Turmeric has anyone tried it on their horse?

[Pigeon]

Yeah, gave him about half a tea spoon with his feed and he had a massive allergic reaction, went into shock and nearly died.

That was a fun night.

I know that such a response is pretty rare and can be caused by anything, but it did teach me to be very cautious when trying new feedstuffs, especially something that's not actually tested on horses. I dread to think what would have happened if I'd chucked the bucket over the wall last thing at night and left him to it.

 

[JDee]

I'd be wanting to know what was in turmeric that actually made a difference
Sorry to sound negative but I've eaten plenty of the stuff in curries and it did nothing at all to ease any of my ills or make me feel livelier!!!
I do know that its high in iron and combined with a high iron level in other feeds including grazing land that could be a real no no for healthy hooves

 

[YasandCrystal]

It's curcumin that makes the difference JDee. Curcumin is attributed with the anti inflammatory and anti oxidant properties making it ideal to ease the pain of arthritic changes. Not a cure but a good clear out of toxins for more mobility and comfort is brilliant. Hence not all trials work as you have to be assured of the curcumin content in the turmeric you buy. The human curcumin tablets are too strong for animals and people are advised to take a break after 3 months. I lost a stone in weight when I was taking them.
Good quality turmeric is actually quite expensive so I now buy the Global Herbs guaranteed 3% 2kg tubs.

 

[Sukistokes2]

It's curcumin that makes the difference JDee. Curcumin is attributed with the anti inflammatory and anti oxidant properties making it ideal to ease the pain of arthritic changes. Not a cure but a good clear out of toxins for more mobility and comfort is brilliant. Hence not all trials work as you have to be assured of the curcumin content in the turmeric you buy. The human curcumin tablets are too strong for animals and people are advised to take a break after 3 months. I lost a stone in weight when I was taking them.
Good quality turmeric is actually quite expensive so I now buy the Global Herbs guaranteed 3% 2kg tubs.

Really!!!! Where do you buy them!!!!!!

 

[YasandCrystal]

The human curcumin I use is Natures Best high poteny turmeric around £20 for 120 tablets (3 months supply).

 

[Molly's mum]

It's not likely to make a difference eating it in an occasional curry. For the amount actually in a curry you'd need to be eating it everyday and for every meal over a very long period of time before you stand a chance of seeing a difference.

I'm cautious about 'wonder cures' but I have to say if something is used on such a regular basis in our lives and someone says to up the dose a little to see if helps a particular condition then I certainly would give it a go. If it wasn't for taking a slight risk on something unproven in pharma (well un admitted!) I would have lost my boy to Addisons and almost certainly my daughter would be dead. I wouldn't dismiss something out of hand given the circumstances we found ourselves in and definitely not when the empirical evidence is strong even if the scientific studies are not conducted. We can never lose sight of the fact that drug companies will never countenance 'natural' remedies 'cos there ain't no money in it' . I think there is enough empirical evidence to be found here to at least try it and if it doesn't work for a particular person then fair enough but it might work for another.

I would also urge caution as to where Turmeric is bought from. I only buy it from sources I believe to be trustworthy in their sourcing. Makes it more expensive but its important to be sure it's not been adulterated in any way.

 

[wingedhorse]

It's curcumin that makes the difference JDee. Curcumin is attributed with the anti inflammatory and anti oxidant properties making it ideal to ease the pain of arthritic changes. Not a cure but a good clear out of toxins for more mobility and comfort is brilliant. Hence not all trials work as you have to be assured of the curcumin content in the turmeric you buy. The human curcumin tablets are too strong for animals and people are advised to take a break after 3 months. I lost a stone in weight when I was taking them.
Good quality turmeric is actually quite expensive so I now buy the Global Herbs guaranteed 3% 2kg tubs.

I buy Valley View turmeric. It is very cheap. About £35 for 10kg delivered.

It states is certified as 3.5% Curcumin – see link with certificate.

 

[spottybotty]

Me too. Tried it on my pony. Nothing. Tried it on me. Suffered small stomach bleed.

The benefits have been wildly exaggerated in my view and much more research needs to be done.

The turmeric FB page is a bit scary, and they have not time for doubters!

Yes it is quite scary when its touted as a wonder cure for almost anything including cancer! It just reminds me of Snake oil It seems that Aloe juice is the next cure all I dont know of any Vets (and I work with quite a few) that would recommend using this for the treatment of anything!

