Turmeric and garlic are two herbs that many horse owners swear by, but what are they used for and how do they work? By Marike Kotze
Horses in the wild will naturally browse and graze from a variety of plants to supplement their diets. Because of the lack of space, our horses today do not necessarily get the variety they need. It is thus up to us to ensure that our horses are as healthy and as balanced as possible by supplementing their feed as and when it is needed. Herbs are known for their multitude of uses and we add them to our horses’ feed to help cure and prevent an array of ailments. As effective as herbal additives are, they are often seen as more “natural” and therefore “not dangerous” which is not strictly true.
Long before humans were able to produce chemicals in a laboratory, medicines were mainly made from plants (herbs). In fact, many drugs made in the laboratory today, are just man-made copies of the chemicals found in plants to begin with. A problem in the field of herbal medicines is that there is little or no standardisation or strict regulation as is the case with conventional drugs, making it harder for the consumer to know what is safe to use and in what quantities.
Turmeric is a spice that is made from the rhizomes (underground stems) of the plant Curcuma longa, a member of the ginger family. Curcumin is the most potent ingredient found in turmeric and in addition to being an anti-inflammatory; it is a very powerful antioxidant. Some studies have found anti-inflammatory activity that may surpass that of phenylbutazone (Bute), especially as it is not associated with the typical negative side effects of toxicity. Turmeric is a very powerful antioxidant and
can be used to combat pain in horses due to its anti-inflammatory effects. It is generally recognised as a very safe medicine. There are however, as with any active medical ingredient, precautions and contraindications for the use of turmeric. It is known that curcumin reduces platelet clumping and is therefore not recommended for use together with blood thinners, or for horses that will be having major surgery. Studies have shown Turmeric to inhibit the action of certain cancer-fighting drugs by preventing cells from committing programmed suicide (apoptosis) which is the way in which the body programs cells to die once they have become dangerous or have completed their function within the body. Curcumin may also act as a chelator of iron, which leads to less iron being absorbed by the body. Other side effects that have been reported include stomach upset and turmeric should not be used in conjunction with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. (NSAIDS). Although curcumin has been well studied, it is not the only active ingredient in turmeric and there is no data on feeding whole turmeric versus feeding extracted curcumin. Turmeric contains 2-5% curcumin and while an individual horse may still react negatively, it has been shown that a horse can safely be fed up to 480g of whole turmeric per day. It is poorly absorbed from the small intestine, but bioavailability can be increased by adding piperine (an ingredient found in both white and black pepper) to the mixture. It is oil soluble and it is suggested that you mix it with good quality cold-pressed oils including coconut, linseed or olive oil.
Garlic is another supplement used by many horse owners as a feed supplement. It is used as a pain reliever, anti-inflammatory, and immune booster. It is also believed to have insect repellent properties, to be a deterrent for worms and is used to treat equine lung infections and diseases. The main active ingredient in garlic is allicin and it is also rich in selenium and sulphur. Allicin is also the chemical that gives garlic its pungent odour and because it is destroyed in heat, many processed garlic supplements, especially ones that have been heat dried to remove the odour, contain hardly any allicin. Some herbalists insist that fresh garlic is the only way to feed it, and while it is the best way to ensure its potency, it is also when garlic is cut that the allicin destabilises and in this state it can be an allergen.
The toxic compound in garlic and onions, N-propyl disulphide causes a specific type of anaemia in animals, called Heinz Body anaemia. This chemical alters red blood cells by depleting it of an enzyme (phosphate dehydrogenase) that protects the cell from oxidative damage. When this enzyme is in short supply in the red blood cell, the haemoglobin oxidises and forms what is called a Heinz Body, or “bubble” on the outside of the blood cell. Such deformed blood cells are then removed from the blood stream by the spleen, leading to a deficit in red blood cells in the body when large amounts of cells are damaged over a long period.
Garlic is also a herb that is known to affect blood clotting and can be a problem when used in conjunction with non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, or when a horse needs surgery. The dosage for horses is between 15 and 30 grams of dried flakes per day and it is important to give your horse a break from it regularly to prevent the associated anaemia.
It is important to understand what you are trying to achieve by adding supplements to your horse’s feed. Just because something is touted as being “natural” does not mean it is without negative side effects. Doing your homework and understanding the effects as well as the side effects of certain additives is crucial to keeping your horse healthy. Just because something is good in small quantities, does not mean more is necessarily better.
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