Search the business directory  





Glossary of Herbs Suitable for Horses

Whilst research into isolated plant constituents is of great importance, and the properties established in the herbs described have given rise to many of the world's most useful drugs such as Tuborcucarine (from curare), the most powerful muscle relaxant in existence, or the strongest painkiller - Morphine (from the opium poppy) - it is not the whole story. Herbal traditions like Ayurveda have been using whole plants for thousands of years. Each plant has literally hundreds, perhaps thousands of different chemicals interacting in very complex ways, the effects of which have been observed by skilled herbalists over millennia. The formulae offered by Indian Herbs International draws on this wealth of experience by combining different herbs in ratios best suited to the health indicated. The effects are remarkable, achieved gently, in harmony with the body and provide safe, well tolerated supplements to achieve optimum good health. Side effects are, in comparison with biomedicine, almost non-existent.

Below is a glossary of herbs suitable for horses and ponies displaying areas that the herbs are used for. The list is in alphabetical order with a code letter to indicate what the herb is used for in general.

Key:
D = digestion & internal organs, R = respiratory, C = calming & seasons
I = immune system, M = minerals, vitamins & trace elements,
B = bone, hoof, muscle & joints, S = skin care, itchiness

Many herbs do more than one job & some have special properties.

  AGNUS CASTUS
(monks pepper, chaste tree)
C hormones, cushings, laminitis
  ANDROGRAPHIS (A. paniculata) D detox, laminitis
  ANISEED (Pimpinella anisum) D R lactation
  ARJUNA (Terminalia arjuna) D detox, laminitis
  ASAFOETIDA (Ferula assa-foetida) D spasmodic flatulence
ASHWAGANDA (Withania somnifera) C I S
  BOSWELLLIA SERRATA (Frankincence) B anti-inflammatory
     
  BU GU ZHI (Psoralea corylifolia) S
  BURDOCK (Arctium lappa) S D
  CELERY (Apium graveolens) D B
  CHAMOMILE (Matricaria chamonilla) C
  CHIRETTA (Swertia chiretta) D detox, circulation
  CLEAVERS (Gallium aparine, clivers,goose g) D S
  COMFREY (Symphytum officinale, knitbone) B can be toxic
  DANDELION (Taraxacum officinale,wet the bed) D kidney detox
  ECHINACEA (E. augustifolia) I
  ECLIPTA (E. alba) D detox, laminitis
  EMBELIA RIBES (vidanga fruit) C seasonal
EUCALYPTUS (blue gum) R circulation
  FUMITORY (Fumaria parviflora) D detox, laminitis
  FENNEL (feoniculum vulgare) D gas appetite
  FENUGREEK (Trigonella foenum-graecum) D B condition
GALANGAL (Aplinia galangal) R
  GARLIC (Allium sativum) D R B total health
GINGER (Zingiber officianale) D C B
  HAWTHORN (Cratagus oxycantha) D blood pressure
HOLY BASIL (Ocimum sanctum) C S
  HYMALAYAN CEDAR (Cedrus deodara) S R
  KUTH (Saussurea lappa) R
  INDIAN GOOSEBERRY (Embelica officionalis) I
  INDIAN MANGO Mangifera Indica) C
  LINSEED (Linum usitatissimum) B omega 3, flexibility
  MALABAR NUT (adhatodo vasica) R
  MARIGOLD (Calendula officionalis) D S
  MEADOWSWEET (Filipendula ulmaria) D B kidney/bladder
  MILK THISTLE (Silybum marianum) D liver, lactation
  MINT (Mentha piperita) D gassy gut, appetiser
NEEM (Azadirachta Indica) S D repels midges, detox
  NETTLE (Urtica dioica) D I S detox, vitamin C
  NIU XI (Achyranthes aspera) D detox, blood, circulation
  PEPPER (Piper nigrum) S midge bites
  PHYLLANTHUS (P. niruri) D detox, laminitis
  PICRORRHIZA (P. kurroa) B flexibility
  PSYLLIUM HUSKS (Plantago psyllium) D bowels loose & stagnant
  RASPBERRY (Rubus idaeus) D B bowels, B foaling muscles
  ROSEHIP (Rosa canina) I B C vitamin C, hoof
  SEAWEED (Fucus vesiculosis – bladderwrack,kelp) M wide range
  SLIPPERY ELM (Ulmus fulva) D R pro-biotic
TURMERIC (Curcuma longa) S repels midges

For Further information :- For our very wide range of products, equine diseases info sheets, herb glossary & a list of stockists in your area, please visit www.pegasushealth.com

For general advice, contact:- info@pegasushealth.com or telephone/fax us on 01279 871033 or you can write to Pegasus Health Ltd, Warish Hall Farm, Warish Hall Road, Takeley, Bishop's Stortford CM22 6NZ