For those who would like to be placed on our news distribution list which sends out newsletters of interest and specials email us  info@hiralabs.co.nz

Discussions on newsletters can be found on our Face Book page. Feel free to start any discussion there. 

http://www.facebook.com/hiralabs   

Below are parts of the newsletters sent out

Skin care

Happy New Year to all of you. We hope 2012 will be your best year yet on all fronts.

We have been manufacturing skin care products for well over ten years now we have been heartened at the level of discernment people have been demonstrating over the risks of some of the skin care products on the market. To be fair to other large manufacturers we also understand that due to the volumes processed and costly overheads, they will find it very difficult to maintain their profit margins and keep cost down if they are to use ‘natural’ preservatives and phyto-ingredients. Further to that our skin care products are locally manufactured and only a few ingredients are sourced overseas thereby keeping our moral obligation to keep our carbon foot print to the barest minimum.

Some interesting facts.

Just skim past the bullet points with the scientific facts to the skin care if that is not your thing

 Did you know:

Our bodies (1%)  are composed of 110 basic constituents

• Main elements Oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, calcium and nitrogen plus fractional amounts of phosphorous, chlorine, sulphur, sodium, potassium, magnesium, iron and traces of the rest, (selenium, boron, chromium etc.)
• In other words we are roughly 50 parts water (compound), 19 parts lipids(fat compound)18 parts protein (compound) ,5 parts ash( compound), 1 part each carbohydrate (compound), calcium and phosphorous.
• 99% of this composition is just ‘space’ (quantum soup) filled out with a few trillion protons, neutrons, electrons and other subatomic particles.
• We can only ‘see, feel’1%  matter as solids because we are limited by consciousness and sensory organs. The rest, well, that is another “matter’ altogether.
• The elements and compounds, mentioned under constituents, are floating around in that space form new compounds and depending on what you eat and put on your skin can form either good compounds or bad. More on that later.
• That our brain consists of around 55-60% lipids(fats) and these if they pre -oxidize can destroy brain cells.
• That our skin sheds cells at a rate of a million an hour
• That it takes one month to completely regenerate itself.
• Our skin is the body’s largest absorptive organ so:

Would you eat these chemicals if it was given to you on a plate to eat?

Therefore you really need to regard all skin products as food.

If you were offered a meal made with, iodopropyl butyl-carbamate, sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate, disodium EDTA, BHT, cetyl alcohol, ethylene glycol,ethanolamine etc would you really want to eat it?

The skin ingests nutrients but unlike food we eat and digest, it completely bypasses the digestive process to go full strength directly into the blood stream.

Our philosophy is that if you cannot eat it then it should not be put onto your skin.

A bit on sunscreens:

Some of the worst culprits on the market are sunscreens in particular those that contain chemical absorbers. Many of these chemicals are regarded as estrogenic and carcinogenic.

Note: there is a body of scientific research that questions that just sun exposure as being the cause of melanomas. Overwhelmingly the medical fraternity is coming to the conclusion that the skin needs small regular doses of sun to ‘protect’ the skin from sun damage and the body from deep organ cancers. It also recognises the fact that the body’s immune system is able ‘fight’ cancers and is doing so all the time.

Benzophenone  One of the main ingredients in sunscreens is used in industrial processes as a free radical generator to initiate chemical reactions. Benzophenone is activated by ultraviolet light energy that breaks benzophenone's double bond to produce two free radical sites. The free radicals then react with other molecules and produce damage to the fats, proteins, and DNA of the cells - the types of damage that produce skin aging and the development of cancer. (Never ever apply this to children’s skin)

PABA and PABA esters  Cinnamates (cinoxate, ethylhexyl p-methoxycinnamate, octocrylene, octyl methoxycinnamate) Salicylates (ethylhexyl salicylate, homosalate, octyl salicylate) Digalloyl trioleate Menthyl anthranilate

Avobenzone [butyl-methyoxydibenzoylmethane; Parsol 1789] - This is the only chemical sunscreen currently allowed by the European Community. However, its safety is still questionable since it easily penetrates the skin and is a strong free radical generator. (note: Oil soluble vitamin C is a powerful free radical scavenger so will help reduce oxidation)

 Of concern to us was that the sunscreens that claimed to have a completely natural physical sunscreen (usually micronised zinc oxide) still had chemical preservatives like Phenoxyethanol. (Suspected reproductive and developmental toxicity. Petroleum based and restricted in Japan.)

