Herbs A-Z

Agnus Castus (Vitex agnus-castus) is used to correct Hormonal imbalances.

USE FOR:

• Hormonal Mares (Often showing irritability, tension and mood swings)

• Corrects hormonal imbalances

FEED: 15g in feed daily

A natural source of B Vitamins and Amino acids. Contains Vitamin B1 (Thiamin) Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), Vitamin B3 (Niacin), these B group vitamins are known for their ability to help maintain a healthy skin, nervous and digestive system.

USE FOR

• Ideal to feed to Sweetitch sufferers as it helps to deter the biting midges

• Also helps to calm nervous highly strung horses

• Can be fed before stressful situations eg. travelling etc

• Improves condition in poor-doers

• Helps weight gain

• Improves scouring

FEED: 10-20g daily

Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) strengthens fragile blood vessels, making them more flexible (haemorrhage of capillaries).

USE FOR:

• Arthritis

• Poor circulation

• Navicular

• Conditions that can be helped by an increase in blood supply

• Circulatory problems

• Rich in calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron & trace elements

FEED: 20-30g daily.

Burdock Root (Arctium lappa)

USE FOR:

• Excellent digestive aid, stimulates digestive juices

• Liver and kidney function

• Skin disorders caused by toxic conditions and liver and kidney dysfunction

• Eczema, sores, boils or dry scurfy skin

• Arthritis, rheumatism

• Has been found to have anti-tumour activity

FEED: 10g daily in feed

Calendula/Marigold (Calendula officinalis)

Rich in Sulphur so has excellent blood cleansing and anti-fungal actions.

USE FOR:

• Skin conditions

• Gastric complaints

• Ulcers/inflammation

• Stress/fretful

• Blood tonic

• Lymphatics/Urinary (with Clivers)

• Urinary infections- Cystitis

• Immune stimulant

FEED 15-20g Daily

Celery seed (Apium graveolens)

Celery seeds are particularly useful for Arthritis, muscle/joint stiffness, as a digestive tonic and inflammation of the urinary tract

USE FOR:

• Arthritis, rheumatism, joint stiffness in older horses

• Muscle stiffness

• Particularly good as a digestive tonic especially if horse is run down/chilled and it's appetite reduced as a result

• It is believed to help reduce high blood pressure and have a calming effect

FEED: 5-10g daily

Chamomile flowers (Matricaria recutita)

USES:

• Relaxes, has a calming and soothing action

• Relieves stress, tension and restlessness

• Has Anti-inflammatory and Analgesic actions, so can be used to help ease aches and pains.

• Anti-spasmodic relaxes the gut

FEED: 1 Handful daily in feed

Clivers (Galium aparine)

Supports and tones the Lymphatics. Rich in Silica.

USE FOR:

• Soft swellings-fluid retention

• Cystitis/Urinary infections

• Enlarged lymph glands

• Silica rich so good for the coat, hair and improving hoof quality

• Mild Diuretic

• Laminitis

• Windgalls/Filled legs

• Lymphangitis with Calendula FEED 20-30g Daily

Comfrey (Symphytum officinale)

Due to the presence of allantoin Comfrey has a remarkable ability to heal bone, cartilage and soft connective tissue. Reduces inflammation of the stomach lining. An excellent source of vitamin B12

USE FOR:

• Any soft connective tissue injury

• Bruising- breaks down red blood cells

• Gastric disorders, ulcers, colic and colitis

• Rheumatism and Arthritis

• Soothes and reduces irritation of the respiratory system and acts as an expectorant.

FEED 20-30g Daily

Dandelion Leaf (Taraxacum officinale)

Diuretic, mild laxative, tonic, anti-rheumatic, hepatic

USE FOR:

• Any liver/kidney disorder

• Jaundice

• Stimulates the liver increases production of bile

• Diuretic - increases urine

• Cleanses the blood

• Natural electrolyte - rich in potassium and magnesium and helps to prevent dehydration

FEED 30g Daily

Devils Claw (Harpogophytum procumbens)

Anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. Tests have shown Devils Claw to have effects comparable with cortisone and phenylbutazone without the side effects

USE FOR:

• Arthritis

• Any form of DJD (degenerative joint disorder) or bony changes resulting in inflammation

• Diuretic and liver stimulant

• Encourages appetite

FEED 15g daily

Garlic (Allium sativum)

Antibiotic, antiseptic, anti-microbial, anthelmentic, expectorant. One of the best herbs for infection.

USE FOR:

• Respiratory disorders-encourages expulsion of mucus from the lungs and helps any infection

• Can guard against coughs, viral infection, and worm infestation

• Digestion encourages natural bacterial flora

FEED: 15-20g Daily

WARNING: Care should be taken when feeding to lactating mares as it may taint the milk and upset the delicate digestive system of young foals.

Hawthorn Flower & Leaf (Crataegus oxyacantha)

Has a beneficial action on blood flow, blood pressure and heart rate. High in flavanoids so has the action of dilating the peripheral blood vessels and therefore improve blood supply to affected areas.

USE FOR:

• Navicular synrome

• Laminitis

• Normalising blood pressure (in humans it is used for treating angina and irregular heartbeat)

• Arthritis/rheumatism

FEED: 10-20g Daily

Kelp/Seaweed (Fucus vesiculosis)

There are over 45 minerals in kelp and it is specifically rich in iodine.

