Natural Horse World Articles-AlternativeTherapies

Accupressure

Focus For Training: An Acupressure Approach
By Amy Snow & Nancy Zidonis, Authors of Equine Acupressure: A Working Manual

We are all so busy these days, even our horses are busy. They sense our state of mind and feel our stress level sometimes making it difficult to attain the right level of synchronicity for a productive training session. Finding a way to minimize the time and energy needed to bring you and your horse into the right frame of mind to maximize training would be beneficial for both of you.

The ancient healing art and science of acupressure is an excellent vehicle for aligning the rider’s and the horse’s mindset and energy. It is easy to include a brief acupressure session whilst completing the grooming regime prior to beginning training. The few minutes you spend offering acupressure will help you both “start on the same foot,” so to speak, which is always a good idea.

Acupressure for Focus
The first step is to center your own thoughts and energy so that your mind is not dashing in all directions and you are not carrying your “burdens” and transferring them to your horse. One method of releasing extraneous thoughts and energy is to breathe. Inhale slowly filling your chest, hold your breath momentarily, then exhale adding a little force as if you are pushing your breath out and away from you. Repeat this breathing technique three to six times until you feel more relaxed and clear of mind.

Once your mind feels open and your stress has dissipated, look at your wondrous horse and imagine what a focused and perfect training session you are going to have together today. Stroke his back a few times and take a moment to envision how enriched and productive a time you are going to share.

Now you are ready to begin your acupressure session. The following acupressure points, called “acupoints,” have been selected to enhance training by calming and clearing your horse’s mind so your horse can pay attention to what you want him to do. (Refer to the acupressure chart below.)

Yin Tang Point is located on the midline of the horse’s head just above the level of the eyes, in the “third-eye” position. This point is one of the classic acupoints used specifically to draw mental energy into focus.

Heart 7 (Ht 7), Shen Men (Spirit’s Gate) – This point is known to calm the horse’s spirit as well as strengthen and clear the brain. Ht 7 is located just above the “wrist” (carpus) on the forelimb, toward the back of the leg.

Pericardium 6 (Pe 6), Nei Guan (Inner Gate) – Pe 6 supports the bonding process by allowing the animal to reduce pretense and build trust. Additionally, this acupoint clears the mind and calms the spirit while enhancing the smooth flow of energy throughout the horse’s body. Pe 6 is located on the foreleg on the front side of the chestnut right in the middle of the length of the chestnut.

Bai Hui, (Heavens Gate or Point of 100 Meetings), is a classic point for animals and is located at the lumbosacral junction where it feels like a little trampoline and there are no spinous processes sticking up on the horse’s dorsal midline. Many horses love this point to be scratched and they often stimulate this point on each other out in the paddock. The Bai Hui point relieves stress and opens the mind.

Since the horse’s body is bilateral, we suggest you hold these acupoints on both sides of your horse. Place the soft tip of your thumb on each of these points in succession, applying light pressure, and count to at least 30 slowly before releasing an acupoint. Please put your other hand on the horse as well to fee for any reactions. You will know if the horse is moving his energy if he releases, these release can include: lowering of the head, yawning, licking, passing air, and even falling asleep.

Whilst proceeding through this acupressure session with your horse, just picture all the benefit you and your horse are receiving from this session and the focused, productive training session you are about to enjoy together.

Amy Snow and Nancy Zidonis are the authors of: Equine Acupressure: A Working Manual, Acu-Dog: A Guide To Canine Acupressure, The Well-Connected Dog: A Guide To Canine Acupressure, and, Acu-Cat: A Guide to Feline Acupressure. They founded Tallgrass Animal Acupressure Institute offers hands-on and online training courses worldwide. Tallgrass has learning tools: Books, DVDs, Meridian Charts, etc. Check their website for details: www.animalacupressure.com

Applied Zoopharmacognosy

Applied Zoopharmacognosy and Horses
The first thing most people ask is how to pronounce Zoopharmacognosy quickly followed by what does it mean. The word is a composite of the ancient Greek words for animal (zoo), medicine (pharma) and knowing (cognosy). The term refers to the process by which animals self medicate in the wild. It is a behavioural science.

The practice of Applied Zoopharmacognosy for animals has since been pioneered by the groundbreaking work of Caroline Ingraham. It refers to the work by trained Ingraham professional practitioners such as myself applying the principles of self selection when working with animals in a domestic or captive environment. In such an environment they may not be able to self medicate effectively due to lack of therapeutic plants.

A trained Ingraham practitioner works by offering a range of plant extracts, such as essential oils and herbal extracts to animals to enable them to self select the remedy appropriate to their needs taking into account the species and condition. This allows them the opportunity to self medicate as they would have done in the wild. As well as case studies and practicals, a practitioner is also trained in the science of essential oils and pharmacology of the remedies.

