Shock or Rescue Remedy:

Into mouth, and add to drinking water. May also be applied or sprayed onto any part of the body.

When things go wrong (as they invariably will), always have this on hand for everyone involved (horse, hound, human or otherwise)! It is suitable for use for accidents or emergencies. Dose the injured and the handler. Dosing the injured horse will help the animal calm down and accept help. Dosing the handler will help clear their mind, allowing rational assessment of the situation and injuries. There are no contraindications or drug interactions so this can be given safely in acute situations while waiting for the vet.

Arnica homeopathic:

Into mouth, or can add to drinking water.

This can be obtained from your practitioner or Arnica 6 potency can be purchased over the counter from some health stores or chemists. Used for muscular aches, bruising, sprains, or any connective or soft tissue injuries; the dose can be given as soon a problem is suspected. It will reduce inflammation and bruising, relieve pain and /or strain due to overexertion. There are no contraindications or drug interactions so this can be given safely in acute situations while waiting for the vet.

Nux vom or Bell’s homeopathic:

Into mouth, or can add to drinking water.

A ‘must have’ in your kit. Dose as soon as you think your horse may have any sort of gut ache including colic. There are no contraindications or drug interactions so this can be given safely in acute situations whilst waiting for the vet. Equally useful in humans with nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.

Aloe barbadensis:

Applied directly to relevant part of the body.

If you only grow one plant, make it this one! The mucilaginous gel is the best anti-inflammatory and pain inhibitor. Bandage swollen legs, poultice painful hooves or hold the gel over any swollen area on the body that can’t be bandaged, including the head. Horses that don’t want their painful swelling touched will soon succumb once the gel is gently held over the area, as it brings rapid relief. Use it on yourself then you will truly know Aloes’ positive power.

Ixodes homeopathic:

Into mouth, or can add to drinking water.

This is an invaluable homeopathic made from the venom of paralysis tick (Ixodes holocyclus) to help reverse symptoms. Dilated pupils are often the first sign of paralysis tick envenomation, followed by paling of the gum. If you live in a high tick area, make a point of checking eyes and gum of foals, calves, dogs etc. Healthy adult horses don’t have a problem dealing with paralysis ticks unless there is a gross infestation. However, dogs, people and other small or young animals can be affected quite dramatically. Many animals can recover from early stage paralysis if ticks are removed, animal is kept cool, dosed liberally with Ixodes homeopathic and given daily Vitamin C injections. Remove the tick by dabbing with tea tree oil so it starts backing out, then remove with green tick remover purchased from vets. NEVER use tweezers or fingers as this causes tick to inject more venom. If legs are wobbly or breathing labored, take the animal to the vet immediately.

Apis homeopathic:

Into mouth, onto the sting, or can add to drinking water.

For spring and summer bites and stings (bee, wasp, ant etc.) for two legged and four legged animals!

Slippery Elm powder.

Orally – in feed.

Useful to have on hand for the horses that get loose manure after eating fresh green growth or anything else with high sugar content. Add to the diet of those that lean towards foundering. The mucilages in Slippery Elm help to reduce nutrient flux in the gut, as does Psyllium. This will give some protection from the sugar (fructan)spikes that are so damaging, so this Slippery Elm powder can be included in your founder management protocol.

Calendula Cream:

Topical use only.

For rapid healing of skin abrasions/lesions etc. Calendula is the cream of choice for any skin wound. It is anti-inflammatory, anti- microbial, anti-bacterial and styptic. For use on open wounds, minor burns, inflamed skin, rashes, insect bites etc.

Comfrey:

Topical application.

An easy plant to grow plus it’s a good soil conditioner. Make a poultice with the leaves and/or roots and apply ASAP to splints. Comfrey speeds up granulation of cells in wounds, however it should always be combined with Calendula, which has an antiseptic action. Comfrey has no antiseptic action so should not be used on open wounds by itself as it will heal over any infection present.

Vitamin C injectable:

Keep a bottle of Vitamin C in the fridge so it is on hand for snake bite.
Inject 50ml into the muscle on each side of the neck. This can be repeated in an hour if the horse does not show signs of recovery. Your vet will perform a blood test which reveals the type of snake, if it is needed. Vitamin C can also be used similarly with serious infections, in conjunction with antibiotics and herbal treatments.

