Post on 14-Feb-2020
Top 5 Herbs to Heal Pain and Inflammation
in Horses
Discover the Top Herbs to Manage your
Horse’s Pain and Inflammation - Naturally
WhyHerbalMedicine?
Itisunderstoodthatanimalshavebeenself-medicatingwithherbsthroughouttime.Infact,
thesamecanbesaidforhumans.Didyouknowthatmanypharmaceuticaldrugshavebeen
developedasaresultofstudyingtraditionalherbalmedicines,extractingwhatareconsidered
to be the key chemical constituents, synthetically manufacturing those chemicals and
prescribing them at high doses? In many developing countries, a large portion of the
populationstill relyheavilyon traditionalpractitionersandmedicinalplants tomeet their
primaryhealthcareneeds,evenwheremoremodernWesternmedicalsystemsareavailable.
Sowhyuse herbalmedicineswhen there are pharmaceutical alternatives? Whatwe are
unabletoreplicateinpharmaceuticaldrugsisthemannerinwhichthemultitudeofdifferent
phytochemicals found in plant medicines work together synergistically to heal the body.
Taking a single chemical component from a plant and prescribing it at a high dose often
producessideeffectsthatarenotevidentwhenthemedicineistakeninplantform,asplants
tendtocontainjusttherightbalanceofarangeofphytochemicals.Thisisnottosaythat
plantmedicineshavenosideeffects,assomearetoxicwhenprescribedincorrectly.
Another factor to consider is cost. Herbalmedicines are often significantly cheaper than
pharmaceuticalmedicines, largelybecauseherbalmedicinescannotbepatented. Insome
cases,youcanevengrowfreshherbsinyourownhome.Forexample,parsley,peppermint
andgingercanallofferrelieffromindigestioninplaceofapharmaceuticalantacid.Ofcourse,
self-medicating has a limit and if you have a more serious, long standing or underlying
problem,consultationwithaprofessionalherbalistormedicalpractitionerisessential.
So is there a place for pharmaceutical medicines? Absolutely. There are times when
pharmaceuticalmedicationsareagoodchoicebaseduponavarietyoffactors. It isalsoa
very personal choice. Owner’s of competition owners encouraged to check with their
sportingregulatorforalistofprohibitedsubstances.ForFEIInternationaldisciplines,alist
of currently controlled substances can be found at
http://prohibitedsubstancesdatabase.feicleansport.org.
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ASelectionofHerbsforPainand
Inflammation
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ArnicaScientificName:Arnicamontana
AlternativeNames:Leopard’sbane,Mountainarnica,
Mountainsnuff,Mountaintobacco,Wolf’sbane
Administration:Topicaluseonly.
UsesforPainandInflammation:
• Useexternallyasamildanalgesic(painreliever)andanti-inflammatory.
• Excellentappliedtopicallyinthemanagementofpainandinflammationassociatedwith
arthritis,sprains,bruises,soremusclesandinflamedinsectbites.
• Arnicaalsoaidscirculation,makingitusefultoassistvenousinsufficiency,suchasvaricose
veins.
OtherUses:
• Nil.
Combinations:
• CombinewithWitchhazel(Hamamelisvirginiana)totreatbruises,inflamedswellingsand
varicoseveins.
Contraindications:
• Donotapplytodamagedskinoropenwounds.
Interactions:
• Nonereported.
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Frankincense
ScientificName:Boswelliaserrata
AlternativeNames:Frankincense,
Indianfrankincense,Indianolibanum,
Mastictree,Salaiguggul(Indianfolk),
Shallaki(Sanskrit).Ayurvedic:
Gajabhakshyaa,Salai,Shallaki,Susravaa.
Siddha/Tamil:Kungli,Paragisambirani.
Administration:Orallyand/ortopically.
UsesforPainandInflammation:
• Frankincenseisprimarilyusedasananti-inflammatory.Therangeofconditionstreated
include,butarenotlimitedto,arthritis(osteoandrheumatoid),gastrointestinalulcers,
inflammatory conditions of the digestive tract, chronic prostatitis, psoriasis, equine
asthma(heaves),laryngitisandbronchitis.
• Humanclinicaltrialsinpatientswithosteoarthritisandrheumatoidarthritishavefound
thatFrankincensereducespainandthefrequencyofswelling,preventsthebreakdownof
cartilage,decreasespainandincreasesphysicalfunctioning.
• Frankincenseisalsousefulinthetreatmentofpainbyproducingasedativeeffectonthe
nervoussystem.
• The anti-inflammatory activities of Frankincensemake it an excellent prescription for
pulmonary disorders, including equine asthma (heaves) and laryngitis. Anti-microbial
propertiesalsomakeiteffectiveinthemanagementofpulmonarydisorderscausedby
respiratorysysteminfections,suchasbronchitisandpleurisy.
