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The GREEN HORSE - sustainable horsekeeping

OCTOBER NOVEMBER 2011
Vol 33 No 3

In the October November 2011 issue of The Green Horse you will find the following articles:

The GREEN HORSE
sustainable horsekeeping
Information Exchange
Reader’s Tips, Views and Questions  
Beware Avocados by Amanda White: 
Reader’s story - Avocado Poisoning
Growing Equine Herbs: Herbs for Colds and Viruses by Jackie Rive
Sustainability and Greening on Horse Properties – working agricultural farms
by Andrea Carmody
Weed Watch - Skeleton Weed
by Nicola Field
Recycling Old Hay
Permaculture for Horse Property Owners (Pt6) by Mariette van den Berg and Nick Huggins

Growing Equine Herbs: Herbs for Colds and Viruses by Jackie Rive

Winter and spring are both obvious times for combating colds and viruses and there are four different categories of herbs that can be utilised.

Firstly there are herbs that stimulate the immune system to help fight infection and are used to prevent colds. Secondly there are herbs that promote a mild fever, known as diaphoretics, that may be useful. Because a fever is a sign of the immune system working, it may be that diaphoretics are also immune stimulators like the first category.

The third category includes herbs that studies indicate may directly kill the viruses that cause colds.

Some herbs are used just to alleviate symptoms such as sore throats. These herbs tend to be high in mucilage and are soothing and anti-inflammatory or have tannins that are astringent. Marshmallow and red raspberry are two examples. Symptom-relieving herbs may have other active constituents and mechanisms of actions. As you can see in the following list, many herbs fit in more than one category.

Reduce nasal stuffiness: Eucalyptus, peppermint.
Relieve aches and pains: Meadowsweet.
Mucilage: Marshmallow, mullein.
Immune-stimulating: Asian ginseng, astragalus, boneset, echinacea, eleuthero, goldenseal, hyssop, linden, schisandra, wild indigo.
Diaphoretic: Boneset, elder flower, hyssop, linden, yarrow.
Symptom-relieving Astringent: Blackberry, blueberry, red raspberry.
Miscellaneous sore throat relief: Sage, yarrow.

Echinacea is a particularly popular herb for treating colds and viruses in horses. It fights infections, reduces symptoms of colds and ‘flu, stimulates the immune system and heals minor wounds and burns. It is said to normalise the number of white blood cells in the blood and helps them surround and destroy bacteria and viruses, It also helps flush toxins away from infected areas. Echinacea is generally considered safe, although it should be discontinued if any adverse effects are observed.

Garlic is also a very popular herb with horse owners and wonderful for combating illnesses. Garlic was worshipped by the ancient Egyptians, chewed by Greek Olympian athletes and thought to be essential for keeping vampires at bay!

Garlic is an antibiotic that can actually kill infecting bacteria and at the same time protect the body from the poisons that are causing the infection. Even the forefather of antibiotic medicine Louis Pasteur acknowledged garlic to be as effective as penicillin.

Finally, Rosehips are a must for fighting off the winter ills. They are a rich source of vitamins C, A and K as well as thiamine, niacin and riboflavin. Rosehips make an excellent spring tonic and are very useful for general debility and illness. Used with other herbs Rosehips will help horses return to health after illness. The high vitamin C content will help to fight infection and build up the body’s defences. They also contain biotin and flavanoids for optimum hoof health.

Rosehips can be fed directly in a granulated form or made into a tea by steeping in boiling water and pouring over the horses feed. The dosage for a horse in work is one litre of water with a dessertspoon of rosehips per day, fed grounds and all.

So for all the winter and spring ills that may attack you or your horses, remember nature has provided a big list of possible remedies to get you through.

For a Free on-line herbal guide “37 herbs and remedies for fabulously healthy animals,” visit www.brookbyherbs.co.nz