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    • Jennifer - Head Shaking

Seasonal Changes for Equine Health Support

Springtime Tune-up

Springtime Tune-up with Herbs, Exercise, and Acupressure
By Gloria Garland L.Ac, Dipl. Ac. & CH.

The lengthening daylight, warming temperatures and upward growth of tiny green shoots serve as a reminder that it is time for our horses' annual spring tune up.

Spring signals the body's sleeping yang energies to rise and shine! Spring Qi energy moves upward & outwards. Horses often express the awakening yang in outbursts of exuberance, playful bucking and romping, aggression and moody shifts, and mares resume cycling. 

From the Chinese medicine perspective, spring is associated with the wood element, the liver and gall bladder meridians, tendons, ligaments, hoofs and the eyes. Its color is green, like the new shoots of spring, and its flavor is sour. 

We can support our horses' wood element, its organs and tissues with herbs and acupressure. By following the wood element's correspondences and affinities, we can provide our horses with spring time assistance.
Artichokes offer health benefits for horsesArtichokes offer beneficial health benefits
Herbs
Not surprisingly, green foods, including high chlorophyll plants, nourish and support the liver.  Spirulina (Spirulina platensis) is just one plant ideally suited to the task. Spirulina is a variety of blue-green, micro algae. High in natural beta carotene, vitamins, minerals, protein, amino acids and essential fatty acids, it is hepatoprotective (liver protective). 

Spirulina is especially effective against free radical damage and useful in the prevention and treatment of respiratory allergies and sweet itch. Both conditions can follow the warming spring weather.

 A short course of Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) and Globe artichoke (Cynara scolymus) can be utilized in a gentle spring liver tonic. Both herbs are trophorestorative, protecting and restoring liver function especially if there has been damage from toxins.

The liver likes the sour flavor, so a few tablespoons of vinegar is a great spring time addition to our horses' feed bucket. I like to use rice vinegar, but apple cider vinegar is fine also. 
​

Exercise
Spring time workouts should include long warm ups and gentle stretching to encourage yang Qi energy to the tendons and ligaments, thus preventing injuries.

Acupressure
The following acupressure treatment is based on the Balance method. The Balance method of acupuncture treatment utilizes a unilateral approach, treating only one side of the horse at a time and alternating sides every treatment.

Day one: gently massage in small, quarter-sized circles the following points on the right side of your horse: LV3, LV14, GB39 and UB18

Day two: gently massage in small, quarter-sized circles the following points on the left side of your horse: LV8, LV5, GB34 and UB19
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Whole Horse Herbs
​P.O. Box 544
Oakhurst, CA 93644-0544

559-683-4434
Copyright ©1996-2020  by Gloria Garland / Whole Horse Herbs
  • Welcome
    • About Us
    • Whole Horse Resources
    • Blog
  • Articles & Education
    • Acupressure Books & Charts
    • Cinnamon
    • Chinese Hemp for Horses
    • Digestive Health
    • Equine Acupuncture
    • Equine Rehabilitation with Herbs
    • Fight Cancer with Fungi
    • First Aid for Horse and Rider
    • Fight Fungal Infections
    • Ginseng
    • Gou Qi Zi
    • He Shu Wu
    • Herbs and Acupuncture for Horses
    • Herbs to Soothe the Stress of Weaning
    • How Herbs Work
    • Huang Qi
    • Jiao Gu Lan & Laminitis
    • Mares and Vitex
    • Promoting Health Naturally
    • Remarkable Reishi
    • Seasonal Skin Allergies
    • Springtime Tune-up
    • ST36 - Zu San Li
    • Suan Zao Ren
    • Tui Na Massage
  • ABOUT HERBS FOR HORSES
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Ancient Herbal Formulas
    • Herbs for Pets
  • Whole Horse Herb Store
  • Our Herbal Formulas
    • Arthritis & Movement
    • Horse Allergies and Skin
    • Calming and Focus
    • Cushings and Insulin Resistance
    • Digestion, Ulcer, & Colic Support
    • Equine Recurrent Uveitis Support (Moon Blindness)
    • Equine Respiratory
    • EPM Support
    • First Aid & Liniments
    • Immune Support
    • Mares
    • Nutritional Support - Antioxidants and Omegas
    • Performance Horse Support
    • Racehorse Support Formulas
  • DIY Horse
    • Apple Cider Vinegar
    • Arnica
    • Bug Off
    • Green Grooming Your Horse
    • Greenthread Tea
    • Herbal First Aid for Horse and Rider
    • Hops prevent Laminitis
    • Liniments for Horses
    • Loss of a Pasture Mate
    • Make your own Linaments
    • Mullein
    • TCM can Help with Seasonal Allergies
  • Nutritional Support
  • CASE HISTORIES
    • Testimonials
    • Campbell-Arthritis & Movement
    • Spring - Arthritis & Movement
    • Cotton - ERU
    • Chappy- Racehorse Formula
    • Chips - Arthritis & Movement
    • Katie - EPM treatment
    • Altivo de Viking (Alti) - Digestive
    • Malarky - Pigeon Fever
    • Durango - ERU
    • Chance - Agression
    • Miro - Tendon Support
    • Jennifer - Head Shaking