Yunnan Baiyao for Dogs: Chinese Herb for Bleeding Dog Cancers
Dr. Demian Dressler is internationally recognized as “the dog cancer vet” because of his innovations in the field of dog cancer management, and the popularity of his blog here at Dog Cancer Blog. The owner of South Shore Veterinary Care, a full-service veterinary hospital in Maui, Hawaii, Dr. Dressler studied Animal Physiology and received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California at Davis before earning his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University. After practicing at Killewald Animal Hospital in Amherst, New York, he returned to his home state, Hawaii, to practice at the East Honolulu Pet Hospital before heading home to Maui to open his own hospital. Dr. Dressler consults both dog lovers and veterinary professionals, and is sought after as a speaker on topics ranging from the links between lifestyle choices and disease, nutrition and cancer, and animal ethics. His television appearances include “Ask the Vet” segments on local news programs. He is the author of The Dog Cancer Survival Guide: Full Spectrum Treatments to Optimize Your Dog’s Life Quality and Longevity. He is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association, the American Association of Avian Veterinarians, the National Animal Supplement Council and CORE (Comparative Orthopedic Research Evaluation). He is also an advisory board member for Pacific Primate Sanctuary.
Updated: April 27th, 2023
Summary
Yunnan baiyao for dogs with cancer may sound weird because it’s used for bleeding problems. But in certain cases, it is really useful.
Today’s article is about an herb from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM): yunnan baiyao for dogs with cancer. Yes, the chinese herb, also spelled yunnan paiyao, can be used in some cancers.
This episode of our podcast Dog Cancer Answers addresses yunnan baiyao.
Bleeding Cancer Causes
Some canine cancers are associated with bleeding, like internal hemangiosarcomas. Hemangiosarcomas are tumors that occur in the linings of the blood vessels, so they can be pretty bloody.
But even other types of cancers can bleed. For example, sometimes chemotherapy drugs increase bleeding tendencies. Sometimes tumors rupture, and internal bleeding results.
Again, not every tumor is bloody. But when they are, finding a way to control that internal bleeding is a good idea.
Especially nice would be something that can be given in a capsule at home.
A Supplement That Stops Bleeding??
Conventional veterinary medicine teaches us that there is no such thing. But hey, let’s remember: there is more to healing than what we may have been exposed to here in the West. My alma mater is consistently ranked number one or two best veterinary school in the nation, but I didn’t learn about supplements until I started my own studies.
Yunnan baiyao is a good example. This is a well-known treatment in China. Its name means “The white medicine from Yunnan province.”
It’s well researched in China, and, perhaps more importantly, comes from a medical tradition that has been in existence for thousands of years. Our Western medical researchers are beginning to show interest, and so far, most studies here show that there are reasons to study it more.
Yunnan baiyao is a blend of herbal ingredients, not one single plant. Here in the West, we’re used to thinking about individual treatments for individual problems. Supplements are usually made of only one ingredient.
That’s not the way TCM thinks about remedies or treatments. With their thousands of years of experience, they often make blends of several different components. Yunnan baiyao is no exception.
The precise recipe is a guarded secret in China, but the ingredients include various yam roots, ox gall bladder, pseudoginseng, and sweet geranium.
How Yunnan Baiyao Works (we think)
It seems that yunnan baiyao activates the platelets, the tiny blood cells that help form clots. Why is this important?
Well, because blood clots are the first step in a scab. When platelets are active, they form little plugs, or little corks. That’s the way they stop a hemorrhage.
Think of the last time you cut yourself. Remember how the blood flowed, and then slowed down, and a red oozy mass formed? That’s your platelets in action.
So we think when a dog takes yunnan baiyao, the herbal formula activates the platelets, which slow bleeding down and help stop it.
Keep in mind that this remedy is not fully understood, and there are some veterinarians who just don’t think using it is worth it. But there are plenty who disagree and feel that as long as it’s safe, using it in serious cases is warranted.
For more tools to help fight dog cancer that you may have not heard of, get a copy of The Dog Cancer Survival Guide.
