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Can a Herbal product help?

Helen wrote to us with the following query:

Dear Expert,

My mare has one unusual problem and one very rare problem which I believe are related.

Firstly she suffers with ovulation pain, which varies from a level which annoys her to one of mimicing colic. The week before her season she gets increasingly sensitive in her back and during the first 3 days of oestrus is obviously like a woman suffering with period pains. I usually find that distraction helps, a walk out or grazing in hand especially if she is very bad.

It has to be said that she plays on it for sympathy when I'm around but I know it is genuinely upsetting for her. Her second problem is that she has epilepsy! She is treated with a combination of phenobarbitone and potassium bromide.

In the ideal world these should block her seasons but this isn't always the case. Observation has revealed that she always has a fit 8 days before her season and another on day 2 of her season - this is a constant pattern.

In the past I was advised by my vet that feeding her carrots could be a problem due to pesticides. Sure enough, no carrots meant no fits for 6 months but then they came back again. I have very recently learned that many pesticides have an oestrogenic effect. I now believe that my mare's seizures are hormonally induced, probably the level of oestrogen is the trigger.

Incidentally, she does not stop cycling in the winter months, and her seizures are most likely to break through the drugs in October and February when most mares stop and then restart their seasons.

So here is my question - is there a herb which isn't oestrogenic (many are I've discovered) which could smooth out her seasons and may even help with the seizures?

Sorry its such a tricky one!!!!
Helen Weedon (& Cara)

Hermione Ball MSc - Nutritionist Natural Animal Feeds, gives her reply.

Dear Helen, You are right that your mare has a very unusual problem! Unfortunately this is not really the place to discuss all the intricacies of your mare, and I would suggest that you, your Vet and an experienced Veterinary Nutritionist talk together to find the best regime for her.

It is quite possible that her problems are inter-related, but firstly it seems logical to tackle the hormone problem, as this could be the main cause. There are many hormones involved in the oestrus cycle, so Oestrogen may not be the only one to blame. It may well be worth carrying out frequent blood tests over a 3-week period to gauge exactly what her hormones are up to.

I would recommend feeding a product that would help to bring her hormones back into balance. Herbs such as Vitex Agnus Castus are used to help re-establish the normal balance of oestrogen and progesterone during the oestrus cycle. In women, an under production of progesterone has been blamed in some cases, and Vitex helps to stimulate the pituitary gland to produce luteinizing hormone, which in turn, leads to greater production of Progesterone.

Angelica and Cohosh also help to promote normal hormone balance and have been used by women for pre-menstrual cramping and pain. (NAF Oestress) Anti-oxidants are a natural part of the immune system, used to remove free radicals (or toxins) from the body.

If the body is under stress (physical and chemical), there is a build up of free radicals, which could accumulate to the point of preventing normal body function. It could be these toxins that are affecting a normal hormone cycle, and so 'flushing' these out, whilst helping to rebalance the hormones would be a good place to start. (NAF Oestress)

As her body is obviously under such stress from the epilepsy, it would be wise to feed above normal recommendations of the essential vitamins and minerals. Unlike a 'normal' horse her body will need greater amounts to cope with her metabolic and biological demands.

In humans, there has been research to suggest that additional levels of B group vitamins and amino acids can significantly reduce epileptic episodes. Interestingly, Vitamin B6 has also been used to reduce the effects of Oestrogen in the PMS symptoms of women.

To ensure that her body is absorbing and digesting these and other nutrients to its optimum capacity, a probiotic and yeast blend will ensure a healthy gut environment. Products such as NAF Pink Powder combine vitamins and minerals with probiotics, and would make an ideal supplement for her, but I would also feed her additional B vitamins and folic acid (NAF Blood liquid or NAF Blood Conditioner).

You have probably seen Essential Fatty Acids in health food shops under the 'womanise health' section. This is because, Omega 3 (linoleic acid) is converted into Gamma-linoleic acid in the body, and it is thought that some women may not produce enough GLA.

By supplementing the diet with 30 ml of Linseed oil you would ensure that your mare is receiving enough Linoleic acid, which could help reduce the typical 'marish' symptoms you are seeing. To summarise, your mare could benefit from additional vitamins and minerals, probiotics, essential fatty acids, and a hormone balancer.

A commitment of at least 3 months would have to be made to this regime, to study the effects it has on you mare through several seasons.

Good Luck!

Yours sincerely
Hermione Ball MSc
Nutritionist Natural Animal Feeds

Just a quick note to say thanks for my reply - please pass on my
gratitude to Hermione too. I was already considering using Vitex
Agnus Castus so the information supplied has proved useful. Cara
is currently in season but hasn't suffered so much this time luckily;
she is generally just feeling pathetic and is lusting after the new
young gelding who has moved into the adjoining stable. I am going
to give her a try with homeopathic treatment for a while first, I have
used it with great success on her before for other problems(she
cannot have most conventional medicines as they are blocked by
her anticonvulsants) but will certainly be adding several of
Hermione's suggested ingredients to Cara's diet. It is incredibly
frustrating having a horse with such severe problems who manages
to look so healthy and acts like a 2 year old rather than someone
of 20 years - no-one believes me when I say she is technically
terminally ill and its harder for me to accept as well.

Dratted horses, they just break our hearts, don't they?

Thanks again

Helen & Cara

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