Psyllium and sand colic

Psyllium has been on my mind again. My mare lives in a rocky sandy paddock. She eats hay from the ground and although hay is fed in feeders it always ends up in the dirt where she will try to grab every possible crumbs. I am very concern about her ingesting sand and eventually developping sand colic so I've been thinking of doing a psyllium seven days treatment and then the monthly routine.

Psyllium is a natural source of fiber. It acts as a bulk laxative. It's helpful to clean sand from the intestinal tract. We find it in two forms: pellets and powder. The pellets are more palatable for the horse as flavor is added.
It is important to note that psyllium shouldn't be mixed with water when fed. It will turn into a sticky gel mixture and will present a choking risk for the horse. Also psyllium does not work as well when wet (we want it to get sticky in the gut to trap the sand). For that reason pellets can represent to best form to feed.

Studies have also shown that psyllium fed along  with probiotics improves the sand clearance. Therefore it appears to be a good idea to add some probiotics to the diet during the treatment.

What Ayurveda says:
Psyllium is a bulk laxative, demulcent, anti-inflammatory. It helps to absorb mucous and bacteria in inflammatory intestinal conditions. It drags toxins and worms out of alimentary canal.
Interesting fact:

• Prolonged use of psyllium reduces fertility.
• Psyllium may slow the absorption of other medication. It's better to take it two hours after medication (allopathic or herbal)

Source: Ayurvedic Medicine, Sebastian Pole

Now the best way to avoid sand colic is by prevention. Feeding in a clean area, having rubber mats under feeder and hay net is a solution. Or as Dr Juliet M. Getty wrote in her book "Feed your horse like a horse": "Best way to prevent sand colic is to provide forage -lots of it- all day long.".

Joint Support Supplement

Joint Support by Christelle, Equine Ayurveda.

EA Joint Support is a herbal supplement that supports a healthy function of the joints and muscles.

Properties: detoxifies, lubricates and soothes the joint tissues. It has nourishing and anti-inflammatory properties.
Indication: arthritis, sprain and strain, bone fracture.

Main ingredients:
Boswellia (Indian Frankincense): It relieves pain from arthritis or post trauma. It has anti-inflammatory properties and can be used instead of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Used to speed the healing of wounds, broken bones and bruises via its blood circulatory action.
Turmeric: It treats inflammation in the joints, alleviates pain and strengthens the joints and tendons.
(Turmeric is also considered a blood "purifier" and it benefits the skin, the heart but also the digestive system.)

Formula can be adapted to specific condition (arthritis, bone fracture, etc...) and/or to specific constitution.
Other ingredients that can be added: Guggulu, Ginger, Ashwangandha, Black Pepper.

Herbal Soothing Skin Balm

Herbal Soothing Skin Balm by Christelle, Equine Ayurveda.

The soothing balm is made out of herbal oil and essential oils. It promotes a healthy skin. It has cooling properties. It soothes the tissues and supports the rejuvenation process. The lavender and  citronella essential oils act also as a natural repellent.

Properties: anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-fungal, antiseptic, anti-bacterial, analgesic, anti-scarring.

Indication: Fly bites, skin irritations, skin allergies, scratches.

Ask for a sample!!!

Some of the ingredients and their properties:

Brahmi Oil: Cooling and calming. It promotes hair growth, cellular regeneration. It soothes irritated skin.

Castor Oil: antimicrobial, anti-fungal, anti-itch and pain-relieving. It nourishes the tissues.

Neem Oil: Anti-viral, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial. It reduces inflammation and relieves dry and itchy skin.

Lavender essential oil: anti-fungal, analgesic, antiseptic, It has a calming, relaxing and balancing effect. It promotes tissue regeneration and reduces scarring. It is a natural fly repellent.

Parelli Horsenality and Ayurvedic constitution

Could Parelli actually have an ayurvedic approach to training? Well, I was surprised (and happy) to see that they use something very close to what we know in Ayurveda as the constitution or prakriti [See post to come on Ayurvedic constitution].

