Herbs and Aromatherapy for Horses

Yes_But_Neigh · Herbs and Aromatherapy for Horses

Do they work?

I bought Hemp for Captain's arthritis but he hated the taste so I was never able to tell if it worked on him or not.

This past week I have been applying Chakra Oils and it helps me so much.

Anyone have experience on herbs/oils for horses?

bit

Haven't tried them. Kelsey is a smart pac addict. Kelsey, you are. AND you've turned me into one, too. I just got msm for joint stiffness for Bit, and will probably put Eclipse on it, too. They are both 13, and winter makes for hanging at the bale and not moving as much.
I do use Reiki when I do massage, and everyone loves it. They all start out a bit fidgity, but quickly fall into a reiki coma, and relax. I mean RELAX.
I think it's probably a bit like my own body. I need to go out and move, but not past the point of pain. It's a fine balance between moving and knowing when to stop. Exercise and good supplements are an arthritic horse's best friend.
I know that all of our medicine comes from plants and such. I know. I think when it comes to something like arthitis, I'd give smart pac a call and see what supplement they recommend. lol, and the hemp? You could try bakiing into brownies, but make sure you saute it butter first.

Not that I would know.

jackspark

As to the supplements/aroma therapy: I have used smart pac for Shaun but saw no real improvement...... that was when his joints were still calcifiying. Lots of pain last winter and nothing seemed to work

I just came in from putting him up in the barn to weather out the blizzard. His joints are fused in front now and the pain is gone but I just can't watch him stand in the mounting snow and fierce winds.........26 yrs.

No supplements, smellys, oils, or herbs here.......... crap, no visibility either

On second thought send over some of them special herbs

PasoBaby_CarolU

Over the years I've had success with some and no success with others. I tried Chasteberry Juice, Cinnamon and Joagulin herb at different times on Bien. None made any difference in her Insulin levels. Chasteberry is supposed to help mares with painful heats, and I didn't notice any change with that either.

I put Baby on Glucosamine for some time and her arthritis seemed to get better. I also had her on Bute, so not sure if it is a good test.

I had good luck with Noni juice helping Zar not stress when camping. It is expensive and hard to keep on hand for only when/if it is needed.

I don't do any scented oils of any kind here since I react to artificial fragrances. They are usually just solvents and petrochemicals that smell like something else (mint is methyl salicilate, banana oil is amyl acetate). Natural oils might be OK if you can find them.

As a scientist-tester I have some issues with a lot of these. Primarily that there is no testing required. So any claim can be made, no side effects or bad effects reported, and the herb you buy might not even be what is on the label. It is all unregulated.

I do believe there is a lot of herbal medicine that is good. I just wish there was some type of consumer protection.

carefreegirl

I recently checked out "Herbal Remedies for Dummies" from the library, enjoying reading it so far, as horses are mammals like us and have many of the same systems and physiology as us so I'd imagine many herbs would effect them in the same way they effect us...I believe there are books specifically referring to herbs and animals, and I think there might be a section on it in the book I checked out, never really used herbs before on me or my horse, but have used tea tree oil on wounds with success and a few other things.

Peeperpuppy

I've had very good luck with herbs, oils, alternative treatments, etc... but much depends on the individual & the herbs/oils/treatments used & it depends on what's been ruled out.

I use a lot of products from Dynamite Marketing. So far I haven't found any of their products that haven't worked. I had 2 horses come home from training after having been under the stress of training & then someone brought in a horse contagious with strangles (the trainer didn't know they had it until it was too late). He wanted to keep the mares & treat them but I said no, brought them home, put them on some stuff from Dynamite & while they did get snotty noses they never got anything beyond a little fever & yuky noses. Others weren't nearly so lucky.

I've had good lucky with Free & Easy from Dynamite (used for arthritis, joints, etc...). I use their Miracle Clay for internal & external uses everything from bug/animal bites to digestion issues, even use it as a drawing poulstice. My cherokee Grandpa used Sassafrass tea once or twice a year which is good for the blood but don't use it in winter or you'll feel like you're freezing. Take a sprained wrist & wrap it in a brown paper bag & soak it in vinegar. Takes a lot of the soreness out. Witchhazel for bruises.

Lots of goofy stuff like that goes on at my house. We're not against modern medicine but I've found a lot of things can be done with the 'less is more' approach.

Julie

I use homeopathy!

bit

I'm learning about less is more. I tend to do the mom panic when someone I love is hurt. If I don't know ya, I'm the calmest person on the planet. Probably all that ski patrol training. If I love ya, prepare for drama. I'm getting better. Not so quick to call the vet.
I put Hawkie on APF when he brought home strangles, and he was symptom free in less than 24 hours. My horses do real well on it, and I make sure horses that will be going through any kind of stress, like shipping, are on it for two weeks before their trip. I'll be putting Hawk and Gunner on it before they leave for training this spring. Kelsey's mare, very sensitive to vacinations, doesn't do well on it.
I'll let ya know how Bit and Eclipse do on the msm. I really think Bit's stiffness has more to do with her not moving as much as she does when we have the whole pasture open. Right now they are sticking to the shelter and round bales. We just went through a heck of a storm.

creekwood

I've had awesome luck with Chastetree berry (vitex) with Cushing/IR horses.
Ziya does NOT do well with APF. Tried it twice with her, she loses weight, gets mildly depressed & her coat fades. It's very bizarre.
When our truck broke down in ID/MT on the way here, I stayed with Ziya & Quinn at a rest stop while the truck was hauled away. Ziya started shivering (stress, not cold), so I gave her Bachs "rescue remedy", and she stopped shivering within the minute.

I agree with Carol on the the whole "scented oils" thing. That stuff just gives me a headache.

Quinns on a joint supp, will be on one for the rest of his life from his hock fracture.

They are both a multi-vit that goes good with what the grass/soil/water has here.

Peeperpuppy

creekwood, I think you hit on something very curcial "goes well with the grass/soil/water has here" I think that's why there's such varied results between individuals. Different beings get the same food, water, etc... their bodies get difficient in different nutrients & an over abundance of others. So there isn't a one-thing-fits-all for any of us.

whisperingwindfarms

I swear by Dynamite, Bach Flower Remedies and Reiki.

My vet and I were talking last week and she was remarking on how different horses react to different things - some need Bute, some do better with BL pellets, etc. We were watching Bucky go down like a cheap date on 1 shot of anesthesia while Doodle took 3. Each horse and each person is different - you just have to keep trying until you hit the right match and then you have to keep trying til you hit the right dosage.

Peeperpuppy

whisperingwindfarms,

it's rather amazing isn't it? How perfectly one thing works & even a pup out of a same litter... it won't work for that one at all. My vet really is not fond of anything holistic or alternative... of course prior to finding Dynamite, my vet bills were several thousand a year compared to the couple hundred I spend a year since finding Dynamite

He actually called me at home after the first 8 months to find out if someone at his clinic offended us?

bit

lol, "Yeah, the bill!" I would have told that vet exactly that!

Mandy'sMarty

whisperingwindfarms

Marty,

My friend is still treating her pony that has the carcinomas on his eyelids but it's a miracle he's doing as well as he is. They are now down to working on the ones on just one 3rd eyelid.

We are still treating Bucky's with Neoplasene. The first vet didn't dose it properly but we have made huge strides since Dr. Leslie took over. It looks like one more shot might do it. I'm sold on Buck Mountain too!