Angela Davison was one of Australia’ s First Female jockeys before retraining as a a Classical Herbalist, Cranio-Sacral and Equine Bowen Therapist. As well as creating a range of Herbs for Horses (go to www.thehorseherbalist.com), Angela runs Equine First Aid programs and has recently released The Horse Herbalist First Response Kit – perfect for when things go wrong! She is the author of ‘Flower Remedies for Horses, Pets & People’. Find out more at www.thehorseherbalist.com

Checking the VITAL SIGNS by Angela Davison

Check and note vital signs so you can relay them to your vet, plus keep a chart with your horse’s normal signs recorded and that way you can chart your horse’s details during any irregularities and also chart the progress in the recovery period.

TEMPERATURE: Make sure you have a thermometer in your kit. Normal temperature 37-38° C. There are two types of thermometers – the mercury bulb type and the digital type.
Take temperature twice daily, noting patterns and changes.
Taking the temperature:
1. Stand to the near side (left hand side of the horse), close to the horse to avoid being kicked. 2. Lubricate the end of the thermometer with soapy water.
3. If using a mercury thermometer gently shake the mercury down to the bottom of the tube.
4. Lift the tail and gently insert the thermometer (either type) into the horse’s rectum.
5. Keep a good hold on the end of the thermometer to stop it disappearing up the rectum.
6. If you are using a mercury thermometer wait at least 60 seconds before removing the thermometer and reading it.
7. Electronic thermometers will ‘beep’ when an accurate reading is obtained.

HEART RATE: Normal resting rate 38-40 beats per minute.(bpm) Anything over 60bpm in a calm resting horse should be investigated. Over 80bpm in a resting horse is serious. Know your horse’s normal resting heart rate. NB: A Foals resting HR is much higher 70-120bpm.
Taking the heart rate:
There are different locations for taking the heart rate, the easiest being just behind the elbow or the mandibular artery located just under the jaw.

Elbow: Position your horse with his foreleg slightly forward. Standing on the near side, place your hand or stethoscope flat on the horse’s side just behind the elbow. You may need to press quite hard to feel the heart rate. Listen or feel for one minute, counting the beat or count for 15 seconds and multiply by 4. Be sure to count each lub-dub as 1 beat.
Under Jaw: Curl the fingers of your hand and place them in the groove between your horse’s jaws. Pull your fingers back toward the nearest jawbone (mandible) until you feel a cordlike structure. Press that slightly against the jawbone and you will feel the pulse beating.

RESPIRATION:

At rest it should be 8-15 breaths per minute. Respiration should never exceed heart rate.
Taking the respiration rate: Watch or feel your horse’s ribcage/belly for one minute. Be sure to count 1 inhale and 1 exhale as one breath (not as two). If you are having difficulty seeing the ribcage move, try watching the horse’s nostrils or place your hand in front of the nostrils to feel the exhale. Another method is to place a stethascope on the horse’s windpipe to listen to the breathing. You may experience strange sounds if the windpipe is blocked, the horse has allergies or heaves.

DEHYDRATION PINCH TEST:

Pinch an inch of skin on the neck, then release. If skin rapidly springs back, horse is adequately hydrated. If slow to return ( more than a few seconds), horse is dehydrated. If your horse is chronically dehydrated you need to find out why he is not drinking (dirty water, plastic container, something in the water he does not like etc). In acute cases a drip will be required to rehydrate the horse. If dehydrated due to over-exertions, stress, accident or
injury, encourage the horse to drink by providing clean water in a stone or stainless steel container. You can put some sprigs of fresh lavender held down with a stone in the bottom to make the water more appealing. As a last resort use a small amount of molasses (beware! This practice can become an unwanted habit!)

CAPILLARY REFILL TIME (CRT):

Gums, press with one finger on the gum, above the teeth, until white. When you release this the gum should return to normal pink colour within 2 seconds. If colour doesn’t return in this time the horse may be in shock. Shock or Rescue Remedy will alleviate the condition until the vet arrives.

MUCUS MEMBRANES:

Gums, inside eyelids, should be moist and pink. Very pale pink may be fever, anaemia, loss of blood. Yellow indicates liver dysfunction. Grey/blue, may be shock or depression. Bright red, toxicity or mild shock. If Mucus Membranes very pale or yellow, consult vet immediately.

courtesy of www.hoofbeats.com.au

Sophie

The post STABLE STAPLES + Vital Signs appeared first on The Horse Herbalist.

The competition season is back in full swing, which means horses are travelling from place to place, staying in different yards or stables and often in close proximity to other horses and ponies.