We have been asked on numerous occasions if we make a sunscreen (as yet we haven’t but will if we think the sales will warrant a small batch initially) and if not which sunscreen do we recommend?

 I have found one sunscreen that seems to be the safest to use and one I used successfully this summer on myself and family members on a tramping trip through Central Otago with its unforgiving UV levels.

 It is Soleo Organics All Natural Sunscreen manufactured by Skin Elements Pty Ltd Australia. I did find it a bit heavy and difficult to apply due to levels of Zinc oxide but overall I am impressed.

 All our products are small batch runs and contain vitamins E and C as preservatives along with plant preservatives and essential oils.

Our skin care range is manufactured in New Zealand in small batches and guarantees:

·         Only chemical free cold pressed oils or plastic residues

·         No fillers or harmful chemicals or artificial fragrances

·         No wheat based products or petroleum-based additives

·         No artificial preservatives (we use only vitamin C and E and plant ingredients.

·         Not tested on animals

·         Filled in glass to preserve oils

Skin Care Specials

We have extended our skin care special for the combo till the end of January.

Combo Special Cell-Vit-C, Cell-Vit- Mist and the new Green Gold Nutrient Cream for just $87.91 normally valued at $121.00  Email us at info@hiralabs.co.nz to find out about our free gift that goes with this special.

I am of the opinion that you guys have invented the best skin product I think I have ever used. Awesome stuff! Even Greg is using (and enjoying) both the mist and the 'serum'. Important to know....he has NEVER used a skin product before in his whole life! Maybe it is that the spray bottle is so easy for him to use? Love the gold detail on the serum bottle too....gives it a seriously good look. I cannot rave enough. (Really!) Rach

Thanks Everdien. No other product has had results like yours, my face feels wrong without it. I no longer have dryirritated skin. Colleen

August 2^nd 2011-08-02 It is fabulous stuff Everdien!!! :-) People have been astounded at how well the scar has healed. :-) I have a check up at the skin institute soon and it will be interesting to see what they say. :-)

2011-10-7 Facebook You need some of Everdien van Eerten's Cell Vit C!! Incredible for repairs! I put it on sunburn last year and by morning it had completely gone. incredible healing stuff!

you know when I run out of this I really notice it. My skin just stays feeling "tight" using other products, nothing eases that after shower feeling until I use some of this lovely stuff :)

H.

SPECIAL our new Green Gold Nutrient Cream  Normally $59.50 with 35% off now $40.80

2011-12-14

Over the moon with the Green Gold! What an amazing product. Skin food luxury. Better than any imported product I have ever tried, ever. Thank you!

Rach

The night cream sample is sensational its like heaven and feels beautiful.  I have skin problems with urticaria which leads to angiodema due to change of temperature and getting wet, which really is a pain but manageable. Which is why I have always had problems with skin care that is until now, you have no idea how lucky i am to have found your products.

2011-12-14 I have been using this cream on my baby with eczema.  Brilliant stuff!

 Show Time Nerves 29-09-2011

Why Horses let us down on the day of the Show.

Some of the of the complaints we hear is that:

• My horse works fine at home but at shows becomes tense and unmanageable.
• My horse travels well, ties up well but once in the warm up area tenses up.
• My horse suffers from separation anxiety when taken away from his mate.
• My horse simply can’t handle having horses up the rear or (coming towards him)
• My horse gets more heated up and tense as the day progresses.
• We are both so tense that neither of us enjoy showing.

Note:

A horse cannot perform well unless it is relaxed, there is sufficient oxygen being delivered to every part of the body, in particular the brain and that the back is swinging through the topline.  If it is tense cortisol will be produced which will ‘kill’ off brain cells affecting, in particular, the production of dopamine (the neurotransmitter responsible for movement).  Movement then becomes jerky and your horse will be prone to micro tears in the muscles and of course you will be marked down as there will be a lack of expressiveness, elevation, engagement, extension and ‘Joie de vivre’, a lovely term that once was used when judging dressage years ago

Horses were designed to use any excess energy for flight, the horse’s only defense from attack. Nervousness may simply be caused by horses being fed excess energy to their daily requirement. Energy is retained as glycogen stored in the liver and / or muscles.and becomes the fuel that feeds a shy, buck, rear or bolt.  A horse away from its familiar surroundings will experience heightened anxiety and if it has been over-fed then that excess energy will affect behaviour.

