Brief Herb Details
Aniseed : Pimpinella anisum
Actions
Expectorant, anti-spasmodic, anti-microbial, carminative and digestive tonic.
Rationale
Aniseed increases the mucociliary transport system, supporting its use as an expectorant in catarrhal type conditions. Aniseed’s expectorant and anti-spasmodic action are used to relieve persistent coughing.
Burdock : Arctium lappa
Actions
Alterative, urinary tonic, demuclent, depurative, nutritive tonic.
Rationale
Burdock is particularly useful as a skin alterative through its action as a depurative.
Calendula : Calendula off.
Actions
Anti-inflammatory, lymphatic, choleretic, vulnerary.
Rationale
Useful as a detoxification aid and especially useful in helping prevent and heal ulcers of all types.
Cat’s Claw : Uncaria tormentosa
Actions
Immuno-stimulant, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, detoxifying, anti-oxidant and anti-depressant.
Rationale
Cat's Claw improves immune function and is therefore useful in supporting individuals with a compromised immune system. It particularly supports the part of the immune system that combats viral infections. It also assists in the control of inflammation. In many conditions where infections are present inflammation may become problematic.
Chaste Berry :
Vitex agnus-castus
Actions
Hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian regulator, dopaminergic, progesterogenic, ovulatory stimulant, galactagogue, anti-androgenic and anaphrodisiac.
Rational
Hormone imbalance may be indicated by either not coming into season, staying in oestrus too long or being the archetypical moody mare. By modulating the hormone levels during the ovarian cycle and supporting the endocrine system, Chaste Berry can alleviate the resulting moodiness and unpleasantness.
Chaste has recently been used very successfully to support horses and ponies suffering from Cushing’s Disease. This is not a curable condition but its effects can be moderated by the supportive effects of Chaste Berry.
Due to the anti-androgenic effect of Chaste Berry, it is also very useful in settling rigs (geldings that have been cut proud), over exuberant colts and stallions.
Devil’s Claw: Harpagophytum procumbens
Actions
Anti-inflammatory, anti-rheumatic, analgesic and digestive stimulant.
Uses
Devil’s Claw has been widely used in human herbal medicine to treat both acute and chronic inflammation. It is especially useful for musculo-skeletal problems. In the equine world these include not only the strains and sprains of competition but also the problems caused through epiphysitis, OCD and degenerative joint disease.
As a general anti-inflammatory it is effective in weaning individuals off steroidal anti-inflammatories, in allergic reactions and in acute trauma.
Devil’s Claw is widely used to provide long term joint support (chondroprotection), after strenuous exercise or working on hard ground and to give comfort to stiff joints.
Echinacea : Echinacea purpurea
Actions
Immuno-stimulant, immune modulator, anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-protozoal, anti-septic, vulnerary, anti-inflammatory, alterative and depurative.
Rationale
It is mostly used to improve immune function, so is particularly useful in all lowered immune states. Through this action it has been used to help protect against potential infections and also in acute and in particular chronic unresolved infections of all types. It has been found to be especially useful in all respiratory conditions as a prophylactic and in the treatment of colds and respiratory infections.
Echinacea has long been used as a blood tonic, confirmed by recent work on horses which has shown that Echinacea not only improves the white blood cell count, but also increases red blood cell count. This allows for the blood to have improved oxygen carrying capacity.
A more recent long term study in mice has shown that long term use of Echinacea has lead to improved health and increased life expectancy.
Elecampane : Inula helenium
Actions
Stimulating expectorant, anti-tussive, anti-spasmodic, anti-septic, anti-microbial and bitter digestive tonic.
Rationale
The mucilage in Elecampane has a relaxing effect accompanied by a stimulating effect from the essential oils. In this way expectoration is accompanied by a soothing action. Elecampane is most useful in chronic productive coughs, irritating bronchial coughs, asthma and bronchitis.
Fenugreek : Tringonella foenum-graecum
Actions
Anti-inflammatory, demulcent, hypoglycemic, mild bitter, muligalinous and soothing.
Rationale
Fenugreek is used in Gastro Tonic for soothing and vulnerary effect.
Ginger : Zingiber officinalis
Actions
Anti-inflammatory, circulatory and metabolic stimulant, digestive, carminative and anti-emetic.
Rationale
Ginger is often included in a multi herb formulations to optimise the effects of the other herbs.
It is an excellent circulatory stimulant; acting by dilating the peripheral blood vessels allowing increased blood flow to tissues increasing the flow of nutrients to, and removal of byproducts from the tissues. This action supports parts of the body that are poorly nourished by blood.
Globe Artichoke : Cynara scolymus
Actions
Bitter tonic, hepatotonic, hepatorestorative, hepatoprotective
Rationale
Cynara is one of the best liver herbs hence its use in detoxification and liver protection.
Hypericum or St. John's Wort : Hypericum perforatum
Actions
Anti-depressant, nervine tonic, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-septic and vulnerary.
Rationale for Use
There are well documented results of research into the anti-depressant effects of whole Hypericum extract. It is useful in mild and moderate depression, post natal depression, irritability, anxiety, nervous exhaustion, neuroses and aggressive, introverted or timid behaviour.
