SANDCRACK - Horses: Cause: The crack runs from the top to the bottom of the Hoof.

Treatment: If serious - requires Remedial Shoeing and allow sufficient time for the crack to grow out. Extra Biotin in the feed would help, as well as the regular Seaweed Meal. Although this condition is heritable and Horses with this condition should be avoided it is also mainly due to environmental factors.

SAND COLIC - Sanding: Not as easy to cure as ordinary Colic due to Horses eating too much Sand with its food, usually during Drought, as the Sand in the Gut impedes the correct Digestion. There is a Mucilage product available in the USA that is claimed to take the Sand with it on the way through the Gut.  Feed boiled Linseeds 50% and French White Millet 100% on a regular basis to shift sand deposits regularly. 

SCABIES - Cause: Tiny Mites of the genus Sarcoptes - cause it and infest Animals as well as Humans and it is a highly contagious Parasitic Skin Infestation, especially common in Children. The Infestations cause small, itchy bumps sometimes all over the Body and sometimes localised between the Fingers, on the Wrists, on the Waist, in the Groin or on the Genitals. N.B: Boil all clothes and bedding to stop reinfection. Herbs: Aloe Gel: contains Bradykininase and is used to relieve Itch  & Irritation of a Scabies rash. American Pennyroyal Oil: Fleabane: was used to repel Fleas and is used in nearly all herbal Flea collars for pets. A strong Tea or Tincture could be applied directly to the affected area to alleviate the Itch. N.B: Do not use if Pregnant. Evening Primrose Oil - E.P.O: used to treat Eczema as it soothes the Skin. Five - Leaved Chaste Tree: used as a Poultice for treating Eczema, Ringworm & Scabies. Mash the leaves and apply directly to the affected areas of Skin. Mountain Mint: contains a great deal of Pulegone the same Insect repellent found in Pennyroyal. Ball up a wad of bruised leaves and apply to the Legs to keep the Ticks off and should also be effective against Lice & Mites. N.B: Do not use if Pregnant. Neem Extract: a tree from India that is very active against many Insect Pests and is used by Organic farmers and gardeners. Paste: 4 parts fresh Neem Leaves and 1 part Turmeric Root or buy Neem Skincare products from the Heath food store and add several teaspoons of Turmeric to it and apply to Affected areas. Oatmeal: used to stop Itching by adding a few handfuls into a hot bath. Onion: can be boiled to extract Quercetin one of nature's best Skin soothing compounds. Boil the skins of 6 Onions for 15 - 30 minutes in a quart of water and let the liquid cool, then apply it liberally all over the Body and used the peeled Onions in cooking. Peppermint: contains Menthol that has Cooling, Anaesthetic & Anti - Septic properties. Bath Tea: Mix the herb with Pennyroyal, Rosemary, Sage, Spearmint and Thyme in any proportions but make enough to toss several cups into warm bath water and drink a cup or two to reduce Stress. N.B: Do not use if Pregnant. Star Anise Oil: used as an Anti - Septic and useful against Bedbugs, Lice and Scabies by dabbing on the affected area. St. John's Wort: applied to the Skin can provide immediate relief from the itching of Insect Bites. Steep flowering shoots in enough EPO to cover them for a few days then dab on the affected areas or use a Tincture. Tansy: used a strong Tea as a Wash to treat Lice or Scabies. N.B: Do not use if Pregnant. Tea Tree Oil: used as an Anti - Septic and is also useful against Parasites including those that cause Scabies. Before using on the Skin dilute by adding several drops to a couple of tablespoons of any Vegetable Oil. N.B: Do not take internally as it is extremely concentrated and can be Toxic. Turmeric: used to treat Itchy Skin Conditions. Walnut: contains Juglone a chemical that is useful for dealing with Mite Infestations. Wash: Boil a few cracked Walnut Shell pieces in a cup of water until about 1/2 of the water has evaporated. To create a concentrated solution, cover several whole Walnuts with water and simmer until 1/2 of the water is gone apply the water liberally to the Skin.

