Cushings and Agnus Castus (Chaste Berry)

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keeperscottage

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I'm putting this thread in both New Lounge and Veterinary just to make sure it's read by as many people as possible!

My daughter owns (amongst many others :(!) a 20 year old chestnut TB ex-point-to-pointer mare. She was very successful in her racing career and whenever you ride her you think she's heading for the start of the 3.20 at Kempton Park!:D Anyway, last autumn, she had a mild bout of laminitis and I immediately thought "Cushings!" as did my daughter but vet who came out to her (and whose husband had previously owned our mare between the ages of 3 and 14 - he gave us to her as gift) didn't think so. But daughter and I were right because, in the spring, she didn't shed her coat! Now, my OH is a homeopath (although not practising at the moment) and wanted to treat her homepathically. We did some Googling and came up with Agnus Castus, which he said he used to prescribe to women with PMS etc. Global Herbs have a supplement called C-Aid, which is Agnus Castus plus some other herbs, so we tried on this......success! Her coat is now virtually normal bar a few "hairy" patches on her tummy and neck. However, from what I've read, Cushing horses become lethagic, which our mare has NEVER been, and is now a complete and utter nutter - shying at nothing, spooking on the road and literally leaping in the air when asked to canter. She has always been a "sensible" handful (extremely lively, but looks after herself - and her rider - at the same time) but now she is "out of her tree"! Could this because of the Agnus Castus, which is supposed to restore energy to lethagic Cushings sufferers (which lethagy she has never suffered from)? My daughter tried to do some jumping with her in the field tonight - it was a disaster! She was trying to "hurdle" a pole on the ground at a flat out gallop! Daughter is competent rider but finds her green Selle Francais x Dutch Warmblood five year old a more relaxing ride!

Has anyone else any experience of using Agnus Castus for a Cushings horse/pony? I'd love to hear your experiences! Our mare looks AMAZING - I watched her cantering around the field with my daughter tonight and she looked FAB - even my farier commented on how she looks for her age - but she is complete head case! If it is the Agnus Castus, is it worth going down the veterniary route of Pergolide, or does this have the same effect? I await hearing from you!
 
The Laminitis Trust did a trial on Agnus Cactus and it was very successful and has now lauched Vitex 4 Equids. It is an ongoing trial.

http://www.laminitis.org/Vitex trial.html

It does report more energetic ponies/horses. Her being out of her tree could be due to the fact that the agnus cactus is helping her body use energy better from her food. Have you changed her diet? Perhaps putting her on a higher fibre diet and less sugars may help with it and even some mag-ox?

The elderly pony at my yard has cushings and Vitex has been a great success. She certainly still being ridden daily.
 
Interesting thread! About nine years ago, my daughter's elderly Cushings pony was due to go on trials at Potters Bar Vet School. Sadly, Dolly died just before the trials began but I now understand these trials involved the use of Agnus Castus. Our normally hyper TB has been off Global Herbs C-Aid (basically Agnus Castus) for about three weeks now and it has only been the last couple of days that my daughter has said that her mare is back to normal - VERY forward going but NOT spooking all the time and leaping ten foot in the air when asked to canter! As I said, my husband is a homeopath, although no longer practising, and he reckons we should give her Agnus Castus for about five days, then a week or so without, then five days of Agnus Castus and so on. It's such a shame because she has shed her coat and looks amazing again. I intend speaking to Global Herbs for their views and advice.
 
It won't be the vitex (agnus castus) that is causing this behaviour it is the onset of cushings itself that displays it, if you also put your horse onto magnesium oxide as well as the vitex she should settle down quite quickly .... have a look at the link below for your products also as the woman who owns metabolic horse supplys top grade quality products which work really well at lower prices than most too, her name is Jackie Taylor, you can email her and ask her anything you like about the condition and she will always email you back ... i've been using her products for years and they really are first class ..... both products listed below for you ...... :)

http://www.metabolichorse.co.uk/vitex cushing's.htm

http://www.metabolichorse.co.uk/mightymag magnesium oxide laminitics calmer.htm
 
Interesting, my 23yo mare is on 1mg pergolide a day at the moment (next blood test due in about 8 weeks), she had no problems with her coat over the winter and is being ridden daily by the children.
If the Agnus castus is having an impact on 'out her tree' not sure I would try it on my mare as she's pretty much there already (pretty much always been there for the last 18 years).
Good to know though in case any other horses test for cushings.
Do you think Agnus Castus could be used in place of regumate?
 
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