The following paper was written by me and presented at the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association national conference in 2002. The paper is to familiarize you with the science behind bovine colostrum and why I call it the Nature’s forgotten miracle. After reading the article there is information on how to order the products and how I use them in my practice.

Bovine Colostrum, the Forgotten Miracle
Stephen R. Blake, DVM

The use of bovine colostrum as a nutritional supplement in medical treatment dates back to thousands of years B.C. Ayurvedic doctors have used it for physical and spiritual purposes for 6000 years. Bovine colostrum was used in the United States, and all around the world, for immune problems, prior to the discovery of sulfa drugs and antibiotics. Countless scientific studies and human clinical trials worldwide have proven bovine colostrum to be safe and therapeutic.

Over the past two decades, researchers have shown that colostrum is one of the most important nutritional supplements available for enhancing the immune system and helping in tissue repair. My research has shown that colostrum should be from a dairy, where there is no use of hormones, antibiotics, nuclear contamination or pesticides. The preparation of the colostrum is the second most important factor in selecting colostrum. It should be prepared without freezing and excessive heat. It should be tested for bioactivity, tested for the presence pesticides, antibiotics, BST, heavy metals, low in fat and certified for human consumption, to insure that there is no contamination. Pasture–fed herds are the preferred source of colostrum. These herds produce colostrum that contains more beneficial enzymes, which assist in the assimilation of the colostrum, and is a more diversified immune source.

The bovine only supplies colostrum to its young at birth, and there is no placental transfer of antibodies. The human infant gets 60% of its antibody protection via the placenta and 40% from the mother’s milk during the first two day after birth. From my experience the Feline and Canine are more like the human species, and can survive without colostrum. The studies that have been done on humans show that children who are breast-fed have higher IQs and less neurological dysfunction than children who are not breast-fed do. Breast-fed babies are one-fifth to one-third less likely to die of SIDS. Formula-fed infants are 10 to 15 times more likely to become hospitalized when ill than breast-fed infants.

I have found that puppies and kittens that are not thriving respond within days to supplementation with bovine colostrum fed four times per day, mixed with water. I dose them at 1/8th to _ tsp depending on the size of the newborn. Once they are stable, I reduce the frequency on once per day and the amount to 1/3 tsp up to 25 pounds per body weight believe that colostrum from their mothers is not adequate or not being utilized by the newborn.

In the mid-1980 ‘s, when children were being diagnosed with diarrhea caused by rotavirus, bovine colostrum was successfully used to treat these children. Later studies showed that it protects children and adults against infectious diarrhea and diarrheas caused by the Cryptosporidium, especially in people who have weaken immune systems. I have seen the same thing in dogs and cats with chronic or acute diarrhea and immune deficiencies.

The fact that bovine colostrum is not species specific means that it can be used in all mammals. I have also used it in birds with good results. Over the past two and one half years I have used it extensively in my general practice. I have found it is complementary to homeopathy, acupuncture, Bach Flowers, glandular therapy, Aromatherapy, massage and nutrition. All of these modalities have benefited from bovine colostrum, in one way or another. I have found that colostrum to be the best topical agent for healing any possible wound in half the time any other products I have used over the past 28 years. The colostrum contains IgF (Epithelial growth Factors), IgF (Insulin-like Growth Factor), Transfer Factor, IgG (20 times that in human milk), PRP, etc. Research over the past few decades has revealed that bovine colostrum contains more than 80(some estimate 250) substances.

Insulinlike growth factors (IGFs) comprise the majority of the growth factors found in colostrum. IGFs act as endocrine, autocrine and paracrine hormones enhancing cellular glucose uptake, and enhance synthesis of proteins, DNA, RNA and lipids. Without adequate EGFs, the body cannot repair damaged cells, no matter how good the patient is being fed. Epithelial growth Factors (EGF) help regulate the development of the epidermis, mammary glands and gastrointestinal tract. Lactoferrin is another component of colostrum, which inhibits the growth of pathogenic organisms including Escherichia coli, Salmonella ryphimurium, Shigella dysenteria, Listeria monocytogense, Streptococcus mutans, Bacillus subtilus and Giardia lamblia. IgG1 and IgG2 are found in large amounts in colostrum. Research has shown that gastrointestinal transfer of immunoglobulins decreases as the animal ages, research has shown older animals can absorb immunoglobulins but need larger amounts to be effective. Colostrum has been shown to be effective in treating Helicobacter pylori. The H. pylori require the organism to bind with a lipid component of the gastric mucosa. Researchers found bovine colostrum prevents the organism from attaching to lipid binding sites in the gastrointestinal tract and by doing so, prevents ulceration from occurring.