SCALP - HAIR: - Hair reflects your internal health. Conditioners, Dyeing, Bleaching, Perming and Shampoos all contain Chemicals that create damage. Use a Natural Shampoo such as Solid Pine. Use 1 Tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar or the juice of 1 Lemon in a Cup of water in the final rinse as it acts as a Conditioner as well as a treatment for Dandruff and restores the natural Acid Mantle of the Scalp. Eat more Cabbage, Legumes, Eggs & Oats. Remove Sugar from the diet. Nettle or Rosemary Rinses are effective for Dandruff. Nettle strengthens and thickens Hair and should be used regularly - 10 Handfuls in 5 Litres of water heated gently - Do not boil and stand for 5 minutes & strain. To darken Hair use Rosemary, Sage and Walnuts Leaves. Red Hair - use Henna. Blonde Hair: use Chamomile and Lemon. Hair Loss: Use a slant board or Yoga postures, massage Scalp with Aloe Vera Gel, Nettle rinse a few drops of Rosemary Oil, Ginger Root Juice or Cayenne Tincture. Internally: Comforting and Tonic Teas.

SCARLET FEVER - Symptoms: Highly Contagious - A severe Fever with Headaches, a vivid Red Rash and Sore Throat. Apply wet sheet treatment at the start of the Fever or apply wet clothes to the Head sprinkled with Lavender Water or Mint and sponge the Body down night and morning with this Water. No Solid food until Temperature is back to Normal. Warmth and rest in bed until Temperature has subsided in a quite atmosphere. Use subdued lighting and be on hand as much as possible. Use plenty of fresh Lemon drinks. Herbs: Anti - Septic - such as Garlic, and Onions, Vervain, Wormwood mixed with Honey or in Capsules. Yarrow: Itching: Chamomile and Chickweed Lotion or Aloe Vera and Comfrey or Chickweed Cream. Echinacea Tincture - 10 - 15 Drops every 4 hours to improve the Body's resistance.

SCARS - Clean and Treat Wounds with Herbal Creams and Ointments. Use Vitamin E and Wheat Germ Oil. Ensure a Holistic diet for the Body to heal faster. Cover Scars with protective Ointment to stop UV Rays. Herbs: Comfrey Poultice or Ointment. 

SCIATICA - Symptoms: Pain that runs from the Lower Back to the Buttocks and / or the Outer Back of the Leg radiating along the Sciatic Nerve with Inflamed Sciatic Nerve Fibres at times.

Cause: Usually due to the displacement of the Cushioning Cartilage between the Vertebrae, which then presses on the Sciatic Nerve Endings. Rest is the best Therapy. Eat very light meals and drink plenty of simple fluids. Use massage and Spinal manipulation for the best results. Use hot Poultice of Bran and Potato, hot and cold Compresses or Ice massage. Herbs: Chinese Angelica: is used for Gynaecological complaints and is often known as Female Ginseng and it also has a mild Sedative, pain relieving, Anti - Inflammatory and Anti - Spasmodic properties. Can be taken as a Tea or Tincture or add to Wintergreen Tea. N.B: Do not use this herb, if Pregnant. Country Mallow: is used to treat Sciatica and other Muscular & Nervous System complaints as it has a high concentration of Ephedrine usually used for Bronchial Decongestant and Stimulant but also acts as a Muscle stimulant. Ginger & Sesame: Ginger is a Rubefacient - Mix 2 tablespoons of grated Ginger with 3 tablespoons of Sesame Oil and 1 teaspoon of Lemon Juice and rub into the affected area. Hayseed Baths and Poultices: a mixture of Grass Seeds especially Anthoxanthon - known as Kneipp Therapy - used for treating a range of Rheumatic conditions as well as Sciatica as it contains Coumarin a Camphor - like substance that boosts local Blood flow when applied externally. Inquire about it at Health shops. Mustard Plaster: used for Respiratory and Rheumatic Conditions such as Sciatica and as an Aromatic for Bronchial Decongestant. It is also a Rubefacient counter irritant that creates a feeling of warmth on the Skin as it counter irritant properties cause a mild irritation distracting the Body from the deeper pain of Sciatica to give a pain relieving effect. Sciatica Cress - Pepper Grass: applied fresh Externally as a pain reliever as it is a Rubefacient and counter irritant the same as Mustard containing the same hot compounds / Isothiocyanates. Stinging Nettle: used for flailing bad Backs by taking fresh Sprigs of the herb and slapping it against the painful area as the sting is a counter irritant causing minor pain and in effect fooling the Nervous System into disregarding the deeper pain. The chemicals in the herb cause Inflammation that seems to trigger the release of the Body's natural Anti - Inflammatory chemicals to get rid of the Sciatic Inflammation. You can also make Poultices from the herb to use on Sciatica. Willow: contains Salicin the herbal Aspirin to relieve Sciatic pain that is also used for other painful Conditions from Headache to Arthritis. Start with a low dose. Tea: 1/2 teaspoon of the dried herb and increase quantity to suite the pain for effective relief. N.B: Long term use may cause Stomach distress and even Ulcers so sweeten the tea with Liquorice, which has Ulcer preventing benefits. If Allergic to Aspirin do not use, and if you have High Blood Pressure do not overdo the Liquorice. Wintergreen Tea & Oil: contains Methyl Salicylate related to Salicin in the Willow Bark and is nearly equal in its ability to relieve pain. Used Internally as a Tea and Externally in Baths and Ointments for relieving painful Conditions including Gout and Sciatica. It might be more easily absorbed through the Skin then through the Stomach. N.B: Keep the Oil out of the reach of Children as the minty smell can be tempting and ingesting even small amounts can be fatal for Children.  Internally: Equal parts Lavender Flowers, Lemon Balm & Nettle. Doseage: - Take 1/2 Cupful every 2 hours. Externally: Phtytolacca Ointment, Bracken Leaf Compress, massaging with Hypericum Oil and Nettle Baths. Formula: 45mg Agrimony, 45mg Bogbean, 45mg Burdock, 30mg Guaiacum resin, 15mg Nutmeg, 45mg Raspberry Fol. and 45mg Yarrow.  