Because horses are natural foragers and have a greater variety of plants to forage, they have metabolic pathways which enable them to process and breakdown the secondary metabolites found in medicinal plants through their systems quickly. The therapeutic parts of essential oils and herbs are mainly classed as secondary metabolites. In other words horses are used to being able to detoxify most plants they forage and they can therefore break down most essential oils fairly rapidly.

Applied Zoopharmacognosy can be particulary effective for horses and enables a horse to self heal, not only by promoting the healing of physical ailments but the remedies chosen can also help release emotional trauma, as well as alleviating stress and eliminating vices. Some essential oils work in a synergistic fashion and can help heal both physical wounds as well as emotional, such as Yarrow Essential Oil (Achillea Millefolium). As well as being a stong anti inflammatory and anti histamic, this oil can also have a powerful effect on behaviour and emotional issues when chosen. Yarrow is often a favourite with horses and it is interesting to note that it was once used extensively to treat the wounds of both horse and human in the battlefileds of old. Perhaps horses have an inbuit recognition of the oil.

I have worked with many horses and it never ceases to amaze me how they intinctively know what is right for them. When working with horses it is not unusual to get the attention of the other horses in the herd, even if you have penned them off (which is recommended so you don't get mugged for your rose hip shells - which I have found is another horsey favourite). This scenario happened to me whilst working with a horse in the South of France in a round pen. No sooner was I half way through the session than his friend Molly, a mule, stuck her head over the pen. She was really interested in Lavender Essential Oil (Lavandula Officinalis), at first this interest baffled me but then I noticed she had a small open wound on her poll which the care giver thought was possibly from sweet itch (NB. A zoopharmacognosist does not diagnose). We therefore packed the wound with green clay powder (a great wound powder/poultice) mixed with a bit of Lavender Oil and by morning the wound had healed. Lavender has been used as a disinfectant throughout the years in hospital wards, and from a zoopharmacognosy viewpoint this oil not only stimulates the regeneration of skin tisues, but also works well as an insect repellant and wound disinfectant. It does not suprise me that Molly knew what she wanted, what does suprise me is that I never cease to be in awe of an animals innate ability to heal themselves, even though I have witnessed it it many times in my work.

Another horse I worked with in Sussex UK, a 29 year old Irish Cob named Seamus was very run down, a bit stiff and and possibly arthritic, and his care giver was rightly concerned. Seamus selected the following:
Yarrow (anti inflammatory,anti histamine, cell regenerating and analgesic)
German Chamomile (antihistaminic/anti inflammatory)
Licorice Root (anti inflammatory)
Rosehip Shells (supports immune function, cell regeneration, collagen damage, arthritis)
Peppermint (anti inflammatory/nerve damage).
After a few days he no longer selected the oils or rose hip shells and the care giver was delighted with his turnaround. The next time she rode him she could not believe the difference. He was like a young horse again.

Once an animal has selected its range of preferred oils or remedies, which can range from one to several, the animal’s care giver can then continue to offer the oils as long as the animal continues to select them. In the case of Molly the Mule, she only needed the oil for the wound, and has since not selected Lavender again. For other animals with other ailments they may continue to select their remedies for longer periods until no longer required; the animal always guides you. Another point to add is that although an animal may display similar ailments, this does not necessarilly mean they will select the same remedy. Never assume. Each animal is unique.

The key with Applied Zoopharmacognosy is that the animal must always be offered the remedy for self selection. It is important that the animal is able to chose the route of administration (inhalation, ingestion, sublingual, or topically for wounds) and dosage. A remedy must never be forced on an animal or put in its feed. Not to be confused with aromatherpay, a trained practitioner does not diagnose, dose, treat or prescribe.
Note: Self medication only works if the animal has the choice not to select the remedy. Never put secondary compounds in feed. Not to be confused with Aromatherapy; Zoopharmacognosy works on ethological observations rather than medical diagnoses.

For more information please visit my website www.starandruby.com. To train as a practitioner please visit www.ingraham.co.uk
Eleanor Goold, Star & Ruby Animal Therapy
Diploma in Applied Zoopharmacogonosy (Equine & Small Animals), Diploma in Canine Massage Therapy.

Bowen Therapy

What is the Bowen Technique?
The Bowen technique is a gentle remedial therapy which stimulates the body to rebalance itself and promotes healing, pain relief and recovery of energy.

How did it get its name?
Tom Bowen was born in 1916 in Brunswick, Australia. He treated the aches and pains of the people with whom he worked in the cement works and woollen mill in Geelong. He had a particular interest in bad backs. In the 1960s, he opened his own clinic. During the 1970s, the Webb Report (Australian Government Report into Complementary Therapies) found that Tom Bowen was treating 13,000 people a year. He died in 1982.
The Bowen technique is now being taught to final year university students of Osteopathy in Australia.

Bowen treatment
Bowen therapists treat people holistically. People present with a wide range of aches and pains, injuries and health problems. There are no contra--indications to treatment. However, Bowen therapists will always advise people to consult their doctors if there is any doubt over whether or not to treat. (The Bowen Technique is not intended as a substitute for medical advice or treatment.)

