In this episode of The Natural Animal Podcast, I explore a topic that stirs up a lot of debate in the herbal and animal wellness world: Should we be using alcohol in herbal remedies for animals?

As an animal naturopath and herbalist, I’ve made the choice to avoid ethanol in my herbal preparations for pets. In this episode, I’ll share why - from both a physiological and energetic perspective - and explore what I choose to use instead.

We’ll discuss:

• Why alcohol (ethanol) is commonly used in herbal medicine


• The energetic and physical concerns of alcohol use for animals


• Why glycetracts are a gentler, energetically aligned alternative


• How alcohol-free herbal remedies can still be potent and effective


• A brief history of herbal medicine and the evolution of tinctures


• The importance of honouring the sensitivity of animals in our care

Whether you're a pet parent, herbalist, or holistic practitioner, this episode invites you to consider how the energy behind our remedies can matter just as much as their ingredients.

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Additional Resources & Links:

Read the article that inspired this episode: The Problem with Alcohol in Herbal Tinctures for Animals

Loved learning about herbs for animals and want to dive deeper? Learn more about herbs and how to use them to support your animal's health and wellbeing with The Herbal Sessions

Explore my alcohol-free herbal blends and elixirs: Three Rays Animal Apothecary

Learn more about holistic pet health: ruthhatten.com

Follow Ruth on Instagram: @ruth.animalnaturopath | @threeraysanimalapothecary

Got a question, topic idea, or feedback?
 Ruth would love to hear from you. Share your thoughts, ask a question, or suggest a future guest/topic here.

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🙏🏼 Big Thanks To Bella Abraham – for the beautiful podcast artwork and Michael Barry – for the divine theme music.

🎧 If you loved this episode… Please follow the show, leave a review, and share it with a fellow animal lover. Every listen and share helps grow our ripple of compassion, connection, and care - for all animals, companion, farm, and wild.