Joyce Belcher, Animal Herbalist Formulator for Veterinary Botanical Medicine and Organic supplements available from Sustenance Herbs shares the basics of treating equine parasites and why natural remedies are a safer choice for your horse.
Knowledge is key in order to help eliminate the need for chemical wormers, and understanding the life cycle of parasitic worms is essential for the good health of your horse.
Equine Parasite Basics
Horses that are infested with parasites host adult worms. The female produces eggs that pass in fecal matter into the pasture or turn-out that develop into varying larvae stages affecting grazing horses by entering into the alimentary canal, producing a new generation of adult parasites, male and female. Typically pastures and paddocks utilize shared grazing and many are often smaller than what is ideal for the number of horses. Horse owners and barn managers alike should be alert to know if a horse is shedding a lot of worm eggs, as other horses in the paddock are likely to become infected.
Chemical-based de-worming methods can do more harm than good
To administer a worming product at any given time during the month is a crapshoot, as the lunar cycle is the most effective time to prevent and/or negate worms. If the dewormer is chemical-based, it can do more harm than good. Most wormers contain neurotoxins, meaning that they are designed chemically to shut down the central nervous system of the parasite but the chemicals are also neurological disruptors to your horse which will have a negative effect on their overall health. When used on a regular or even a semi-regular basis, the neurological system will become overburdened with the toxins and it will not function as it was intended to.
Worms can also develop resistance to worming drugs which can occur if the worm is resistant to even one of the chemicals in the group, they then develop a cross-resistance to all chemically similar drugs. When this happens, the worms are not killed and the health of the horse is compromised from the chemicals.
How can we effectively and healthfully prevent or eliminate worms in our horses?
The answer is with love, organically!
Some of the herbs that are known and proven for many years to be highly effective at expelling or preventing infestation of parasites are peppermint, chamomile, anise, thyme, dulse neem, elecampane, cinnamon, and garlic.
These are all ingredients found in Sustenance Herb's Equine Herbal Wormer
How does Equine Herbal Wormer Work?
It works to create an environment in the gut and digestive system that is uninhabitable to parasites, creating a natural attack to expel the parasites if there are any present but it also works to prevent their development when used from early spring through the fall, monthly in timing with the lunar cycle. These herbs have been used for many years, successfully to prevent and/or expel parasites that are present.
We recommend feeding Equine Herbal Wormer 2 days before the full moon, (the moon waxing), on the day of the full moon, and 2 days after the full moon (the moon waning). This has been the traditional worming treatment of farm animals in the United Kingdom as well as other parts of the world that have demonstrated consistently good results, dating back hundreds of years. This timing based on the lunar cycle is optimal as it is the time for the highest concentration and presence of parasites. The female worm ovulates between the new and full moon, the parasites are then suspended and worms detach from the walls of the organs and lining of the intestines in order to breed and lay their eggs, therefore this is the perfect time to administer your herbal wormer as it disrupts the egg-laying cycle.
When feeding Equine Herbal Wormer regularly, resistance to parasites increases and will stay maintained throughout the year, providing your horse with constant protection.
You cannot stop your animals from picking up parasites but you can prevent them from settling in and creating damage. By not using harsh chemicals, you are also helping to prevent gut and neurological damage, keeping them healthier all over.
The herbs used in our formula have been used for many years in many parts of the world to not only prevent parasites but to expel parasites that are present, successfully. As always, certified organic herbs are the safest, most effective way to keep your horse healthy. Horses LOVE the taste of the blend, making compliance-friendly and easy. This will also give you peace of mind knowing that the organic herbs your horse is ingesting are not only safe and effective, you are also creating an uninhabitable environment for worms, larvae……….nothing but a win-win for you and your horse!
A big thank you to Joyce Belcher and Sustenance Herbs for showing us natural, effective ways to help our horses live healthier lives. Check out their full line of natural formulas here
