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The medicinal properties of herbs
Let’s start with some of the basic, most
prolific herbs (some call them weeds)
that you can easily plant or transplant.
Some of these may even already be
growing in your fields:
 • Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) – it’s
simply one of the best herbs for horses.
It’s a powerful detoxifier, primarily used
to treat problems arising in the digestive
system. A potent tonic, dandelion will detoxify the blood and liver as well
as cleanse the entire digestive tract.
Since arthritis and rheumatism in horses
often stems from improper digestion,
dandelion is a natural remedy for all
such ailments. Its Latin name actually
means “official cure of disorders.”
 • Clover (Trifolium pretense) – your horses
will adore it. Both red and white
clover are medicinal; in my practice,
I tend to use red clover, which is
more readily available and improves soil
quality by fixing nitrogen in the soil. If
you seed a mixture of varieties in your
pasture, you will soon see a calmer,
gentler side of your horse. Red clover
is an antioxidant, and helps your horse
assimilate iron while supplying vitamin
C, protein and calcium. It is also a
mild phytoestrogen, and can be used
to treat hormonal imbalances. In small,
regular doses, red clover will have
a calming effect, and can even be given
to young horses. As an added bonus,
the National Cancer Institute has
confirmed red clover’s efficacy as an
anti-cancer treatment.
 • Mullein (Verbascum blattari) – a wonderful
respiratory herb that grows naturally
in many pastures and waste areas. If
it doesn’t grow in yours, you should
consider planting it. Mullein is an
invaluable treatment for seasonal allergies
and chronic coughs, soothing the lungs
and helping to expel mucus. For a wellrounded
respiratory treatment, combine
mullein with stinging nettle or thyme.
 • Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) –
a self-sowing perennial flower that
grows happily in all climates, especially
those with warm, dry soils. Many of
us are familiar with chamomile as a
calming night-time tea; in addition to its calming properties, it is a general antiinflammatory
and soothes the digestive
tract. The flowers are a horse favorite.
• Cleavers – there are many different
varieties that thrive throughout North
America. In the East, it’s Galium
aparine, and in the West, Galium orizabense.
Its small white flowers are not
noticeable enough to be considered
ornamental, and though its leaves are
delicate and quite pretty, most consider
it nothing more than a weed, prevalent
along fence lines and roads. Luckily for
us, cleavers persists, offering a strong
lymph detoxifier and a simple remedy
for urinary and bowel irregularities.
Recent studies have shown that cleavers
is a mild anti-inflammatory with antitumor
properties, and that it can
effectively lower blood pressure. With “weeds” like cleavers in your pasture,
your horse can effectively soothe many
of its own discomforts.
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Published in the January/February 2008 issue of Equine Wellness Magazine |
