elevations are due to the underlying illness or to the Yunnan.

Recommended Dosages

There are several published oral dosages for Yunnan Paiyo, which make it clear that there is a wide range of dosages requiring the veterinarian’s judgment:
· one 250 mg cap/25 lb twice a day
· one 250 mg cap/10 lb divided doses
· 30-35 mg/lb per day divided doses
· 35-50 mg/lb per day divided doses

We support Denise in her care for Bandit and recommend that she work with a holistic veterinarian to obtain the best care. Herbs such as Yunnan Paiyo that are capable of doing so much good can do harm and should never be given without a veterinarian's direct oversight. This is doubly important when medicating dogs for cancer and using both the classic Western diagnosis and a TCM approach.

Finding a Holistic Veterinarian

To find a holistic veterinarian trained in the use of Yunnan Paiyo, visit the American Holistic Vet Med website and search by state, area code, or phone prefix.

We offer Bandit and Denise our prayers, hoping they enjoy all that life holds for them both.