USE FOR:

• Excellent source of minerals

• Good for the coat and skin

• Excellent hoof supplement

• Underactive thyroid

FEED: 15-30g Daily

Liquorice Root (Glycyrrhiza glabra)

Is a Demulcent so is therefore soothing, it also has expectorant, anti-viral and anti-inflammatory properties

USE FOR:

• Excellent for reducing gastric acid so therefore useful for gastric ulceration and inflammation

• Respiratory conditions demulcent and expectorant so is soothing soothing to the Respiratory system when inflammation is present

• It has been shown to have an ability to improve liver function

• Oestrogenic so has been used to improve fertility

Note: Because of Oestrogenic properties it is advisable not to feed during pregnancy

FEED: 10-20g daily

Marshmallow Leaf (Althea officinalis)

High in mucilage - soothes irritation/inflammation

USE FOR:

• Expectorant - excellent for a dry tight cough, soothes irritation in the airways and encourages the expulsion of mucus

• Inflammation of the urinary system - cystitis, kidney or bladder problems

• Any condition of the digestive system - gastric ulceration, inflammation and colitis

FEED: 20g Daily

Marshmallow root (Althea officinalis)

Can be used for digestive disorders, Respiratory conditions/coughs

USE FOR:

• It is a Demulcent and high in mucilage so is ideal for soothing irritation/inflammation

• It is specific for any condition of the digestive system especially gastric ulceration and colitis

• Powdered it can be used externally as a poultice to draw infection (mix in equal parts with Slippery elm powder)

• For respiratory conditions it has the same properties as Marshmallow leaf

FEED: 20g daily

Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria)

The herbal Aspirin.

USE FOR:

• Rheumatic/arthritic pain

• Has been found to improve the condition of connective tissue aiding natural flexibility in joints and muscles

• One of the best herbs for the digestive system, protects the digestive tract and reduces excess acid

• Gastric ulcers/bleeding

• Scouring

• Diuretic

• Fevers

FEED: 20-30g Daily

Milk thistle seeds (Silybum marianum)

Used to treat liver damage. Protects and improves liver function.

USE FOR:

• Speeds up the regeneration of liver cells

• Increases bile production from the liver

• It has been shown to lower fat deposits in the liver of animals

• Protects the liver from damage by drugs and poisons

• Liver damage caused by worm burden

• Use in the spring as a tonic to strengthen the liver

• High in linoleic acid so may help to regulate female hormones

FEED: 10-15g daily

Mint (Mentha piperita)

A stimulant, anti-spasmodic, carminative and anti-inflammatory

USE FOR:

• One of the best digestive aids, soothing and relaxing to the digestive tract

• Flatulence and bloating

• May be used to encourage horses to eat when appetite has diminished

• Can be used to help dry up the milk in lactating mares

FEED: 15-20g daily

Nettle Leaf (Urtica dioica)

Rich source of vitamin C, iron, sodium, chlorophyll, protein and dietary fibre.

USE FOR:

• Ideal as a spring tonic and general blood cleanser

• Stimulates the circulation

• Laminitis

• Rheumatism and arthritis

• Excellent for anaemia

• Encourages the dappling on a horses coat when fed internally

Note: nettle leaf is a blood tonic so may have the effect of livening up the horse

FEED 20- 30g daily

Psyllium Husk Powder

Can be used for a variety of digestive complaints.

USE FOR:

• Can help with horses who suffer from sluggish bowels and impaction, by easing the passage of faeces

• Abdominal bloating and excessive gas

• Can help remove toxins, bacteria and undigested matter from the digestive tract

• Eases diarrhoea/scouring

• Useful when horses are grazing on sandy soil as it helps remove sand, grit and dirt from the gut

• Can be used as a poultice when mixed with slippery elm to draw pus/infection with boils/abscesses

Note: Horses must have free access to water when feeding Psyllium husk

FEED: 20g per 100kg bodyweight per day for 5 days each month

Rosehips (Rosa canina)

Rich in vitamin C as well as vitmains A and K, thiamine, niacin, riboflavin and volatile oil.

USE FOR:

• Excellent spring tonic

• Use after illness to help the horse to return to health

• Helps the horse fight infection

• Boosts the immune system

• Encourages strong healthy hoof growth

• Helps Scouring

FEED: 15-20g daily

Raspberry Leaf (Rubus idaeus)

The best pregnancy herb.

USE FOR:

• Strengthening and toning uterine muscles to assist with contractions during foaling

• Stops haemorrhaging

• Encourages cleansing of afterbirth

• Promotes milk production

Also:

• An infusion can be used for mouth ulcers, tonsillitis etc

FEED 20-30g daily for the last 4-6 weeks of pregnancy and after foaling for 1 week to encourage cleansing and toning of the uterus

Slippery Elm (Ulmus rubra)

Used to treat irritation and ulceration of all mucosal membranes within the body.

USE FOR:

• Soothes the digestive tract

• Gastric ulceration - colitis

• Scouring - particularly in foals and elderly horses

• Soothes inflammation both internally and externally

• Externally can be used as a poultice when used in equal parts with powdered Marshmallow to draw poisons, ulcers, boils and encourage wounds to heal.

FEED: For digestive and scouring - mix 2 tablespoons with live yoghurt or honey. For foals - Mix with yoghurt and administer by syringe or allow to lick.

Valerian Root (Valerian officinalis)

Can help to calm and relax without losing performance.

USE FOR:

• Relieves stress and anxiety

• Use for nervous restless horses, can help them become less reactive

• Helps to relieve tension held in the muscles

• Helps to relieve bronchial spasms

• relaxes the stomach and can be used to help the symptoms of colic, flatulence and constipation

Note: If given in too high a dose may have a laxative effect.

FEED: 15g daily (has a strong aroma so may have to be introduced gradually)