Adaptogens In Horses

Increase your horses vitality and longevity

What You Gain

Adaptogens are a classification of particular herbs that are remarkable in their ability to help the body modulate the immune system, balance the hormones, support normal metabolic functions, restore homeostasis and increase the body’s resistance to physical, biological, emotional and environmental stressors.  And this information can be applied to our horses as well.

The use of these herbs dates back thousands of years but serious scientific study began in the 1940s in Russia and Italy.   This class of herbs is well studied to be non-toxic, to produce a non-specific state of resistance to stress and to normalize the body’s processes.  They do this by regulating two master systems.

1.  the HPA axis (hypothalmic-pituitary-adrenal axis) which regulates most endocrine function, nervous system responses, immune system responses, cardiovascular function, digestion and other responses to stress along with affecting the HPG (hypothalmic-pituitary-gonadal) axis that regulates the sex hormones

2.  the SAS system (the sympathoadrenal system) which is the flight or fight response when the body is exposed to acute or intense stress.

The uniqueness of adaptogens is their capability to either down regulate a hyper-functioning in these systems but also enhancing any hypo-functioning of these systems on a cellular level.  This is why they are so valuable.

In this course we take a look at 8 adaptogens and how their use can benefit our horse’s health when needed.

Studying herbal medicine doesn’t have to be so complicated.  Start with short easy courses like this one and then build your knowledge as you go along.