Post by mustelidmusk on Jan 24, 2010 12:49:34 GMT -5
I've recently been looking into mast cell activity, and I've learned a handful of things hat are pretty interesting.
Background:
One of my girls was getting a lot of mast cell activtyon a old scar.
I started supplementing my ferrets with "super greens" and reishi mushroms, and the mast cell activity stopped. I iniially suspected that the GREENS were helping since my girl's skin cleared when the greens were added to her diet. I had started the reishi mushrooms a couple of weeks earlier, and even though the mast cell activity had lessened, my brain did not make the connection between the reishi and the mast cell tumors until last night....
What you should know.....
We activity in ferrets tends to generate histamines, which make ferrets itchy. This is why excessive tchiness is one of the well-known symptom of adrenal disease. mast cell tumors are itchy because of the histamine associated with this type of skin condition. Mast cell tumors can pop up overnight and disappear the next day. They can look like anything from a small plaquelike growth to a large insect bite with bruising. Apparently, the reishi mushroom contains something called Lanostan that's a natural antihistamine. This explains what and why my girl's mast cell tumors have cleared up for the most part. I have very recently seen two red spots on my girl's scar , but this time last year I was thinking that the scar may need to be surgically removed because of the chronic inflammation she was having. This is the high hormone time of year, so increased mast cell activity is likely in ferrets that tend to get mast cell tumors.
In summary, reishi mushroom can help reduce mast cell tumor activity and general ferret itchiness caused by hormes. If you choose to use reishi mushrooms for your ferrets, please be aware that you may be masking some symptoms of adrenal disease. It's important to share this information with your vet so he/she can better evaluate your ferret's health.
-jennifer
Background:
One of my girls was getting a lot of mast cell activtyon a old scar.
I started supplementing my ferrets with "super greens" and reishi mushroms, and the mast cell activity stopped. I iniially suspected that the GREENS were helping since my girl's skin cleared when the greens were added to her diet. I had started the reishi mushrooms a couple of weeks earlier, and even though the mast cell activity had lessened, my brain did not make the connection between the reishi and the mast cell tumors until last night....
What you should know.....
We activity in ferrets tends to generate histamines, which make ferrets itchy. This is why excessive tchiness is one of the well-known symptom of adrenal disease. mast cell tumors are itchy because of the histamine associated with this type of skin condition. Mast cell tumors can pop up overnight and disappear the next day. They can look like anything from a small plaquelike growth to a large insect bite with bruising. Apparently, the reishi mushroom contains something called Lanostan that's a natural antihistamine. This explains what and why my girl's mast cell tumors have cleared up for the most part. I have very recently seen two red spots on my girl's scar , but this time last year I was thinking that the scar may need to be surgically removed because of the chronic inflammation she was having. This is the high hormone time of year, so increased mast cell activity is likely in ferrets that tend to get mast cell tumors.
In summary, reishi mushroom can help reduce mast cell tumor activity and general ferret itchiness caused by hormes. If you choose to use reishi mushrooms for your ferrets, please be aware that you may be masking some symptoms of adrenal disease. It's important to share this information with your vet so he/she can better evaluate your ferret's health.
-jennifer