Herbal remedies for EIPH
Herbs for stress
asthmatic horses & herbs
herbs for muscle soreness & joint
stiffness
Blood Fungus & Possible Heat Dampness
Herbal
and Healing Program for Stallion with Blood Fungus, and possible Heat Dampness
The program for the Quarter horse stallion, is based on the
idea, that he may have a imbalance that is damp heat in his body.
According to TCM, health is largely dependent upon the continual transformation
and movement of various energies and solid substances throughout the body. When
the body’s fluids are prevented from being properly transformed and moved to
their destination, dampness occurs. Treating dampness is CHALLENGING because it
is sticky, heavy and tends to further clog all surrounding avenues. This is why
imbalances diagnosed by TCM as damp are often long-term, chronic conditions.
This stallion has had this condition for a long time. He was purchased as a two
year old, and they did not know his previous health history. Mammals with blood
fungus or other type heat dampness are encouraged to reduce dampness because
infections thrive in damp environments. We suggest the herbal formula Garlic
with Astragalus, and Schizandra berries because it will build the immune,
and support drying the condition, in time.
Dampness is usually accompanied by a weakness in the body’s digestive system.
Responsible for separating food into nutrition and waste, a weak digestive
system causes the excretion of nutritional elements, and allows unhealthy
toxins to remain in the system. When a weak digestive system allows material
that should be excreted to circulate instead, proper fluid movement is
hindered, causing dampness. This is the same as putting roadblocks on a road. Movement
stops and flows around, and stagnates, as traffic does in a traffic jam.
This stallion has exhibited pustules across his body for some time, he is in a
state now, where it is limited to his one ankle area. This was before he
started on the herbs, as suggested by our Equine herbalist. Tumeric has
been added to his program which will move the fluid, support the digestion, and
help remove heat. Encouraging natural flora in the gut, and elimination of
toxin, as well as provide liver nutrients.
Heat is generated when dampness exists in the body for any extended period of
time. The buildup of damp heat in the horse can be compared to an overheated
engine. As sludge builds up in the moving parts of an engine, there is
increased resistance to its proper functioning. With increasing resistance, the
parts get hotter and hotter, drying up any remaining lubricants. If nothing is
done to break the cycle, this unfortunate chain of events ends in an overheated
engine. We suggest the Blood Root as an herb, which helps to move the
"sludge" in the body, and eliminate the fungus by drying and moving
the stagnation.
Sometimes, as the healing and natural processes of the body begin, an outbreak,
or "healing crisis" can occur. The body may be overloaded, as the
"sludge" begins to move or as the fungus is dying and moving to the
eliminative channels, on its way out of the body. At this time, one can reduce
herb dosage by half, and add more alkalizing foods, continue with aloe
vera, and/or change herbs as needed.
It is suggested that this horse may need several different herbal formulas, and
healing foods over a period of 12 months, to ensure proper revitalization,
restoration and normalization of the body's systems.
Damp Heat Manifesting
Although diagnosing damp heat as the predominant imbalance requires a
knowledgeable practitioner’s evaluation, those aware of what is happening, can
get a general idea if they see this disharmony. The stallions trainer and
rider, has been extremely sensitive and compassionate to this horses needs, as
his trainer, and through his excellent care, the horse has been brought to
championship status. His awareness has allowed the horse to get the assistance
needed at a critical time.
Since TCM diagnosis is based on pattern differentiation, every given symptom of
an imbalance will not fit each mammal. Interestingly, many classic symptoms of
acute blood fungus are synonymous with symptoms of damp heat. These include:
Liver imbalance- characteristic of a damp heat disharmony.
·Reduced appetite- can be symptom of damp heat.
· Fever – Whether it is high or low grade, fever is a manifestation of heat.
Heat in the leg or other areas also.
· Abdominal or rib-area pain – In TCM, sharp or intense pain is characteristic
of stagnation. As damp heat is a type of fluid stagnation, this is one
explanation behind this type of pain. We arn't sure if this stallion is
sensitive in this area or not, we assume so, but have not physically seen him.
· Thirst – Damp heat characteristically involves thirst (as a result of the
heat), but with actual or little to no desire to drink (as a result of the
dampness). Observe his drinking habits.
THESE SYMPTOMS MAY OR MAY NOT FIT THE STALLION, AS THIS IS TRANSFERRED TO
HORSES FROM HUMANS IN SYMPTOMS, VIA TCM DIAGNOSTICS.
Dietary and Environmental Balancing
One branch of TCM and Western Herbalism is using environment and dietary
therapy to help balance the body. In the case of damp heat, there are four
primary goals to accomplish: cool the heat, dry the dampness, move the congestion,
and strengthen digestion.
