ttt healthy horse hints
Damp Heat Syndrome
Damp heat syndrome can be addressed naturally
by Shari Frederick A
t some stage in her life, Bebe was discarded and left in a small stall to stand in her own feces; eventually she developed rotted feet. About a year after her arrival at
Happy Horse Haven, this soft-nickering, loving, sorrel senior mare and former winning hunter jumper unexpectedly lay down one day, all day, then presented with massive oozing sores on her front left hoof three days later.
The hoof was inflamed and oozing pus from multiple locations. A pad of diapers was wrapped on her hoof to buffer the pain while a plan could be put in place. Because Bebe had been observed lying down for several hours (possibly exerting pressure on her lungs), a Chinese herbal bronchial dilator (Mo Lung powder) was added to her feed.
SOOTHING SALT SOAKS The heat issues that manifested in Bebe's hoof were offset by salt soaks. Bebe was so welcoming to this process that she lifted her own hoof in and out of the bucket as she ate. Massaging her leg increased blood flow, released toxins and encouraged her to continue the soak for as long as possible.
Annabelle Knight (
tcmequine.com), who holds a BSc from the International College of Oriental Medicine in the UK, suggests: “Inflammation will cause necrosis of healthy tissue inside the foot including laminae and tendons. Act quickly. After warm salt soak, dry, then apply a warm bran poultice, or kaolin (clay) to make a clean dry barrier between the bran and skin. Keep covered to draw out the rubbish. Change every 2-3 hours.”
Bebe had open pus pockets which oozed and drained. Even after inflammation lessened, blood would lightly drain from past pockets or seep through weak cracks in her skin to release pressure when she walked. Her hooves were open to a multitude of invaders that had to be deterred several times a day by removing contaminants such as dirt and debris. We used fresh water rinses and Zephyrs Garden Anti-Fungal Spray, followed by dusting herbs of comfrey, yarrow and golden seal (available as Wound Dust by Equine Science). Aloe Vera and bran poultices were also used, as was SORE NO-MORE by Equilite, alternated to rinse the wounds.
Shari Wants You to Know... 1. Do not give up on a horse who lies down a lot. “We observed Bebe lying down several hours a day for nearly a month” (hence the need to watch for respiratory distress).
2. Poor farrier work contributed to Bebe’s hoof problems. Proper farrier care and correctional measures, or at least non-aggressive trimming, can make a big difference in special cases like Bebe’s.
HEALING ENERGY Reiki Master and intuitive communicator Zeb Graham Howard (
zebgraham_howard@hotmail.com) reveals: “Both Bebe's front feet were affected but the left was the one where past issues had manifested. Her feet had caused her so much heartache during her life, Bebe bore a real grudge against her feet and blamed them for letting her down and causing her confinement.” Zeb conducted ongoing distance Reiki, releasing Bebe’s long-term shackles of pain.
HERBAL ASSISTANCE Natural herbal supplements can address pain, circulation and the immune system. Bebe welcomed her supplements and would eat them as a treat as well as in her feed. Bebe was dramatically supported by 10g per day of Viola and Angelica Root for 1 week. Viola yedoensis (Zi Hua Di Ding), a bitter cooling herb, was used to clear toxins, provide anti- inflammatory support, clear Bebe’s hot sores, deep rooted boils, abscesses and toxic lesions. Chinese Angelica Root (Dang Gui), also known as the “woman’s ginseng,” has a sweet pungent aroma and was used to tone and build Bebe’s blood, inhibit bacteria and protect the liver.
Bebe’s cooperation with her treatment extends to her active participation in the foot-soak process while she eats.
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Annabelle Knight shares, “The Liver channel starts in the feet, Heart in the hand, so abscess in any foot would indicate Zi
Holistic Horse™ • August/September 2012 • Vol.19, Issue 80
Shari Frederick,
sharifrederick.org
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