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Herbal remedies for EIPH
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Herbs for stress
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asthmatic horses & herbs
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herbs for muscle soreness & joint stiffness
EIPH and Herbs
ALTERNATIVES
for COMPETITIVE HORSES with EIPH
Why Herbs, Why not Just Use Drugs?
I
know I’ve said it before; but I am
saying it again, it is that important.
Herbs can assist or even correct EIPH.
EIPH or Exercise Induced Pulmonary
Hemorrhage, is a condition of bleeding
in the lungs. It is very common in
the competitive horse. It happens when
the horse is under stress, usually
during competition but sometimes even
during training, depending on the
condition and age of the horse and the
rigor of the training.
The lungs won’t bleed unless they are
weak. This weakness is also a
weakness of the whole body. A
weakness in the body, whether animal or
human, can only be corrected by giving
the body what it needs to improve this
condition at its origin. The
origin is to be found at the cellular
level. Herbs contain the
micro-nutrients that are usually in
short supply or even non-existent,
depending on the animal’s history,
genetics, feed and current life-style.
Herbs act as a supplement to provide
these micro-nutrients. They take
time to work. A drug can provide
almost instant relief from symptoms.
However, they do not work to supply
these nutrients the body needs to repair
itself. Suppressing symptoms is a
short-term answer to a long-standing
problem.
There are many reasons, and many ways to
avoid using "drugs".
There are also how’s and why’s to
use “drugs” together with herbs and
other alternatives to support the
competitive horse.
To illustrate one aspect, we will look
more closely at the competitive horse
with EIPH, or the bleeder.
Bleeders do not always bleed for the
same reasons. It can be genetics, over
use of drugs, especially “track
drugs”, running a turf horse on the
dirt or a dirt horse on the turf, how
heavily the hooves hit the ground
causing shock to the chest cavity.
Too much shock can cause a ripple in the
chest cavity, which in turn will
aggravate the tendency to bleed.
Emotional stress and fear will create
extra tension, which will also aggravate
the tendency to bleed, and shoeing.
A horse that is forced to wear shoes
pretty well constantly almost always
suffers from contracted hooves, which
includes contracted frog and contracted
bulbs of the hoof. The
natural horse’s hoof is remarkably
flexible and “grabs” the earth as it
runs which is similar in action to the
suction cup. Shoes restrict this
action and creates bone and hoof
problems that the natural horse
doesn’t experience.
All of the above or a combination of
these, compromise the health of the
equine athlete. These
adverse conditions will cause a
weakening of the cells and blood to
bring the horse to the point where, when
stressed or exerted, the animal will
hemorrhage. This can happen for
much the same reason an older human
bleeds or bruises more easily than a
young person. The tissues age and
weaken due to oxidation. The cells
are then more susceptible to wear and
tear, literally. They are also
slower to heal.
Oxidation occurs from a too-acid
diet caused by too much sugar as in
sweet feeds and concentrates, as well as
heavily pesticided hays, processed feeds
and too many synthetic additives.
Add stress, toxins, negative emotion,
environmental factors etc., and you
compromise the health of that animal.
It has been found that over 90% of
racehorses tested have some form of EIPH.
Some say we starting our horses too
young and running them too fast.
They cannot handle the speed which they
are being required to race over the
years, faster and faster. Horses are
being bred for speed and not other
qualities, such as character, general
health and stamina. Some famous
trainers say a champion racehorse has to
have a strong immune system, good
genetics which includes strong bone, a
strong desire to compete, and is
naturally athletic. This all makes
sense.
What can a trainer, owner or breeder do
to assist the equine athlete into being
the best they can be in whatever race or
discipline he competes run in?
On a nutritional level, horses are
herbivores. It makes sense that herbs
will provide optimum compatibility with
their systems. These would be the
plants the horse would find in nature.
Finding and using the correct herbs at
the appropriate time is essential in the
demanding, stressful, highly competitive
world of the racehorse.
It is and has been the norm to go
quickly to the "fast fix”, get
the horse back in training or
competition and do it faster with drugs.
Most people don’t realize the damage
that is done by not giving the horse
time to heal or even time to mature.
From what I have seen, people give their
horse herbs for 2-6 weeks and then go
back to drugs because the herbal
solution wasn’t working fast enough.
Two to six weeks is not long
enough to make a difference in the
average bleeder. Sometimes exacting a
permanent, on-going change can take at
least 3 months.
I have seen "yard ornament"
horses, no longer useful, due to
navicular, ringbone, tendon bows, and
various types of crippling, come back
and be useful and pain free, after 3
years of herbs, usually along with
laser, homeopathy, massage as well as a
natural or no shoes lifestyle. Numerous
horses fall into this category.
With proper encouragement to the cells
of the body, through herbal nutrition,
live foods, sunlight, fresh water, etc.,
cells will return to a healthy
functional state, the aging process is
slowed down, halted or even reversed, in
many cases.
It is only a lack of understanding on
the human part that we do not see this
obvious truth. It is also the
result of our current education.
Medical doctors too often do not
understand the true functions and
workings of the body. One goes to an
orthopedic specialist for back problems
and bone problems. However a
gastro-enterologist may be needed as
well, due to the fact the digestion is
far too acid and is causing bone
problems. Then a nutritionist is
needed, then a chiropractor or
Naturopath, to balance the body further.
Very few modern day medical practices
connect the whole biological process
together as a working, inter-dependant
whole. The organs of either horse or
human are not functioning alone, with
each organ separate in a jar on a shelf.
Each organ and system of the body is
intertwined and related in an
unbreakable, beautifully functioning
chain, providing life, energy and
usefulness.
We are not accustomed to being patient
anymore. Everything, including our
horses, must be "now."
