About My Favorite Herbs
(check
back frequently as this page will probably always be under construction)
Whether you
buy
herbal mixes from reputable companies or make up your own herbal
blends, be sure and research each individual herb and make certain
it is appropriate for your horse and your climate. I started making my
own herbal blends for several reasons. I prepare them in smaller quantities to
better control the amount of each herb that my horses actually consume.
The other advantage to making my own blends, is that if my horse
has a reaction to an herb I can isolate and eliminate that herb from
the mix. I
have found that many blends on the market often have an herb or two I
prefer not to give. For example some mixtures
have herbs that act as diuretics (which means they increase urination),
I feel that a
diuretic in the Arizona summer could very easily deplete a horse of
potassium. Many blends have herbs with warming qualities which again I
would not want to administer in the summer. Tamera's arthritis would
benefit from yucca but she does not tolerate yucca and colicks. So any
of the commercial blends containing yucca are out of the question. The advantage to buying your herbal
blends from me is that I prepare each order as it comes in, so...if you
want something added or eliminated from a blend, just tell me. Together, we can find what is best for
your horse.
Feeding herbs is a
serious endeavor, you can fool yourself into believing that because
they're
natural, they're safe...not always so. Many of our modern drugs are
made from
herbs, Digitalis, a drug
that is used to stimulate the heart is derived from foxglove. Coumarol, an
anti-clotting agent is derived from
sweet clover. Aspirin comes from white willow bark and morphine from
papaver somniferum (poppy). These
are just a few examples, there
are many, many more. Use herbs carefully and seek the advice of a
knowledgeable herbalist if possible. Always consult with your
veterinarian about the herbs
you wish to give your horse because some herbs will react or potentiate
the
action of some drugs and other herbs as well.
I'm always
on the look-out for good books on herbs, particularly for horses. If you'd like to start your
own herbal library, here are some of the books I
recommend:
A
Healthy Horse the Natural Way by Catherine Bird.
A Modern Horse Herbal by Hilary
P. Self
Veteran Horse Herbal by
Hilary P. Self
Complete Holistic Care and Healing
for Horses by Mary L Brennan, DVM
The Practical Horse Herbal by
Victoria Ferguson
Herbs for Horses by Jenny
Morgan
Herbal Horsekeeping by Robert
McDowell and Di Rowling
All You Ever Wanted to Know About
Herbs for Pets by Mary L. Wulff-Tilford & Gregory L. Tilford
I have used many herbs over the years and
the following is a list of my all-time favorites, I have made some
personal
comments on most of them. The
name of each herb is linked to an
online herbal primer for your convenience and educational purposes.
Don't forget to use your "back" button to return to this page. Enjoy
your voyage into the world of herbs...
Aloe Vera
I always have aloe vera plants and
several bottles of aloe gel on hand for burns and
cuts. If you are not inundated with aloe vera
plants as I am, aloe vera gel is quite inexpensive....get the pure aloe
vera gel with no added coloring, perfumes, etc. I always keep some
in the refrigerator in
the barn and in the house. Aloe Vera juice can be taken internally with
great benefits; it helps heal gastric ulcers. Careful... it has strong
laxative effects, use under the care of a herbalist or nutritionist.
Anise seed
My picky eater Doc loves anise
seed...he will eat anything if
sprinkled with anise seed powder.
Arnica
Arnica in an ointment or salve
can do wonders for muscle pain. When Lady
was adjusting to going barefoot and the Strasser trim I would rub it
into her coronary bands. I use a salve of Arnica, Eucalyptus, Comfrey
and Yarrow for my own chronic muscle pains. Sometimes it can mean the
difference between a restful night or an all nighter of constant pain.
Do not use on open wounds. Arnica can be taken internally in
homeopathic dilution.
Artichoke
I give Tamera my Cushings mare
artichoke leaves to stimulate appetite, increase gastric juices and aid
in digestion. It is one of the bitter herbs recommended by Hilary Page
Self for Cushing's horses.
Ashwagandha
This herb ranks right up there with ginseng as a powerful adaptogen.
Once you read about this herb you will understand why we included it in
our A & A Potion.
Basil
The leaves and flowering tops of
ocimum basilicum are used in herbal medicine. It eases stomach cramps,
flatulence, colic and indigestion. It does have a very mild sedative
action so it can be used for irritability and anxiety.
