GypsGal1718
Well-Known Member
I have heard many people doing this, my two girls don’t have liver issues but do you guys think it is worth doing?
Is it with giving things like milk thistle periodically?
- Thread starter GypsGal1718
- Start date
awelshandawarmblood
Well-Known Member
I was told the same as apparently it helps with mud fever? As does linseed? I haven't done either though yet.
Errin Paddywack
Well-Known Member
I have only used it once for a horse who had hideous dermatitis all over his white patches (blanket spotted appaloosa). Nothing was getting to grips with it but it started to clear up within days of using milk thistle.
Follysmum
Well-Known Member
I have started giving milk thistle and echinacea to my aged big horse alongside linseed and tumeric as he has a sarcoid type lump. It has definitely dried up alot as it was angry. Vets have been and she was impressed how well it looks.
Am hoping it will eventually shrivel up or fall off. Previously tried radiance gold with no chang.
Am hoping it will eventually shrivel up or fall off. Previously tried radiance gold with no chang.
PurBee
Well-Known Member
Milk thistle is touted as the number 1 liver cleansing/healing herb and is often used and promoted in human health circles to include it when doing health cleanses, periodically through the year - especially after xmas and the alcohol indulgence/fatty/sugary foods!
It seems reasonable for healthy horses to have a short course of milk thistle thrown in their bowl feed periodically through the year, to aid liver health and function, without having overt liver issues, as the liver does SO many things supporting all other body systems its the one organ we especially need to look after.
Studies done on silymarin extract from milk thistle show it can even regenerate dying liver tissue - caused by various toxins/pathogens/bacteria/mycotoxins - so even if blood tests show clear and healthy, its a good herb to help regenerate new cells and maintain ultra-healthy function.
Like other herbs studied over the years, there are likely other compounds within milk thistle, aside from Silymarin, that help all other useful compounds do their job, so i always prefer to feed the whole herb, rather than just 1 compound extracted from the whole herb. If i want to have even more silymarin due to a known liver issue i’d buy that too and add it to my whole herb powder to make a ‘super potent’ mix.
I once grew the plant milk thistle to make my own herbal powder - god, is it super spiky! Harvesting the seeds at the end of the season required very thick gloves and a lot of time and patience. I didnt continue with the idea as i got 1 horse serving from several heads, requiring me to grow acres of the stuff and spend all year de-seeding the heads by hand, so gave up and buy it as far faaaar easier and cheaper
It seems reasonable for healthy horses to have a short course of milk thistle thrown in their bowl feed periodically through the year, to aid liver health and function, without having overt liver issues, as the liver does SO many things supporting all other body systems its the one organ we especially need to look after.
Studies done on silymarin extract from milk thistle show it can even regenerate dying liver tissue - caused by various toxins/pathogens/bacteria/mycotoxins - so even if blood tests show clear and healthy, its a good herb to help regenerate new cells and maintain ultra-healthy function.
Like other herbs studied over the years, there are likely other compounds within milk thistle, aside from Silymarin, that help all other useful compounds do their job, so i always prefer to feed the whole herb, rather than just 1 compound extracted from the whole herb. If i want to have even more silymarin due to a known liver issue i’d buy that too and add it to my whole herb powder to make a ‘super potent’ mix.
I once grew the plant milk thistle to make my own herbal powder - god, is it super spiky! Harvesting the seeds at the end of the season required very thick gloves and a lot of time and patience. I didnt continue with the idea as i got 1 horse serving from several heads, requiring me to grow acres of the stuff and spend all year de-seeding the heads by hand, so gave up and buy it as far faaaar easier and cheaper
onemoretime
Well-Known Member
I use Milk Thistle in the Spring for my two mares. I have also read, but never used, that Ron Fields Remount is very good and a lot of people feed this
periodically and swear by it.
periodically and swear by it.