When To Use Yunnan Baiyao
I wouldn’t recommend using yunnan baiyao without consulting with your veterinarian. It might not be necessary for your dog’s specific case. But if your dog is having internal bleeds, or if your dog has the bloody cancer called hemangiosarcoma, your veterinarian might want to use it to help control bleeding.
How much to give? The following dosing is a bit rough. These are general guidelines that you should check out with your veterinarian:
- For dogs under 10 lbs, give 1 capsule by mouth one time a day.
- For dogs from 10 to 30 lbs, give 1 capsule by mouth two times a day.
- For dogs above 30 but less than 60 lbs, give 2 capsules two times a day.
- For dogs above 60 lbs, give 2 capsules three times a day.
Do not give Yunnan baiyao on an ongoing basis. It is best to give it on alternating days, or for a 5-day on, 5-day off cycle that repeats. You should also be aware that there is some evidence that this medicine may elevate liver markers if given daily for prolonged periods of time.
Best to all,
Dr D
Editor’s Note: Where to Buy Yunnan Baiyao
It is not as easy to get yunnan baiyao online as it once was. If your veterinarian doesn’t sell it (and most who recommend it do), the best bet is to check your local supplement store, particularly if they stock other TCM remedies. If they don’t stock it, you might ask your veterinarian to order it for you from Jin Tang http://tcvmherbal.com/. You can also try Pine Street Clinic: https://pinestreetclinic.com/products/yunnan-baiyao
Further Reading & References
Brennen McKenzie, MA, MSc, VMD, cVMA, Yunnan baiyao for patients with hemorrhage, neoplasia, Veterinary Practice News, December 11, 2017
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center’s discussion on Yunnan Baiyao
Institute of Traditional Medicine Discussion of Yunnan Baiyao
Tansey C, Wiebe ML, Hybki GC, Patlogar JE, Murphy LA, Bianco D, Nakamura RK. A prospective evaluation of oral Yunnan Baiyao therapy on thromboleastographic parameters in apparently healthy dogs. J Vet Emerg Crit Care (San Antonio). 2018 May;28(3):221-225. doi: 10.1111/vec.12712. PMID: 29727528
Morris BR, deLaforcade A, Lee J, Palmisano J, Meola D, Rozanski E. Effects of in vitro hemodilution with crystalloids, colloids, and plasma on canine whole blood coagulation as determined by kaolin-activated thromboelastography. J Vet Emerg Crit Care (San Antonio). 2016 Jan-Feb;26(1):58-63. doi: 10.1111/vec.12345. Epub 2015 Jul 28. PubMed PMID: 26220153.
Ness SL, Frye AH, Divers TJ, Rishniw M, Erb HN, Brooks MB. Randomized placebo-controlled study of the effects of Yunnan Baiyao on hemostasis in horses. Am J Vet Res. 2017 Aug;78(8):969-976. doi: 10.2460/ajvr.78.8.969. PubMed PMID: 28738008.
Lee A, Boysen SR, Sanderson J, Wagg CR, Chalhoub S. Effects of Yunnan Baiyao on blood coagulation parameters in beagles measured using kaolin activated thromboelastography and more traditional methods. Int J Vet Sci Med. 2017 Apr 12;5(1):53-56. doi: 10.1016/j.ijvsm.2017.01.004. eCollection 2017 Jun. PMID: 30255049
Wiinberg B, Jensen AL, Rojkjaer R, Johansson P, Kjelgaard-Hansen M, Kristensen AT. Validation of human recombinant tissue factor-activated thromboelastography on citrated whole blood from clinically healthy dogs. Vet Clin Pathol. 2005 Dec;34(4):389-93. PubMed PMID: 16270265.
Frederick J, Boysen S, Wagg C, Chalhoub S. The effects of oral administration of Yunnan Baiyao on blood coagulation in beagle dogs as measured by kaolin-activated thromboelastography and buccal mucosal bleeding times. Can J Vet Res. 2017;81(1):41-45.
