Another Herb that Jasper eats regularly is Devil’s Claw, you may be familiar with this as it is used in a lot of the herbal “No Bute” alternatives.
Devil’s Claw (Harpagophytum procumbens)
Great for Joint Problems and muscle stiffness it is a native plant of southern African countries, particularly prevalent in Namibia. The roots are harvested after the rainy season, and it is this part of the plant which is used.
Test’s carried out in Germany (the biggest consumer) have shown its analgesic (pain-relieving) and anti-imflammatory effects to be comparable with Cortisone & phenylbutazone, without the attendant side effects.
It has been found to be a bitter tonic (increases secretion of stomach acid), a diuretic and also a stimulant to the liver, it can also help to encourage appetite and aid digestion particularly in horses adjusting to a new diet after periods of neglect.
It is useful to help with joint problems and muscle stiffness, in cases of arthritis, any degenerative joint disorder or bony changes resulting in inflammation, or in cases of previous tendon or ligament damage.
It is not advised to be fed if gastric ulcers are present due to its stimulating action on stomach acid production.
Also note that you must take care not to mask a more serious problem by relieving the pain, seek the advise of a veterinary surgeon if your horse has developed discomfort since the vets last examination & advise them if you have been using Devils Claw as it could dull the horses pain reaction & prevent a proper diagnosis.
Another useful and particularly common herb is Garlic, I offer this to Jasper daily but so far he’s only eaten it on 2 occasions, although sometimes he does appear to inhale its rather potent aroma.
Garlic (Allium sativum)
This is probably the best known & widely used herb.It is particularly useful for any respiratory problems, as it encourages the expulsion of mucus from the lungs.
It is a useful aid to digestion, supporting the development of natural bacteria in the gut.
Used internally because of its antibacterial, antimicrobial & anthelmintic (agent to cause death, elimination or expulsion of worms and parasites) properties garlic can be used to guard against viral infection, coughs and worm infestation.
Rich in sulphur (If your vet gives your horse a sulphur paste to fight infection make sure you are not feeding garlic at the same time!) which cleanses the blood.
When excreted through the pores of the skin it is useful in deterring biting flies, however if your horse has lots of green pasture to eat, the chlorophyll in the grass will nullify this effect.
The juice from a fresh garlic bulb can also be used externally on cuts, bites, stings, ringworm, lice & tick bites. Even sweet-ich can be treated topically with 1 part crushed garlic to 1 part olive oil, sealed overnight & then strained before application.
Until next time
With Love
Fiona & Jasper
Hope you find this useful, my information is from a range of sources including the 2 fantastic books: “A Modern Horse Herbal” by Hilary Page Self and “A Healthy Horse the Natural Way” by Catherine Bird