Beet root
powder
Beet root is said to keep fat from
depositing in the liver. Indian medicine has used beet root as a
treatment for coughs and infections.
Beet root contains folate, potassium and manganese.
Bilberry
Scientific studies confirm a
positive effect on vision due to to the berry's flavonoid compounds. I
give Tamera, my cushing's mare bilberry leaves sometimes.
Boswellia
This herb is bringing new hope and wonderful results to chronic
arthritis sufferers. I considered Boswellia a must for our Devil's Claw
'N More Potion.........with emphasis on more.
Burdock
A constituent in burdock is
thought to have an antibiotic effect. Burdock has anti-bacterial and
antifungal properties, as well as hypoglycemic and anti-tumor
action.
Calendula
My horses love the taste of the
marigold petals. Calendula is another salve I stock. It's
great for
healing cuts and for dry skin. It's great for my torn up finger tips
from handling suede lace and horse hair when making my dreamcatchers.
Make sure the wound is clean as calendula heals fast and you don't want
to trap the dirt in the healing wound ( a tip from a fellow herb
enthusiast-thanks Lori). Calendula can also be given internally. It is
said to have anti-tumor effects.
Cat's Claw
Cat's claw,
among all its other uses, may also have
anti-tumor properties.
Celery
seed
I like to give celery seed in
conjunction with Devil's Claw,
however I tend to with hold it in the summer, as it does have a warming
quality and some diuretic action.
Chamomile
This
is
one of my favorite herbs. Many
years ago when my youngest son Sean was a baby he suffered from
horrible gas pains. After a couple of sleepless nights, being the
"Nancy Nurse" that I was, I carted him off to the pediatrician. That
fine man told me in no uncertain terms that my son was allergic to milk
and I should start him on soy milk. However... for some unknown reason
I wasn't convinced and decided to try my grandmother's remedy first.
So, I prepared Sean's formula with a weak solution of chamomile tea
instead of water. The results were miraculous. Sean slept through
night. I continued to mix his formula with chamomile tea for several
months until he outgrew the colic stage. Since then I have used
chamomile for numerous maladies. Chamomile is a soothing and calming
herb. It is also a natural
anti-inflammatory and anti-spasmodic.
Recently Tamera, my Cushing's
mare
stopped eating for no apparent reason. After watching
her virtually eat nothing all day. I examined her
teeth, listened to her gut sounds, etc. and found nothing obvious for
her lack of appetite. So, I poured
a weak solution of chamomile tea over her pellets. She sniffed and
gobbled. Now after I pour her pellets into her tub she waits patiently
until I pour the tea over them before lowering her head.
Years ago, before we moved to Shotgun Ranch, Doc was laid up with a
suspensory ligament injury....the ultimate nightmare.....stall rest was
prescribed. He
was a most grumpy horse, hateful actually, he'd charge anyone who
entered his stall. I started adding chamomile flowers to his feed and
his disposition changed radically, he was not happy by any means but he
was no longer homicidal. Chamomile helped him get through a rough time
in his life. It is important to
note that while chamomile is a safe herb, if used continuously it can
cause liver toxicity. You need to give the liver a break at least every
3 months. I like to alternate between chamomile and peppermint,
as they have many of the same properties.
Cinnamon
Cinnamomum verum, synonym C. zeylanicum) is a small evergreen tree
10-15 m tall, belonging to
the family Lauracea, native to
Sri Lankalndia. The bark is widely used as a spice. I
feed cinnamon to my Insulin Resistant horses because several studies
indicate that cinnamon may have a role in glucose metabolism.
Cleavers
A reliable diuretic, it has been
used to treat kidney stones and urinary infections.
Comfrey
leaves
There is much controversy about
the internal consumption of comfrey. At this time, I do not use this
herb internally but I do use it topically in a poultice with positive
results and a salve
of comfrey and calendula is a must at my house.
Devil's Claw
Rather than use "Bute"
(Phenylbutazone),
I prefer to give my horses Devil's Claw. It has anti-inflammatory
properties that help with arthritis, chronic muscle pain and in short
many of the situations where "bute" is prescribed. Do not use if your
horse has ulcers.
Echinacea
Purpurea
I believe this herb is over used
much the same as penicillin has been, over the years.
While Echinacea has many benefits, I only use it for short intervals (3
weeks at a time) and when specifically warranted; as during the
seasonal
changes between fall and winter and if I suspect some type of
infection.