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• Frankincensetakenorallyandappliedtopicallyisusefulinthetreatmentofinflammatory
skindiseasessuchaseczema,dermatitis(includingrainrotandEosinophilicGranuloma)
andpsoriasis.Itisalsousefulinthetreatmentofringworm.
• Frankincense can be used to stimulate circulation, which is a key factor in the
managementofarthriticconditions.
• Unlikepharmaceuticalnon-steroidalanti-Inflammatorydrugs(NSAID’s),Frankincensehas
notbeenshowntoresultinirritationorulcerationofthestomach.
OtherUses:• Anxiety(whenusedasaninhalantbyheatingtheresinoncoalsorvaporisingtheessential
oils).
• Basalcellcarcinoma
• Breastcancer
• Diarrhoea
• Fever
• Intestinalinfections
• Leukaemia
• Mouthulcers
• Ovariancancer
• Poorcirculation
• Skininfections
• Vaginalinfections
Combinations:
• The boswellic acids found in Frankincense are synergistic with glucosamine. Taken
together, Frankincense and glucosamine can be highly beneficial in the treatment of
osteoarthritisandrheumatoidarthritis.
• CombinewithCeleryseed(Apiumgraveolens)inthetreatmentofarthritis.
• Combine with Skullcap (Scutellaria laterifolia) and Albizia (Albizia lebbeck) in the
treatmentofallergicconditions.
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Contraindications:
• Donotadministertopregnantmares.
Interactions:
• Maytheoreticallyinterferewiththeabsorptionofpharmaceuticaldrugs.
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Devil’sClawScientificName:Harpagophytumprocumbens
Alternative Names: Beesdubbetje, Duiwelsklou, Grapple plant, Grapple thorn, Kanako,
Kamangu, Kloudoring, Ouklip, Rankdoring, Sengaparile, Skerpioendubbeltje, Teufelskralle,
Toutje,Tou,Tswana,Tuberculedegriffedudiable,Woodspider
Administration:Internaluse.
UsesforPainandInflammation:
• Devil’s claw is an anti-inflammatory and analgesic. It is particularly useful in the
management of pain and inflammation associated with arthritis (both osteo and
rheumatoid),backpain,neuralgiaandmuscularpain.
• Maybeadministeredtoaidinthemanagementofvenousinflammation.
• Aidsinthetreatmentofsore,itchy,inflamedskin.
OtherUses:
• Digestivestimulation
• Livercongestion.
• Loweringbloodpressureandheartrate.
Combinations:
• Combine with Celery seed (Apium graveolens), Bogbean (Menyanthes trifoliata) or
Meadowsweet(Filipendulaulmaria)inthemanagementofarthritis.
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Contraindications:
• Donotadministertopregnantmares.
• Nottobeusedincompetitionhorses.
• Nottobegiventohorseswithgastriculcers,asitmayincreasethesecretionofgastric
acid.
Interactions:
• Devil’s clawmay theoretically interact with the following pharmaceutical drugs: anti-
arrhythmics,anti-coagulants,anti-hypertensivesandcardiacmedications
• Devil’sclawislesseffectivewhenadministeredinconjunctionwithantibiotics,asitrelies
onintestinalbacteriaforactivation.
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TurmericScientificName:Curcumalonga
AlternativeNames:Haridra,Haldi,Indian
saffron,Jianghuang(rhizome),Yujin(root
tuber),Yellowginger.
Administration:Canbeadministeredorallyandtopically.
UsesforPainandInflammation:
• Turmeric is a useful anti-inflammatory in the management of arthritis (osteo and
rheumatoid),skindisordersandequineasthma(heaves).
OtherUses:
• Anti-plateletactivitiesofferprotectiontothecardiovascularsystem.
• Detoxifiesandregenerateslivertissue,protectingagainsthepatotoxicity.
• Demonstratesanti-tumour/anti-canceractivities.
• Dyspepsia.
• IshighlytoxictoSalmonella.
• Lowerscholesterol.
• Pepticulcer
• ProtectsagainstDNAdamageinlymphocytes.
Combinations:
• CombinewithFrankincense(Boswelliaserrata)inthemanagementofarthritis.
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Contraindications:
• Highdosesmaycauseskinrashandphotosensitivity.
Interactions:
• Cautionisadvisedifadministeredwithanti-coagulantoranti-plateletdrugs.
Notes:
• Curcumin (theactiveconstituentofTurmeric) isnotwellabsorbedorally. To improve
absorption,administerinalipidbase(i.e.feedwithadietaryfatsuchascanolaorflaxseed
oil).
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WhiteWillowScientificName:SalixAlba
AlternativeNames:Whitewillow,Bailliu,
Willow,Willowbark
Administration:Administerorally.
