Skin Herb
June 9th 2008 11:36
Skin Herbs
Skin is one of those issues that is difficult to address as from a naturopathic perspective the skin is the elimination organ that is affected when other elimination organs are not able to do their job. You often have to try and work out if the skin issue is because of a lazy liver, kidney, lung or bowel. Once the skin shows signs of not eliminating effectively the underlying imbalances may have been building up for years, so most people lose patience when it comes to working with skin issues and give up and say herbs don't work. The other problem that makes it difficult to get results quickly is that often owners have done the veterinarian path first and administered steroids or cortisone and what this does is suppress the symptoms and push them deeper into the body. So they appear to work but then when the problems return you are not only addressing the current expression but also the condition pushing up underneath that.
Calendula Calendula officinalis
Specific Indication: infective conditions which can be addressed via the lymphatic system.
A lot of skin problems can be addressed by the lymphatic action of this herb, which is also antimicrobial in its action. If a horse has a sensitive gut or a history of ulcers, calendula is a herb you could include in a skin combination.
Combined with Clivers it is useful for lumps and swellings. As well as stubborn to heal wounds both externally and internally.
It can be applied topically in a cream or a wash made form a tea, or you can brew the flowers and wrap in harrington gauze and apply as a compress.
Marshmallow Althaea officinalis
Specific indication: a demulcent to help address inflamed conditions that are reflected in the skin.
This can be good for skin conditions where there is 'greasiness' or 'flaking', as some of these conditions can be balanced by getting a healthy amount of mucous in the gut, so you are moisturising the body from within.
This is also helpful if the skin condition is accompanied with loose poops or waxy buildup in the ears.
Licorice Root Glycyrrhiza glabra
Action: having an ACTH-like action on the adrenal cortex, increasing the production of gluco- and mineralocorticords; similar anti-inflammatory effects to hydroccortisone but inhibiting its antigranulomatous actionand its effects in increasing liver glycogen storage.
From that, if a horse has been on cortisone and I want to try and address the skin issue that has previously been suppressed, then this is the herb to use. It is however a short term herb in its usage so you have to be careful or you will start to deplete potassium levels. It is a useful support to the liver skin herbs, and also has an effect on the gut. It is good for skin issues after a compromised liver or lung infection or if the horse has a respiratory issue.
Licorice is a systemic anti-inflammatory.
Liver herbs are vital for skin conditions, burdock root is first choice but also consider dandelion root or St Marys Thistle depending on how the skin expresses itself.
uncomfortable skin can make any horse grumpy
Skin is one of those issues that is difficult to address as from a naturopathic perspective the skin is the elimination organ that is affected when other elimination organs are not able to do their job. You often have to try and work out if the skin issue is because of a lazy liver, kidney, lung or bowel. Once the skin shows signs of not eliminating effectively the underlying imbalances may have been building up for years, so most people lose patience when it comes to working with skin issues and give up and say herbs don't work. The other problem that makes it difficult to get results quickly is that often owners have done the veterinarian path first and administered steroids or cortisone and what this does is suppress the symptoms and push them deeper into the body. So they appear to work but then when the problems return you are not only addressing the current expression but also the condition pushing up underneath that.
Calendula Calendula officinalis
Specific Indication: infective conditions which can be addressed via the lymphatic system.
A lot of skin problems can be addressed by the lymphatic action of this herb, which is also antimicrobial in its action. If a horse has a sensitive gut or a history of ulcers, calendula is a herb you could include in a skin combination.
Combined with Clivers it is useful for lumps and swellings. As well as stubborn to heal wounds both externally and internally.
It can be applied topically in a cream or a wash made form a tea, or you can brew the flowers and wrap in harrington gauze and apply as a compress.
Marshmallow Althaea officinalis
Specific indication: a demulcent to help address inflamed conditions that are reflected in the skin.
This can be good for skin conditions where there is 'greasiness' or 'flaking', as some of these conditions can be balanced by getting a healthy amount of mucous in the gut, so you are moisturising the body from within.
This is also helpful if the skin condition is accompanied with loose poops or waxy buildup in the ears.
Licorice Root Glycyrrhiza glabra
Action: having an ACTH-like action on the adrenal cortex, increasing the production of gluco- and mineralocorticords; similar anti-inflammatory effects to hydroccortisone but inhibiting its antigranulomatous actionand its effects in increasing liver glycogen storage.
From that, if a horse has been on cortisone and I want to try and address the skin issue that has previously been suppressed, then this is the herb to use. It is however a short term herb in its usage so you have to be careful or you will start to deplete potassium levels. It is a useful support to the liver skin herbs, and also has an effect on the gut. It is good for skin issues after a compromised liver or lung infection or if the horse has a respiratory issue.
Licorice is a systemic anti-inflammatory.
Liver herbs are vital for skin conditions, burdock root is first choice but also consider dandelion root or St Marys Thistle depending on how the skin expresses itself.
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