Many anecdotal reports on colostrum show that it can be used to treat allergies, cancer, ulcerative colitis, diarrhea, poor wound healing, hepatitis C, bacterial and viral infections, multiple sclerosis, obesity and peptic ulcers. One study in rats showed that it reduced ulceration secondary to NSAID administration by 60%. The authors suggested that colostrum might be useful in the treatment of ulcerative colitis, inflammatory bowel disease and chemotherapy-induced mucositis. I have seen it cure lactose-intolerant individuals both human and animals alike.

This balance of growth factors, enzymes, immune factors, hormones, micronutrients, etc is the reason it has such a potential for healing. My feel is that the intrinsic factor of the combined balance of all of these factors is an integral part of why it is Life’s first Food. Dr. Royal Lee said it best."The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Single synthetic fractions used to imitate the whole substance cannot equal Nature's own concentration of nutritional factors.” For this reason I believe that safety factors are built into colostrum as long as you keep it in its natural state.

A fascinating fact about colostrum is that it contains polyproline-rich peptides, which are a regulator for the thymus gland of the body. It establishes homeostasis in the thymus gland, by regulating an under active or over active thymus. The research on the growth factors in colostrum has shown that salivary amylase and HCL in the stomach potentiate their activity I have observed the same thing in animals as well in myself. For that reason, I advise my client to feed it free choice, in powder form, at least 30 minute’s or longer before feeding. I suggest once per day, first thing in the morning. If he patient does not wish to take it free choice, I advise adding it to the meal.

Palatability in the canine has been 100% and 90% in the feline. Many of my clients refer the capsules or the tablets for the convenience of the dispensing, and empty the quantity they need out of each capsule. Colostrum has a very specific effect on the gastrointestinal tract and I have found that it improves the integrity of the intestinal mucosa better than any product I have ever used. The addition of Beta Lipids enhances the solubility and absorption of the colostrum.

It facilitates the balancing of the intestinal flora, stabilizes the immune status of the gut and aids in digestion and for motility of the bowels. Since 70% of the gamma globulin come from Pyres patches in the intestinal tract, and 90% of all toxins, bacteria, virus and fungi enter the body though the gut, it only makes sense that we should concentrate our effort in this organ system.

My rule of thumb is that all sick animals go on colostrum and especially chronic ones. Due to the growth factors in the colostrum it will increase the healing response by 50% or more, than with out it. Due to the drop in growth factors with aging, all of my geriatric cases go on colostrum and the owners 99% of the time comment on how much more energy the old guys and gals have. My conclusion is that many of our animals are deficient in the enzymes, growth factors, and immunologic components, necessary for them to respond to the homeopathic remedy in an optimum way. I have found similar situation in cases utilizing other modalities, such as acupuncture, chiropractic, nutrition, Bach flower and Aromatherapy. The point that I am trying to make, is that bovine colostrum will compliment any modality you are using, and with confidence that it will don no harm.

For hypersensitive patients, I start them out on a pinch of colostrum to make sure they do not over react to the healing potential of the colostrum. Once they are on it and not over reacting, I start increasing the amount gradually to a dose of 1/3 tsp per 25 pounds of body wt per day. For 99% of the cases, I start them on 1/3 tsp per 25 pounds of body weight once per day. I always tell the client to give the colostrum at least one month to evaluate its effect. I have had patients that respond in one day and some may take several months. My personal experience was immediate for my acute problem and 2 years for a 20-year-old chronic problem.

My experience thus far, has shown that a pet’s need for any particular supplement can be reduced or eliminated, once they have been on colostrum. This is probably due to the increase in the absorption of substances from the gut, better efficiency of tissue repair from the growth factors, and a healthier immune system from the immunoglobulins and immune factors provided by the colostrum.

Bovine Colostrum is by far the most exciting discovery I have made in the past 29 years. For more information on Bovine Colostrum The Forgotten Miracle, go http://www.sedonalabspro.com or email joseph@sedonalabspro.com to learn about this incredible nutritional supplement.