Claire's Favorite Herbs Pg 1

About Claire’s Favorite Herbs
(check back frequently as this page will probably always be under construction)

A note from Claire…

Whether you buy herbal mixes from reputable companies or make up your own herbal blends, be sure and research each individual herb and make certain it is appropriate for your horse and your climate. I started making my own herbal blends for several reasons. I prepare them in smaller quantities to better control the amount of each herb that my horses actually consume. The other advantage to making my own blends, is that if my horse has a reaction to an herb I can isolate and eliminate that herb from the mix. I have found that many blends on the market often have an herb or two I prefer not to give. For example some mixtures have herbs that act as diuretics (which means they increase urination), I feel that a diuretic in the Arizona summer could very easily deplete a horse of potassium. Many blends have herbs with warming qualities which again I would not want to administer in the summer. Tamera's arthritis would benefit from yucca but she does not tolerate yucca and colicks. So any of the commercial blends containing yucca are out of the question. The advantage to buying your herbal blends from me is that I prepare each order as it comes in, so...if you want something added or eliminated from a blend, just tell me. Together, we can find what is best for your horse.

Feeding herbs is a serious endeavor, you can fool yourself into believing that because they're natural, they're safe...not always so. Many of our modern drugs are made from herbs, Digitalis, a drug that is used to stimulate the heart is derived from foxglove. Coumarol, an anti-clotting agent is derived from sweet clover. Aspirin comes from white willow bark and morphine from papaver somniferum (poppy). These are just a few examples, there are many, many more. Use herbs carefully and seek the advice of a knowledgeable herbalist if possible. Always consult with your veterinarian about the herbs you wish to give your horse because some herbs will react or potentiate the action of some drugs and other herbs as well.

I'm always on the look-out for good books on herbs, particularly for horses. If you'd like to start your own herbal library, here are some of the books I recommend:

A Healthy Horse the Natural Way by Catherine Bird.
A Modern Horse Herbal by Hilary P. Self
Veteran Horse Herbal by Hilary P. Self
Complete Holistic Care and Healing for Horses by Mary L Brennan, DVM
The Practical Horse Herbal by Victoria Ferguson
Herbs for Horses by Jenny Morgan
Herbal Horsekeeping by Robert McDowell and Di Rowling
All You Ever Wanted to Know About Herbs for Pets by Mary L. Wulff-Tilford & Gregory L. Tilford

I have used many herbs over the years and the following is a list of my all-time favorites, I have made some personal comments on most of them. The name of each herb is linked to an online herbal primer for your convenience and educational purposes. Don't forget to use your "back" button to return to this page. Enjoy your voyage into the world of herbs...

Aloe Vera
You should always have aloe vera plants and several bottles of aloe gel on hand for burns and cuts. If you are not inundated with aloe vera plants as I am, aloe vera gel is quite inexpensive....get the pure aloe vera gel with no added coloring, perfumes, etc. I always keep some in the refrigerator in the barn and in the house. Aloe Vera juice can be taken internally with great benefits; it helps heal gastric ulcers. Careful... it has strong laxative effects, use under

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Aloe Vera—Aloe perryi
You should always have aloe vera plants and several bottles of aloe gel on hand for burns and cuts. If you are not inundated with aloe vera plants as I am, aloe vera gel is quite inexpensive....get the pure aloe vera gel with no added coloring, perfumes, etc. I always keep some in the refrigerator in the barn and in the house. Aloe Vera juice can be taken internally with great benefits; it helps heal gastric ulcers. Careful... it has strong laxative effects, use under the care of a herbalist or nutritionist.
Anise seed—Pimpinella anisum
Claire’s picky eater Doc loves anise seed...he will eat anything if sprinkled with anise seed powder.
Arnica—Arnica montana
Arnica in an ointment or salve can do wonders for muscle pain. When Lady was adjusting to going barefoot and the Strasser trim Claire would rub it into her coronary bands. Claire uses a salve of Arnica, Eucalyptus, Comfrey and Yarrow for my own chronic muscle pains. Sometimes it can mean the difference between a restful night or an all nighter of constant pain. Do not use on open wounds. Arnica can be taken internally in homeopathic dilution.
Artichoke—Cynara scolymus
Artichoke leaves help to stimulate appetite, increase gastric juices and aid in digestion. It is one of the bitter herbs recommended by Hilary Page Self for Cushing's horses.
Ashwagandha—Withania somnifera
This herb ranks right up there with ginseng as a powerful adaptogen. Once you read about this herb you will understand why we included it in our A & A Potion.
Basil—Ocymum basilium
The leaves and flowering tops of ocimum basilicum are used in herbal medicine. It eases stomach cramps, flatulence, colic and indigestion. It does have a very mild sedative action so it can be used for irritability and anxiety. Basil is also great for cooking.
Beet root powder—N.O. chenopodiaceae
Beet root is said to keep fat from depositing in the liver. Indian medicine has used beet root as a treatment for coughs and infections. Beet root contains folate, potassium and manganese.
Bilberry—Vaccinium myrtillus
Scientific studies confirm a positive effect on vision due to to the berry's flavonoid compounds. Claire would sometimes give her Cushing’s mare, Tamera, bilberry leaves.
Boswellia—Boswellia carteri
Also known as Frankincense, this herb is bringing new hope and wonderful results to chronic arthritis sufferers. I considered Boswellia a must for our Devil's Claw 'N More Potion.........with emphasis on more.
Burdock—Arctium lappa
A constituent in burdock is thought to have an antibiotic effect. Burdock has anti-bacterial and antifungal properties, as well as hypoglycemic and anti-tumor action.

