The TCVM Approach: Dr. Steve Marsden & Gold Standard Herbs
Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine: the framework behind Max’s holistic recovery
How I found Dr. Steve Marsden — and why it mattered
Before Max ever had his FCE, I had been following Dr. Steve Marsden on Facebook for several years. I’m the kind of person who reads case studies for fun. I had already used three of his Gold Standard Herbal formulas successfully for Max’s anxiety, skin issues, and digestive sensitivity. So when Max went down on September 23, 2023, I didn’t have to scramble to find an integrative approach — it was already part of how I thought about his health.
That familiarity, and those two bottles of Voltrex and Lumbrex sitting in my cabinet, may have shaped what happened next. I cannot prove it. But Max retained deep pain sensation in both feet, experienced no urinary incontinence, and recovered to 98% — and I believe the immediate herbal intervention was part of that story.
This page is about the TCVM framework that guided that intervention, who Dr. Marsden is, and how you might apply this approach to your own dog’s recovery.
What is TCVM?
Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine is the application of Traditional Chinese Medicine principles to animal health. It encompasses four main modalities:
- Acupuncture — needle stimulation of specific points to restore the flow of Qi (vital energy) and blood through the body’s meridian system
- Herbal medicine — formulas combining multiple plant substances to address underlying pattern imbalances
- Food therapy — using the energetic properties of foods to support healing and balance
- Tui-Na — traditional Chinese therapeutic massage and manipulation
TCVM does not replace Western veterinary medicine. It works alongside it, addressing aspects of disease that conventional medicine often leaves unaddressed — particularly the underlying constitutional imbalances that predispose an animal to illness and shape their capacity to heal.
Dr. Steve Marsden is one of the few veterinarians globally who holds certifications in TCVM, Western herbalism, and acupuncture. He is a conventionally trained veterinarian who earned his doctorate at the University of Saskatchewan in 1988, then went on to obtain a doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine and a Master’s of Science in Oriental Medicine at the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland. He has instructed veterinarians in Chinese Medicine at IVAS, Tufts, and AVAC, and co-founded CIVT — the College of Integrative Veterinary Therapies.
In TCVM terms, FCE would typically be understood as a sudden disruption of blood and Qi flow to the spinal cord — causing “wind-stroke” or a similar pattern depending on the individual animal’s constitution. The treatment principle is to restore circulation, reduce inflammation and stagnation, and support the regeneration of damaged neural tissue.
Gold Standard Herbs — what they are and how they work
Dr. Steve Marsden developed Gold Standard Herbs to bridge traditional Chinese herbal remedies with modern veterinary standards. Drawing from centuries-old TCM formulas, Dr. Marsden updated these herbal blends to ensure they meet contemporary needs, prioritizing safety, consistency, and scientific validation.
The formulas work on the principle that multiple herbs in combination create synergistic effects that a single herb cannot achieve alone. Each formula is built around a classical TCM prescription, with modifications based on Dr. Marsden’s clinical experience and modern pharmacological understanding.
The formulas most relevant to FCE
Voltrex — acute inflammation, spinal cord support
Based on a 2,000-year-old formula, Voltrex is formulated to support resolution of inflammation in the hips, knees, and spinal cord. This was the first thing I gave Max after his FCE.
In TCVM terms, it addresses “blood stagnation” and “damp-heat” patterns associated with acute inflammatory conditions. The herbs in this formula have documented anti-inflammatory and circulation-supporting properties in the biomedical literature.
When to use it: Acute phase (day of injury onward), and during any period of increased inflammation or flare.
Lumbrex — circulation, hind leg weakness, spinal stiffness
Lumbrex is formulated to support normal circulation and relieve back, neck, and hind leg stiffness, weakness, numbness, and spasm. Given that FCE is caused by a vascular blockage, a formula that specifically supports circulation in the spinal cord seemed directly logical.