"In the Parelli program, we use four core horse personality (or Horsenality) types to categorize horses. Horsenality helps us understand our horses' innate characteristics and what motivates them so that we can create customized training plans for each horse!" Read more here.
And here is how the classification goes.
The four Horsenality types are:

• Left-Brain Extrovert - dominant, likes to move his feet. If he could talk, he'd say, "You're not the boss of me! Play with me!"
• Left-Brain Introvert - dominant, calm doesn't like to move his feet. If he could talk, he'd say, "I'm ignoring you... What's in it for me?"
• Right-Brain Introvert - unconfident, doesn't like to move his feet. If he could talk, he'd say, "Don't rush me. Be gentle with me."
• Right-Brain Extrovert - unconfident, fearful, likes to move his feet. If he could talk, he'd say, "The sky is falling... focus me!"

This is very inspiring for me and I can see how the Right Brain Extrovert is close to a Vata, a Left Brain Extrovert to a Pitta and then some combination with Kapha. [See post to come about the different constitution].
Yes, yes, definitively YES for a training that respect the personality, the nature of the horse!

In the Parelli forum some people were talking about how in the fall season the Right Brain Extrovert/Introvert (Vata dominant) was showing more of the extreme behavior. It all makes sense since it's the season when Vata is aggravated.
Isn't it amazing?

Change of weather

Two days ago a cold front was about the hit the island of Maui. On that morning, it was a beautiful sunny day with wind. Anybody who knows Maui also knows that wind is very common here. It could have been like any other day but there was something different and the horses could sense it.

Maybe the direction of the wind, the temperature, the atmospheric pressure... the horses were very nervous, especially when a lead mare was removed from her herd (for special feeding and care).
As I observed the weather I could find the Vata qualities of it: windy, dry, cool. And I could also see how a Vata imbalance was showing in the horses through nervousness and anxiety. They were agitated, irritated and impatient.
Being aware of the Vata situation, I let every horses with their buddies, gave them food and didn't bother them. I cancelled my class.

Clouds heading for East side of island.

Later that day the clouds came in and it started to rain. Almost a relief as everything was slowly coming back to peace.
I am always amazed when witnessing the extreme sensitivity of horses, at so many levels. It was a great opportunity for me to tune with them and acknowledge our connection to Nature, to respect the moment and to act accordingly to it.

Brahmi Oil - Part 2: Study Cases

This post follows Brahmi Oil - Part 1: Presentation

Study Case #1: I used Brahmi oil on a mare that was showing a high Pitta condition (anger, irritation). She loved it at first sight (and smell). It helped her to relax toward a peaceful state.

Study Case #2: I used Brahmi oil on a daily basis on a horse with a wound on back and belly from fly bites. After one week of treatment the skin was clean and soft and we could see the beginning of hair growth. After two weeks of daily treatment it was fully recovered with no more traces of wound.

Study Case #3: I gave Brahmi oil to an owner whose horse had a fresh scar from deep cut. It required 14 stitches.

After the wound closed she started to apply the oil daily on the scar for several weeks. Today (a few months later) there is no trace of the scar. The hair grew back, the skin is soft. Of course a really good care of the wound during the healing was an important part of a clean recovery.

Adding a few drops of citronella and lavender essential oil in the Brahmi oil will also act as a repellent during the healing period.

Brahmi Oil - Part 1: Presentation

Brahmi oil is an ayurvedic therapeutic herbal oil. It is a blend of Brahmi herbs in a base of sesame oil (can also be coconut oil). It is a Pitta soothing oil. It calms and clears the mind. It enhances a peaceful feeling.

Indication:
Brahmi oil is used to treat conditions as mental imbalances and problems, emotional disturbance, nervous exacerbation, insomnia but it is also beneficial  for treating skin and hair.

