AGNUS CASTUS Vitex agnus-castusCommon 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.
CAUTIONAgnus 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 anisumCommon 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 montanaCommon 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.
CAUTIONArnica 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
BONESET Eupatorium perfoliatumCommon 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 betulinaCommon 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 esculentumHabitat: 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 lappaCommon 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.
CALENDULA Caléndula officinalis 'The floures and leaves of marigold being distilled…
ceaseth the inflammation and taketh away the paine’
John Gerard 1597
Common Names: Marigold, Pot Marigold, Marybud,
Gold-bloom.
Habitat: Native to Egypt and the Mediterrean and a common garden plant throughout the world.
Parts Used: Petals and flower heads.
Collection: Collect either the whole flower heads or just the petals, in summer and autumn. Dry carefully to ensure the colour is retained.
Actions: Astringent, anti-inflammatory, vulunerary, antiseptic, antifungal, cholagogue.
Use: Traditionally used for horses as a blood tonic, and for stressed or fretful animals. Calendula is now more widely known and used for skin and gastric complaints. It contains essential oil and pro-vitamin A. calendula tincture or extract is used in ointments and creams for cuts bruises, burns and ulcers. It can be used internally for gastric ulcers and inflammation, and being rich in sulphur has excellent blood-cleansing and anti-fungal actions. A lotion can be made with the flowers for bathing sore and inflamed eyes. Combined with Clivers in equal proportions it is an excellent herb for the lymphatic and urinary system. It has been used internally in combination with clivers and nettle to treat skin conditions and urinary infections such as cystitis, which have failed to respond to conventional treatment.
There are a number of proprietary creams and ointments containing calendula available for general use on cuts, bruises and wounds.
Dose: 15-20 grams of flowers daily in food, or brew 3 handfuls of flower heads with ½ litre/1 pint of boiling water and use as a lotion or compress for skin conditions.
CELERY SEED Apium graveolen Habitat: Widely cultivated; wild celery grows in marshy areas.
Parts Used: Seeds and stems.
Collection: In autumn, when seeds are ripe.
Actions: Antirheumatic, anti-inflammatory, carminative, diuretic, bitters, tonic.
Use: Arthritis, joint stiffness, urinary antiseptic. Horses can be given the celery stems, which will act as a tonic and diuretic. Celery seed is particularly good when used as a digestive tonic; it has a warming effect which will help if the horse is chilled or run-down, and it’s appetite reduced as a result (
see also Fenugreek).
Dose: Dried seeds – approx 5-10 grams daily; stems – 2-3 daily.
CHAMOMILE, GERMAN Matricaria recutilaCommon Names: Single Chamomile, Pin Heads
Habitat: Native to Europe, naturalised in North America and extensively cultivated.
Parts Used: Flowers.
Collection: Collect the flowers throughout the summer. Do not pick them if they are wet, and take care to dry them carefully at not too high a temperature.
Actions: Sedative, carminative, anti-inflammatory, relaxant, bitters, vasodilatory, analgesic, antispasmodic.
Use: For all cases of tension, restlessness and stress. Chamomile has been shown to have significant anti-inflammatory and analgesic actions, so is useful for aches and pains. A soothing lotion can be produced by adding a handful of flowers to 1 litre/2 pints of boiling water and brewing. This liquid can then be used for bathing horse’s eyes that have become sore or inflamed, and as a fomentation for mastitis. Chamomile tea is well known in human application for people who have difficulty sleeping.
Dose: 1 handful of dried flowers in feed daily.
CLIVERS Galium aparineCommon Name: Cleavers, Goose-grass, Clives. Its Old English name was Catch-weed or Scratch-weed.
Habitat: A rampant plant that is found in field and hedgerows throughout Europe.
Parts Used: Leaf and stem, fresh and dried. It is distinguished by its hairy leaves and barbed stem which will cling on to anything in its reach.
Collection: Must be collected before plant flowers and seeds.
Actions: Diuretic, astringent, aperients, alternative, tonic.
Use: Clivers is an excellent herb for supporting and toning the lymphatic system; it is specific for urinary infections such as cystitis, and enlarged lymph glands. It is rich in silica and as such will help strengthen coat and hair. It can be used for any soft swelling and fluid retention; being mildly diuretic it is particularly good for windgalls or filled legs.
Clivers is a much maligned plant, and one that is hated by farmers because of its rampant and choking nature. However, it has a great deal to offer the horse owner. If given the opportunity, horses will eat large quantities of this herb straight from the hedgerow. The fresh form can be given to horses with filled legs, and it is particularly good for laminitic ponies, as it can be cut and thrown into their ‘lean’ paddocks for them to chew on. Mixed in equal quantities with calendula it is the best combination of herbs for supporting the lymphatic system.
Dose: 2-3 handfuls of the fresh herb daily, or 20-30 grams of dried herb daily.
COMFREY Symphytum officinale For ‘inward wounds and burstings’ and to
‘cleanse the brest of phlegm and cureth the greefes of the lungs’
John Gerard
Common Name: Knitbone, Knitback, Bruisewort.
Habitat: Common throughout the UK, Europe and the USA. Found in moist areas and ditches. It has large hairy/prickly leaves and clumps of bell-like flowers. The colour can be as diverse as white-cream or blue-mauve-pink.
Parts Used: Root and leaves, fresh or dried.
Collection: Roots should be unearthed during spring or autumn. Leaves can be fed fresh or dried.
Actions: Demulcent, anti-inflammatory, vulnerary, pulmonary, expectorant.
Use: Comfrey is one of the most widely used and famous of the healing plants. It is still used extensively as a fodder plant for horses and cattle in eastern Europe and Russia. In the past, as its common names suggest, it has been used for its remarkable ability to heal bone, cartilage and soft connective tissue. This is due to the presence of allanton, which stimulates call production, so encouraging wound healing, both internally and externally. Comfrey is an excellent source of vitamin B12.
Comfrey has been found to break down red blood cells, therefore supporting its use for bruising.
Research has shown that comfrey will reduce inflammation of the stomach lining, thereby making it ideal for any form of gastric disorder such as ulcers, colic and colitis.
In pulmonary action is excellent for respiratory conditions, where it will sooth and reduce irritation as well as act as an expectorant.
It has been used traditionally as a remedy for rheumatism and arthritis. In Britain, the majority of old farm houses and cottages have it growing nearby.
Dose: 1 handful of bruised fresh leaves daily (the reason for bruising the leaves is that they are very bristly/hairy and some horses will not eat them until they have wilted slightly), or 20-30 grams of dried leaf.
CAUTIONIt is advisable to avoid feeding the roots long-term. COUCH GRASS Agropyron repens Common Name: Twitch grass, Scutch, Witchgrass, Quick Grass, Dog’s grass (USA).
Habitat: Grows all over the world, including Britain and Europe.
Parts Used: Leaves and rhizomes.
Collection: Unearth the rhizomes either in spring or autumn, dry and chop for use. Leaves anytime.
Actions: Diuretic, demulcent, aperients, antibiotic.
Use: Horses are just one of the animals that are especially fond of couch grass and will seek it out for use as a spring tonic. It is excellent for use as a urinary antiseptic (
see also Uva-Uri), particularly for cystitis and kidney infections, and for constipation. The plant is rich in silica, which will help strengthen coat and hooves, as well as iron, mucilage and vitamins A and B. The plant contains a volatile oil which has been shown to have antibiotic properties,
Dose:Let horses graze at will on the fresh grass; if this is not possible give several handfuls of the leaves daily. Either fresh or dried cut roots are best used for urinary problems – give 20-30 grams per day.