Following are some of the things we do to achieve the reduction of damp heat
and other problems in the herd.
Most of the horses are recycled competitive horses, or rescues. Many of these
horses have serious health, and mental health issues.
Mental health issues are addressed , with our trainer, Mike Seal, who has been
the best at getting the mental health and confidence of the horse, back to
normal, or to a new level of awareness. His help has been amazing ( see information
in our web page, www.horseherbalist.com)
Following is the dietary and environmental protocol that works for us:
Our horses , after initial assessment, vet care, dentistry, natural hoof care
and a individual herbal program, are put out on our 45 acres of valley and
mountainside to graze on natural, raw and dried , mountain herbage. Their water
source is a natural mountain spring, both naturally heated and naturally
running, from two sources. There is a heavily forested area, as well as grasses
and sages, other shrubs, flowers and natural foliage. The horses all come out
healthier and much more vital. While the horses across the street, in the
pasture of hybrid grasses, never look quite as good, or seem as hardy. The feet
of the mountain pasture horses are always healthier, and look and grow better.
The founder and thin soled horses are much improved, within 2 weeks. Stressed
horses, soon become normal herd animals again.
For horses living in captivity the following foods perpetuate stagnation, heat
and dampness, and should be avoided:
· Oily and fatty;- these qualities perpetuate dampness
Processed Grains, Sweetfeeds, Pelleted processed supplements- can slow
digestion and cause over acidity, a contributor to heat dampness, and poor
nutrient absorption.
· Raw; -this takes more energy for an already weak digestive system to break
down, a pasture of green grass, of hybrid variety would not be good for this
horse.:
· Sugary; -refined sugar and other concentrated sweeteners contribute to
dampness’ sluggish quality
· Spicy; - perpetuates heat, this could also be strong wormers or noxious drugs
· Alcohol; anything containing alcohol worsens both heat and dampness (CAREFUL
WITH WORMERS AND OR VACCINES) pre- race drugs
Good Choices- For Damp Heat Reduction
In general, foods that are bitter, cooling and alkalizing help neutralize damp
heat conditions. When experiencing an acute bout of damp heat-related symptoms,
the following dietary suggestions will make the body more comfortable and
headed in a healthy direction:
· Focus food choice around, broths made from vegies and herbal teas added to
water bucket. (teas could be seaweed, camomile, nettle, red clover, mint) put
in water bucket
Tumeric - very good as an alkalinizer to the gut, added to feed mash
Aloe Vera Juice-1/3 to 1/2 c two times daily as a neutralizer, healer and heat
expeller
Include - aduki bean sprouts, mung bean sprouts, celery, carrots, winter
squash, asparagus, lemons, cranberries, and huckleberries in food selection. (
may be added to feed) There has been many occasions, as crazy as it may sound,
when we have cooked or made "salads" for the horses with chronic
illness. If you will do this, at least until the body gets a
"hoofhold" on health, the horse will recover, even from the chronic
and serious damp heat, blood fungus condition.
Lightly cook vegetables , steam carrots, broccoli, green beans, zucchini add to
feed bucket with a little pure unadulterated grain, and herbs .This will help
his digestive system to extract nutrients.
Symptoms dominated by a TCM damp heat imbalance can be turned around with
dietary therapy, balanced environment, the use of correct herbs, massage and
acupuncture as needed. While this dietary advice may seem limiting, remember
that it is only intended to get through the rough times. Ideally, after the
rough times are over, if possible the horse can be let out into a more natural
environment.
By including some of the food suggestions and avoiding some of the pitfalls to
damp heat, the body will get a break from the self-inflicting cycle dampness
encourages. Just because the engine has accumulated some sludge, and is working
harder to drive around, doesn’t mean it is doomed to overheating. The beauty of
the mammal body is that by paying attention to what it is telling you, the body
can use something as simple as diet and herbs to restore it in order to live a
long, healthful life.
TCM, is a many fauceted system of health. We feel strongly that combining the
knowledge of the North American, European, and Chinese Traditons, for natural
health and healing, is an excellent place to start.
In Addition:
LARGE doses of Huang Lian (Coptis) or skull cap in Western
herbalism with some digestive aids for the cold, anti-biotic effects of the
herbs otherwise he MAY have diarrhea and loose energy.
This will be for the stage, with the diet, after he is done his competition and
can rebuild, and do more detox. The diet will help his digestion, and keep his
energy good.
So far, with what Winston has done, he has kept his energy and done well.
With the next phase, we would expect him to move to the next level of wellness,
and begin to function more normally as he loses the dampness and the heat in
his body.