Benefits:
The oil has for effect to:

• relieve from tension and anxiety
• soothe the brain providing a calm state of mind
• promote alertness and awareness
• help to relax physically and mentally
• promote healthy hair (nourish, strengthen and condition)
• heal damaged skin tissue and soothe irritated skin
• promote cellular regeneration.

Application and direction:

• Massaging the pole of the horse with a few drops of oil will calm a horse and show effects on the mind.
• Massaging the navel area, using circular motion around it for about 5 minutes (nabhi marma point) with Brahmi oil will be good for Pitta caused heat and stress in belly.
• Applying oil on scar and closed wound (bites and fly bites, fresh scars, scratches, saddle sores, ...) will help the skin to heal and hair to grow back.

Equine Sport Massage Therapy and Ayurveda

Sport Massage is defined as a specialty within the discipline of massage therapy. It may be known in the western practice of massage, but it is interesting to notice that it is also true in Ayurveda.

As a reminder, sport massage was developed for the sport athletes. It emphasizes prevention and healing of injuries to the muscle and tendons. It includes three types of routine: pre-event, post-event and maintenance therapy.

The benefits are several - and it will be subject of a more detailed post - but it mostly increases the performance of the horse, it helps in the elimination of the toxins, it speeds up the recovery time and it prevents from injuries. At a mental level sport massages improve the focus of the horse and help with the event related stress.

Now, although both systems share the same approach and benefits of the practice of sport massage there is a difference in the procedure. Traditional Sport Massage Therapy focuses on the muscles pertinent to particular physical activities. On the other side Ayurvedic Sport Massage Therapy emphasizes the joints and spends longer period on the joints.

In the context of equine massage I have to agree that an extra attention on the joints is not to be neglected as they are under a lot of pressure. Having a practice that addresses both the muscles and the joints is ideal. It has the advantage of approaching the musculoskeletal system in its totality.

Mahanarayan Oil

Mahanarayan oil is an ayurvedic therapeutic herbal oil. The one I am using is a blend of thirty three herbs (all safe for horses) in a base of sesame oil.
It has the qualities of nourishing, strengthening and rejuvenating. Even if the smell of the oil carries also those qualities it is not an aroma oil.

Mahanarayan oil is used to treat conditions as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, cervical or lumbar spondylitis, frozen joints, backache, strains and sprains, musculoskeletal inflammation disorders.

The oil has for effect to:

• strengthen nerves, muscles and ligaments
• soothe sore muscle and aching joints
• relieve muscle and joints stiffness
• reduce inflammation
• enhance blood circulation
• balance the Vata dosha.

In case of arthritis it will act directly on the joint pain and stiffness, the restricted movement and the distortion. The oil will slowly help to restore a normal joint function.

Use of herbal oil with horses

Ayurvedic massages are known to use lots of oil. Unfortunately it is difficult to apply it with horses as it means a very large amount of oil to cover the full body. But it doesn't mean we cannot use some!

I've started to use therapeutic herbal oil in my practice of equine massage. Whenever I feel there is a need because of an injury, a trauma, a condition or just by intuition I will use oil on specific area. Some cases where I used it are:

• sacroiliac joint recovery from injury
• flexor avulsion fracture
• arthritic leg joints (hock and fetlock)
• neck muscle stiffness and pain
• hip trauma (muscle and joint)

I use organic ayurvedic oil, a blend of herbs in a base oil and every time the horses just loved it. I always have them smell it and explain what I will do and ask for permission. As for now they always showed a lot of interest in it; actively smelling the aroma with ears upright, eyes bright. Sometimes they even came to the bottle that I carry in my tool belt, showing it to me.

Whenever I can I warm up the oil and apply it warm on the area to treat. I then use circular stroke alternated with friction to help the absorption process. The oil mixture is absorbed into the bloodstream and takes effect from there.

As I said they are therapeutic oil with healing properties. One that use the most is the Mahanarayan oil but I will write a full post about it (there).

Horse Examination

The purpose of an examination is to assess the horse condition. For that the examination will determine the horse basic constitution and current issues or imbalances that eventually lead to a specific disorder.

