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The GREEN HORSE - sustainable horsekeeping
JUNE JULY 2011
Vol 33 No 1

Cleaner, Greener Horse Gear
Growing Equine Herbs - Growing Herbal Leys For Healthy Horses by Jackie Rive
Permaculture Pt 4 - Compacted Soils and Keyline Design
by Mariette Van den Berg and Nick Huggins
Weed Watch - Fertilising and Weed Growth by Nicola Field
Understanding Herbicides: Responsible Use by Andrea Carmody
Conservation for Climate Change
Neem Oil by Amanda White
How Green Is My Property?
by Chris Ferreira  

Conscious Horse Health: Neem Oil
by Amanda White
www.equinehealth.au.com

The neem tree has been called ‘the village pharmacy’ by those who use the neem as a natural insect repellent, pesticide and for skin disorders and care.  In India people have limitless faith in what the neem bark, leaves and oil can be used to treat and prevent.

Neem oil is used on humans, horses and other animals, and even plants for a wide range of problems and diseases and has been heavily researched in India as a herbal remedy. Over 150 active substances have been identified by scientists as being in neem and the laboratory studies back up the folklore.

In one test where neem oil was compared to hydrocortisone, the neem extract (sodium nimbinate) and several natural saponins found in neem, the neem was found to be four times more effective at reducing inflammation then the hydrocortisone. The neem was also more effective than other agents tested.

Neem has antiseptic and healing properties which makes it an excellent first aid for minor cuts and abrasions.  The oil has the ability to increase vascular permeability by increasing blood flow and by helping the body to rapidly create collagen fibres to close wounds.  Healing is therefore accelerated and scarring reduced as the neem protects the injured skin.
Neem is a fantastic insecticide but works in a different way to other insecticides.  The neem is not a simple poison but rather has ingredients similar to the hormones the insects produce themselves.  Insects take up the neem oil ingredients just like the natural hormones.  Neem then enters the system and blocks the real hormones from working properly.  The insect ‘forgets’ to eat, to mate, or they stop laying eggs.  If eggs are produced they don’t hatch, therefore the life cycle of the insect is interrupted.

Neem oil does not harm beneficial insects as only chewing and sucking insects are affected.  For example lice infestations can be treated with neem oil in the form of shampoo.  It is certainly fascinating!

Like hormones, neem oil insecticide works at very low concentrations, in the parts per million ranges. A little neem oil goes a long way.

However, the process is not something that happens over night. People spray the neem oil as insecticide and expect everything to die instantly, because that’s what they are used to from chemical poisons. When that does not happen they conclude neem insecticide does not work.

It does work! Give it time to work. It’s a much smarter way to deal with insect pests than to just kill everything.
Neem oil can be found in shampoos, creams and oil for humans and animals alike. In India most of the neem is used in neem soap as well as neem shampoos, lotions, creams etc.

Queensland Itch
Horses are often irritated by an itchy skin condition known as Queensland itch or Sweet itch.  It is a constant irritation for the horse and itching is the main sign of the condition.  The affected horse will rub its mane, rump and tail on any object it can find in the paddock or stable causing hair loss and skin changes. Sometimes the chest or ears will be affected and the horse will scratch those parts bare.

The usual cause of Queensland itch is hypersensitivity to the bites of sand flies (midges).  The horses develop sensitivity to the bite cause by the allergic reaction to the chemicals in the saliva of the midge.  Queensland itch is a summer problem and is more prevalent where there is still, stagnant water for the midges to breed in.

The use of anti-histamines may bring relief to the horse but the high doses can make the horse drowsy.  Some insecticides can be quite toxic and corticosteroids, while providing temporary relief, can have side effects such as laminitis.  Also with time corticosteroids may become less effective causing larger more frequent doses to be required.
Neem oil is antibacterial, antiseptic, anti-fungal and anti-viral. The midges, like other chewing and sucking insects, can be controlled and eliminated with neem products.

All products whether made from Neem or any other ingredient should be diluted and tested on a small patch of the horse’s skin first.  Testing on a small patch of skin at the base of the horse’s neck or flank will ensure that horse can tolerate the product.