COCCIDIOSIS - Horses - Symptoms: Blood in the manure and general ill Thrift is a sign of Infection. Have a Vet test and give drugs to suite immediately. Use a bland diet that does not irritate the Intestinal Linings. Good green Grass, soft Hay, chopped Vegetables of all kinds, Beetroot is especially good, Eggs and Milk. Mallow Leaves are good against Coccidia chopped and added to a little soft Lucerne Chaff for a daily feed. All hard feeds, especially Bran can scratch the Intestines and must be avoided. Return to work slowly after recovery.
COLON Conditions - Herbs: Chives, Thyme, Chives: assists to prevent accumulation of harmful Bacteria.
COMMON COLD and FLU - Also see Catarrh and Coughs and Colds. Symptoms - Common Cold: is an Infection of the Upper Respiratory Tract can be caused by 200 different Viruses that produce Fever, Hacking Cough, Nasal Congestion, Runny Nose, Sore Throat and Watery Eyes. Contagious and can live for several hours on everyday surfaces. Adults have 2 - 3 Colds a year, Children up to 9.
Treatment: Keep warm and out of sudden Temperature changes such as going from warm air conditioning to a Cold day. Give yourself a good nutrition base with a natural diet with plenty of fresh Fruit and Vegetables. Boost your Immune System with herbs to suite such as Echinacea to stimulate and Garlic to destroy invading Bacteria and Viruses. Cod Liver Oil reduces Inflammation as it contains Fatty Acids and makes Breathing easier and the Vitamin A content strengthens the Mucous Membranes. Wash your Hands at all times and do not touch your Face beforehand. Eat raw foods and Juices. Retire to bed and sip on copious amounts of warm Cinnamon, Lemon and Honey drinks. If it persists, eat warming foods containing Cayenne, Garlic, Ginger and raw Onions. Take Vitamin C - Ascorbic Acid (Rosehips and fresh Lemon drinks.) Use Steam Inhalations with Eucalyptus, Peppermint and other stimulating Herbs. Use Horehound, Hyssop, Nasturtium and Raspberry Leaf Teas. Take baths containing Cayenne, Ginger and Mustard Powders and stay in the bath as long as possible and immediately get into bed and work up a sweat. NB: Be aware of any Burning sensation in particular areas on the Body while bathing. Put a few drops of Eucalyptus Oil on the Pillow and Handkerchief. If off Colour or Cold Sores or Sore Throat occur, immediately take 6 Leaves of Horehound or a few Sprigs of Yarrow on a spoonful of Honey. Herbs: Anise, Black Cherry, Citrus Fruits, Echinacea, Elderberry, Ephedra, Forsythia and Honeysuckle, Garlic, Ginger, Golden Seal, Liquorice, Marshmallow, Mullein, Nasturtium, Onion, Peppers, Seneca Snakeroot, Slippery Elm Powder, Watercress, Willow and Yarrow. Compresses: Garlic and Onion on the Chest and Feet. Formula: Euphorbia and Echinacea, Garlic, Liquorice Root, Vitamin C, Cod Liver Oil - 5ml daily.
COLD SORES / Herpes Genital and Simplex - Cause: When the Immune System is under - active the Body becomes subject to a Viral Infection that is highly contagious such as during a Cold or under Stress. Symptoms: Cold Sore Viruses lay dormant during good health and low Stress periods. Improve the health of the Body with natural foods. Take in plenty of Vitamin C - Lemons and Rosehips. Use the inside of a Banana Peel to rub on the sore or use an Ice pack. Dab the sore with Methylated Spirits and apply Vaseline - Petroleum Jelly frequently after the Methylated Spirits is fully absorbed. Arginine, an Amino Acid, contained in Protein foods, needs to be limited such as Chocolate and Red Meats, especially if there is not enough L- lysine another Amino Acid in the diet, which is required for growth and repair. Externally: Aloe Vera Gel, Blackberry Nightshade and Echinacea Ointments and Tea Tree Oil. Internally: Echinacea, & Tonic Tea - See Therapies) Formula: Apply Tea Tree Oil - apply 3 times a day and include in the diet Vitamin C, Lysine, Zinc, Echinacea and Garlic for at least 12 weeks.
