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Veterinary Herbalists Guide to
Equine Gut Health

Veterinary Herbalists use herbs called “Mucilages” for equine gut health. These are compounds found in specific plants with highly valued actions. Inside the gut, mucilages form a gel-like coating on the mucosa or gut surface. They adhere strongly to the mucosa where they act to:

  • Provide a protective coating on the mucosal surface

  • Act as a barrier between the mucosa and the stomach acid

  • Provide silky demulcents that decrease inflammation in the mucosal tissue layers

  • Soothe & settle irritation of the lining of the gut mucosa

  • Act as a nutritional source to the gut microbiome i.e. prebiotics

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Our favourite mucilage-containing herbs include Calendula (Calendula officinalis), Marshmallow (Althea officinalis), Slippery Elm (Ulmus rubra), Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) ,

Flaxseed ( Linum usitatissimum) and Plantain (Plantago major).

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Calendula Mucilages in Oil
 

HoneyPro Vet "Golden Horse Oil" is a blend of pure Omega 3 marine oil, Flaxseed oil and Calendula. It is mixed into your horses feed twice a week, or more if you desire.
This blend, unique to HoneyPro Vet, extracts the mucilages from Calendula via patiently infusing our own organically grown medicinal Calendula flowers.

Studies prove that Calendula contains mucilages that adhere very strongly to mucosa.  As well as providing the benefits of Omega 3, our oil is proven to thoroughly coat the surfaces of the equine gut after being fed orally.  This photo is a gastroscope view of an equine stomach showing the "Golden Horse Oil" thoroughly coating the mucosal surfaces.

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Shortly, we will be recruiting horses for further case studies regarding the use of our oil, including Gastroscopy. Contact us if you would like to be involved.

Take a Look Inside

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Cook up sticky Flax and Millet

Look at this pot full of sticky, gooey porridge made from Flax and French White Millet. Flaxseed  (Linum usitatissimum) releases its mucilages as it cooks! Working similar to psyllium (but without the dangers of bloating and abdominal pain) regular use of this porridge, along with o may help prevent sand accumulation in the bowel.

Flax is an excellent source of plant Omega 3 & amino acids (for protein), helping muscle recover from fatigue. 

Millet contains silica, important for hooves, and bones and helpful for laminitic horses.

Contact us if you would like the recipe.

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Blend it Naturally

5 days a week you can blend in this mix of natural herbal powders which include:

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  • Mucilages & demulcents: Slippery Elm, Marshmallow, Licorice (only in starter pack)

  • Toxin absorbents: Bentonite Clay

  • Liver protection: Milk Thistle

  • Protein & Prebiotics: Seaweed meal

  • Probiotics - live colonies that can reproduce

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