What is Di Tan Tang?
Di Tan Tang is a TCVM (Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine) herbal blend that treats seizures and epilepsy in dogs, cats, and horses.
A seizure is a sudden, uncontrolled surge of electrical activity released by the neurons in the brain.
The surge causes small electrical signals to travel through the nerves to the body’s muscles causing a change in how the body appears or acts for a short period of time.
Seizures may produce physical convulsions, minor physical signs, thought disturbances, or a combination of all three.
Seizure disorders are categorized as:
- Idiopathic Epilepsy: Idiopathic epilepsy is due to an inborn, biochemical defect of neurons. This type of epilepsy is related to Kidney Jing Deficiency causing wind and is a common cause of recurrent seizures in dogs. Idiopathic epilepsy is a seizure disorder in which the seizure is the disease, and treating the seizure treats the disease.
- Acquired Epilepsy: Acquired epilepsy is due to the presence of an old injury. This type of epilepsy is related to Stagnation causing Wind. Acquired Epilepsy is a seizure disorder in which the seizure is the disease, and treating the seizure treats the disease.
- Active Seizure Disease: Active seizure disease is a seizure disorder where the seizure is only one symptom of the true underlying disease or body issue. The underlying issues could be one of several issues such as toxicity, systemic disease, or metabolic disorders, to name a few.
Can Di Tan Tang Help My Pet?
Chances are, Di Tan Tang can help.
Di Tan Tang helps pets with Western diagnoses of epilepsy, seizures, and convulsions.
The Traditional Chinese medical indications for this Di Tan Tang are:
- Sudden seizure
- Wood personality (agitated or irritable)
- Fever
- Loss of consciousness
- Coughing up yellow phlegm
- Occasional constipation
- Internal Wind due to Wind-Phlegm with Heat
- Screaming and foaming at the mouth
- A red or purple greasy-coated tongue
- A slippery pulse
How Does Di Tan Tang Help Seizures and Epilepsy in Dogs, Cats, and Horses?
Di Tan Tang treats epilepsy as idiopathic and is due to an inborn, biochemical defect of neurons.
In TCVM, idiopathic epilepsy begins when the patient is a fetus in the mother’s uterus.
It occurs when the mother gets frightened or scared, causing her Qi to flow up.
The Qi for some reason or another is unable to descend.
This causes the Qi and Jing to stay together, the Jing eventually gets consumed, causing the fetus to have inherited (idiopathic) epilepsy.
TCM practitioners have found six Patterns that epilepsy can be divided into:
- Obstruction by Wind-Phlegm
- Internal Profusion of Phlegm-Fire
- Stagnation of Blood
- Liver Blood Deficiency
- Liver/Kidney Yin Deficiency
- Kidney Jing Deficiency
Di Tan Tang treats the idiopathic epilepsy Pattern of the Stagnation of Blood.
At our clinic, pets often receive an Eastern exam (Traditional Chinese Medicine) in combination with the standard veterinary exam.
Traditional Chinese Medicine philosophy is very different than our standard Western medical philosophy.
Traditional Chinese Medicine focuses on balance and finding the cause of the problem rather than simply masking symptoms with prescription medicines.
Through Eastern examination techniques, we can choose herbal blends that will both treat symptoms and at the same time correct the imbalances in your pet’s body that are causing the symptoms.
Di Tan Tang is only one of the many TCM herbal blends available for our doctors to choose from based on the results of the Eastern exam.
What Herbs Are in Di Tan Tang?
Di Tan Tang is an herbal blend specially formulated with herbs specifically chosen to work synergistically to alleviate idiopathic epilepsy, convulsions and seizures caused by Stagnation of Blood. The Chinese principles of treatment for this herbal blend are transforming phlegm, clear Internal Wind, and stop the seizure.
The main ingredients in the Di Tan Tang herbal formula are:
- Chen Pi (Citrus) to move Qi and transform phlegm
- Dan Nan Xing (Arisaema) to transform phlegm
- Fu Ling (Poria) to drain Damp
- Gan Cao (Glycyrrhiza) to Harmonize
- Gan Jiang (Zingibiris) to Harmonize
- Gou Teng (Uncaria) to extinguish Internal Wind and clear Liver Heat
- Hi Zao (Sargassum) to transform phlegm, clear Heat, and soften the hardness
- Kun Bu (Laminaria) to transform phlegm, soften the hardness, and drain water
- Ren Shen (Kirin) (Ginseng) to tonify Qi
- Shi Jue Ming (Haliotis) to clear Liver Heat
- Shi Chang Pu (Acorus) to open the orifice and eliminate Damp
- Zhi Shi (Aurantium) to move Qi
- Zhu Ru (Bambusa) to transform phlegm
This herbal blend is derived from the ancient Chinese herbal formula Di Tan Tang from Ji Sheng Fang written in 1253 by Yan Yong-He.
Our clients have seen wonderful improvements in the health conditions of their pets using herbal blends to take care of a variety of health issues. Please contact our clinic at any time if you have questions about herbal remedies!