COLIC / Impaction and Spasmodic - Symptoms: A sensation of Coldness with Vomiting and doubling up in Pain with Flatulence and Diarrhoea. Can be either Mild or Life Threatening. Babies: Symptoms: A Smile or blueness around the Mouth will sometimes indicate. Cause: The size of the hole in a bottle needs to be just right as if too large or small, air will be swallowed and avoid Cabbage, Cow's Milk, Dairy foods, Garlic, Legumes and Onions. Remedy: A little Peppermint or Dill Tea.10ml - 20ml up to 3 times a day or as required for Wind. Herbs: Thyme, *Massage the area with Hypericum and Lavender Oils. *Catmint, Chamomile, Coriander, Dill, Ginger, Peppermint and Valerian or a mixture of Aniseed, Caraway and Fennel Seeds relieves all ages. Compress: Apply a warm Peppermint Tea.
Horses: Cause: Bad Feed, Gorging large quantities of feed or large Gutfuls of cold water after being Hot. Also ingestion of Sand or an imbalance in the diet especially insufficient roughage and Worm burdens. Symptoms: Discomfort, Inability to pass Faeces or frequently passing Faeces, looking back at the Gut, pawing, rolling and sweating. Treatment: Administer Rescue Remedy immediately, Drench with 4 Tablespoons of Vitamin C immediately. Give 25cc Vitamin C by Injection straight into the Muscle. (May be given every half an hour if necessary.) Lead the Horse around so it cannot lie down or roll and call the Vet. Syringe 60 mils strained & cooled Chamomile Tea for anti - Spasmodic effect. Repeat the Rescue Remedy & Chamomile every half an hour. Impaction / Constipation: Give a Drench of warm Cooking Oil / 1 x Litre - as well as the Vitamin C. Mouldy Hay: - (cause) - Inject Vitamin B1 (See under B1 for amount) Peronitis / Twisted Gut: is the next phase, which is often Fatal. Sandy Country: Use Cold Pressed Linseed Oil or Boiled Linseeds and feed routinely at 40ml a day of Oil or 1/2 Cup dry weight of Whole Linseeds after Boiling. Also Psyllium Husks can be fed, as they are high in Cellulose. Severe Colic: Spasmodic Injectable - Phenadine - 2 ml for a Mini - Mare but must be given under Professional advice. Mild Colic: (1) Dissolve 2 x Tablespoons of Bi - Carbonate Soda in half a cup of luke warm Water - Use a syringe - Walk for half an hour. (Mild cases respond quickly and a fresh green pick is helpful as well.) Also use Tympanell (green coloured) - in a 1 x Litre Bottle - Peppermint flavoured when Bloated, as it acts as a Faeces Softener mixed with Parrafin Oil / Full cup / 150ml - shake. Also see Lethargic. (2) Ginger Powder, Citric Acid - Vitamin C, Apple Cider Vinegar - Potassium) Oil - Cooking / Boiled Linseed - Water / Cod Liver Oil - 25ml dose every hour. (3) 1/2 cup of dry weight Linseeds boiled plus Psyllium Husks. Colic Prone: Should be fed Chamomile Flowers or Tea regularly as it soothes the Gut and promotes good Digestion. NB: Keep warm and Quiet after removing the cause of the trouble. N.B: Never change the diets suddenly but gradually phase in feeds over 10 days starting with small amounts. Check the new feed for Contamination, Dampness, Mould, etc. N.B: Pasture fed Horses require plenty of Roughage and ensure that Hard Feed is introduced in small amounts and gradually built up. Stable fed Horses going on to Lush Pastures should be introduced for short periods to avoid Grass Staggers and Laminitis, as well as Colic. N.B: Never feed Pollard as it increases Acidity and can cause Gut impaction.
COLITIS / Irritable Bowel Syndrome - Symptoms: A severe Inflammation of the Colon accompanied by Fever and Blood - stained Diarrhoea. Liquid diet immediately mashed Potato whipped with Potato water, Soups etc for several weeks and reintroduce Fibre slowly. Good nutrition required. Frequent small wholesome meals. Also use a wet Abdominal Girdle - see under Therapies. Avoid Milk and Wheat products. Cabbage, Carrot and Green Juices and plenty of pure Water. Herbs: Acidophilus & Bifidus Powder, Agrimony, Basil, Bedtime Blend, Chickweed, Comfrey, Fleabane, Mallow, Peppermint, Slippery Elm Powder (Specific) Thyme and Tonic Tea also assist. Yoghurt: assists both Ulcerative and Mucous Colitis. Compound Infusion: Fenugreek - 8 parts, Slippery Elm Bark - 1, Comfrey Root - 1.
COLITIS X - Horses: Cause: An acute Mineral deficiency due to being shifted from a good pasture to one lacking in nutrients - Always fatal if not treated quickly. Symptoms: Listless, Dehydrated, Tongues / Gums bright scarlet. Treatment: Give large amounts of Mineral and Vitamin rich Intravenous Fluids.