Common conditions that are often treated
Back pain, neck pain, headaches & migraine, frozen shoulder, tennis elbow, RSI, respiratory problems, hay fever, kidney problems, high blood pressure, arthritis, and knee pain.
Bowen can also be used for stress management, fatigue and sleep problems.

What is the treatment like?
The treatment is gentle and therefore appropriate for everyone, from new-born babies to the elderly and infirm. The therapist makes gentle rolling movements over muscles, tendons and ligaments on the body, mostly using their fingers and thumbs. No hard-tissue manipulation or force is used.

Bowen treatment is not usually mixed with other physical therapies, e.g. physiotherapy, osteopathy, massage, chiropractic etc. A gap of 7 days should be allowed between Bowen and any other physical therapy so that the subtle information supplied to the body during a Bowen session can be processed.

Treatment usually takes from 30 to 45 minutes and can be performed through light clothing. After treatment, the patient will be advised to drink lots of water to help their recovery.

Bowen for horses and animals
Tom Bowen treated race horses and other animals. There are now many equine therapies who have adapted their knowledge of Bowen to treat horses, incorporating ither useful moves to provide a unique therapy. Equine Touch and Equine Tension Release Therapy are two that include some elements of Bowen Therapy.
This information is sourced from the Bowen website, with thanks.

Cranio Sacral Therapy

There are so many types of alternative therapies available to help heal our horses. Each month I will feature one in detail to help readers make an appropriate choice when looking for therapies to support traditional veterinary medicine. Always seek a veterinary opinion if your horse appears ill in any way.

What is CranioSacral Work?
CranioSacral Work combines sensitive and hands-on bodywork with meditative use of the inner eye and inner ear. Techniques are drawn from three traditions: osteopathy, energy work and Taoism. A supremely gentle approach, it is a way of "doing non-doing." It honors both the physiological understanding of how things happen and the intuitive perceptions of how things really are. Equine CranioSacral Work is very effective in the treatment of certain conditions of the horse. The technique seems to work very deeply in the body. The reason for this is because one is working directly with the central nervous system.

Brief History
CranioSacral Work, which originated from the work of osteopath Dr. William Sutherland DO, in the early 1900's was originally called 'craniopathy' and was derived from osteopathy. It was later called 'CranioSacral Therapy' by Dr. John Upledger, DO from the Upledger Institute, and 'Visionary CranioSacral Work' by Dr. Hugh Milne, from The Milne Institute. Now the work is being taken over to the equine world with much success.

The Equine CranioSacral System - "The Core Link"
The CranioSacral system of the horse is made up of several parts: the bones of the cranium or the head, the sacrum or tailbone, and the spinal column. CranioSacral work traditionally specialized in the head, spine, and sacrum, but it is not limited to those areas, nor is it limited to the physical. All of the following are considered to make up the "Core Link." The spinal column is protected by what is called the dural tube, which encases the spinal column. The dural tube attaches at the foramen magnum, meaning 'large window' in Latin. This 'window' allows the spinal column to exit the skull through the large opening in the occipital bone, which forms the base of the skull. The dural tube then attaches to cervical vertebra 2, or C2, and free-floats through the length of the spinal column until it attaches again at the second sacral segment of the sacrum, thus attaching the head to the hind end, or the occiput to the sacrum.

Cerebral Spinal Fluid (CSF) is produced in four ventricles (a series of connecting cavities) of the brain. The job of CSF is to nourish the brain with nutrients. It also acts as a protective mechanism for the brain and is a lubricant for the tissue. CSF has the same pH balance as embryonic fluid and salt water. The human body contains 150 milliliters of CSF; a horse has about 200 milliliters.

Equine CranioSacral Work uses sensitive and exact finger pressure. Pressures are exceedingly gentle and there is no bone manipulation. The measurable amplitude of the cranial wave (a discreet, muscular pulsation delivered by the cranial bone) is between 40 microns to 1.5 mm. in movement according to different authorities, less than half the thickness of dental paper. The movement cannot be seen, but can be palpated in a meditative state. The practitioner's or healer's challenge is thus to sense, listen to, and finally to interpret a very discreet movement.

The cranial rhythm (the rhythm of the cranial waves) is said to cycle between 8-14 cycles per minute and can be palpated anywhere on the body. The cranial rhythm is different from that of the heartbeat and the respiratory rate.

Connecting head to tail
Twists, similar to that of a telephone cord, can occur in the dural tube affecting the cranial wave and creating an imbalance in the horse's body. A head injury can affect the hind end and a hind end injury can affect the head of the horse. The body then stops functioning optimally, affecting the horse's performance, behavior, and sometimes its nutritional intake.

Sutures, or joints between the cranial bones, allow for movement and help disperse the impact of a blow when an injury to the head occurs. Cranial bones, like all bones, are alive, with a significant amount of blood supply making them pliable. If they weren't, they would shatter on impact, like a china plate.