Eyebright
Traditionally, this herb has been used to make
an eyewash for inflammations and other eye problems. It can also be
taken internally for coughs and nasal congestion.
Fennel
Fennel is primarily used to
relieve bloating and stimulate the appetite but it has been used in
conjunction with Uva-Ursi to treat cystitis.
Fenugreek
Fenugreek is used as a recovery
aid from illness and to encourage weight gain. It contains Vitamins A, B & C.
Horses tend to really like the
taste of this aromatic herb. However, do not feed it to pregnant mares.
Flaxseed
A great source of omega 3 fatty
acids. I feed all my horses flax on a regular basis.
Garlic
Ginger
Ginkgo
Ginseng
Goldenrod
Gotu Kola root
Hawthorn
Berry
Hawthorn berry stimulates blood flow,
acts as a heart
tonic and helps blood flow to the limbs. For this reason it is
recommended for a recovering
laminitic or a navicular horse.
Kudzu root
Lavender
Licorice
root
Licorice reduces stomach
secretions and protects mucosal linings. Therefore, it is used for
gastric ulcerations and inflammation. Part of my Tummy Tonic.
Marshmallow
root
This herb is another of the
ingredients in my Tummy Tonic. The root of this herb has wonderful
demulcent and emollient properties.
Meadowsweet
Milk Thistle
St. Mary's thistle or milk thistle supports
liver function. It is often given to a horse coming off high doses of
antibiotics or one debilitated by a heavy worm infestation. It is also
used for horses with compromised immunity. I give this herb to Tamera
my cushings/IR mare and to Lady my grey mare because of her melanomas. This is an herb that should
be fed long-term. It has potent liver protective properties but must be
fed for 3 months before any benefits are gained.
Nettle
Parsley
Peppermint
In
Spanish it is called "Hierbabuena" which
means good herb and... so it is. I have some growing outside by my
water
spicket. I often cut some and add to the horses' lunch buckets...they
love it. Mentha Piperita stimulates
digestion and fortifies the stomach and the nervous system. It is also
useful for treating colds because it promotes expectoration. Mint also
reduces intestinal gas and alleviates vomiting and nausea. It also
regulates menstruation and relieves menstrual cramps. It is good for
heart palpitations and soothing nerves. The plant
eliminates bad breath
and keeps flies, fleas and other insects away. Since Arizona hay is
high in iron, I feed my horses a lot of mint because it helps inhibit
iron absorption.
Red Clover
Red
Raspberry leaves
Rosehips
Slippery
Elm Bark
This is a most valuable herb for
gastro-intestinal issues and has been used in that capacity for years. It not only has a most soothing
and healing action on all the parts it
comes in contact with, but when made into gruel forms a wholesome and
sustaining food for infants and invalids. It forms the basis of many
patent foods. Of course, it is an ingredient in
my Tummy Tonic Potion.
Spearmint
Thyme
Valerian
White Willow Bark
Beware of poisonous plants
& herbs:
The following is my list of herbs/plants that should not be fed
to horses:
Black Walnut, St. John's Wort, Castor bean, mistletoe, milkweed,
rhododendron, azalea, mountain laurel, oleander, yellow star thistle,
fiddleneck, bracken fern, locoweed, jimsonweed, tree tobacco, sudan
grass, foxglove, lantana, horsetail.
For a more complete list visit the following sites:
http://www.manesandtailsorganization.org/toxic.html
http://meadowherbs.com/toxic.htm
http://www.ansci.cornell.edu/plants/
http://ohioline.osu.edu/b762/b762_24.html
http://www.naturalhorsetraining.com/PoisonousPlants.html
http://southcampus.colostate.edu/poisonous_plants/trees-plants.mht
References:
Most of the information on the herbs on this page link up
to Botanical.com (A Modern Herbal by Mrs. M. Grieve)
http://botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/mgmh.html
However, I also compiled
information for some of the herbs from the books listed above
and the following online sources:
http://www.bestnutrition.com/lt/Frame-Herbs.htm
http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/index.php
http://www.countrypark.com.au/
Questions? Just send me a message
with "Jose Cuervo" the raven...
*This information is
intended for educational purposes only, it has not been evaluated by the Food
& Drug Administration.
This information is not intended
to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. We therefore make no
claims to this effect.