SCOURING - Horses: Can be Mild or Chronic. Cause: can be the after effects of a Paraffin Drench, Imbalanced Bacterial levels, Poisoning, Ulcerated Gut and Tapeworm.  If off the feed, in pain, and /or has a Temperature get a Vet. N.B: The cause needs to be found and treated as soon as possible. Herbs: Chamomile Tea, boiled Barley, Garlic, Rosehip Tea and Yoghurt. Use Bentonite as a feed supplement to detoxify. Treatment (1) 15 - 30gm of Seaweed daily, and Apple Cider Vinegar. Treatment (2) Use Slippery Elm Bark Powder together with plain Yoghurt containing Acidophilus, Bifidus and Casei, such as Jalna. Give 2 x Tablespoons of Slippery Elm Bark Powder with 2 x Tablespoons of Yoghurt and 1 x Tablespoon of melted raw Honey in the feed. If they won't eat it add a little water and give as a Drench. Treatment: (3) Give Rescue Remedy at regular intervals and try and feed Probiotics to try and redress Imbalanced Bacteria levels in the Gut. Feed 2 x Tablespoons of natural Yoghurt containing Acidophilus, Bifidus & Casei mixed with 1 x Tablespoon of melted raw Honey two to three timers a day depending on the severity of the Condition. If the Horse will not eat it syringe it into the Mouth. N.B: The Manure should not be too hard or too loose, too dry or too wet, have an offensive Odour or be particularly pale or a dark unnatural Colour. The size of the droppings each day and the number is also important as it is a sign of a compromised Gastro - Intestinal Tract, if not full blown Gut Ulceration with poor absorption of Nutrients and poor Feed conversion. * Feed only Meadow Hay or Grass Hay ad lib. Give a feed 3 x times a day of good quality Oaten or Wheaten Chaff and add boiled Barley, a little Corn / Maize Oil, 1 x Tablespoon of high grade Dolomite, 1 x Tablespoon of Slippery Elm Bark Powder and 1 x Tablespoon of Bentonite. N.B: Do not feed Bran or Lucerne. Feed or graze only native grasses and avoid Kikuyu. Feed 2 x medium sized Comfrey Leaves a day and / or several double handfuls of Dandelion / Taraxacum Officinale - Leaves, Stems, Flowers and Roots as well and Garlic (Dried Granulated or freshly crushed) and Seaweed Meal. If Chronic treat with a mixture of selected herbs from Agrimony, Aloes, Chamomile, Comfrey, Dandelion, Garlic, Marshmallow, Meadowsweet, Peppermint, Rosehips and Yarrow.  Include also Bach Essences - Crab Apple, Gentian, Impatiens and Oak. Chronic Scouring: It will take at least 3 months to rectify and even up to 8 months before the droppings become normal. As the Gut returns to normal, herbal Extracts may be replaced with a dried herb mixture added to the feed for the rest of the treatment. N.B: Be careful after, as when feeding any little changes can cause regression.  

SCRATCHES - see Wounds.

SCROFULOUS Conditions - Herbs: Greater Celandine: as an Infusion.  

SEBORHOEA: Herbs: Ginger.  