Nature sometimes works that way, and
sometimes our Creator works that way and
unexplainable miracles happen. However,
it usually takes time to heal, time to
move a mountain, time to train up to
peak condition.
Time is the best medicine.
Perhaps giving the owner, trainer and
rider a nerve formula is the answer!
Something that would work to slow
us down and calm us. Or perhaps
changing the laws of the land to better
suit the horse and his growth, so he
doesn't have to compete so young is the
answer.
A horse that is fed herbs and is not
being over vaccinated, or subjected to
chemical over-worming from birth, on low
pesticide feeds with low additive and
preservative supplements is a
"Natural Horse."
From barrel racing, standard bred
racing, thoroughbred, cutting horse,
hunter/jumper, dressage, endurance,
competitive rides to reining and
pleasure showing, we have encountered
much in the world of drugs and
interaction with drugs and herbs. The
maladies associated with these sports,
the physical, mental, emotional demands
on these beasts are many, as well as the
stress on the owner, trainer and rider.
We do not write this merely to support
or promote our herbs and our formulas.
With 24 years of experience in the
alternative and herbal world for horses
and humans, dogs and cats, we have
noticed and learned a few things. The
more we learn, the more we can see the
animals will teach us what we need to
know. All of us should continue to
learn more and more. Our program and
also many other programs, can be and are
used safely in conjunction with most
veterinary prescribed drugs.
Not to mislead anyone, we have not
honed, fine tuned or "changed"
the world by coming up with a completely
drugless racehorse. Not yet, but
we’re working on it. Sometimes
drugs are needed or wanted. Owners,
trainers and breeders should constantly
look to what is best for the horse,
consulting with vets prior to racing,
improving diet and over all health and
looking for better combinations of herbs
and diet.
Our
"Bleeder Program", for example, is one
that we change and improve often,
gently, as we go. Attention to the
nervous system, the reproductive system,
muscle or joint soreness, hormonal
balance etc is ongoing. We are in
a constant state of improvement, which
is as it should be. We now have
over 200 formulas and growing.
Each horse, human and animal is
different. However, we have found,
in particular with the bleeder program,
that it works on very many horses to
alleviate, or stop the symptoms of EIPH.
This program also increases the
resiliency to which the horse responds
after a stressful event.
Thus the goal is to race stronger and
last longer, much like taking good care
of a really great classic 1969
Oldsmobile 442, shining, well painted,
with a glossy coat of the best paint,
all running smoothly under the hood as
the engine growls to life.
I have often complained that we treat
our competitive horses too much like a
mechanized commodity. Use it,
abuse it, cast it off then grab another.
However, I have watched closely the
owners of those classic cars on many
occasions, and you don't dare yell at
it, breathe on it, or scratch it or you
may very well be in peril of your life!
Should we not treat our horses the
same? Would they then not race
stronger, last longer, and be useful in
whatever work they do for us, even if
they aren't world champions? I
firmly believe each horse is useful for
something as each human is. Using
herbs and alternatives, drugs, doctors
and vets together, sensibly, shows
respect for ourselves, our animals and
for life itself.
Below is an explanation of our bleeder
program, how to use it and why.
Blessings and openness on the journey of
knowledge!
The Bleeder/Breather- Program:
Traditional Uses to Support Competitive
Horses.
Bloodless Victory- given as a daily
tonic, 1 1/2 scoops 2 times daily while
in heavy training and competition.
Herbs contained in this formula
are to support every organ and system in
the body. With the competing horse, the
focus is on the lungs, and all organs
related to the lungs. The liver is
another focal point. In Chinese
medicine, one always looks closely at
the liver in lung type complaints.
After 2-3 months, 1 scoop, two times
daily is suggested and increase to full
dose 2 days before stressful events.
As part of the bleeder program we
suggest using pre-event formulas. These
act as `settles’ to ensure the optimum
performance and protection of the horse
who has exhibited signs of EIPH.
For best results, it is recommended to
use Bloodless Victory as a daily tonic
to strengthen and tone all systems of
the horse that bleeds or has difficulty
breathing.
None of the formulas in our program test
as drugs under the strictest tests in
racing federations around the world.
Herbs which are suspect are not used in
these formulas.
Pre Event Formulas
2 to 4 days prior to racing, use the
below formulas as needed:
Run For Your Life. This formula
was made by a Chinese herbalist
specifically to assist the equine
athlete who may be suffering from EIPH.
It was also formulated for the horse
having trouble breathing or gaining
correct respirations in the lungs. The
herbs encourage more efficient oxygen
exchange between the lungs and the
blood.
Several herbs are especially good for
healing the lungs and stopping bleeding.
These herbs are traditionally
bronchio-dialators as well. Some people
use this with
Garlic ‘n Roses for
breathing also in heavy conditions in
old or "asthmatic horses", and
also for racehorses who need more
efficient breathing and may bleed also.
Suggested use is 1/4 scoop daily for
chronic problems, or 1 scoop two times
daily, 2-4 days prior to event, day of
event and the day after.
Chinese Bleeder Liquid: A tasty tonic
which has all the benefits of
traditional anti-hemorrhagic herbs and
also some essential oils and vegetable glycerine to soothe and heal, invigorate
and open up the bronchi prior to
exertion. We like the liquid as it goes
right into the blood stream. Suggested
Use: 45 cc 2 times per day, 2-4 days
prior to event, day of and day after.
Korean Stop Bleedin’: Traditional
herbs for more benefits of "Stop Bleedin’" for the horse as a
pre-event, who has a history of needing
extra support during racing or events.
Suggested Use: 1 scoop, 2 times per day,
2-4 days prior to event, day of event
and day after.