UsesforPainandInflammation:
• ThesalicininWhitewillowisconvertedintosalicylicacidbythebody(anaturalformof
aspirin). As such,White willow is most commonly used to treat pain, inflammation,
sciatica,neuralgia,rheumatism,osteoarthritis,headaches,colic,cramp,sprains,strains
andtendonitis.Itsanalgesiceffectsareslowerthanaspirin,howeveritsdurationislonger
andgastricsideeffectsareavoidedwithcorrectdosage.
• Thesalicylicacidhasalsobeenshowntoreduce feverwithoutcausingdamageto the
stomach,hence it is indicated inthetreatmentof influenzaandother fever-producing
conditions.
• Whitewillowmaybeused for various formsof arthritisbeing specific for rheumatoid
arthritisandothersystemiccorrectivetissueconditionswithinflammatorychanges.
• Externally,Whitewillowisusedtotreatwounds,ulcers,warts,calluses,bunions,corns
andacne.
OtherUses:
• Acne(pyoderma)
• Pleurisy
• Respiratorycatarrh
• Saddlesores/Galls
• Sorethroat
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• Toothache
• Ulcers(external)
• Warts
• Wounds
Combinations:• Combines well with other herbal anti-inflammatories, such as Devil’s claw
(Harpagophytumprocumbens).
Contraindications:• Donotadministertopregnantandlactatingmares.
• Nottobeusedincompetitionhorsesduetothepresenceofsalicylates.
• Nottobetakenbyindividualssensitiveorallergictoaspirinorsalicylates.Respiratory
sideeffectsandskinrashmayoccurintheseindividuals.
• Due to the salicylate content, caution should be exercised in individuals with aspirin
hypersensitivity, equine asthma (heaves), equine metabolic syndrome, diabetes,
gastrosis,haemophilia,liverdisease,impairedbloodclotting,kidneydiseaseandpeptic
ulcers.
• Side effects are uncommon, but may include nausea, gastrointestinal discomfort,
dizzinessandrash.
Interactions:
• Nottobeco-administeredwithaspirinandothersalicylate-containingsubstances,other
pharmaceutical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID’s), anti-coagulants,
barbiturates/sedatives, methotrexate, spironolactone, phenytoin and valproate
medications.
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WhichHerbsShouldIChoose?
As you can see, the selection of herbs will depend upon the cause of the pain and
inflammation,e.g.arthritis,ulcersorrespiratorydistress, forexample. Itwillalsodepend
uponwhetheryourhorse isalready takingpharmaceuticalmedicationsandwhether they
haveanyothermedicalconditionsthatneedtobeconsidered.
Professional herbalists use the concept of ‘synergism’whenpreparing anherbal formula.
Synergisminvolvestheuseofcomplementaryherbsthataddressthewholebeinginanumber
of ways. For example, if a horse presents with arthritis and poor digestion/inability to
maintainweight,Iwillselectananti-arthriticherbwithasecondaryactionofstimulatingthe
digestivesystem,plusadigestivesystemherbwithasecondaryfunctionoftreatingpainor
inflammation.
Ifyouareeverstuckorunsure,thebestadviceistocallaprofessionalEquineHerbalistwho
candevelopapersonalprescriptionbaseduponyourhorse’suniqueneeds. SacredHorse
offerspersonalprescriptionstoclientsinternationally. Formoreinformationortomakea
booking,visitwww.sacredhorse.com.au
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Bibliography1. Australian Naturopathic Network 2003, ‘Australian Naturopathic Network’ [Online],
viewed31/01/2014,http://www.ann.com.au/
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Ltd,London
3. Duke,J.2002,‘HandbookofMedicinalHerbs’,2ndEdition,CRCPress,U.S.A.
4. Grieve, M 2014, ‘Botanical.com’ [Online], accessed 5th January 2014,
http://botanical.com
5. Hechtman, L. 2012, ‘Clinical Naturopathic Medicine’, Churchill Livingstone - Elsevier
Australia,Chatswood,Australia
6. Hoffman,D.2003, ‘MedicalHerbalism:TheScienceandPracticeofHerbalMedicine’,
HealingArtsPress,Vermont
7. Khare,C.P.2007,‘IndianMedicinalPlants:AnIllustratedDictionary’,SpringerScience+
BusinessMediaLLC,NewYork
8. Marciano,M 2014, ‘The Naturopathic Herbalist: BotanicalMedicine for theMedical
Student’[Online],accessed31/01/2014,http://thenaturopathicherbalist.com/
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Australia
10. Sayre, L 1917, ‘A Manual of Organic Materia Medica and Pharmacognosy’, Fourth
Edition,P.Blakiston’sSonandCo.,U.S.A.
11. Wynn,S.andFougère,B.2007,‘VeterinaryHerbalMedicine’,Mosby-Elsevier,Missouri