In TCVM, Lumbrex addresses “kidney yang deficiency” and “blood stasis” patterns — both of which manifest as weakness, coldness, and impaired function in the hind limbs.
When to use it: Acute phase and throughout recovery, particularly while hind limb weakness or numbness persists.
Other formulas that may be relevant
Depending on your dog’s individual constitution and symptom pattern, Dr. Marsden may recommend different or additional formulas. This is where working directly with a TCVM-trained vet becomes important — the same diagnosis can have different underlying patterns in different animals.
Other formulas from the Gold Standard line that have been used in neurological conditions include formulas addressing kidney deficiency (which underlies many chronic neurological conditions in TCVM), qi and blood tonification, and wind-damp patterns.
How to access Dr. Marsden’s guidance
Facebook community (Ask Dr. Steve DVM): Dr. Marsden maintains an active Facebook presence where he answers questions on integrative and conventional veterinary care. This is a genuinely extraordinary free resource — the depth of case discussion in that community is unlike anything else available to pet owners. I spent many hours there before and after Max’s FCE.
Gold Standard Herbs website: goldstandardherbs.com — formulas available for purchase directly. Many are also available through veterinary practices that stock them.
CIVT-trained practitioners: Vets who have trained at CIVT will have studied Dr. Marsden’s approach directly. Searching CIVT’s practitioner directory may help you find someone with this background near you.
TCVM food therapy — a brief overview
Food therapy is one of TCVM’s four pillars and was a meaningful part of Max’s recovery. In TCVM, foods have energetic properties: warming or cooling, drying or moistening, building or draining. Choosing foods appropriate to the dog’s constitutional pattern supports healing at a fundamental level.
In Max’s case, I was already feeding a fresh food diet before the FCE — and I believe this established a strong nutritional foundation that supported his recovery. I then added specific foods chosen for their anti-inflammatory and neurologically supportive properties: sardines (warming, rich in beneficial fats), red cabbage, blueberries, broccoli (cooling, antioxidant-rich).
For a dog recovering from FCE, a TCVM food therapist would typically assess whether the dog runs “hot” or “cold,” their digestive strength, and their constitutional type, then recommend specific proteins, vegetables, and preparation methods accordingly.
The integrative philosophy — and why it matters for FCE
The core insight of TCVM is that symptoms are not the disease — they are the body’s response to an underlying imbalance. Conventional medicine asks “what is happening?” TCVM also asks “why is this body susceptible to this happening, and what does it need to heal?”
For FCE recovery, this means not just treating the deficit but supporting the whole system — the nervous system, the vascular system, the digestive system that absorbs the nutrients needed for repair, the adrenal system that manages stress, the musculoskeletal system compensating for weakness.
Max’s recovery was not the product of any single intervention. It was the cumulative effect of formal PT, home exercises, targeted nutrition, a supplement protocol grounded in both Western and Eastern medicine, acupuncture (for as long as it worked for him), chiropractic (later in recovery), and eventually homeopathy — all working together.
The integrative framework gave us the language and the tools to address all of those layers. That’s what TCVM brings to the table.
Finding a TCVM-trained veterinarian
- Chi Institute — tcvm.com/find-a-practitioner — the largest TCVM training program in the US
- IVAS — ivas.org — International Veterinary Acupuncture Society
- CIVT — civtedu.org — College of Integrative Veterinary Therapies
- Ask Dr. Steve DVM — Facebook community where you can ask questions directly
Not medical advice. TCVM herbal formulas should ideally be selected with guidance from a TCVM-trained veterinarian familiar with your dog’s individual pattern. FCEDogs.com has no financial relationship with Gold Standard Herbs or Dr. Steve Marsden — this page reflects one owner’s personal experience.
Continue reading:
- [Supplements for FCE recovery — full evidence guide]
- [Acupuncture for FCE — does it work?]
- [Chiropractic (VSMT) for FCE dogs]
- [Nutrition for FCE recovery]