supplements Supplements –
dispelling the myths by Kate Hore RNutr (Animal). Snr Nutritionist at NAF
Many of us use supplements for our horses, but have you ever asked yourself what’s the theory or science behind them? After all, if they worked that well, wouldn’t you get them from your vet? Here we look at the history and scientific background to why so many of us choose to supplement our horses with herbs and plant extracts.
Using herbs for medicinal uses goes back almost as far as man himself. Archeological evidence suggests medicinal plants were being used in the Paleolithic period, around 60,000 years ago. The ancient Egyptians recorded many herbal formulae, including veterinary, on medicinal text found in the pyramids dating from 1550 BC. In the Chinese herbal tradition herbalists were treating both people and their animals from the seventeenth century BC, but by the Zhou Dynasty (1120 – 770BC) veterinary herbalism was established as a clearly separate discipline. So their long term use is not questioned, but how do they relate now?
In fact, rather than modern pharmaceutical medicine being an entirely separate approach to herbalism, it is really just an evolution. We get to our modern medicines by harnessing the right power of plants, with the vast majority of modern active ingredients in drugs being naturally derived. For example in anti-cancer medicines around 75% of modern drug discoveries come from natural extracts. Not only that, but research shows traditional herbalists knew what they were doing, as over 80% of plant derived compounds used today can match their modern medical use with their traditional use.
For those of us who respect the power of plants, the biggest issue with modern pharmaceuticals is their super- refinement, which results in a loss of natural complexity and co-factors that make the original plant so unique. Let’s take ginger as an example. Ginger is a phenomenal herb, well researched and widely used in many areas of health. One common use for ginger is in the treatment of headaches and recent research shows ginger to be just as effective as a commonly prescribed migraine drug in relieving symptoms. Patients taking part in the research received either the pharmaceutical drug or the ginger, and the effectiveness reported was the same. What was interesting though, were the reported side effects. The drug, whilst effective, caused side effects including nausea and dizziness, two areas where the ginger compounds come into their own. Those patients who received the ginger reported fewer clinical adverse effects, precisely because Mother Nature has built in the required co-factors.
The power of nature working in synergy can become even stronger when combining the right herbs in the right ratios. Nothing works alone in nature, and the right nutritional blends are key to both our own and equine health. However, care should be advised, as combining the wrong herbs may actually suppress their effectiveness. Therefore ensure you only use herbal blends from a well- established manufacturer which understands the science behind its products, and guarantees the products are safe, effective and as described. So how do you go about choosing the right manufacturer?
No matter how traditional the history, the modern manufacturer is now all about the research behind the products and delivering a quality product suitable for all from the retired pony to the Olympic athlete. Herbs may be sourced from all over the world, from a huge diversity of sources, so ensuring what goes in the tub is the challenge. The best assurance to the owner is a company audited
www.theequinesite.co.uk
to the BETA NOPS scheme. BETA NOPS ensures the risk of NOPS (Naturally Occurring Prohibited Substances) such as caffeine or morphine, which would cause a positive test for the competition, are tightly controlled. Although the scheme is aimed at providing competitor assurance, the high standard of the audit means all horse owners can put their trust in products displaying this logo. After all, only the best is suitable for your horses. The scheme controls all aspects, from the field where the herbs are grown, to the moment the tub is sealed and dispatched, along with
everything in between. Without these stringent tests, the risk of contamination, or even the ingredients on the label not matching what’s in the pot, is always a risk.
Only manufacturers producing supplements to the highest standards will be able to meet the requirements of the BETA NOPS scheme, so look out for the logo to ensure you are choosing the best product for your horse. A quality supplement will safely and effectively reflect the history and science of herbs through your horse’s health.
Work in the laboratory ensures a quality product owners can trust
Equine Page 9
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