A CranioSacral practitioner is taught to sense any restrictions in the CranioSacral system. By palpating the cranial wave on different areas of the horse, a practitioner can tell where there is healthy movement or lack of movement. This is similar to an acupuncturist palpating the flow of energy through meridian pathways. The practitioner or healer learns specific hands-on techniques to palpate the cranial wave anywhere on the horse's body. Also learned are specific hands-on contacts for cranial bones and the bones of the pelvis to treat different conditions of the horse, thus assisting the body to correct itself. The body has an incredible self-healing mechanism, and in the Equine CranioSacral Work, trained practitioners are taught to listen to what the horse needs. The horse's restrictions can come from a physical trauma of any kind, including chemical, as well as an emotional or spiritual trauma. Each affects the other.

When an injury or trauma occurs, it gets 'stuck' in the tissue of the horse and is stored in the cell memory of the tissue until released. Dr. Upledger calls this injury an 'energy cyst'. Another term used by some is a 'psychotic corner'. Dr. Hugh Milne refers to it as an 'archaic wound'. A CranioSacral practitioner is taught to sense any restrictions in the CranioSacral system. By palpating the cranial wave on different areas of the horse, a practitioner can tell where there is healthy movement or lack of movement. This is similar to an acupuncturist palpating the flow of energy through meridian pathways. The practitioner or healer learns specific hands-on techniques to palpate the cranial wave anywhere on the horse's body. Also learned are specific hands-on contacts for cranial bones and the bones of the pelvis to treat different conditions of the horse, thus assisting the body to correct itself. The body has an incredible self-healing mechanism, and in the Equine CranioSacral Work, trained practitioners are taught to listen to what the horse needs. The horse's restrictions can come from a physical trauma of any kind, including chemical, as well as an emotional or spiritual trauma. Each affects the other.

CranioSacral therapy can help the following conditions:

Facial nerve paralysis
Headshaking
Head injuries and traumas
Emotional problems
Lameness
TMJ (Temporal Mandibular Joint Dysfunction)
Colic
Blocked tear ducts
Castration
Cribbing
Spinal injuries
Hind end injuries and many others.

By Maureen Rogers. Click here to see more info on her website.

Equine Tension Release Therapy
( ETRT ) by Nola Cooke

ETRT is a treatment which aims to secure long-lasting relief from mobilisation difficulties in horses.
Such difficulties can present in many different ways from purely musculo-skeletal to the purely behavioural.
However the problem presents, it is usually pain based, and, in most if not all cases, it is human induced; albeit, often unknowingly so, or unintentionally.

The holding patterns in horses that result from traumas, physical or otherwise, can be established at any age, and for a great variety of reasons.
Sometimes the pain is real "here and now" pain, or pain that is remembered or expected by the horse, either in a general sense or in a locational, rider/trainer, equipment/tack, or circumstance-specific sense.
Part of an ETRT treatment looks for the cause of the horses’ tension. Common problem areas are; feet being out of balance, teeth in need of attention, poorly fitting saddles and stiffness in riders.

Equine Tension Release Therapy was developed in Victoria by Alistair Brooks, who has treated over 3000 horses in Australia and overseas.
He treats Olympic horses down to "paddock potatoes"!
The therapy is his translation of Bowen and other treatments such as Shiatsu and acupuncture, which have been used on humans and animals in Asia over the last 5000 years.
I feel privileged to have trained under Alistair and qualified t practice ETRT.

The treatment involves making moves with my hands across the muscles at specific points, which ‘triggers’ the release of muscle spasm.
The whole horse is treated (in most cases), from his poll to the tip of his tail and down to the hooves.
This form of gentle, holistic health care can and does relax and restore the natural energy balance of the horse.
Releasing the muscle tension initiates the healing process by the horse, allowing the pent up energy to once again circulate through the body, thereby revitalising the entire horse, including the internal organs.

For more information or to book your horse in for a treatment in Tasmania or QLD ( which can include a complimentary human treatment) please call: Nola Cooke 0407 27 33 77.

Flower Essences for People and Pets

Flower essences (remedies) are natural remedies that address negative emotions, sometimes physical ailments, and help to bring about a more positive mind-set. The healing properties of flower essences are made possible through the life force, vibration of the flowers used.
The life force of different flowers are "in tune" with different emotions with flower essences available to address a vast array of emotions, such as depression and worry.

Flower essences have a long history. The Egyptians and early Aboriginals were among those who knew of the subtle healing properties of flowers. However, it was an English general practitioner, Dr Bach, who "rediscovered" them this century, introducing his now well known range of Bach remedies, which includes the popular combination formula, “Rescue Remedy”. Today there are flower essences available from a growing number of companies to assist people (and animals!) with their health and healing.

Flower essences can be purchased as dilute (dosage) or concentrate (stock) strengths (these having a longer shelf life). Flower essences are usually ingested however they can also be used in the bath, spray bottles, added to gentle creams / oils or even rubbed into the skin e.g. over acupressure points As they are delicate, they are best kept away from heat, light and radiation (eg emissions from computers, televisions, mobiles/cell phones).