 

[Molly's mum]

My vet recommended giving Turmeric a try.

I don't know if anyone has heard of Dr Jean Dodds (you can check her biog out on google). Jean is the worlds leading authority on autoimmune conditions in dogs, set up and runs Hemopet, set up the canine blood bank in the US and the UK (works with Mik Herrtage, Dean of Queens, Cambridge) etc. etc... she also recommends using turmeric for dogs and horses. she has developed an serious interest in nutrition for dogs and how food interacts with the genome. I've just bought her new book of nutrigenomics...fascinating. Jean is currently reviewing Molly's tests, X-rays and recommended treatments...with my equine vets agreement I should add. My small animal vet is already a big fan.

 

[YasandCrystal]

The whole Turmeric User Group and its multi national membership was set up by an Australian vet Doug English. My vet uses turmeric. People are right to be sceptical, after all it was believed the world was flat for centuries. Using turmeric is infact going back to Mother Earth cures of herbs and spices. It always surprises me how cautious people are with these natural remedies yet often eat ready meals and supermarket meat and vegetables which are packed with a myriad of harmful substances in the form of colourings and preservatives, without a second thought.

 

[JDee]

Are there any independent credible clinical trials to verify its effectiveness?
The placebo effect in these things always springs to mind
Its quite expensive if it really doesn't do anything
Herbs and spices do have their uses - as does does any form of healthy eating but back in 'ye olde dayes' before modern medicines people died in the droves of simple infections and illnesses that we think nothing of now so I for one wouldn't want to take a step backwards in that direction

 

[hollyandivy123]

curcumin has been shown scientifically to effect the regulation of the inflammation event, this is a multifaceted biological response and depending on what is causing the inflammation will have a positive effect or no effect at all.

did you know a large proportion of compounds which are going through pharma screening for infection control or tumor response and other diseases have been derived from the structure of naturally occurring compounds.

Aspirin comes originally from silver birch
clove oil is a natural anesthetic (good for pulling manes)

the statement that people died in droves before modern medicine is a little misleading, it took many years to realize that infection came from bacteria, it took a scientist to discover the connection from a zone a clearance in bacterial growth plate and the production of antibiotics, again a naturally occurring molecule.


scientists are going back to the good oldie days to isolate other antimicrobial compounds for the treatment of infection resistant to modern medicine
without the naturally occurring starting point a lot of compounds which you think of as modern medicine would not be here.

also the placebo effect can only occur if the participant thinks they are taking something that will benefit, an animal does not have this understanding, i agree the effect could occur with the owner but not the patient in this case.

 

[Spreebok]

The whole Turmeric User Group and its multi national membership was set up by an Australian vet Doug English. My vet uses turmeric. People are right to be sceptical, after all it was believed the world was flat for centuries. Using turmeric is infact going back to Mother Earth cures of herbs and spices. It always surprises me how cautious people are with these natural remedies yet often eat ready meals and supermarket meat and vegetables which are packed with a myriad of harmful substances in the form of colourings and preservatives, without a second thought.

I think the problem is that it is touted to cure a huge range of things, even things we see as sometimes impossible to cure with Modern medicine, let alone herbs, such as cancer. I know I was really sceptical because of this, but I figured I'd give it a go for something as simple as itchy skin.

 

[YasandCrystal]

Spreebok I don't claim to understand anything scientific but I have read quite a lot about the benefits of turmeric and it will help a large range of ailments where there is toxin build up and inflammation throught it's anti inflammatory and anti oxidant properties.
It is not a cure and I would never tout it as such. I have a mare with aggressive ringbone in one fetlock and she is now sound. The ringbone hasn't disappeared , but clearly the turmeric is making her feel sound and comfortable.
I don't profess to understand the anti carcinogenic properties, but it is claimed that turmeric slows the multiplication of cancer cells. The statistics about the incidence of cancer in Asian communities being so much lower than in western communities would seem to back up the claim.
My veteran cob mare was like a different pony within a week on the turmeric. It was winter when I started, there were no dietary changes other than the addition of turmeric and linseed and pepper and she started moving so well and became so forward. At 22 years old I am sure she has changes and we now regularly enjoy 15 mile pedi stance rides and did the 20 mile Newmarket ride last autumn. I am not imagining the improvement.
I get annoyed at some of the stupid claims and questions I read on the user group. I agree some people seem to think to turn to turmeric for just about any ailment which to my mind is clearly stupid. You get extremes of people in many circumstances, but that's life.

