Yunnan Baiyao for Dogs

What Is Yunnan Baiyao?

Yunnan Baiyao is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) herbal mixture that is used in both humans and pets such as dogs and cats. Yunnan Baiyao is used to aid wound healing, as a pain reliever, and most commonly to stop bleeding.

This herbal formula was developed in China in the early 1900s and was said to have been carried by soldiers to help control bleeding when they were injured in battle. While the exact ingredients are not disclosed, the main active ingredient is thought to be a pseudoginseng root, called Panax notoginseng.

Yunnan Baiyao can be used both inside and outside the body, either as an oral or a topical supplement. There are few medical studies on the use of Yunnan Baiyao in dogs, but it has been used for years at Angell Animal Medical Center in Boston to help control bleeding, especially in cases of hemoabdomen (where there is blood within the abdominal cavity) in dogs.

Yunnan Baiyao and other Eastern medicine remedies should always be used in conjunction with modern Western medicine and under the supervision of your veterinarian.

How Yunnan Baiyao Works in Dogs

Yunnan Baiyao appears to help control bleeding in dogs by activating platelets and preventing new blood vessel growth. Platelets are pieces of larger cells in the dog’s bone marrow. They help to form blood clots to slow or stop bleeding, as well as help wounds to heal. This herbal formula comes as a capsule for oral use and a powder for topical use.

A study in 2017 by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) examined the oral use of Yunnan Baiyao in beagles to see its effect on blood clotting. While the study results were inconclusive as to whether the medicine helps the blood to clot, it was deemed safe to give dogs, as there were no negative side effects. This is often the conclusion about most traditional Chinese herbal formulas—it can’t hurt, but it is  unclear if it truly helps. Thus, it’s important to always use these options in conjunction with modern medical treatments.

Although Yunnan Baiyao is best known for its claims of helping to control bleeding, the herbal supplement has also been used for its potential anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer effects. In 2014, a study was done of cells involved in hemangiosarcoma in dogs. Hemangiosarcoma is a form of cancer that starts from blood vessels and commonly occurs in the spleen, liver, or heart in dogs. This study showed that the use of Yunnan Baiyao in these dogs caused a decrease in the number of cancer cells in the body.

What Does Yunnan Baiyao Help Treat in Dogs?

Yunnan Baiyao has been used for many years in dogs to help prevent bleeding, and is most used when a dog has a hemoabdomen (free floating blood in the belly, often from a ruptured tumor or injury to the liver or spleen), pericardial effusion (blood accumulating outside the heart wall), and epistaxis (nose bleeds).

Yunnan Baiyao has also been used to treat shock and other causes of bleeding in dogs. Yunnan Baiyao is not FDA-approved for use in dogs, but it can be used “off label” or when your veterinarian deems it might be useful, such as with cancer and other bleeding disorders.

Where To Buy Yunnan Baiyao for Dogs

Yunnan Baiyao capsules can be purchased directly from your veterinarian. Although this traditional Chinese herbal supplement is available from many online retailers, it should not be purchased or given without the guidance of your dog’s veterinarian, who can determine if it’s right for your pup.

Each packet of Yunnan Baiyao capsules comes with the white capsules as well as a small red pill. This red pill is a higher concentration of Yunnan Baiyao and is only to be used for serious, uncontrolled bleeding. If your veterinarian has noted a massive bleed, they might suggest you give this pill to your dog in addition to the normal capsules.

Side Effects of Yunnan Baiyao for Dogs

While Yunnan Baiyao appears to be safe in dogs, it is relatively new to veterinary medicine. Its safety has not been studied for long-term use in dogs. This TCM supplement should only be used in conjunction with modern medicine and only if your veterinarian suggests using it. Side effects of Yunnan Baiyao are often mild in dogs. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, decrease or loss of appetite, rash, itchiness, and flatulence have been reported. Some of these gastrointestinal side effects have been decreased when the supplement is given with food.

Since Yunnan Baiyao is thought to cause an increase in liver enzymes in some dogs, it should be used with caution in dogs with known liver disease. When Yunnan Baiyao is used with anti-cancer therapy such as chemotherapy, it’s often suggested to wait until a few weeks into treatment to start this supplement.