Reasons for Show Nerves

·         The exercise regime is less than the amount of energy in feed.

·         Fear hormones produced by riders and other horses, can be “smelt” as palpable molecules by the horse. This will amplify its fear.

·         Are the supplements and feed additives (molasses) contributing to stored glycogen levels?. Molasses can act like a glucose fix.

·         Not enough cellulose. This is processed in the large intestine through bacterial action and enzymes to produce volatile fatty acids which provide the slow release energy with out heating.

·         Inadequate levels of magnesium and thiamine B1 to maintain a healthy nervous system.

·         Insufficient omega oils which create a lipid layer over nerve fibres thus reducing the stress response.

·         Excessive levels of positive ions (high during Nor’ West conditions and under fluorescent lighting in stables) A full spectrum white light is recommended.

·         Your horse may have ingested neuro-toxins or plants that inhibit the uptake of magnesium.

·         Is your horse suffering from boredom, especially stabled in an un-natural environment with insufficient exercise?

·         A stabled horse may not be getting sufficient sunlight which affects the metabolism of calcium and production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter responsible for feelings of well being.

Some Tips:

• Make sure you vary the work and do plenty of it. Days gone by we put in mileage along country roads, hills, beaches etc. Our horses weren’t confined to small paddocks and endless schooling in a dressage arena.

·         Lower the cortisol set point by doing some fun things at home which encourages the horse to lower the head to ‘play’ (this slows the adrenal response). Below is a photo of an interesting concept to de-stress your horse using a’ hoof ball’ Julia Latham of Flying Horse is demonstrating its use as part of her training regime.

·         Make sure you take your horse out and about at every opportunity even if it is just to keep your horse tied to the float or ridden around the show grounds simply to increase its exposure and desensitise it to the outings. On those days you can administer valerian (Hira Calm) which is probably the most sedating of all herbal preparations simply to get your horse used to the new surroundings. Take a swill of it yourself to stop producing fear molecules. J

·         During the season it helps to give magnesium supplements simply because stress will leach Mg from the body. Equi – Anti Al MAG tonic (20ml daily) has magnesium ions along with calming and detox herbs.

·         On the day something like Seda Horse (around 5-10ml) an hour before the event will help settle nerves. Be aware that this does have some chamomile in the mix and that is now regarded as a banned environmental contaminant. Whether it s currently being tested for is still uncertain.

·         Hira Submission around 5-10ml) an hour before the event is also an effective sedative with a range of little known herbs that are not being tested for.

·         Hira Happy Horse (St John’s Wort)3 -5ml daily  increases serotonin levels which are responsible for feelings of contentment. This is a long term treatment rather like Prozac. It alters the neurotransmitters over a long period yet the metabolites will not be evident in a swab 8 hours after administering the last dose. St John’s Wort is regarded as a banned substance. Double the dose on the day before the show so that the continuity and rates are not affected on the days off.

·         Hira Hormone Balancer (3ml daily) this is also long term treatment rather like St John’s wort but works on the endocrine system especially for hormonal mares. We have found it to be quite sedating on when taken as a single dose and can be used at a slightly higher rate on the day of the show. It acts on the adrenals preventing over stimulation. It is particularly useful when taking stallions out to competition.

·         Above all enjoy your horse and your day out at the show.

Due to unexpectedly high sales of cell-Vit C lotion we have run out and are selling our Green Gold nutrient Cream valued at $59.50 for the same price as Cell-vit C which is $40.80. This represents a 32% discount available until 15th of December. Nutrient Complex consists of Ester C plus AHAs and vitamins A,E and F

Some more comments

Also products arrived yesterday, my skin was crying out for Cell-Vit C its weird but nothing else takes away the dryness in my skin. The night cream sample is sensational, its like heaven and feels beautiful.  I have skin problems with urticaria which leads to angiodema due to change of temperature and getting wet, which really is a pain but manageable. Which is why I have always had problems with skin care, that is until now, you have no idea how lucky I am to have found your products. Makes me laugh because I was on your website looking for products for my daughter’s horse for a calming product and never got there haha. 

