Talking herbs...

yucca

native to the deserts of the south-western United States and northern Mexico. This plant was used in traditional medicine by Native Americans to treat a variety of ailments including arthritis.

Yucca is a medicinal plant which may have beneficial effects in the prevention and treatment of arthritis. Active components of yucca include steroidal saponins and polyphenolics such as resveratrol and yuccaols.

Yucca is known to help maintain optimal intestinal pH, it owes its therapeutic effects to its high content of steroid saponins (natural glucosides) the precursor to synthetic cortisone. Yucca been an anti-inflamatory nutrient, reduces pain and increases mobility by production of natural steroids in the body.

Folk medicine reports suggest that whole yucca plant powder aids in prevention and treatment of arthritis.

rosehips

If you leave the flower on your rosebush, the petals will fall off after it finishes blooming, and a small red fruit will form and that is the rosehip. Rosehips form on any sort of rose shrub, even a hybrid tea or floribunda, but the hips most commonly used in foods and beverages are harvested from wild roses.

Rosehips contain a high amount of carotenoids and catchins,isoquercitrin all from the polyphenol family. Herbalist at the turn of century suggested we all drink a cup of rosehip tea daily. There seems to be something to that rosy advice. Those natural occurring chemicals have great antioxidant activities, a valuable source of vitamin C, containing as much as 20 times more vitamin C than oranges. Polyphenols also enhance the immune system, assists in weight loss, lower cholesterol, and beats up cancer cells and free radicals that disease the body. Rosehips also contain maltic acid.

For horses Rosehips make an excellent addition to their feed, encouraging strong and healthy hoof growth and used with other herbs Rosehips can help horses to return to health after illness. Not sure if the weight loss rule that applies to humans follows thru to ponies but its worth a try for those tubbies.

contains:	organic acids	Vitamin A	malic acid	Vitamin K	Vitamin E	iron
citrates	pectin	Vitamin B1	niacin	Vitamin P	resin	malates
citric acid	phosphorus	Vitamin B2	tannin	Vitamin C	salts	calcium

Rosehip Oil [not for internal use] but to treat skin problems.
The Rosehip seeds are collected and processed to extract Rosehip oil, an essential polyunsaturated fatty acids containing high concentration of vitamin C which provides remarkable tissue rejuvenating and regenerating property that helps to prevent premature skin aging.

aloe vera

Aloe Vera

Part Used - Leaf

Aloe Vera is one of the oldest medicinal plants in history, and according to Hindu legend came directly from the Garden of Paradise. The ancient Assyrians, Babylonians, Egyptians and Jews endowed this remarkable plant with holy virtues. For centuries it has been surrounded by folklore about its wide range of benefits and healing powers, and known deservedly as the 'holy herb'.

Its triple action of pain relief and antiseptic and healing qualities makes this remedy suitable for burns and scalds. The outside of the leaf is smooth and rubbery to touch and inside is the Aloe Vera "gel" that is so highly regarded. The gel appears to contain a "wound hormone" that accelerates the rates of healing of injured surfaces. Scientists have found that the Aloe Vera "gel" is a diverse mixture of antibiotic, astringent, coagulating agent, pain inhibitor, cell growth stimulator and scar inhibitor.

Various skin conditions, apart from burns, will also respond well to aloe vera gel treatment, ringworm and other fungal infections, infected cuts, abrasions, stings & bites and dry itchy skin. Aloe Vera's wonderful skin moisturizing and healing properties are found in the gel in the thick fleshy leaves which contain soothing demulcents and emollients.

Ginger

Part Used - Root

The dried rhizome of ginger contains approximately 1-4% volatile oils. These are the medically active constituents of ginger; they are also responsible for ginger's characteristic odor and taste. The aromatic principles include zingiberene and bisabolene, while the pungent principles are known as gingerols and shogaols. The pungent constituents are credited with the antinausea effects of ginger.

Ginger has traditionally been used internally for motion sickness, indigestion, colic, abdominal chills, colds, coughs, flus, and peripheral circulatory problems.

Excellent for horses that don't travel well and tend to go of their feed, just add a cup of tea over their feed!

For performance horses this herb should be used with caution as it is banned within some societies, as with any herb always check rules.

Do not use Ginger in conjunction with inflammatory skin complaints, ulcers of the digestive tract, high fever, or gallstones

passion flower

Passion Flower is also known as Wild Passion Flower and Maypop. It is a woody vine with flowers that reminded early pilgrims of the passion and suffering of Christ. Passion Flower bears small berry-like fruit called granadilla or water lemon.

The herb passion flower is one of nature's best tranquillisers. Passion Flower relieves muscle tension and other manifestations of extreme anxiety.

Herbalists often recommend passion flower for times of extreme emotional upset for human use, so its no wonder how it found it way into equine care, for horses that become nervous and restless. Not recommended for pregnant mares.

mint

Mint - Mentha spp

Habitat - Britain, USA, Asia, Europe and North Africa

Collection - leaves are collected throughout the growing season

Parts used - leaves

Actions - antiseptic, anti-parasitic, stimulant, antispasmodic, carminative and anti-inflammatory

Peppermint is a hybrid between spearmint and watermint. Internally it is one of the best digestive aids, helping to soothe and relax the digestive tract. It has also been noted that mint dries up milk in nursing mares. Externally it is also included in some lotions for massaging aching muscles and is said to have a cooling effect on the skin.

Sharing the same constituentions [ for those that have a green thumb] watermint does grow freely in moist places allowing the equine to freely graze this herb

Garlic - Allium sativum

Habitat
�Cultivated worldwide.
Collection
�When the leaves begin to yellow and droop, the bulb with its numerous cloves should be unearthed. Then stored in a cool dry place.
Part Used
�Bulb.
Actions
�Anti-microbial, antiseptic, antibiotic, diaphoretic, hypotensive, anti-spasmodic, expectorant

Garlic is among the few herbs that have a usage and recognition throughout the whole world. Its daily usage aids and supports the human body in ways that no other herb does. It is one of the most effective anti-microbial plants available, acting on bacteria, viruses and ali alimentary parasites. As such it is also widely recognised within the horse world, as an effective anthelmintic, that helps to restore gut flora, has an antibiotic, antimicrobial, anti viral and expectorant action.

For horses it is widely used to encourage the expulsion of mucus from the lungs, help with chest infections, and repel flies, used since ancient times this herb has long been a favourite within stables.

Fresh garlic bulbs are excellent for feeding direct to horses, buy fresh - chopping or mashing garlic releases the herb's full potential as the active component, allicin, forms only on contact with air. Some commercial garlic preparations do not preserve the full activity of the fresh bulb and are consequently less effective.