An Ayurvedic examination is based on the following three approaches: observation, touch and questioning. 

There can be variations with more or less depth in each of the procedure but most of the time it will go over this three stages.

Observation

Observation consists at looking at the horse as a whole and also examining specific part of the body. It covers the posture, the physical attitude, the movement but also the coat, the eyes, the tongue. 

Observation of sounds (like the one from the gut) and smells are included as well.

Touch

Touch is another important part of the examination. It provides additional information about the horse that enrich the observations already made.

Touch includes taking the pulse and palpation of particular point of the body. It will show if there is any tender point, lumps, if the tissues are more hard or soft, if the temperature is cold or hot.

The procedure informs at both a physical level and at an energetic level.

Questioning

Questioning includes the medical history of the horse as well as direct questions asked to the owner. It allows the practitioner to gather information about the horse behavior, habits and lifestyle. Questions about food preference, time of rest, response to seasons will be covered.

This three fold examination give the practitioner insights about the horse condition. From there the course of an holistic treatment can be decided.

The place of horse nature in Ayurveda.

As I am working on the ayurvedic approach of horse examination with determination of the nature type or imbalances, I thought it was important to also talk about the place of the "true nature" of the horse.

Ayurveda's philosophy is to live in harmony with the nature and with our own nature. In the context of the horses it means that taking into consideration and respecting the nature of horses by keeping in mind the wild horse model is essential. It's a question of wellness and health.

In Ayurveda the constitution (or nature type) of a subject will tell us what is the most appropriate treatment or care to provide. It will also help us to find a lifestyle that suit the subject. But the advice that we can get from knowing a constitution won't replace the importance of the natural lifestyle of horses. Ideally they will go together.

For that, Ayurveda has a very respectful and wholesome approach.

Ayurvedic Massage - Part II

Part II: How it applies to horses

First the constitution or nature type of the horse has to be determined, also any imbalances and specific conditions have to be defined. The history of the horse (age, illness, behavior), observations, physical exam with palpation will give the information needed for that. From there the therapist will be able to give a treatment that is tailored for this particular horse at this particular moment.

Let's now take an example to better illustrated the approach.

Let's say that we have a horse that has a nature with the elements Ether and Air dominant (a Vata constitution in Ayurveda). Because if this constitution the horse need a light and nurturing massage as Vata are the most sensitive type.

The appropriate massage will consist of slow gentle stroke. The pressure will be light. Abrupt or rough movement could be irritable and disturbing. Large and circular movement can be used to harmonize. More vigorous stroke could be use if for example blocks are found but deep pressure is not advised. More focus will be brought on the pelvic area as it is a place where toxins can accumulate. If a basic oil is used it will be Sesame oil. The combination with essential oils like lavender, chamomile, basil, sandalwood will be a good choice.

As I mention aromatherapy through the use of essential oils other therapy like Marma Therapy (similar to Acupressure) or energy work (Reiki) can also be a part of the treatment.

This Ayurvedic treatment will have for effect to loosen up any muscular tension but also to treat any conditions related to an imbalance due to the unique constitution of the horse (Vata) like anxiety, nervousness, lower back problems, arthritis, etc.

Ayurvedic Massage - Part I

Part I: An overview

Ayurvedic Massage is a therapeutic form of massage. It is based on an understanding of the primordial energies of the five elements and the constitutionals types. This understanding will allow to customized the treatments to the unique nature of the recipient. Pressure, speed, movement, oil or aroma, techniques will be chosen according to the uniqueness of the recipient and the condition of treatment.

Ayurvedic massage addresses  the subtle energy of the body, Prana. Through the rhythmical and deeply relaxing movements of the massage stagnant energy or blocks are removed and the circulation of the vital energy in the body is increased as the flow of life force (Prana) is open. On a physical level this also have an impact on the blood circulation and the lymphatic system by stimulating and strengthening it.