Anyway thank you so much

Colleen

you know when I run out of this I really notice it. My skin just stays feeling "tight" using other products, nothing eases that after shower feeling until I use some of this lovely stuff :)

H

It is fabulous stuff Everdien!!! :-) People have been astounded at how well the scar has healed. :-)

Wow Everdien!

I am blown away with the improvement in my skin ALREADY!  Thank you so very very much for the sample.. I LOVE it!

I'm positive it is helping with my blemished skin and scarred nose already.

September 2011-09-04

Thanks Everdien. No other product has had results like yours, my face feels wrong without it. I no longer have dry

irritated skin. Yes please i would be happy to try any face products lol.

Currently we are investigating the use of bee venom in skin care preparations. This is gaining interest as an alternative to Botox. The principle is that the venom melittin, tricks the skin into producing extra collagen and elastin in response to micro-inflammation. You may have seen the Close Up program on this with Kate Middleton and Camilla parker Bowles using NZ bee venom products to what looks like a near-miraculous effect on Camilla.

Natures Skin Anti-Aging Gift:-  Jojoba oil

One of the most versatile, natural skin and hair care products is Jojoba Oil. If you had the choice over keeping only one skin care product, jojoba would be the one I would keep. If you look at the ingredient list on the label of your cosmetics they will be listed in order of % content and usually the first ingredient is Aqua (water) which keeps the manufacturers costs down but also requires the addition of artificial preservatives to increase shelf life.

Most moisturizers consist of a combination of oil and water either by homogenization or emulsifying. Jojoba oil is one of the more expensive oils used in cosmetics so it makes sense to pay for just the oil and add the (free) water yourself at the time of application.

Facts

This fine oil is the liquid wax produced in the seed of the Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis).

Jojoba oil is a straight chain wax ester, 36 to 46 carbon atoms in length. Refined jojoba oil appears as a clear golden, odourless liquid at room temperature .It tends to become more viscous and cloudy at temperatures below 10deg. Jojoba oil is shelf-stable due to its Oxidative Stability Index of approximately 60. Jojoba oil is the only plant based oil that remains viscous during friction of moving engine parts. See below for another fiction-resistant use. J

Benefits of Jojoba oil

• Provides all day moisturisation – jojoba oil doesn’t evaporate like water based moisturizers can.
• Jojoba oil is so similar to human skin oil, it can "trick" the skin into thinking it has produced enough oil and thus balance oil production. Therefore is fine for oily skins as well as it is non-comedogenic (does not clog pores)
• Very stable – jojoba oil does not become rancid or lose antioxidants even after long periods of storage.

·         Because this oil is very similar to that of human sebum. It aids in the healing process.

Uses

• Face Cleanser – put a few drops of oil on the palm of your hand, add water as you would with soap and massage over your face. Then gently tissue off. The ‘oil’ dissolves sebum residue, makeup and dirt without drying the skin or leaving it oily.
• Lip balm –apply a few drops on your finger and apply to lips.
• Hair conditioner – You can mix a few drops of jojoba oil into your current conditioner or use it on its own. You can also add it to damp hair before drying. Also, you can add it to dry hair to promote shine. Jojoba oil also moisturizes the scalp, helping prevent dandruff. Due to its similarity to the salon’s Moroccan oil, I have used it as a conditioner when straightening my hair
• Shower Balm- After soaping all over and rinsing put a few drops of jojoba oil on your palms and rub in over your damp skin. The warm water of the shower will have opened your pores, enabling it to penetrate.
• Shave prep – Apply jojoba oil on the beard area beneath shaving cream for a more comfortable shave. This helps prevent razor burn and leaves skin feeling nice and soft.
• Massage oil – a little of this goes a long way and penetrates into the skin leaving it soft and silky.
• Heel softener- after pumicing your heels and soaking your feet in hot water, apply jojoba oil and put on bed socks to allow this oil to penetrate.
• A natural alternative to KY cream- Remains viscous.
• Cream enhancer- those of you who use progesterone or oestrogen creams, their spread ability and absorption can be enhanced by adding a few drops of jojoba oil to the skin prior to application

As our original research/manufacturing was devoted to human health we have a considerable amount of research devoted to this field ie: Allergies, heart conditions, cholesterol lowering products, depression, insomnia, menopause, diet, information on food additives, etc. Due to the growth of the equine market this side has taken a back seat but please let me know if you are interested in this part of our work or whether you would rather I made up a separate distribution list for human health etc

JANUARY 2011

18-01-11

THE EFFECTS OF CORTISOL ON THE BODY, INSULIN RESISTANCE, LOSS OF MAGNESIUM

As you may be aware there is still speculation that Devil’s Claw can now be tested for in NZ.