Flower essences have no direct negative side-effects due to their ingredients (unless one is allergic to alcohol, which most essences contain as a preservative - if one is allergic to alcohol, first consult a professional about possible safe ways to use essences.)

The purpose of essences is to promote healing and personal growth and the well-being these bring. For many people/animals taking essences, the essences work in a subtle, often uplifting way. At times however, they can connect one with the emotions they are addressing i.e. essences working on a negative emotion (eg frustration) can, in the course of shifting the emotion, sometimes bring the negative emotion “to the surface” ie. the emotion can become felt or felt more obviously. When intense this is called a “healing crisis” - symptoms get stronger before they start to ease.

Though this indicates the essence is working, it can at times be uncomfortable for the person/animal involved. It is fine at such times of heightened emotions to stop taking the essence. When/if one is ready to continue the healing process, the flower essence, or perhaps a different one, can then be taken, maybe at a different dose. If in doubt how best to proceed, an essence therapist can be consulted.

Essences are usually taken several times a day. When the essence in question is dealing with powerful emotions however, it is often best to just take them upon retiring, so they can be assimilated during sleep as this is less stimulating for the person/animal involved. In the case of horses especially, it’s important not to give essences before riding/exercising, but rather when the horse is resting eg evening. The same applies to any animal who could pose a danger to themselves or others if they become unsettled during the course of treatment, as emotions are being dealt with, released, healed.

Some people may also find it beneficial to seek some form of counselling while "working through" certain emotional issues (with a flower essence therapist or another practitioner). Because they are vibrational medicine, flower essences can generally be used with other healing modalities, both natural and orthodox. If one is replacing a pharmaceutical medicine with essences e.g. essences for depression to replace an anti-depressant drug, it is however important to discuss withdrawing from the medication in an appropriate way with one’s doctor/vet.

It’s important to recognise some emotional symptoms have a physical cause eg. an illness can cause apathy, depression. Hence, common sense should always be used! Flower essences should not replace important medical attention, so always seek a medical practitioner / therapist when necessary

Flower essences are becoming increasingly recognised as an invaluable way to achieve greater health and happiness. By dissolving and alleviating negative emotions and emotional patterns, essences naturally enhance one’s sense of wellbeing. If health is the sum total of a healthy mind, body and spirit, flower essences then play a remarkable role in promoting and maintaining the health of ourselves and the animals in our lives!

The Flower Essence Center is an Australian company supplying flower essences for people and pets via their web site: www.floweressences.com.au (03) 57 872 258.

Herbal Medicine For Horses by Les Rees

Les Rees is a qualified practitioner of Natural Medicine for Horses and has opened a practice here in Tasmania.
She is particularly interested in stress related disease in horses and wrote her final assessment thesis on the subject. Stress can cause a lot of physiological symptoms which, if left untreated can perpetuate further behavioural problems in horses. But these symptoms can be treated very effectively with herbal medicine, good nutrition and a training regime that considers the natural learning behaviour of the horse.
Natural Medicine is the practice of holistic medicine and mostly requires more than one herb for the symptoms of disease. In Herbal Medicine the body is considered as a whole, each of its systems working in conjunction with the others in order to maintain a balance that keeps the horse healthy. If one system is weakened by disease it affects the other systems as they have to adapt their functioning to make up for the weakened physiological reactions, therefore the medicines used in treatments are aimed at the functioning of the whole body and not just specific parts where symptoms appear.

Unqualified chat room talk does not take this into consideration and can be not only misleading but detrimental to the health of horses, further more there are contraindications involved in the use of some herbs that could be unsafe for use in some circumstances. A recent example of this was a horse suffering from a chronic itching skin disorder causing the horse to rub the area until it became raw.
The owner had spent a lot of time asking advice from friends on how to deal with it and had spent a lot of money trying the various suggested remedies none of which had accomplished any success. As a result, the horse became stressed & difficult to handle due to the continued use of various washes and creams tried that only aggravated the condition. The reason being because, they could not work on their own.

It needed a holistic approach which was to address both the external and internal conditions to enable the healing of the whole body. Externally, the affected area was washed with Chamomile tea followed by an application of Chickweed & Calendula Cream.
Chamomile is a gentle soothing herb which contains nervine, sedative, anti-allergy and digestive actions all of which are useful for this problem. Chickweed has a vulnerary action which is excellent for the healing of wounds especially for those associated with itching and irritation. Calendula is the best herbal excellent antiseptic & anti-inflamatory.
Internally, the herbs Burdock, Yellow Dock, Cleavers, Vervain & Chamomile were used to rebalance the systems of the body through their combined actions.
Burdock has alterative, diuretic and bitter actions which cleanse the blood, aids the removal of excess water in the body supports the functioning of the kidneys and stimulates digestion all of which are important for the treatment of skin conditions.
Yellow Dock has alterative & hepatic actions which aids the cleansing of the blood and supports liver function by increasing the flow of bile. It also aids evacuation of the bowels. Cleavers has diuretic, alterative, anti-inflammatory & astringent actions which cleanse the blood, supports kidney function, aiding the recovery of inflamed tissues.
Vervain is a nervine which aids the reduction of stress in the body caused by the constant itching.
The owner was also advised to include Sulpha, Garlic, Rosehips & Kelp to the diet. Within two weeks there was a marked difference in the horse and within a month the symptoms had disappeared altogether.
Possible causes of this condition included checking the paddock and hay for undesirable weeds, change in diet, changes of paddock, availability of clean water; types of cleaning agents used (Shampoo etc); fly attack & stress related behaviour patterns etc.