How One Company Brought Traditional Chinese Medicine To The Modern World And Made Billions, Forbes, Michael Schuman
Yunnan Baiyao – What’s the Clinical Evidence? by L. Graham
Dr. Demian Dressler is internationally recognized as “the dog cancer vet” because of his innovations in the field of dog cancer management, and the popularity of his blog here at Dog Cancer Blog. The owner of South Shore Veterinary Care, a full-service veterinary hospital in Maui, Hawaii, Dr. Dressler studied Animal Physiology and received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California at Davis before earning his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University. After practicing at Killewald Animal Hospital in Amherst, New York, he returned to his home state, Hawaii, to practice at the East Honolulu Pet Hospital before heading home to Maui to open his own hospital. Dr. Dressler consults both dog lovers and veterinary professionals, and is sought after as a speaker on topics ranging from the links between lifestyle choices and disease, nutrition and cancer, and animal ethics. His television appearances include “Ask the Vet” segments on local news programs. He is the author of The Dog Cancer Survival Guide: Full Spectrum Treatments to Optimize Your Dog’s Life Quality and Longevity. He is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association, the American Association of Avian Veterinarians, the National Animal Supplement Council and CORE (Comparative Orthopedic Research Evaluation). He is also an advisory board member for Pacific Primate Sanctuary.
Hi,
I have a 12 year old Siberian Husky currently on her 6th night in ICU at a Veterinary Hospital. After blood tests, xray, ct scan, rhinoscopy and biopsy—-there is still no visible or clear reason as to why she is suffering intermittent nose bleeds to the point of transfusions. The biopsy did show inflammation, and she was on a daily dose of 325mg of aspirin for 6-8 weeks that’s our only clue (its been a week since her last aspirin). Today she needed surgery to limit blood flow to her nose, hoping the lack of traffic of blood her body can heal and clot?. If this doesn’t work they will do the right nostril, and if that doesn’t work then…I don’t know I guess there are no more options because we don’t know the cause and what to treat. And really the surgery is just to buy time if it is just some kind of tear that happened in an artery that just won’t heal. (maybe she sneezed the irritant out already)
So my question is…when we get her home…..How do you treat the I don’t knows? The maybes? I figure a healthier diet filled with food that fights inflammation? supplements?, .She already is on Yunnan (the past 4 days so we will continue that). Do we get her apocaps? What if its fungus and not cancer? What if it was just a bad sneeze? Am I on the right track? Is there something better we can do? What should we do next?
Thank you Dr. Dressler for your commitment to animals with cancer, thank you to anyone who reads this and worries about animals and their well-being, and to anyone who can offer me any knowledge! I want my dog home and happy!
Diana
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Dr. D,
Shelby is a 15 year old Bichon with large tumor pituitary dependent Cushing’s and a torn mitral valvie in her heart. She’s on enalapril, vetmedin and furosemide for the heart and her vet stopped the Vetoryl when an ultrasound showed a mass with pockets of fluid in the liver that is consistent with hemangiosarcoma. Due to the heart condition she is not a candidate for surgery, nor a needle aspiration/biopsy due to the risk of bleeding. I have her on the cancer diet recommended in your book, plus Everpup. I am nervous about giving her Apocaps due to the liver situation, and it’s not clear whether I should only give her Yunnan Baiyao if I suspect she’s bleeding internally (which is hard for me to tell), and if so, for how long? The literature in Chinese Traditional Medicine talks about using Yunnan Baiyao only when there’s active bleeding, not prophylactically, and then only for a limited time up to 10 days. I’ve also read it could speed up metastasis although stopping any bleeding is obviously more important. Under these circumstances, could I add Apocaps, keep the Everpup going, and only add Yunnan if I am convinced she’s bleeding? If not, could I selectively add just certain ingredients that would not affect the liver, such as curcumin and certain mushroom extracts? Thank you in advance for any suggestions! Your book is tremendously helpful.
Hi Dr. Dressler – I found your blog very helpful. My dog is on Yunnan Baiyo and has hemangiosarcoma. I also have her on IP6, however further reading is telling me that it can effect blood clotting in the body. Just curious of your opinion. Donna
Hi Dr.,
How does Yunnan fit into a regime that includes anti-angiogenesis supplements? For instance, angioblock/vacustatin (bindweed) is designed to cut off the ability of tumor’s to grow by inhibiting vascular formations. It seems like bindweed and others like it could shrink/prevent tumors but also lead to bleeding. While Yunnan could allow more tumor growth but prevent bleeding? Please help with any advice..I am confused and trying my best.