While we don’t have any definitive information on this, we are now advising our clients that to be sure, discontinue administering 8 hours before competition. The herbs that are now listed as environmental contaminants (on the banned list) are:

Valerian, kava, passionflower skull cap, chamomile, vervain lemon balm, leopard’s bane. Nightshade capsaicin, comfrey, devils’ claw, hops laurel, lavender, red poppy rauwolfia, tea, coffee chocolate…. Doesn’t leave much does it….

We recommend double dosing the day before. We are working on tide-over products for show day. Contact us directly for alternatives on the day.

Note; St john’s wort and Vitex agnes can be double dosed several days prior to competition with the effects lasting several days. These act on the endocrine and neurotransmitter systems and are especially effective if given over several months.

 As we move through into mid summer and drought conditions for many of us, has brought the problems associated with working your horse on hard ground. Not least, the effects of concussion on the shins, hocks, joints and hooves. Concussive type injuries, a while not always immediately evident can cause micro damage and inflammation to sensitive tissue often leading to poor healing and cell alignment of muscle and connective tissue. Pain can lead to other related ‘lameness’ like tension over the topline leading to unevenness, hollowing and incorrect bend.

Pain also can lead to higher than normal levels of cortisol, a damaging stress hormone, responsible for a host of other problems like:

·         Magnesium being shunted way from the nervous system and excreted

·         Calcium deposits in the brain which oxidise to kill brain cells.

·         Excessive production of adrenaline.

·         Lower pain threshold.

·         Uneven  jerky movement though poor dopamine function

·         Insulin resistance.

·         Fat deposits under the jaw, flanks crest rump. (in humans fat pads around the stomach)

·         Adverse affects on the endocrine system.

 ·         Affects blood and oxygen supply to the brain and ultimately to muscles

·         Inattention and nervous behaviour.

·         Propensity to degenerative diseases like arthritis, allergies cancers

·         Increased risk of cushings disease.

Note: the same applies to humans.

DECEMBER NEWS 2010

SUGAR HIGHS

Good evening all,

With the flush of high sugar spring flush behind us, many of us are now into the grip of a drought. Our pasture is a grey buff colour and crunches under foot.

While the high sugar levels are not so troublesome now, there is an increased risk of ingesting neurotoxins occurring in the seed head, eating grass below the crown, intake of sand and insufficient calorie intake on pasture alone. These all can lead to loss of condition, sand colic, staggers, photic headshaking, strange neurological symptoms all of which can be quite distressing to horse and owner.

Horses are still presenting with a range of nervous behaviours and this may be the result of a number of things.

·         Calorie input greater than output.

·         Low selenium levels

·         Low magnesium/calcium levels

·         Too much potassium in some processed feeds which lock up magnesium

·         Insufficient salt. (sodium chloride)

·         High cortisol (stress hormone) levels with the set point remaining high.

·         Sub clinical staggers.

·         Insufficient lipid levels around nerve sheath and in the brain (omega oils will help correct this)

·         Too much added ‘sugar’ like molasses in feed.

·         Too many concentrates. If you want to increase (cool) calories add half a cup of rice bran oil.

·         Too much ‘fast’ work stimulating adrenal production creating a reactive stress response.

We sent you comments made by Rachael (  been using it for a year on her lovely young Holsteiner)  last month with respect to our Equi-Anti-AL with which we specialled with a free 0.5kg of Equi-Tox Mag.  Rachael is now using the Equi-Anti –Al MAG and no longer requires any magnesium supplement

The product has combined the benefits of Equi-Anti Al with a soluble magnesium which forms magnesium ions in solution. These remain stable in the tonic. The combination of active plant ingredients and cider vinegar ( alkalinises the blood) enhances the absorption magnesium  as well as addressing some of the myco-toxin effect. (We still recommend that toxin binders be used but you will probably find that after a while these can be reduced or can be stopped all together and used only as required from time to time.) Just be aware that dolomite and magnesium oxides are still inexpensive magnesium supplements though they tend to be inefficiently absorbed. Just one more point  be aware that all green plants (chlorophyll)  have magnesium as their central atom so while your horse may still be ingesting sufficient magnesium but it may be poorly utilised.