From the above example you can see how the holistic approach works and how important it is to call in a qualified practitioner. It is not advisable to use these herbs without professional advice since the quantities used are finely balanced and can cause further problems if given in high doses.
The most common problem in horses is caused by wounds such as deep cuts usually around moving joints where they can’t be sutured which make it worrying for owners who envisage terrible scaring as a result. However, a combination of herbal medicines can heal the worst of wounds leaving very little scaring if any at all.
Horses respond extremely well to herbal medicine and it is relatively inexpensive and easy to use.

Consultations cost around $50, plus the cost of herbal treatment.

Les is also a supplier of most herbal medicines including individual preparations and packaged treatments, supplements and herbal first aid kits. For advice, supplies and consultations call Les: Mobile: 0438 586 705. Phone: (03) 6248 8552. Email: horsetail@netspace.net.au

Homeopathy by Jenny Pearce.

A background to homeopathic medicine:

A guy called Hahnemann, in the 1800’s was the “father” of homeopathic medicine. Many of the principles had been used for thousands of years, but he was the one who “proved” homeopathic medicine using a herb called China, that had been used to treat malaria and other intermittent fevers, hemorrhage and gastro intestinal disturbances.

China Officianalis was to Hahnemann what the falling apple was to Newton – a massive light bulb moment. He took it as a perfectly healthy person and GAVE HIMSELF THE SYMPTOMS OF MALARIA.

He formalised the knowing that “like treats like”. He formalized the knowing that to treat a certain set of symptoms, you could use a herb that GAVE you those symptoms if you were a well person. This “light bulb moment” was the start of homeopathic medicine as we know it today.

Hahnemann also formalized what other practitioners of “alternative medicine” had known for a long time - that the use of some herbs and drugs and over use of others CAUSES health problems by suppressing the symptoms (driving them underground so that they take another and usually more severe and dangerous form).

Homeopathics were being developed around the same time as modern medicinal drugs. The major reason we don’t all use homeopathic medicine as our primary form of health care is that drug companies cannot make big money out of it. Because I can make it in my kitchen easily – just like you can make some to combat your horse’s flu virus.

When combined with some method of making sure that the right medicine is used at the right dosage (such as I describe later in this article), homeopathic medicine is incredibly effective and very consistent. That’s what we’re doing here in this article – giving you a method of making sure that you have the right medicine and the right dosage.

Homeopathics work by making you sick on purpose, by deliberately putting the energy pattern of the SAME “sickness” that you are already experiencing, INTO the body. Our bodies won’t allow two identical energy patterns in the body at the same time. This is why vaccinations work.) Thus, when we put in the “sickness” by taking the homeopathic medicine drops that you can make with this article, the body has to kick the other “sickness” out.

If we just put virus material into our bodies for example, we could make ourselves pretty crook. So we don’t do that - we put in an energetic version of the virus.

“Succussion” is the method by which we have the ENERGY PATTERN of the sickness without having the TOXICITY of it. One succussion is simply one “bang” of the bottle –just against your hand is easiest.

The art is in knowing how exactly WHICH medicine to take and how much medicine to take, how much “sickness” to put in to the body in order to JUST get healthy again – without taking too much or too little. That’s what you’re going to use the pendulum for.

Honey for healing

More than 4,000 years after Egyptians began applying honey to wounds, it is now being sold for regular wound care all over the world.
Called Medihoney, it is made from a highly absorbent seaweed-based material, saturated with manuka honey, a particularly potent type that experts say kills germs and speeds healing. Also called Leptospermum honey, manuka honey comes from hives of bees that collect nectar from manuka and jelly bushes in Australia and New Zealand.

Honey dressings and gels, as well as tubes of manuka honey, have been gaining in popularity with scientific reports on their medical benefits and occasional news accounts of the dramatic recovery of a patient with a longtime wound that suddenly healed.
Regular honey can even have mild medicinal benefits but manuka honey is far more potent, research shows.
The most important factor in any honey used for medicinal purposes is that it should not have been heat treated like the honey we buy for eating - people prefer it to be runny but heat treating to keep it that way kills the active ingredients.

"It's been used on wounds where nothing else will work," said biochemist Peter Molan, PhD, a professor at the University of Waikato in New Zealand who has researched honey and other natural antibiotics for 25 years.
He's found manuka honey can kill the toughest bacteria even when diluted 10 times and recommends it especially for people with weak immune systems.

