Fundamentals of Equine Herbal Medicine
Ashlie Williamson, lecturer
Why study Equine Herbal Medicine? Many horse owners are actually unaware of the best way to feed herbs in the order to achieve the appropriate outcome for the reasons it is being administered. Quite often too many herbs are being added at once with little understanding of the physiological fundamentals of the science behind prescribing herbal medicine.
Medicine made from the whole plant is more beneficial than that made from any one of its isolated substances. The particular element, which cures any specific disease, is contained in the plant in infinitesimal quantities. When used in combination with all its other natural elements it has a much greater power of penetration of living tissues than when isolated and given in large doses.
A very small dose if, continued for a long time is more effective than a large quantity administered at once. Plants are compounded of a great many natural substances, when all these elements of plant life are combined together in their natural state the combination formed is delicately balanced yet very powerful as a whole.
Herbs have a dual function; they are foods as well as medicines, build general health and at the same time assist the healing process. When herbal medicine, nutrition and pasture management is studied correctly there is no doubt this combination of knowledge can provide outstanding long-lasting results in the management of equine health and performance.