Calendula-Calendula Officinalis
Our horses love the taste of the marigold petals. Calendula is another salve I stock. It's great for healing cuts and for dry skin. It's great for Claire’s torn up finger tips from handling suede lace and horse hair when making her many dreamcatchers. Make sure the wound is clean as calendula heals fast and you don't want to trap the dirt in the healing wound ( a tip from a fellow herb enthusiast-thanks Lori). Calendula can also be given internally. It is said to have anti-tumor effects.
Cat's Claw—Uncaria tomentosa
Cat's claw, among all its other uses, may also have anti-tumor properties.
Celery seed—Apium gravolens
I like to give celery seed in conjunction with Devil's Claw, however I tend to with hold it in the summer, as it does have a warming quality and some diuretic action.
Chamomile—Anthemis nobilis, Antehmis cotula, Matricaria chamomilla
This is one of the favorite herbs. Many years ago when Claire’s youngest son Sean was a baby he suffered from horrible gas pains. After a couple of sleepless nights, being the "Nancy Nurse" that she was, Claire carted him off to the pediatrician. That fine man told me in no uncertain terms that her son was allergic to milk and she should start him on soy milk. However... for some unknown reason Claire wasn't convinced and decided to try her grandmother's remedy first. So, Claire prepared Sean's formula with a weak solution of chamomile tea instead of water. The results were miraculous. Sean slept through night. Claire continued to mix his formula with chamomile tea for several months until he outgrew the colic stage. Since then chamomile has been used for numerous maladies. Chamomile is a soothing and calming herb. It is also a natural anti-inflammatory and anti-spasmodic.
When Tamera, Claire’s Cushing's mare stopped eating for no apparent reason, she had eaten virtually nothing all day, Claire examined her teeth, listened to her gut sounds, etc. and found nothing obvious for her lack of appetite. So, Claire poured a weak solution of chamomile tea over her pellets. Tamera sniffed and gobbled down dinner. Now after pourring her pellets into her tub she would wait patiently until the tea was poured over them before lowering her head.
Years ago, before when Claire moved to Shotgun Ranch, Doc was laid up with a suspensory ligament injury....the ultimate nightmare.....stall rest was prescribed. He was a most grumpy horse, hateful actually, he'd charge anyone who entered his stall. Claire started adding chamomile flowers to his feed and his disposition changed radically, he was not happy by any means but he was no longer homicidal. Chamomile helped him get through a rough time in his life. It is important to note that while chamomile is a safe herb, if used continuously it can cause liver toxicity. You need to give the liver a break at least every 3 months. Claire likes to alternate between chamomile and peppermint, as they have many of the same properties.
Cinnamon– Cinnamomum verum, synonym Cinnamomum zeylanicum

Cinnamon is a small evergreen tree 10-15 m tall, belonging to the family Lauracea, native to Sri Lankalndia. The bark is widely used as a spice. I feed cinnamon to my Insulin Resistant horses because several studies indicate that cinnamon may have a role in glucose metabolism.
Cleavers– Galium aparine
A reliable diuretic, it has been used to treat kidney stones and urinary infections.
Comfrey leaves—Symphytum officinale
There is much controversy about the internal consumption of comfrey. At this time, I do not use this herb internally but I do use it topically in a poultice with positive results and a salve of comfrey and calendula is a must at my house.
Devil's Claw Harpogophytum procumbens
Rather than use "Bute" (Phenylbutazone), I prefer to give my horses and dogs Devil's Claw. It has anti-inflammatory properties that help with arthritis, chronic muscle pain and in short many of the situations where "bute" is prescribed. Do not use if your horse has ulcers.
Echinacea—Echinacea purpurea, Echinacea angustifolia
I believe this herb is over used much the same as penicillin has been, over the years. While Echinacea has many benefits, only use it for short intervals (3 weeks at a time) and when specifically warranted; as during the seasonal changes between fall and winter and if I suspect some type of infection.
Eyebright—Euphrasia officinalis
Traditionally, this herb has been used to make an eyewash for inflammations and other eye problems. It can also be taken internally for coughs and nasal congestion. Works great as part of the Eyebright Potion for those horses with “Hay-fever”.
Fennel-Foeniculum vulgare
Fennel is primarily used to relieve bloating and stimulate the appetite but it has been used in conjunction with Uva-Ursi to treat cystitis.
Fenugreek –Foenum-graecum
Fenugreek is used as a recovery aid from illness and to encourage weight gain. It contains Vitamins A, B & C. Horses tend to really like the taste of this aromatic herb. However, do not feed it to pregnant mares. Fenugreek has the potential to lower blood sugar.
Flaxseed– Linum usitatissimum
A great source of omega 3 fatty acids. All of our horses receive flax with their meals on a regular basis.
Garlic– Allium sativum

Ginger– Zingiber officinale
Ginkgo—Gingko biloba

Gingko is part of the conifer family and one of the oldest tree species in the world. Gingko’s are male and female trees, it can take 20 years or more before the female tree bears fruit. This fruit when ripe, smells like rotten meat. You will know if you are near a ginkgo by the smell.

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