"There's more evidence, clinical evidence, by far for honey in wound treatment than for any of the pharmaceutical products" for infection, Molan said. However, it won't work once an infection gets in the blood. "It's not a miracle."

Honey has been used for healing wounds on horses with great results. It is easy to apply (sticks well) and doesn't sting so horses tolerate treatment better. It can be plastered on an open wound or bandaged on more severe cuts and burns. It has proven to be especially helpful at reducing the proud flesh that grows out of control as the flesh over populates and stops the skin from covering properly. As you can see from the photos above and below, honey heals quickly - this knee injury which was a couple of weeks old and hadn't responded to other treatments went from the size in the top photo to less than half the size in ten days of daily treatment.

More recently, hoof care professionals have discovered honey is excellent for treating thrush. Here is an outline of treatment provided by Chrisann Ware of Equethy:
Wash the hoof first with vinegar and water and use the same syringe and tube to flush the gunk out of the hoof sulcus.
Then warm the honey in a tub or hot water and put it in the syringe (cattle syringe where the needle would attach works best as they are large).

We get the tubing from pet shops that sell supplies for fish tanks - the small tube that they sell for air hoses is ideal but don't reuse it in case you are spreading thrush from foot to foot.

Pass the tube as deep into the sulcus as you can. You will be surprised how far it can go in some horses with contracted frogs and heels it seems to go very deep indeed. I think this is why most treatments don't work as they don't get to the anaerobic bacteria in there.

You will know when you have gotten the honey in deep and filled the sulcus as it often comes out the back near the heels.Just wipe this excess that dribbles out all over the frog and sole and put the horse in a boot for a while, or if you don't have boots just tie it up on a clean concrete area with some feed for 20 mins until the honey does its job. Its gets absorbed quickly and doesn't remain sticky.

You can buy Manuka honey in the large supermarkets and its much cheaper to do this than to buy it from a specialty health food store. If you buy it from the "medical" supplies it costs double what you pay for it in the supermarket. If you can't get medi honey or its equivalent then just ordinary honey from a local bee keeper is excellent too. We haven't found any difference in the results both seem to work well.

To read a case study on treating a severe tendon wound with honey, click here.

Photonic Light Therapy - How does it work?

The session will start with a machine called a BioFind. The BioFind is a innovative, one-of-a-kind tool for scanning the horse’s entire body. Whenever living tissue is damaged or injured there is a change in the electrical resistance in the tissue relative to the immediate area. The BioFind locates these areas by reading the variances in electrical resistance in a tissue. It creates a clear audio signal when it locates these compromised areas so that the area can be marked with a crayon for treatment with the BioPack.

The BioPack is a powerful therapeutic photonic light device which uses both infrared and super-luminous red light for application on areas pinpointed by the BioFind.

Photonic Light Therapy

Photonic light therapy has been shown in over 40 years of independent research to deliver powerful therapeutic benefits to living tissue such as bone, muscles, tendons, nerves and joints as well as being beneficial in helping wounds, cuts and scars.

What can Photonic Light Therapy do?

* Stimulate cellular reproduction

* Relax muscles and stimulates nerve transmission

* Stimulate acupuncture points and immune response

* Provide relief of minor pains and aches

* Provide an improved range of motion

* Provide an increase in local blood circulation

* Stimulate tissue granulation and connective tissue projections, which are part of the healing process of wounds, ulcers or inflamed tissue.

* Stimulate fibroblastic activity which aids in the repair process.

* Increase RNA and DNA synthesis. This helps damaged cells to be replaced more promptly.

* Increase vascularity (circulation) by increasing the formation of new capillaries.

Written by: Tammy Woolley: Horsetorque - Ph: 0410 600 888
Photonic Light Therapy / Saddle Assesment

Natural Treatments - Reiki

Reiki is an ancient ‘hands on’ healing energy that promotes a natural healing in all living things. It is medically proven and can reduce anxiety and restore the animal’s natural balance physically, emotionally and mentally.
Recently I met Dianne from Animal Magic, who is a level 2 Reiki practitioner with seven years of experience, practicing on her own pets (cats, dogs and horses) as well as practicing natural animal care for most of her life.
Her Reiki experience has been with a wide range of native, commercial and domestic animals quite often spontaneously, on site at the time of their injury.
Animals with shock symptoms respond very quickly to Reiki and it can reduce secondary problems/infections and trauma to other areas of the animal as they respond immediately to the treatment.

Animals intuitively understand and are very receptive to Reiki practitioners and Reiki identifies through the practitioners hands, the areas requiring the most healing. Reiki energy also goes on healing long after the treatment has ended and because it heals the cause of the injury/sickness, it reduces the use of long term medication.
Dianne’s 2 ponies, Stardust 32 and Sash 29, immediately understood when Dianne had been attuned to Reiki and place themselves where they want their daily treatment or to identify an area that requires additional treatment.