Side Effects
Large amounts of Hypericum such as may be taken by grazing animals in an uncontrolled manner can cause a condition called ‘hypericism’ this is a state of increased sensitivity to sunlight in unpigmented skin, it can also cause increased sensitivity to touch, temperature changes and depression of the central nervous system.
This reaction is seen only when the amount of Hypericum consumed is well above the usual range.
One study showed that 4mg/kg was required to cause photosensitivity in sheep. Another study in calves showed that the amount of Hypericum required to cause photosensitivity was 30-50 times greater than the usual range.
The effect is reversible and the individual should be kept out of direct sunlight until the sensitivity is resolved.
Licorice : Glycyrrhiza glabra
Actions
Adaptogen, adrenal tonic, anti-inflammatory, demulcent, mucoprotective, expectorant, mild laxative, anti-spasmodic and immune stimulating.
Rationale
Licorice is included here to assist with and adrenal exhaustion or dysregulation.
Nettle : Urtica dioica
Actions
Alterative, kidney tonic, antiithic, diuretic.
Rationale
Nettle is the classic kidney tonic and aids with elimination and the prevention of kidney and bladder stones.
Psyllium : Plantago ovata
Actions
Bulking, mucilaginous, hypoglycemic, laxative
Rationale
Psyllium is becoming the herb of choice to replace Slippery Elm for gastric soothing and bulking. It slows gut transit time and by its mucilaginous actions has a protective effect on the gut wall.
Sarsaparilla : Smilax ornata
Actions
Alterative, anti rheumatic, diuretic, tonic, endotoxin binding.
Rationale
Sarsaparilla is one of the best herbs for binding to endotoxins. Mycotoxins are one of the causes of insidious illness which may be helped by detoxification.
Siberian Ginseng : Eleutherococcus senticosus
Actions
Adaptogenic, immunomodulator and tonic.
Rationale
Improves physical and mental performance, minimizes effects of stress and exercise, enhances immune function and reduces fatigue. Siberian Ginseng was used to help Russian cosmonauts cope with the stress of space travel.
Schisandra : Schisandra chinensis
Actions
Adaptogen, anti-depressant, anti-fatigue, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, hepatoprotective, nervine tonic.
Rationale
The actions of Schisandra are widely used to support liver function and hence its role in controlling the balance of circulating hormone levels.
The ability and scope of exercise is inhibited by the build up of lactic acid and the efficiency of the liver to process and eliminate it.
Liver function plays a role in decreasing blood levels of lactic acid therefore improvement in liver function will improve the elimination of lactic acid. This will subsequently enhance exercise tolerance.
In a study Schisandra has been shown to increase stamina and reduce fatigue in racehorses and show-jumping horses.
In the study race horses were given either Schisandra or a placebo 30 min before an 8min race over 5.6km. Show horses were taken over a 700m obstacle course with 12 jumps. In both cases the horses that received Schisandra had lower heart rates and respiratory frequencies, increased plasma glucose and decreased lactate levels. The effects were more marked in the race horses. The authors suggested that Schisandra caused lower synthesis of lactate in muscle under anaerobic condition and improved lactate clearance by the liver. Circuit times were improved in the show-jumping horses.
By virtue of its hepatoprotective and hepatorestorative actions Schisandra is widely used to support the liver during stress or potential damage.
In humans, Schisandra has been shown to improve mental efficiency, the sensitivity of sight and hearing, enlarge the visual field and increase the sensitivity of the skin.
Thyme : Thymus vulgaris
Actions
Expectorant, anti-tussive, anti-microbial, anti-septic, anti-spasmodic, immune stimulant, tonic and rubefacient.
Rationale
Thyme is used for any inflammation or infection of the upper respiratory tract, colds, flu, sinusitis, bronchitis, irritable productive cough, pleurisy, sore throat, catarrh and allergies.
Valerian ; Valeriana officinalis
Actions
Mild sedative, hypnotic and smasmolytic.
Rationale
Valerian has been used as the most preferred herb for calming horses for many years. It is quick acting and effective. Perhaps this effectiveness was what made the FEI so keen to develop a test for it.
White Horehound : Marrubium vulgare
Actions
Relaxing expectorant, anti-spasmodic, bitter tonic and vulnerary.
Rationale
White Horehound increases blood circulation to the lungs through dilating the arteries and relaxing the smooth muscles of the bronchus, whilst promoting mucus production and expectoration resulting in relief of lung congestion.
Wild Lettuce : Lactuca virosa
Actions
Anxiolytic, sedative, hypnotic and anti-spasmodic.
Rationale
Wild Lettuce is an excellent herb to help reduce stress in those horses prone to hyperactivity, restlessness, neuroses and expressive anxiety. It is also useful in the process of weaning off conventional sedative prescriptions.
Zizyphus : Ziziphus jujuba
Actions
Sedative, hypnotic and anti-hydrotic.
Rationale
Zizyphus is an excellent herb to help reduce stress in those horses prone to inward anxiety, irritability, excessive sweating and nervous exhaustion.
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