COLON - CARE - The inside of the Colon - Lower Bowel requires plenty of Water and food high in Fibre / Roughage such as fresh Fruits and Vegetables and whole Grain to remove the wastes that cause side effects such as Headaches, Lethargy and even Cancer. Herbs: Agar Agar, Aniseed, Cassia, Buckthorn Bark, Fennel Seed, Irish Moss, Liquorice Root, Psyllium Husks and Uva - Ursi. Formula: High Fibre diet, 6 - 8 glasses of water a day, 3 - 6 level Tablespoons of Psyllium Husks a day in Juice, sprinkle 1 level Tablespoon of whole Linseeds / Flax Seeds - over the food once a day.
COLOSTRUM - Deficiency - Horses: To make Artificial Colostrum use Milk (Cow or CAE free Goat's) - and add 1 x dessertspoon of Cod Liver Oil and 1 dessertspoon of Nutrimol. The Cod Liver Oil (Vitamin A and D) is to start the Gut working to pass the Meconium. (Nutrimol contains the necessary trace Minerals to boost the Foal's Immune System.)
COMPLEXION - Cause: Magnesium deficiency may play a part here so increase Magnesium containing foods such as Dates and Figs, Purslane - see under Magnesium. Herbs: Basil,
CONGESTION - Herbs: Thyme
CONJUNCTIVITIS - Pink Eye - See also Eyes - Symptoms: An Eye Inflammation, which usually spreads to both Eyes with some discharge, irritation & blurred Vision. Infusion: Eyebright and Goldenseal, cool and filter and use as an Eye Wash morning and Night.
Horses: A sign of too little Vitamin A available from well - grown natural Chemical free green feed whether Grass, Lucerne or other Fodder crops. Carrots, Cod Liver Oil, Dandelion, Fenugreek, well - cured Hay and Pumpkin. Usually bonded with Vitamin D as in Fish Liver Oils - (Safest Way of Administering!) Vitamin A, D and E Powder can be supplemented as 70 - 80,000 International Units of Vitamin A per day for deficient Horses, for one or two weeks only such as in Conjunctivitis. Mares must have Vitamin A rich feed coming up to foaling - No artificial fertilisers and a healthy paddock / or give 1 x Tablespoon of Cod Liver Oil to each Mare weekly. Cod Liver Oil / Oil of Emulsion - that is kept in a light proof container can be used / or Vitamins A, D and E can be injected but better to give orally. Also Powder can be mixed with the Feed or Emulsion & Oil. N.B. Do not put Emulsions such as Vetemul, which is Water Soluble in the drinking Water as it is destroyed by light - but mix in the feed. Best source of Vitamin A is well grown and harvested Lucerne Hay. N.B Too much Vitamin A can cause Liver damage!
CONSTIPATION - Cause: Mainly due to (1) not consuming the right high Fibre diet. (2) Drinking a minimum of 8 full glasses of water a day. (3) a lack of Exercise of at least 30 minutes of Walking a day. There can also be a predisposition to irregular Bowel movements from Childhood and Anxiety can also play a part. Symptoms: Headaches, Nausea etc, can result if there is an inability to have normal stool movements on a regular basis to remove and stop the re - absorption of Toxins / Free Radicals from within the Body.