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

There are quite a few studies on the Turmeric User group related to Alzheimer's, plaque and inflammation. Pretty damned convincing, especially the case studies.

P.S. Aspirin is from willow, not birch.

 

[Spreebok]

Spreebok I don't claim to understand anything scientific but I have read quite a lot about the benefits of turmeric and it will help a large range of ailments where there is toxin build up and inflammation throught it's anti inflammatory and anti oxidant properties.
It is not a cure and I would never tout it as such. I have a mare with aggressive ringbone in one fetlock and she is now sound. The ringbone hasn't disappeared , but clearly the turmeric is making her feel sound and comfortable.
I don't profess to understand the anti carcinogenic properties, but it is claimed that turmeric slows the multiplication of cancer cells. The statistics about the incidence of cancer in Asian communities being so much lower than in western communities would seem to back up the claim.
My veteran cob mare was like a different pony within a week on the turmeric. It was winter when I started, there were no dietary changes other than the addition of turmeric and linseed and pepper and she started moving so well and became so forward. At 22 years old I am sure she has changes and we now regularly enjoy 15 mile pedi stance rides and did the 20 mile Newmarket ride last autumn. I am not imagining the improvement.
I get annoyed at some of the stupid claims and questions I read on the user group. I agree some people seem to think to turn to turmeric for just about any ailment which to my mind is clearly stupid. You get extremes of people in many circumstances, but that's life.

Oh, don't get me wrong, I'm not dissing it, using it for my mare! I'm just pointing out that people tend to get put off things that supposedly cure everything from A - Z, so I can see how it gets a bad rep in a way

 

[CeeBee]

My horse has COPD which causes his breathing to be greatly increased and makes him headshake. A couple of years ago I read about the benefits of using turmeric with COPD/headshaking and thought it worth a try. I can't say I noticed any difference and when it ran out, didn't bother buying any more.
This year his COPD has been much worse and so he had to go on to flixotide inhalers at great expense. As he was using one a week I spent hours scouring the internet on cheaper alternatives. I came across the turmeric users group on facebook and read about using pepper and oil along with the turmeric. I bought myself a decent quality 5kg bag and got some pepper and oil.
Within a week my boy was like a different horse. Much more forward going and when I had vet out for routine vaccs, she said his breathing was back to within the normal range and to start reducing the inhalers.
Ok, so it is possible that after 8 weeks of using the inhalers they have suddenly taken effect, but bit of a coincidence that it coincided with the use of turmeric. At £10 for a 5kg bag which will probably last me at least 6 months, I'm definitely going to keep up with it

 

[Caramac71]

My horse has COPD which causes his breathing to be greatly increased and makes him headshake. A couple of years ago I read about the benefits of using turmeric with COPD/headshaking and thought it worth a try. I can't say I noticed any difference and when it ran out, didn't bother buying any more.
This year his COPD has been much worse and so he had to go on to flixotide inhalers at great expense. As he was using one a week I spent hours scouring the internet on cheaper alternatives. I came across the turmeric users group on facebook and read about using pepper and oil along with the turmeric. I bought myself a decent quality 5kg bag and got some pepper and oil.
Within a week my boy was like a different horse. Much more forward going and when I had vet out for routine vaccs, she said his breathing was back to within the normal range and to start reducing the inhalers.
Ok, so it is possible that after 8 weeks of using the inhalers they have suddenly taken effect, but bit of a coincidence that it coincided with the use of turmeric. At £10 for a 5kg bag which will probably last me at least 6 months, I'm definitely going to keep up with it

Can I ask which brand you buy? I'm just starting to use this on our horse and I picked up the 100g East End brand from Tesco as I know that's recommended but if I'm going to use it long term then I need to find somewhere to buy it in bigger quantities.

 

[mightymammoth]

I use it as my horse has summer related RAO. I feed micronisied linseed anyway as hes unshod. Seems less itchy and less coughing on it.

 

[CeeBee]

I got it from here http://www.theasiancookshop.co.uk/b...g-4207-p.asp?gclid=CL2qwNbDv8YCFbDJtAodvLoKQg
£10.99 plus postage. I also emailed the manufacturer and they told me the curcumin content is 3 to 4%, so that is a good amount. Good luck