Cara's Notebook - Herbs for Horses

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Okay, the information in the following posts has all come from the book: A Modern Horse Herbal by Hilary Page Self. I refer to this book all the time when my horses have something wrong with them - medical or emotional. It's kinda like my herb bible, I would recommend it to anyone!

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AGNUS CASTUS Vitex agnus-castus
Common Names: Chaste Tree, Chasteberry, Monk's Pepper
Habitat: Northern Mediterranean
Parts Used:Seeds/Fruit
Collection: Autumn/Fall
Actions: Anaphrodisiac, hormonal normaliser
Use: Agnus castus has been used and recommended since fourth cantury BC for helping women to regulate their menstrual cycle, increase milk production and balance their hormones during the "change of life". it is reputed to be an anaphrodisiac and was laid at the feet of novices as they entered the monestery, hence it's name Monk's Pepper. In more recent years it has gone under extensive trials in Germany and England and has been used with great success.
CAUTION
Agnus Castus has no indications for use during pregnancy. Therefore if the intention is to breed from the mare it would be wise to discontinue the use of the herb during pregnancy. it can, however be used prior to stud to help regulate the seasons if this is a problem.

ANISEED Pimpinella anisum
Common Name: Anise
Habitat: Cultivated extensively in warmer climates, originally from Egypt
Parts Used: Dried Seeds
Collection: The ripe, dried seeds should be collected from mid to late summer.
Actions: Expectorant, antispasmodic, carminative, oestrogenic, parasiticide.
Use: Externally - the volatile oil can be used for parasitic infestations such as lice and scabies. Internally - the seeds are ideal as a carminative, for any digestive problems such as colic, and for persistant irritable coughing
Dose: Average dose is one handful of seeds daily.

ARNICA Arnica montana
Common Names: Leopard's Bane, European Arnica, Mountain Daisy.
Habitat: Native to Europe in mountainous areas - not Britain. Cultivated in northern India
Parts Used: Dried flowers
Collection: Collect flowers in mid to late summer.
Actions: Anti-inflammatory, stimulant.
Use: For bruising, wounds, shock, muscle pain, reducing fevers. Arnica has been the subject of recent studies and has been found to be an immuno-stimulant in that it appears to increase the resistance of animals to bacterial infections, by stimulating the action of white blood cells.
CAUTION
Arnica should not be used internally in herbal or tincture form. Only commercially produced homoeopathic preparations are entirely safe for internal use. Consult a qulified veterinary homoeopath with regard to dosage instructions

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BONESET Eupatorium perfoliatum
Common Name: Feverwort, Thoroughwort
Habitat: North-Eastern UAS, in damp/wet pastures
Parts Used: Dried aerial parts
Collection: In late summer/early autumn or as soon as the flowers open.
Actions: Vasodilator, diaphoretic, gentle laxative, antispasmodic, immuno-stimulatory.
Use: For any sort of fever control. Particularly good for influenza symptoms and especially for bone pain. for upper respitory tract mucous congestion, and constipation.
Dose: 1 handful of dried herb daily.

BUCHU Barosma betulina
Common Name: Short, Oval, or Long Buchu
Habitat: South Africa.
Parts Used: Leaves.
Collection: Collect leaves during flowering stage.
Actions: Urinary antiseptic.
Use: For any urinary tract infections, cystitis, urethrits. particularly useful in situations where staling is painful. Use in combination with herbs such as marshmellow, couch grass, and yarrow for cystitis.
Dose: 3-4 fresh or dried leaves daily.

BUCKWHEAT f*gopyrum esculentum
Habitat: Native to Central Asia, but cultivated and naturalised in Europe, including Britain, and North America.
Parts Used: Dried aerial parts for herbal applications, and seeds/nuts for flour production.
Collection: During the flowering stage.
Actions: Vasodilatory, for strengthening and repairing capillaries, antihistamine.
Use: Arthritis, poor circulation, haemorrhage of capillaries such as in epistaxis navicular syndrome, any condition which could be helped by improving the blood supply, capillary fragility as a result as a result of extensive X-rays.
Buckwheat is probably better known in the US as the source of buckwheat flour, used to make the famous buckwheat pancakes. In its herbal form it is excellent for any circulatory problems. Scientists at the Eastern Regional Research Laboratory of the US Department of Agriculture confirmed after extensive trials that rutin, which is one of the constituents of buckwheat, cause blood vessals to become more flexible and will strengthen fragile blood vessels.
Buckwheat is rich in calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron and trace elements.
Dose: 20-30 grams of dried herb daily.

BURDOCK Articum lappa
Common Name: Bardane, Begger's Button.
Habitat: Britain, Europe and North America. Found in fields and waysides, waste areas and around field borders
Parts Used: Roots.
Collection: The roots should be unearthed in autumn.
Actions: Bitters, alternative diuretic, anticeptic.
Use: Arthritis, rheumatism, eczema. Being a bitters, Burdock is an excellent digestive aid as it will stimulate digestive juices. It is ideal for any blood disorders, liver and kidney function or toxic conditions which result in skin conditions such as eczema, sores, boils or dry scurfy skin. Burdock has been found to have anti-yumour activity and the root can be used as a poultice to speed up the healing of wounds, In the late 1800's the famous medical botanist Dr Withering recommended making a decoction of the plant for aching limbs!
Dose: 10 grams daily.