CRACKS - HORSES: Occur vertically in the Hoof Wall and extend upwards (Grass Crack) or develop at the Coronary Band and extend downwards (Sand Crack) due to an Injury to the Coronary Band. Severe Crack: May extend into the Sensitive Tissue causing Lameness and exposing the Horse to a risk of Infection.

Cause: Mainly due to the Foot being overgrown and splitting. 

Treatment: Immobilise the Cracks by dressing the Foot to suite. If No Infection: Use Raw Linseed Oil daily or mix with an equal amount of Comfrey Oil and this will make the Foot more flexible and accelerate the growth. *Feed Rosehip Granules @ 2 x Tablespoons twice a day for a 450 Kg Horse for at least 12 weeks to improve the Horn growth.

CRADLE CAP - Ensure the Baby has a good Digestion. Normalise with Brown Rice Gruel and Buttermilk. Breastfed: Check the mother's diet and any intake of Medication. Older Children: Take Wheat Germ daily. Herbs: Use Hypericum Oil or 1 x cup of Chamomile Flowers and heat to almost boiling point in Olive Oil, Cool, Strain and Rub into Scalp.

CRAMPS - Symptoms: The Muscles become locked temporarily with excruciating pain.

Cause: Cold water, Poor Circulation or Cold weather and a Deficiency of Calcium and Magnesium in the Diet usually causes night knot - like cramps. 

Action: Contract the opposite Muscle and use a hot Compress, Take a hot Epsom Salt bath and consume Calcium and Magnesium rich foods such as Almonds, Whole Cereals and Greens. Vitamin E also assists as it thins the Blood, improves Circulation and increases the Oxygen supply to the Muscles. Use Yarrow for Children especially for Bed - Wetting and Teething Conditions.

Herbs: Greater Celandine, Internally: Chamomile, Cayenne, Ginger, Peppermint, Sage, Thyme and Valerian Teas. Externally: Use Hypericum Ointment, Bath Salts and Hot Hops or Ginger Compresses. Compound Infusions: Avena Sativa - 4 parts, Ginger - 1, Motherwort - 2, Skullcap - 1, Cramp Bark - 1. Formula: Magnesium Phosphate, Calcium Phosphate, Vitamin E and Ginkgo. - Calcium Lactate 1 x teaspoon a day.

CRAMPS - Stomach Upsets / See Stomach Cramps.

CRAVINGS - Cause may be food Allergies, Candida, PMT or a need for specific Nutrients. Eat a balanced diet high in raw foods, Green and other beneficial Juices, Brewer's Yeast and Seaweed.

CRIB BITING / Also see Fence Chewing - Horses: No Cure but a strap around the Throat is used to prevent Windsucking.

CROHN'S Disease - Symptoms: May be due to Allergies and Constipation with pain mostly in the right - hand side of the Gut with Diarrhoea creating Weight Loss, Lethargy and even Anaemia and Fever with a feeling of Despondency. If the Colon is affected there may be Blood, Mucus and Pus.

Cause: Inflammation of the Bowel, possibly due to an Immune Defect blocking the Small Blood Vessels feeding the Intestine causing the dissolution of small sections of the Bowel creating Fissuring and Ulceration of the Gastric Mucosa. N.B: Ankylosing Spondylitis, Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis may be linked in Families sharing a common but incomplete Genetic basis. Ensure there is a Bowel movement at least once a day. During attack rest and apply a wet Abdominal Girdle.

N.B: Action: Do not ingest Refined Sugar as it increases inflammatory action. A Hypo - Allergenic, low residue diet should be followed as it reduces the load on the Colon and Vascular System in the Gastro - Intestinal Tract. Herbs: Acidophilus, Evening Primrose Oil, Fish Oil / Cod Liver Oil, Marshmallow Root, Seaweed / Kelp Meal, Slippery Elm Powder, Yoghurt and Vitamin E. Formula: Vitamin E - 1 Capsule 3 times a day, Slippery Elm Powder - 600mg 3 times a day, Marshmallow Root - 500mg 3 times a day, Lactobacillus Acidophilus / Yoghurt, Seaweed / Kelp Meal - 1 teaspoon 3 times a week.

CROUP - Use cold Compresses on the Throat and remove as soon as their warm. Use steam inhalation. Keep a kettle boiling in the room with a few Sprigs of Thyme in the water. Ensure adequate ventilation in the room. Herbs: See - as for Coughs.

CURB: HORSES - Symptoms: Bony Swelling each side and just below the Hock associated with bad Conformation and can cause Lameness. Young Horses often develop Curbs and need a few months rest and correct Nutrition.

CUTS / Abscesses and Scrapes - Action: N.B: Do not let a Cut become much redder, tender or painful, as within a day or two if infected will ooze fluid, treat immediately. Use Wild Honey directly on the wound or apply a cold wet Compress for 24 hours to stop Infection. Use the inside of a Banana Peel onto the Cut. Clean with Hydrogen Peroxide and apply Calendula Tincture or Ointment or Sulphur. Crush a Plantain Leaf or use the Juice from an Aloe Vera Leaf and apply directly to the wound. Only Apply Comfrey for healing when the wound is clean. Treat Puncture wounds with Hypericum and Slow healing wounds with Echinacea. Herbs: Aloe, Arnica, Calendula, Cayenne, Chickweed Ointment, Cloves, Comfrey, Echinacea, Garlic, Golden Seal, Gotu Kola, Honey, Horse Balm, Knotweed, Marshmallow, Melilot, Rosemary, Tea Tree Oil, Thyme, Yarrow and Wild Weed Ointment. Tea Tree Oil: used to treat Abrasions, Athlete's Foot, Bug Bites and Burns. 

CYSTITIS / Also see Candida - This Condition is most common among Women under 50 years of age, particularly during Pregnancy. Symptoms: Bladder Inflammation creating a frequent painful burning feeling during Urination and a need to Urinate frequently.

Cause: The inflammation may be caused by a secondary infection in the Urethra, the Kidneys, or by retained Urine in the Bladder due to an enlarged Prostate Gland. Also can be due to Sexual Intercourse, poor Hygiene and Tampons.

Action:Use Barley Water / 100gm Barley in 500ml Water and add Lemon and a little Honey and drink as often as possible. Consume hot Yarrow Tea and take every 2 hours x 3 times a day and if burning is strong add Corn Silk. Wear cotton underwear not synthetic. Drink 6 - 8 glasses of water a day. Consume Alkali - forming foods such as all Fruits and Vegetables every day. A proper Diet should be 80% Alkali forming foods and 20% Acid  - forming foods. Herbs: Bearberry, Boldo, Cleavers, Corn Silk, Couch Grass, Echinacea, Goldenrod, Marshmallow, Sage and Tea Tree Oil. Compound Infusions: Clivers - 2 parts, Horsetail - 2, Buchu - 1, Broom - 2, Marshmallow - 4. Formula: Buchu, Bearberry / Arctostaphylos Uva - Ursi, Corn Silk, Couch Grass, Sodium Sulphate, Sodium Phosphate, Vitamin C and E.

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