Ryan
does anyone here have info on this?
Hi Dr. Dressler,
Our dog Owen, 9 year old GSD mix has been living 1+ years after diagnosis of a massive Hepatocellular Carcinoma. He was entered in a study for a Transarterial Chemoembolization procedure and although it didn’t shrink his tumor (16cm), it has definitely killed some of the tumor and allowed him a great quality of life so far. We have your book and it has helped us immeasureably with Owen and our other dog with t-cell lymphoma greatly-thank you. Recently, Owen developed nose bleeds–short bleeds that would resolve in 30 seconds or so. We took him to his oncologist who suggested YB and recommended a capsule per day. As we began the regular use of YB, his nose bleeds began to become more frequent. He was on it for a month or so and he was now having bleeds multiple times per day, every day and would last much longer. Just for the heck of it we decided to stop the YB for a week or so and see how it goes. The nose bleeds have completely stopped. Does this scenario make any sense to you? Is this because it is better to cycle on/off rather than take continuously?
Thank you,
Tammy
Oh, also Dr. Dressler, would there be a problem giving your apocaps along with the TCM Concentrated Stasis Breaker or any other Chinese herbs? If I give your apocaps, should I stop all the other supplements I’m giving: curcumin, milk thistle, Vit A, E, C, Standard Process’ Immune System and Thyroid Support? I also give Ubiquinol and Hawthorn berry for his heart, Bilberry with lemon grass for his eyes, and Soloxine. Sorry for the omission. Thank you.
Dr. Dressler, our 15 y.o. sheltie had an ultrasound to examine his adrenal glands but during the ultrasound, the specialist unexpectedly found a small bladder mass in the pole of my sheltie’s bladder. He suspects TCC and wanted to biopsy the mass via cystoscopy. Unfortunately that procedure was too expensive for us to do. Our sheltie has had two urinalyses: one was positive for blood, the second wasn’t. The UA culture and sensitivity revealed no infection. We will repeat the UA in a month using a full catch rather than mid stream. Bloodwork, xrays, ECG were normal, echo showed minor to moderate mitral insufficiency, heart otherwise normal. The mass is technically operable but, again considering the expense and with all the potential risks explained to us, we decided not to put our boy through that. Statistics would point towards TCC. We could treat him with Piroxicam and misoprostil on the assumption it is TCC but that treatment can be extremely rough on a very old dog. Under the circumstances, we’ve opted to treat him through nutrition rather than standard medications. I am working now with a wonderful holistic vet and she has prescribed several Chinese herbs: Concentrated Stasis Breaker and Yunnan baiyoa, along with two others. I am feeding our boy your anticancer diet as well. My questions is this: Even though we do not have a definitive diagnosis, although a strong suspicion, should I have my sheltie on your diet and should I go on and purchase the apocaps? Will the diet and apocaps harm him if his mass is not cancerous? Thank you for considering our dilemma.
Our 7 yr old male German Shepherd was diagnosed with Hemoabdomen secondary to diffuse metastatic neoplasia, suspect Hemangiosarcoma. Xray showed nothing but fluid in his abdomen so we took him to a ER for the ultrasound. Both places recommended we put him down then because he had 24-48 hrs at best. He has made it 11 days so far, the little red pill perks him up and he feels much better. I just gave him the second and last one we had, he is getting the Yunnan Baiyao 2 pills 2-3 times a day. The swelling in his abdomen has gone down drastically and he is still drinking and eating, and going outside. He has been breathing heavy for 2 days now. Is there anything else you could suggest? He is still 88 lbs and had no symptoms except belly swelling for a few days prior to his diagnosis.
Dear Carol,
sorry to hear this tough news. There are a number of steps you could consider, although this sounds kind of advanced. I’d start with this post:
https://www.dogcancerblog.com/blog/an-overview-of-what-else-can-i-do/
I hope this helps
Dr D
Dr D, I just heard from Carol that her dog, Milo, lost his fight Wednesday. Sigh. Susan / Dog Cancer Support Team