SEEDY TOE: Symptoms: An Abscess that develops under the Horn of the Hoof but not always, usually started by a Nail prick. The Wall separates at the Toe, Anaerobic Bacteria thrive and spread the condition.

Treatment 1: Cut out the dead Hoof and syringe the holes with Hydrogen Peroxide once daily, filled with straight Copper Sulphate and plugged with medicated Peat Moss or Cotton Wool and Hydrous Wool Fat. A mixture of raw Honey and Copper Sulphate can be used also. Treatment 2: Open up and dress with Stockholm Tar from then on. Copper Deficiency is the likely cause of any continuing condition. 

SHINGLES - Symptoms: A painful rash that usually appears on the Torso or Face and after a few days Chicken Pox like Blisters form then crust over and eventually heal after 2 - 3 weeks.

       In nearly half of those who develop Shingles the pain persists for months and even years / known then as Postherpetic Neuralgia and is frequently severe and is common in those over 60 years of age or with a poor Immune function such as those undergoing Cancer Chemotherapy.

Cause: the Herpes Virus - After Chicken Pox clears up, the Virus remains in the Body dormant in Nerve Cells and can re - emerge decades later as Shingles.

Dress with raw Honey or Garlic Honey and apply twice a day.

Herbs: Baikal Skullcap: the Root is powdered and mixed with water and used for Shingles as it has Anti - Viral activity.

Bergamot: apply a few drops of Essential Oils directly to the painful areas that are used to treat Shingles including, Bergamot, Chamomile, Eucalyptus, Geranium, Lavender, Lemon and Tea Tree. N.B: As some of these can be irritating to the Skin dilute first by adding several drops to a couple of tablespoons of Vegetable Oil. N.B: Do not ingest any Essential Oils as even a small amount can be Toxic.

Chinese Angelica - Dang Quai: used for Menstrual Conditions and other Women's health concerns and the powdered Root to treat Shingles as a Tea or Tincture. N.B: Do not use this herb if Pregnant.

Lemon Balm - Melissa: a member of the Mint Family used to treat Herpes and Viral Infections. Tea: 2 teaspoons of dried leaf per cup of boiling water and apply the Tea directly to the rash with a cotton pad several times a day or a mixed Mint Tea with lots of Lemon Balm plus other Mints, Hyssop, Oregano, Peppermint, Rosemary, Sage, Self - Heal, Spearmint or Thyme. Put a little Liquorice in as well and drink as well as applying it directly to the rash.

Liquorice: used to treat Shingles as an Ointment as it contains several anti - Viral and Immune boosting compounds or drink a weak Tea and apply a strong Tea directly to the rash.

Passionflower: is a mild tranquilliser to relieve the pain of Shingles and also has activity against Postherpetic Neuralgia. Add some to a Lemon Balm and Liquorice Tea.

Pear: the Juice is rich in Anti - Viral Caffeic Acid so drink and eat plenty of Pears.

Purslane: used to treat Herpes and can be steamed like Spinach.

Red Pepper: contains Capsaicin to treat Postherpetic Neuralgia as it brings relief by blocking the pain signals from Nerves just under the Skin. Mix powdered Red Pepper into any white Skin Lotion until it turns pinkish then dab on. N.B: Wash your hands thoroughly after to ensure you do not get it in the Eyes or other sensitive areas and test first on a small area of Skin and if it irritates do not use.

Soybean and Watercress: are high in the Amino Acid, Lysine 2.7% on a dry weight basis, which is used to treat Shingles. Others herbs containing Lysine, in order of potency are Black Bean Sprouts, Carob, Lentils, Spinach, Velvet Beans, Peas, Pumpkin Seeds, Asparagus, Butter Beans, Chinese Cabbage, Fava Beans, Fenugreek and Parsley or combine as a Lysine Soup.

Internally: take good Nerve building foods such as Oats, Fresh Fruit and Vegetables especially those high in Vitamin C.

Herbs: Drink copious amounts of Nettle Tea.

Externally: use a Compress made up of 2/3rds Chamomile and 1/3 Mustard Powder. Put 1 Tablespoon in 2 Litres of boiling water, strain and soak a piece of bandage and apply to the affected area 3 times a day for 2 hours. * Also use Hypericum Ointment and Blackberry Nightshade Ointment. Compound Infusions: Hops - 2 parts, Mistletoe - 1, Wild Lettuce - 1, Scullcap - 1, Damiana - 1, Nettles - 2.