Nasty Injuries
July 23rd 2009 02:13
Using herbs with injuries
Herbs are useful additives to feed when a horse has injured themselves. They can help the body address inflammation and they help tissue restore integrity after a trauma has been experienced.
With any soft tissue injury, especially if there is inflammation and broken skin, Calendula (Calendula officinalis) can offer anti inflammatory and anti microbial activity. It can be given internally to help the lymphatic system work more efficiently to deal with infection and assist with tissue repair. It can be made into a tea or placed in a poultice to clean open wounds.
If infection has established itself in a wound, Echinacea (Echinacea angustifolia or Echinacea pupurea) has been traditionally used for septic wounds, boils and abscesses. If you horse has become rundown while recovering from an injury, echinacea can help rebuilt his strength and restore health after the tissue has been affected by the inflammatory response in the body.
Rosehips contain flavonoids that assist with tissue repair, it is also a herb that addresses mild infections and inflammations. A common feed additive, if your horse is on rosehips when he injures himself, increase his daily dose while you work out what other approaches you will best serve his recovery.
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) again has anti inflammatory actions and is good when it comes to recovery after muscuoloskeletal damage has occurred. It is an unusual herb as it stimulates circulation so blood flow can be increased to assist with healing, while it also has an ability to control excessive bleeding.
When tendons and ligaments are involved with an injury, the one herb that is a must is Gotu kola (Centella asiatica). It will assist with wound healing, be they fresh or chronic damage that has been slow to heal, it also contains a unique collagen stabalising action.
Injuries that are created from accidents or mishaps can be addressed immediately with herbs, however always have your veterinarian examine any injury to ensure you know the extent of the injury.
There are injuries that are caused over time from the physical stress of exercise, ideally we catch these injuries in the 'alarm' phase and correct the way we work our horses and use herbs to address the immediate response in the body, if these sort of injuries continue to be exposed to chronic stress we enter a 'resistance' phase where the body begins to try and address the injuries by producing its own corticosteroids. The above herbs will assist your horse, but remember you will be met with more resistance from the body until it realises the stressor has been removed and if your efforts are slow to have an effect you may need to herbs that target other internal organs, especially your adrenal glands. You may inherit a horse who has passed through both these phases and now in the 'exhaustion' phase. There is no quick fix as you need to follow a long term rehabilitation program, so your choice of herbs will extend to nervines and hepatic herbs.
Keep your approach simple and your horse will enjoy the added extras in his feed.
© Catherine Bird
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