Brewers yeast is also an inexpensive ‘toxin binder’ 1-2 tablespoons daily.

If you want more magnesium from our product  just give a further 20ml but in doing so you will be giving more ‘calming’ herbs so your horse will be pretty chilled if that is what you would like. I am using it on mine and she needs ‘pushing along’ in spite of her hot breeding.

OCTOBER 2010 NEWSLETTER

Good evening all,

Spring is well and truly upon us now with the show season well underway. With it comes the usual problems encountered with the flush of new pasture growth. Low night temperatures and warm sunny days increase fructan levels in grass giving your horse a sugar high with the inevitable high jinks and skin problems. The best time to graze your horse is a couple of hours after sunrise and again later in the evening as the sun sets. Cool nights and day length affect the grass. To minimize the accumulation of carbohydrates in pasture grasses, keep your pasture between four and eight inches in height, mowing as often as necessary to maintain this range.

Also those people with horses grazing on dairy land will encounter even more problems particularly with respect to myco toxins on rye grass. Dairy pasture has high sugar levels to increase milk production and this is simply is not suitable for horses hotting up even the calmest of equines.

Without going into detail here with respect to pasture mixes and herbal leys for horses here are a few tips for spring:

1. Topdress your pasture with magnesium oxide and dolomite keeping aside 1 tablespoon daily of each to put in with the feed. This will keep land ‘sweet’ This has been a tried and true measure for decades before the advent of new and costly solutions.
2. Ensure your horse has sufficient salt (sodium chloride) this helps maintain the correct  sodium/potassium balance responsible for the electrochemical shunt in the brain. Imbalance can lead to neurological problems and can affect adrenal function..
3. Myco-toxins and toxin binders are a vast subject and too complex to be discussed here. In short, if the horse gut flora and the soil microbiology is at optimal levels, then the effects of fungal toxins are able to be managed as part of the normal biological cycle. You can improve gut flora by giving your horse brewers yeast 1-2 tablespoons daily, acidophilus capsules and applying a biological teas to your pasture. This will have the effect of adding beneficial microbiology to the leaf surface which will outcompeting the bad ‘fungi’ that produce toxins.

Why the Recession may be a Blessing in Disguise.

Epidemiological studies taken during the last recession demonstrated a reduction in heart disease and conditions endemic to affluent societies.  Lets face it porridge with its health benefits is a lot cheaper than fancy chemical laden mueslis and breakfast cereals. During times of plenty we tend to relinquish commonsense, in favour of buying ready made mixes, being seduced into thinking these, often inflated priced products, are  the answer to our time pressures. While this may be true in part, we may be actually causing more problems than solutions. How many of us cannot accurately administer selenium on its own because the feeds and often supplements contain selenium. Do we really know how much protein, calcium, magnesium  we are feeding? Often the feeds contain molasses to disguise supplements etc. These can lead to overloading of concentrates, vitamins, producing expensive urine and the development of and host of  problems many of which are behavioural. Flavours to disguise supplements dull the horse's instinctive knowledge of what it requires. It is costly to 'treat' nervous horses so a basic no frills mix-your-own-feed to cut costs may also 'cure' nervousness

Is our New Zealand Pasture Really the Villain it is made out to Be? (Note high performance horses may not apply here)

Now that we have a little less money and more time to spend with our horses we may like to spend less time on competition and its costs.

Lets face it grass is still the cheapest fodder around, not influenced by inflation if you are lucky enough to own some. What has changed in the last ten or so years that forces us to use expensive toxin binders, anti-histamines, and so on... Current trendy  thinking is that the horse has developed allergies to, yes, that's right, grass?  But is it really the pasture? Are we putting that much more in the way of herbicides and fertilisers on our paddocks? Have we become such a reductionist society that we don't even realise that we cant think for ourselves? What is really in the bag of feed? Does it contain trans fats? There are experts every way you turn. If we continue to depend on them they will become part of the bureaucratic machine and bureaucracy, will take away our freedom to make our own choices. How many of us are advised to get bloods done before doing anything with your horse? This is expensive and lining someone else's pocket. This has become the norm only in the last 5-6 years. Feed the industry with your business and it will become mandatory