Reiki, combined with lots of walking for all types of colic has become one of Dianne’s specialties who says the horse has a quick recovery with less injury and more pain alleviated quickly and naturally.
As a complimentary therapy, Reiki can certainly do no harm and has been shown to help diagnose areas of injury to assist treatment by veterinarians. It can save time and money on nerve blocks traditionally used to identify problem areas.

If you would like to find out more about Reiki or Dianne at Animal Magic, phone her on 0363 931177.

Scientific Consciousness Interface Operations System (SCIO)

The 21st Century has brought with it an environment that is highly polluted and a western lifestyle that is highly complicated. Our bodies are becoming less able to deal with the stress of living under such pressures, and often reacts with vague conditions such as poor immune systems, depression, emotional imbalances, insomnia, behavioural issues, aches/pains, increasing food intolerances and much more.

The SCIO
The SCIO biofeedback device called the Scientific Consciousness Interface Operations System (SCIO) is an extremely sophisticated and intelligent way of combining many energetic disciplines into one session with the greatest of ease, grace, fun, love and kindness.

WHY IS THE SCIO CONSIDERED CUTTING EDGE TECHNOLOGY?
The system is extremely comphrensive and is able to work on many aspects at the one time. It can analyse and measure thousands of points in the body in minutes. The impact of a SCIO session is the speed and accuracy of detecting the stress and balancing the body through stress reduction. This offers an understanding of your body’s possible needs, dysfunctions and vulnerabilities.

The information includes stress biofeedback on your physical, emotional, psychological, social, spiritual and environmental aspects. This in turn offers a more complete view of each facet of your health and lifestyle choices.

HOW DOES THE SCIO WORK?
The SCIO indicates what remedies (homeotherapeutics) would benefit the being for reduction of stress and sends a similar frequency/vibration back to that being. This in turn reduces the stress blockages and enables the body’s natural healing process to work more effectively.

The client just needs to sit/lie down and just enjoy the session. Once the session is complete the homeotherapeutics are harnessed into pilis or drops. They are then given to the client to take home in order to continue their healing process.

HOW LONG IS THE SESSION?
The session lasts for 90-120 minutes and is tailor made to the individual It draws on many modalities energetically such as nutrition, chakra balancing, aura cleansing, organ/vertebral corrections, hormone balances, viral/bacterial/worm/fungal imbalances, emotions, DNA therapy, flower essences, hormone balancing, acupunture and so much more.

WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM A SCIO SESSION?
The SCIO biofeedback session is gentle yet extremely powerful and everybody can benefit from a SCIO session. In particular, non verbal clients such as babies, children and animals. These beings have been known to go into deep relaxation or sleep during the sessions. They also start to really look forward to future sessions because it is non invasive, gentle and they start to feel good.

Long distance sessions are very popular and just as effective as personal sessions. This is a great advantage for clients who may be immobile due to trauma, illness, have no transport or who do not live near by.

WHAT CAN THE SCIO WORK ON?
The SCIO is a stress relief device that works on an energetic level. Therefore, any lifestyle stresses that may have lead to low energy levels, allergies, energetic correction of vertebral/organ imbalances, headaches, backpain, viral/bacterial/fungal infections, behaviour issues, fleas/lice/ticks/worms, nutrition, trauma, toxicity, arthritis, digestion, cystitis, vaccine reactions, hormonal imbalances, moving to a new home, losing a companion, transitioning, pre/post surgery, grief, abuse, amputations may be supported by a SCIO session.

THE FUTURE IN HEALING
Abby has combined her international background in gene therapy, human/animal chiropractic, kinesiology and homeopathy with the technology of the SCIO. She strongly believes that we are constantly evolving emotionally, biochemically, genetically, physically, mentally, spiritually on all levels and dimensions. Therefore many modalities need to be available to us to continue our healing evolution.

It is essential that if one modality is not moving us forward at this present point in time, that we are given the opportunity to choose another healing modality. It is important to acknowledge that we are ALL ultimately working together. Having the AWARENESS of what could be a possible blockage to our healing is a major part of our healing progression.

SIMPLICITY
Healing especially with babies, children and animals needs to be very simple to receive and to follow up. It also needs to be cost effective, stress free, practical, gentle, non invasive, kind and loving. That way, the guardian and/or client becomes more positive and looks forward to having more sessions.

*PLEASE NOTE*:
Please note that this service is not diagnostic and NOT a replacement for veterinary or medical treatment but a natural support to the overall healing process.

Abby encourages all guardians to seek diagnoses from veterinary or medical practitioners when needed and to pass this information onto her during consultation. She would also appreciate and encourage the guardians own understanding and insights of their pets and/or children’s health issues.

NEXT STEP
If you would like to try a gentle, effective, simple and cost effective SCIO session then please contact:
Dr Abby Robinson on 02 62965285.
(Member of the Holistic Animal Therapies Organisation)

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Visit the Natural Horse World Store for quality 'horse endorsed' products

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for quality 'horse endorsed' products