All too frequently horses arrive home harbouring a bacterial, viral or parasitic infection. Initially they may not present with any symptoms – their vital signs are normal, they just seem a little flat.

This is the ideal time to administer immune-boosting and infection preventative herbs. The old rule of thumb is the quicker a ‘disease’ is treated the quicker it will leave the body, so don’t wait until the infection takes hold!

Start giving the horse some herbal support as soon as it appears ‘off colour’. If it isn’t incubating an infection, the herbs given are only going to boost the immune system regardless – which can only benefit the horse.

ECHINACEA

The number one immune-boosting herb is Echinacea angustifolia root. It contains the most powerful properties in the Echinacea family. For home use Echinacea purpurea, the whole plant (root and aerial parts) can food store or a reputable commercial herb retailer who sells human grade herbs.

Organically grown Echinacea purpurea grows very well in Australia so there is rarely a shortage of supply. The pharmaceutical grade standardised potent herbal extract, used by practitioners, is immune-enhancing, immune-balancing, anti- inflammatory and depurative (cleans the blood and improves detoxification). Think of Echinacea if a horse has an abscess, wounds, a venomous bite or sting, bronchial conditions, enlarged glands and even toothache, skin conditions, gut infections or Ross River virus. If it is the real thing, a quality extract will make your tongue numb and you’ll salivate briefly! This herb is a must in any infective state and can be used safely in conjunction with antibiotics, if they are necessary.

ASHWAGANDHA

Indian Ginseng Withania somnifera is another of my favourite herbs, often commonly known as Indian Ginseng, as well as Ashwagandha. It has immune-modulating properties – meaning it balances the immune system. It’s also an adaptogenic (it increases the body’s resistance or adaptation to physical, environmental or emotional stressors). Think of this herb for horses that just aren’t thriving, yet the vet can’t find any problem; horses that are poor doers for no apparent reason, picky eaters or ones suffering from post-viral syndrome. The adaptogenic aspect really helps horses that are on the move, in different environments and situations, be it at competitions, races or clinics – it increases their resistance to stressors and increases their core strength. Make sure to source a good quality W. somnifera as some varieties are very low in the required active principles.

KING OF BITTERS

Andrographis paniculata is indeed a bitter tonic. Bitters have a direct interaction with the gastrointestinal (gut) tissue. In addition to appetite and digestion they improve general health and immune function. Think of this herb if a horse is either flat, has much flatulence (wind), loses its appetite, has diarrhoea or a chronic cough. Because Andrographis is energetically a cold herb it is preferable to take it with an energetically warm herb such as a fresh ginger root. They combine together very nicely. Ensure the herb being used is A. paniculata as there can be adulteration with other species. NB: Not advised to use in pregnancy.

VITAMIN C

Horses make their own Vitamin C in the liver however, stress of any kind (accident or injury, travelling, sickness or other) quickly depletes the supply and the body needs more. Horses benefit from 4-6 teaspoons or more of sodium ascorbate or ascorbic acid daily if they have any kind of infection. Any vaccination depletes the body of Vit. C so dose with extra Vit. C
three days before and three days after any vaccination, to reduce negative effects. It’s prudent to have a bottle of injectable Vit. C in the stable fridge so it can be injected into a muscle if the horse is bitten by a snake. This should keep the horse alive until the vet arrives.
Many believe the herb Rosehip has the same effect as Vit C as it contains ascorbic acid. Whilst Rosehips are a wonderful tonic herb and do help with mild Vit. C deficiency a horse requires the actual vitamin itself in times of need.

COLLOIDAL SILVER

There are many who swear by the benefits of Colloidal Silver for themselves and their animals to boost the immune system. I used it with both horses and humans in my early days of practice in conjunction with herbs and had good results. Then the supply company were no more, I couldn’t find a supply that tested out with high therapeutic value so no longer used it! Ask around for a good source as they aren’t all the same. Your health practitioner or health store should be able to help you. Good immune health starts with a balanced diet and health-giving exercise. Physical and emotional stress compromise the immune system, so it is important to give your horse healthy turnout, friendly equine companions, access to pasture or hay, and room and time to ‘be a horse’.

Sophie

The post Super Immunity appeared first on The Horse Herbalist.

Horse owners can find their rugged horse has either been sweating all day or the temperature dropped 15 degrees and their unrugged horse was cold. Ideal conditions for coughs, colds and chills.

