Veterinary Botanical Medicine Association
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VBMA GIVES

The Veterinary Botanical Medicine Association has established as one of its goals the supporting of ethical scientific clinical research in herbal veterinary medicine, and the dedication to developing responsible herbal practice by encouraging research and education, strengthening industry relations, keeping herbal tradition alive as a valid information source, and increasing professional acceptance of herbal medicine for animals as its primary purpose. As our organization grows, we're able to contribute funds to various groups that further these purposes.
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AHVM FOUNDATION

In 2016, the VBMA decided to participate in the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association Foundation's winter fundraiser.  The AHVMF was given a generous donation from Dr. Carvel Tiekert: TWO pledges of $25,000 in matching funds. One is to be used for veterinarians, the other will be granted to everyone else  who supports integrative holistic veterinary medicine. Dr. Tiekert is founder of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association (AHVMA), and has always supported research and education in holistic veterinary medicine.

The VBMA directly donated $10,000 towards Dr. Tiekert's match, and our generous VBMA members contributed another $5864.00 in our own matching donation campaign, resulting in an additional donation of $5000.00 directly from the VBMA. GRAND TOTAL DONATED TO THE AHVMF = $20,864!

A huge thank you to all of those who participated and continue to be involved with and support the VBMA!

More information on the AHVMF can be found below.

RESEARCH SUPPORT

The American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association Foundation is dedicated to supporting research in holistic veterinary medicine. Holistic medicine often has answers to chronic disease that use methods with few to no side effects. It may have an answer that is non-existent in conventional medicine. But this type of research is always under-funded and overlooked. The AHVMA Foundation is the best way to bring these modalities into the consciousness of mainstream medical thinking and practice.

12 veterinary schools have published research in Complementary and Integrative (holistic) Veterinary Medicine. AHVMF has funded research in most of those schools. The list of veterinary colleges that have participated includes:

  • Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine
  • Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
  • Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine
  • Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine
  • North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine
  • Oklahoma State University Center for Veterinary Health Sciences
  • University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine
  • University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine
  • University of Pennsylvania School of Vetrinary Medicine
  • University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine
  • Washington State College of Veterinary Medicine
  • Western University of Health Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine


In the past the AHVMF has helped fund:

  • research on curcumin as an antiinflammatory agent (yes, it works as well as NSAIDS)
  • the rabies challenge fund


The AHVMF supports investigations that help:

  •  animals with diseases or problems that are thought to be incurable
  • problems with treatments that have many side effects
  • problems where treatments only partially help 


They also investigate exactly how holistic veterinary medicine works, to get insights into the best herbs or supplements and the best doses to use. They know that integrative medicine has answers for those problems. But conventional medicine doesn't. Without research to show veterinarians and veterinary schools, most vets will never learn about these answers.

They NEVER fund studies where disease is created. They only fund studies that use animals with naturally occurring disease. They want to show researchers that meaningful humane research is possible.

Conventional research is funded by big drug companies and the government. Holistic research has very little funding available. That means no research, and nobody to reach conventional veterinarians with what is known to be true.
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They are determined to change this balance. So far they have funded humane research in 11 veterinary schools and one naturopathic university. We need to be able to support research in all veterinary schools. That way all veterinarians, no matter where they graduate from, will see the power of holistic veterinary medicine.
​VBMA ENDORSES QUALITY HERBAL PRODUCTS
​VBMA recognizes that the herbal product industry has faced quality control and regulatory challenges, and we recommend supporting those companies attempting to self regulate in a meaningful way. Companies that manufacture herbal products marketed for humans should be members of the American Herbal Products Association, an industry organization which explores issues, interacts with regulators, and establishes policy.  Veterinary product companies should be members of the National Animal Supplement Council, an organization which develops policies and procedures on adverse event reporting and quality control.
AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR PET OWNERS
The VBMA does not endorse any products sold on the internet for self prescribing to animals. We believe in the interests of safety that any herb should always be prescribed by a qualified practitioner. There are companies using our name with the suggestion that we endorse their recommendations or products. We specifically DO NOT support any website that unethically sells herbs to the public for non prescribed use in animals.  If you are in any doubt as to the authenticity of a claim made on a website about VBMA, please contact us at [email protected]. You may use the 'find a veterinarian' link on our site menu to find a qualified practitioner near you.


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All content © the Veterinary Botanical Medicine Association 2025.
​The VBMA is not affiliated with the American College of Veterinary Botanical Medicine (ACVBM).
  • Home
  • ABOUT
    • About the VBMA
    • CONTACT THE VBMA
    • VBMA BOARD MEMBERS
    • VBMA ACTION COMMITTEES
    • VBMA GIVES
  • JOIN VBMA
    • WHY JOIN THE VBMA?
    • VETERINARY PROFESSIONALS
    • VETERINARY PROFESSIONALS - NEW GRADUATES
    • VETERINARY PROFESSIONAL STUDENTS
    • NON-VETERINARY PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP
  • PET OWNERS
    • Find a Veterinarian: United States
    • Find a Veterinarian: International
  • VBMA MEMBER WEBSITE
    • MEMBER SITE HOW-TOS
  • VBMA SPONSORED EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
    • VBMA HERBALIST CERTIFICATION
    • VBMA EcoTours
    • VBMA Annual Herbwalk
    • VBMA Educational Scholarship
    • VBMA Mentor Program
    • Practitioner Training Programs
  • VBMA LEARNING LIBRARY
    • Teleseminar Recordings
    • Webinar Recordings
  • CONFERENCES
    • VBMA at AHVMA
    • 2025 VBMA/ACVBM Conference
    • 2024 VBMA/ACVBM Conference
    • 2020 VBMA/ACVBM Conference
    • VBMA at the International Herb Symposium
  • JOURNAL OF VETERINARY BOTANICAL MEDICINE
    • VBMA Member Access
    • Non-Member Access
    • ADVERTISER INFORMATION