Treatment: It is necessary to establish a regular time for Bowel movements and become accustomed once again to a Bulky / Roughage / Fibre diet. N.B: First try a high Fibre diet or gentler herbs before using strong Laxatives or you may become dependent on them. N.B: Also do not take any strong Laxatives over a long period or if Pregnant or Nursing. Each morning take 1 x Dessertspoon full of Cold Pressed Linseed Oil, Olive Oil and / or drink the Juice of half a Lemon in a cup of warm water. Increase the Fibre in the diet by consuming whole Grains, Fruits, Nuts, Seeds and Vegetables. Eat 5 Fruits and 5 Vegetables a day. Avoid foods high in Sugars and Starches. Cut back on Meats, Fats & Dairy Products. Avoid Tea as it is rich in Tannins and that is why it is contra and useful for Diarrhoea as it binds the stools and holds back the Bowel movements. Eat soaked Figs, Prunes and Raisins for breakfast. Apple and Pear Juice is a good Fruit Laxative and always include the Fibre. Asparagus & Potato are also good Vegetable Laxatives and always include the Fibre. Relax to relieve the tension in the Gut. Use Castor Oil to loosen the blocked matter. Go twice a day if possible, as after 12 hours Toxins / Free Radicals - are created and these will be re - absorbed into the Bloodstream. Use a wet Abdominal Girdle and do not use Laxettes. Use Apples, Beetroot and Carrots grated or Juiced and include the Fibre. Take 2 Tablets of Peritone with a large glass of Water at bedtime. Herbs: Almonds, Aloe Vera, Apples, Avocados, Buckthorn, Cascara sagrada, Chicory, Dandelion, Dates, Endives, Linseeds / Flax Seeds, Fenugreek Seeds, Figs, Frangula, Grapes, Greater Celandine, Mangoes, Papayas, Parsley, Persimmons, Pineapple, Plantain, Prunes, Psyllium Husks, Rhubarb, Rutabagas, Senna, Slippery Elm Powder, Soybeans, Turnips, Walnuts, Watercress and Yellow Dock. Compound Infusions: Sennand - 4 parts, Liquorice - 2, Elder Flowers - 1, Fennel Seed - 1. Compound Formula: 45mg of Aloe Vera, 90mg of the aqueous extractive from Cascara, 33.75mg of Cayenne, 10mg of Gamboge, 30mg of Jamaica Dogwood, 0.0005ml Oil of Peppermint & 45mg of Rhei. Health Formula: Water - 6 - 8 glasses a day and / or Juice containing water, 3 - 10 level Tablespoons of Psyllium Husks a day and 30 minutes of Exercise a day. Sprinkle 1 level Tablespoon of whole Linseeds / Flax Seeds - over Cereal or the diet each day to act as a Colon cleaner / scraper or chew the Seeds to get the Fatty Acids if nutrition is required for those underweight. (Make sure you drink plenty of water.)
CONTRACTED TENDONS / Knuckle Over - Horses: Symptoms: Afflicts new - born foals with Legs bent upwards and walking on the tips of their Hooves. Treatment: A Tablespoon of Cod Liver Oil by drench will alleviate as the Foal is deficient in Vitamin A and D and possibly also the Mare so correct the Mare's diet also.
CONVALESCENCE - After the symptoms are gone the Body needs time to recover as the Immune System is depleted and you remain vulnerable to post - Viral Syndrome or recurrent Infections. 1 - 2gm of Vitamin C supplements each day should be taken for several weeks after an illness and plenty of rest and a nourishing diet. Herbs: Alfalfa - Sprouts, Borage, Citrus Fruits, Liquorice, St. John's Wort, Tonic Tea, Vervain and Wild Oats.
CORNS - Symptoms: Hardened mound shaped areas of increased growth on the Skin of the Toes with Hard Corns on the Toes and Soft Corns between the Toes. Cause: by shoes that fit too tightly bunching up the Toes and irritating the Skin. Soften with a slice of fresh Lemon. Leave on overnight and remove in the morning. Use a hot Potato Poultice each night. Wear comfortable shoes and go barefoot whenever possible. Bathe the Feet in hot Epsom Salts Foot bath. Soak in a Foot - Bath of Chamomile Tea. Herbs: Celandine majus, Chamomile, Fig, Papaya, Pineapple, Willow Bark and Wintergreen Oil.
COUGHS & COLDS - Inflammation of the Respiratory Tract involving Mucus in the Lungs and can also be caused by Smoking or blocked Sinuses. For a warm Poultice use Porridge or Linseed Meal & Charcoal Poultice. Irritable Coughs: Use a Throat Compress. Herbs: Anise, Burnet - saxifrage, Catmint / Catnip, Coltsfoot, Comfrey, Elderberry, Ginger, Herbal Lozenges, Horehound, Knotgrass, Lemon, Liquorice, Mallow, Marshmallow, Mullein, Paddy's Lucerne Syrup, Plantain, Primrose, Slippery Elm, Stinging Nettle, Sundew and Thyme.
Horses: Add 2 - 3 drops of Eucalyptus Oil to Water or Molasses Water used to dampen down the feed. N.B: No more then this or you will risk burning the Mucous Membranes and cause distress. If Coughing with a Cold and there is excessive Nasal discharge then double the Garlic and Rosehips. Lemon is also a readily available anti - Septic so add the juice of the Lemon and 1 x Tablespoon of Honey dissolved in Water used to dampen down the feed. 1 x Tablespoon of dried Thyme Leaves can be brewed into a Tea and added as well for soothing and Expectorant action and keep warm and out of the wind. Compound Infusions: Horehound - 1 part, Hyssop - 2, Coltsfoot - 2, Marsh Mallow - 2, Peppermint 1, Liquorice - 1.