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A few years ago now
Country Park Animal Herbs asked me to design some blends of herbs for
them to assist their clients. Initially we looked at common issues and
worked on that idea. But using herbs for good health can be quite
limited if one becomes fixated on ‘disease’ so the concept was expanded
upon and the idea to help you as horse owners get more in touch with the
seasonal needs of your horse and in harmony with nature fitted more with
the philosophy of going with the flow and taking the path of least
resistance so you could gain the maximum benefit from herbs with the
least amount of effort.
Following the flow of
nature is not a new concept. Many streams of medicine and cultures
follow a seasonal healing cycle, from the Amerindians to the ayurvedic
practices of the Indian continent and the Toaist of Asia, even primitive
tribes in Africa adhere to the flow of seasons. My traditional herbal
training is grateful to the ideas of Culpepper and the like who can then
be traced back the humours of Hippocrates that were guided by the
seasons to help achieve better health.
All living organisms
are composites of rhythm, the cycle of heart beats vary in speed in the
morning to that of the evening; the cycle of electrical activity of the
brain can occur in nanoseconds; breathing is rhythmic and follows a
cycle that keeps all of alive, and many hormones are released in pulses
that flow with many cycles. Even diseases have a cycle and rhythm to
them while other biological activities are synchronised with the cycles
of the moon and sun and governed by the earth’s rotation. Annual
seasonal rhythms are more noticeable in animals. It is easier to get
your horse to concentrate in winter but at the same time, resistance to
infection is lower.
Winter, Spring, Summer and Autumn
Sometimes the body is
a bit out of step with all the changes from one season to another, and
this is why the Winter, Spring, Summer, and Autumn blends of herbs are
of so much value to the horse owner.
In Winter and you
need herbs such as Nettle to maintain physical strength; the body often
becomes congested with phlegm which inhibits its ability to flow
naturally and needs the support of herbs such as Clivers, Dandelion Leaf
and Yarrow to help the body.
In Spring with this
phlegm dissolving, the body’s digestive system can be put under extra
strain so plenty of exercise assisted with the herbs included in the
Spring blend such as Fennel, Rosehips and Yarrow keep your horse in tune
with nature.
Once the heat of
Summer arrives, the body may again be robbed of some of its strength and
become lethargic, cooling herbs such as Marshmallow Root and Calendula
assist the body with the extra strain it is under and also strengthen
the skin to meet the conditions.
Finally as Autumn
comes upon us, dampness can predominate and weaken digestion again, and
the blend we designed for this season with herbs such as Peppermint to
assist digestion and Echinacea to prepare the body for the next season
come into their own in assisting your horse. Thus keeping our horses in
tune with Nature.
When following
physiomedical herbal practices, it is important to cleanse the body and
if you again use the seasonal blends provided by Country Park you can
assist your horse in the best way possible:
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In Winter the
kidneys are your organ of elimination so the Winter blend
incorporates Dandelion Leaf to fit with this regimen.
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In Spring the
primary organ of elimination is the liver, so the Spring blends
incorporates the use of herb Vervain.
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In Autumn the
herbs Licorice Root and Parsley come to your horse’s aid the
elimination that is primary within the intestines at this time.
To complete the
selection of herbs for each season we have included wonderful tonic
herbs in each blend to further maintain the ideal balance within your
horse’s body.
The totality of each seasonal blend is
so special, you do not need to give more than one blend to your horse at
any one time.
As you can see much
thought has gone into caring for the health of your horse along with
observances of the cycles of nature and its effects on the body. Being
in harmony with the seasons affords you and your horse much more
enjoyment with good health and mental wellbeing.
Catherine Bird
For the webpage where the blends are listed: click here
The totality of each seasonal blend is
so special, you do not need to give more than one blend to your horse at
any one time. These blends comprehensively care for the health of
your horse along with observing the cycles of nature and the body. Being
in harmony with the seasons affords you and your horse much more
enjoyment with good health and mental wellbeing.
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