We in our desire to have the best, sleekest horse at the show cover them from top to toe depriving the horse of sunlight (true it does bleach the coat, cause it to curl slightly at the ends) In turn that affects vitamin A and D synthesis which protects from cancers, degenerative diseases, allergies to name a few. Conclusive research in the human arena is now questioning the sun/ cancer link going as far as to now back-track saying that early morning sun at temperatures below 18 degrees is now used in cancer prevention of deep organs. Reference The Healing Sun by Richard Hobday. Sunlight is free and to reduce costs maybe we need to allow our equine friend sun on their backs. This book is turning the ozone layer/sun skin cancer gravy train on its back. Read it and you will change your views not only on animal health but also office, hospital and school architectural design. Sick building syndrome to mention one. "Safer schools" for example is now becoming a planning issue. All have fluorescent lights....need I go any further

Besides in a recession we cut back on luxuries which includes not going to every show in the country. In doing so we don't cover our horses quite as much. Save on repair costs and we have a healthier happier horse and lets not blame the grass after all its free.

Articles of Interest

Plant Analgesics Organic Equine February Edition 17-02-08

HERBAL VERSUS ALLOPATHIC

There are a number of plants that may be used as natural pain killers and for inflammatory conditions. The advantage of plant based analgesics is that they do not have the undesirable side effects that often occur with allopathic medicines and may be used long term often enhancing the overall condition as many of them stimulate the liver thereby further enhancing health.

The main benefits of herbal treatments are that they treat the cause of the problem and assist the body in the healing process with little to no risk of complications or side effects. They may be used for extended periods safely.

Before discussing the down side of allopathic drugs, it must be said that they must be used to relieve an acute condition for a short term. The well being of your horse must take precedence over any personal preference for the slower acting herbal products.

Drugs do have negative side effects and some of them cause the depletion of minerals, antagonism of vitamins, impaired absorption, utilisation and storage of nutrients.

Corticosteroids when used long term cause the suppression of the immune system, weakening of muscle tissue, loss of muscle mass, weakening of bones, reduction of viscosity of synovial fluids in joints and thinning of skin.

Long term use of phenylbutazone in sensitive horses can cause irritation of the stomach and intestinal lining with reports of bone marrow abnormalities

 SOME ANALGESIC PLANTS

 Of all the analgesic plants, Devil’s Claw would be the one that comes close to the effectiveness of a pharmaceutical drug. It is often described as ‘Herbal Bute’

Devil’s Claw ( Harpogophytum procumbens)

Its active ingredients extracted from the claw like root consist of Beta sisterols, Iridoid Glycosides (harpogoside, harpagide, procumbine)

It naturally occurs in Northern Africa and cannot be grown in New Zealand even in a controlled environment as it is almost impossible to propagate outside its native country.

Research

1.      German studies have shown that this plant has strong anti-inflammatory properties compared to cortisone and phenylbutazone.

2.       It has a healing reputation for arthritis  and myalgia.

3.      Harpogoside and Beta sitosterol are the  active ingredients responsible for pain relieving properties.

4.      Bitter principles act to stimulate liver, gall bladder and lower blood sugar

5.      Devil's Claw is mildly sedating.

What are its uses?

1.      Long term use of Devil's Claw may be used for managing degenerative conditions like arthritis. The liquid extract is more effective than the dried root.

2.      As a pain reliever and anti-inflammatory treatment for injuries, abscesses, recovery from broken bones and accidents.

3.      May be used in the treatment of stone bruises in managing pain and inflammation

4.      Devil’s Claw has been found to be effective in the treatment of skin allergies.

5.      It has been effectively used as part of the treatment of headshaking syndrome where the nasal passages and trigeminal nerve have been affected either by Equine Herpes Virus or allergens.

6.      May be given on the day of a race or show to protect muscles from micro-inflammation caused by strenuous exercise. Interestingly is slightly sedating which makes it an ideal herb to administer on the day of a show or race.

7.      Devil’s Claw is a useful herbal product for the equine first aid kit.

8.      Note: Devil's Claw stimulates uterine muscles and should not be given to pregnant animals. It should not be used in conjunction with veterinary medicines without consulting your vet. Devil's Claw should not be used in conjunction with Pentosan injections