If a horse has a runny nose and eyes may be a little wet, they could be coming down with a cold. The earlier action is taken, the better the outcome. As soon as there is a suspicion the horse may be succumbing to a chill, fever or cold, that’s the best time to start giving the horse’s immune system some help to shake it off quickly before it becomes entrenched.

If symptoms are evident, take the horse’s temperature morning and evening (normal temperature is between 37 and 38 degrees). Keep a record in case a veterinarian is required at a later date. For mild symptoms some of the following herbal remedies may be effective in preventing further complications.

Ginger rhizome (Zingziber officinale)

Fresh ginger root has been scientifically proven to be effective against the common cold. Dried ginger and ginger powder do not have the same therapeutic effect.

Finely slice a 3-5cm knob of fresh ginger root, add 1.5-2cups of boiling water, let cool and pour all the contents over feed. To treat a cold do this morning and evening for 5-7 days. Fresh ginger tea is also good for any sort of digestive weakness, bloat or travel sickness.

Garlic. (Allium sativum)

Nature’s antibiotic! Use fresh cloves preferably from Australian organically grown garlic. This is a powerful antibacterial which helps fight the common cold. (Not to be confused with the cheap imported or dry granulated garlic, which is often treated with toxic chemicals, both in the growing stage and at Australian Quarantine).

Chop or slice 2-3 cloves and either add to feed or any of your tea combinations. Garlic may be safely used over 2-3 weeks, but be aware prolonged consistent consumption by the horse may cause Heinz Cell Anaemia. Garlic is traditionally planted at the Autumn Equinox and harvested at the Spring Equinox – but this crazy weather has extended the growing window!

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)

Antibacterial, antimicrobial, antifungal. Particularly effective in the upper respiratory tract. Thyme tea will quickly resolve sore throats, coughs and colds.

Ideally 5-10 sprigs of fresh plant or 1.5 teaspoons of dried herb. Add 2 cups of boiling water, let cool. Pour entire contents over feed. Dose 2-3 times daily reducing on improvement of symptoms.

(Be aware there are several subspecies of Thymus vulgaris which are low in phenol so of little therapeutic value). Thyme is easy to grow at home in a sunny spot.)

Nasturtium (Nasturtium officinale)

Nasturtium has broad antibiotic and antifungal actions. Nasturtium leaves and flowers are useful for any respiratory conditions. Add to a tea.

NB: Teas, decoctions and infusions (also known as tisanes) extract all the water soluble constituents into the fluid medium, so are utilised in the system more rapidly than ingesting the herb itself.

Echinacea Root (Echinacea angustifolia and Echinacea purpurea)

Use for all acute or chronic infections including the common cold, respiratory conditions, catarrh, bronchial asthma or cough. The number one immune booster. Purchase dry root from a reputable herb supplier or health store or see your qualified herbal practitioner to access the standardised potent liquid extract. Pharmaceutical grade Echinacea is expensive but worth it! Buy the herbal decoction, which should send your tongue briefly numb if it is the real deal!

My clients find homeopathic Echinacea really help their competition horses, particularly whilst traveling from place to place where there’s often a horse with a cough or cold.

There are a myriad of herbs which are useful to help horses or humans to rid their bodies of any cold and flu symptoms. Some of these are Andrographis, Elder Berry or Elder Flower, Horseradish, White Horehound and Yarrow.

Colloidal Silver

Colloidal Silver has been shown to effectively boost the immune system in many individuals. I have used it with both horses and humans; ask around for a good source, your health store practitioner should know.

Vitamin C

Horses benefit from 4-6 teaspoons or more on a daily basis if they have any kind of infection. It’s prudent to have a bottle of injectable Vit C in your stable fridge so you can inject it straight into a muscle if your horse is bitten by a snake. This will keep your horse alive until the vet arrives.

**If your horse does succumb to the nasal discharge and wracking cough of a cold or flu, Cough it Up will help your horse remove the mucus from his lungs, airways and nasal passages, and stimulate the immune system to motivate the body’s own natural healing response.

This article appears courtesy of Hoofbeats Magazine from the August/September 2016 edition. Angela Davison contributes as part of the Green Horse Team, and delivers hands-on herbal advice to readers. Visit http://www.hoofbeats.com.au/ for subscription details.

IMAGES
Echinacea – Thanks to Laura Ockel @viazavier for making this photo available freely on Unsplash
Garlic – Thanks to Tony Liao @tonyxliao for making this photo available freely on Unsplash

Angela Davison

The post The Cold Season appeared first on The Horse Herbalist.