Question:
I have had two purebred Labrador retrievers. They were mother and daughter. Both absolutely loved hibiscus flowers. They could smell the bushes from the street on a walk and veer their way. The color of the flower didn't seem to matter -- they liked them all. The flowers never seemed to harm their tummies, as they were never sick after eating them.
R.S., Bonita Springs, FL Sep 13, 2009
Answer:
There are different types of hibiscus. Flowers, seeds, leaves and roots are being used in different cultures around the world for various healing and culinary purposes.
Hibiscus (also called musk mallow or rose mallow) seeds can be made into an emulsion to soothe the skin or eaten to relieve stomach problems, soothe the nerves, and sweeten the breath. Flowers give a tart, refreshing taste to beverages, jams and foods and may act as a mild laxative and diuretic. Mucilaginous polysaccharides in the flowers (also called Sudanese tea) may help alleviate various inflammatory conditions of the bowels and urinary tract. Leaves and tender stalks are also safe to eat.
Thank your dogs for getting me to check my herbal-medicine books. Their instinctual wisdom is to be respected. However, their desire to consume these flowers could mean they need to be put on a healthier diet and may benefit from probiotics, prebiotics and digestive enzymes.
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