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Herbal Dewormers and Your Horse
There has been a lot of discussion
lately about herbal dewormers and your horse. I would like
to start this article by first saying that I feel there is
still a place for chemical dewormers and your horse. I just
don’t feel that chemically deworming your horse every 8
weeks is really all that necessary.
I know that MANY of you out there will probably disagree
with statement, but being of an alternative mind, I feel
that sometimes traditional practices and alternative
practices can meet half way. Oh course, there is ALWAYS the
exception to every rule, and if your horse is having
problems that could be linked to heavy worm infestations,
then by all means please consult with your veterinarian and
discuss a proper chemical protocol.
Once a horse has reached a healthy state of existence, and
has no known worm issues, and your veterinarian agrees with
this statement, then it is probably safe to start
alternating between chemical and herbal dewormers.
An anthelmintic will destroy or expel worms from the
digestive system. Many of the most effective Anthelmintics
shouldn’t be used due in part to their high toxic
properties. So care should be taken when using ANY
anthelmintic herbs.
Anthelmintic herbs fall into four
very different categories
Vermifuges- which are herbs that expel worms from the body
Vermicides- which are herbs that destroy worms in the body
Taenifuges-which are herbs that expel TAPEWORMS from the
body
Taenicides-which are herbs that may kill TAPEWORMS in the
body
The difference between expelling and actual killing the
parasites can depend on the herb used, dosage given and how
often it is administered.
There are many anthelmintic herbs available, but again, due
to their very toxic nature, I will only discuss a few of
them here. And these herbs should not be randomly used and
feed to any animal or person unless properly mixed and
prepared by a qualified herbalist. Also, most, if not all of
these herbs should not be given to a pregnant horse.
I think one of the most noted Anthelmintics is Wormwood {Artemesia
absinthium)
Wormwood is a pretty common perennial herb found through out
the country. Wormwood is extremely bitter and this is due to
the volatile oil, which contains Absinthol or Thujone. The
herb also contains a bitter glycoside absinthine that is a
narcotic. The oil of Wormwood is extremely potent and a tiny
small dose can cause coma and death in an adult person. So
when I speak of Wormwood, I am referring to the DRIED PLANT
MATERIAL and not essential oil. The essential oil is
extremely concentrated and should NOT be used.
Wormwood is an excellent anthelmintic and also an effective
tonic for the whole digestive system.
Please do get Wormwood and Wormseed {artemisia cina or
chenopodium ambrosiodies} confused with either other.
Wormseed should not be ingested!
Pumpkins seeds and Melon seeds are rich in nutrients and
also help to remove large quantities of uric acid in the
urine. They also contain an amino acid-cucurbitin which
gives these seeds their anthelmintic actions. Pumpkins seeds
are noted for expelling tapeworms from the body. It most be
noted that one should never ever used pumpkin seeds that
have been packaged for planting. These seeds have been
treated with insecticides, fungicides and sometimes-powdered
fertilizers. One most never use these seeds for human or
animal consummation. Use only certified organic seeds.
Hyssop {Hyssopus oficinalis} is another common perennial
herb. The entire plant is medicinal but the most medicinal
part are the flowering tops and leaves. Hyssop’s therapeutic
actions are due to its essential oil, which has anthelmintic
properties.
Garlic {Allium Sativum} has been used as an anthelmintic
for centuries. Garlic has antibacterial, antimycotic and
lipid lowering effects which have been scientifically proven
over time to be extremely medicinal in many different ways.
There has been much information written lately about the
possibility of garlic being toxic to horses. When fed in the
proper recommended dosages, Garlic is perfectly safe to
feed. I have been feeding it for years with no known side
affects. Over feeding can cause gastric upset so care must
be taken with the dosage. Raw garlic cloves are the most
medicinal because they do contain the highest amount of oil
compared to dried garlic products. But most horses won’t eat
whole raw cloves due in part to its extreme bitter and hot
taste, so feeding garlic granules is the next best thing.
Rue {Ruta Gravelens} Rue should be used with caution. In the
proper dose, it is a very effective anthelmintic. Rue
contains many alkaloids, quinazoline alkaloids, quinoline
alkaloids, Furocoumarins and more. Rue contains a very high
level of volatile oil which has been used as an abortive
through the centuries. One should NEVER feed Rue to a
pregnant horse.
Two herbs that should be mentioned are Male Fern and Tansy.
Both have been used as Anthelmintics throughout the
centuries, but both are extremely toxic .
Tansy {chrysanthemun ulgate or
tanacetum vulgare} is the MOST toxic of the known
anthelmintic. It contains potentially harmful substances if
not used in the correct dosages. It contains a very high
level of the essential oil Thujone and small amounts of
Borneol and Camphor. This level of Thujone has been found to
be a strong uterine stimulant in both animals and humans and
should never be used with pregnant animals. The essential
oil is so extremely toxic that even a half-teaspoon can be
fatal. Please do NOT USE this herb on yourself or your
animals.
Male Fern {Dryopteris Filix-max}
is another very toxic anthelmintic. Male Fern rhizomes have
been used through out the ages to rid the body of tapeworms,
liver flukes and other nasty parasites. Male Fern can cause
severe liver damage, cardiac and kidney damage as well as
paralysis and visual disorders. The side effects and risk
far OUTWEIGH any anthelmintic benefits the plant may have.
Due to its MANY risks, I do not recommend any internal
application of this herb. I only mention it here because it
is still listed in MANY books as an anthelmintic, but not
one that I would recommend at all.
There are several other herbs that have anthelmintic
properties. Herbs such as Fennel seed, Feverfew, Hops,
Horehound, Sage, Southernwood and Blue Vervain,. These are
considered very safe to feed to your equine friend.
I have heard of many prescribing Black Walnut as an
anthelmintic for horses, but I would never ever advocate the
use of Black walnut in any form to be fed to horses. The
main toxic principle is juglone, which is a growth inhibitor
is carried in the roots and bark of the tree . Most horses
show an allergic reaction to the shavings and they do not
have to even ingest the material to get sick. Due to the
whole allergy problem, the danger of laminitis and
respiratory difficulties, and allergy related symptoms, I
feel that one shouldn’t even take the chance of feeding a
horse any part of the Black walnut tree, be it nut / bark /
or root. Different products may contain different parts,
some claim to use the husk of the nut, some claim to use the
hull of nut, and some the bark of the tree and then some use
the inner bark. No part of the Black Walnut is safe enough
for me to recommend it.
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The herbs and herbal formulas mentioned in this article are
not intended as a substitute for veterinary or other
professional care, and may not be appropriate for other
horses. Always consult your equine professional before using
herbal preparations. |
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