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St Mary’s
Thistle
(Silybum marianum,
synonym Carduus marianus
referred to as Milk Thistle
in northern hemisphere texts) Traditionally this herb has been used to help protect and regenerate
the liver. Silymarin is the active constituent and seems to cause an
alteration of the outer hepatocyte cell membrane to inhibit toxin
penetration. St Mary’s Thistle is easily given to our horses in
the powdered seed. The dose varies as to the role, be it protection
or to help with recovery, and if you are using it for protection, it
is wise to have a period of supporting the horse’s body with other
liver herbs such as dandelion root and burdock root intermittedly as
St Mary’s Thistle is considered a safe herb but some researchers
have concerns of its long term use.
Tumeric
(Curcuma longa, synonyms Curcuma domestica, Curcuma aromatica.) is a
herb is used traditionally in Ayurvedic practices and the active
constituent Curcumin and has been shown to have liver-protectant
properties. Turmeric has a warm, bitter taste and a yellow colour,
and it is frequently used to flavour or colour curry powders and
again with this herb I prefer to use it powdered so as not to
irritate the stomach if ulcer are present. If you know your horse
has ulcers, this herb should not be given on its own.
Other
herbs I consider using depending on the clinical signs being expressed
are:
Licorice
(Glycyrrhiza
glabra) is a herb I recommend cautiously, and tend to use this
selectively as it has to be balanced carefully with the other herbs
in a formulation.
Korean Ginseng
(Panax ginseng) is used as an "adaptogen"
for increasing resistance to environmental stress and as a general
tonic for improving well-being. It is also used for stimulating
immune function and has been shown to help with the speed toxins are
cleared from the blood
Astralgalus
(Astragalus membranaceus) astragalus seems to improve
liver function and is used to help build the body’s resistance.
Schisandra
(Schisandra
chinensis) as Schisandra improves liver
function by increasing hepatic activity and it might also have a
hepatoprotective effect by inhibiting lipid peroxidation, increasing
liver glycogen production, and promoting hepatocyte growth.
Ginger
(Zingiber
officinale) as a supportive herb to help the body
assimilate the benefits of the above herbs.
Each
horse is different. When deciding what herbs to select you need to
consider the age of the horse, the current feed regimen, what exposure
the horse has had to Paterson’s Curse, and the lifestyle of the
horse, and his other health issues. Some of the above herbs are
contraindicated in pregnancy and if other health issues are present so
please be aware of as much of your horse’s health history when you
seek out the use of herbs. The above herbs are just a sampling of what
is available, and if you take a sensible approach a combination of three
or four carefully chosen herbs should be of assistance to you.
Note:
please look at reducing the level of protein in your horse’s diet if
he does consume Patterson’s curse and be mindful of buying feed that
may have been fertilised with organophosphates as some feeds are very
high in nitrates at the moment which could add to the stress on your
horse’s body.
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