Hi All
I just want to spread the word about this wonderful therapy, in short zoopharmacognosy is the process in which animals self medicate. I have just qualified as a zoopharmacognosist and love it! Its pronanced (zoo-famer-cog-nos-e)
Basically I have bags full of natural remedies,(and they are carefully sourced and VERY natural remedies unlike what is for sale in tack shops etc) such as devils claw, peppermint, lavender etc etc and I offer them to teh animal allow him to chose what remedies he wants to suit his own individual needs!
When you look on the market now its so hard to know what is a good supplement for you horse! Everything claims to be natural but most is full of, well rubbish! For example cod liver oil is claimed to be good for horses, however who has known for a horse to eat a fish!!
I copy the animals natural behaviour in the wild, where they would forage for miles a day, chosing the plants they need for there own individually needs. Where as in a field they have no choice to chose there remedies as they cant get to them!
Ever heard of the saying "one man's medicine is another man's poison"? Well the same counts for animals!
Animals know what they need, and if you can give them the choice to chose then do so! Dont force them to eat things by putting them in there feed, put it on your hand and let them guide you! (doesn't work with man made products only natural onse such as plants and oils)
For any owners who's horses suffer with sweet each, offer them oranges, most sweet itch horses love it! However non sweet itch horse never seem too be as keen if at all! Dont forget to offer it to them, don't force it upon them.
There are so many things in you gardens you could try, stinging nettles, wear gloves and let them dry over night, mint, garlic, seaweed, orange, lavender, rose so many things! As long as you live by a few simple rules.... It is the animals choice, do not put it in the feed, listen and read the horse's response, if he tuns away dont force it on him, LET HIM GUIDE YOU!
Sorry I'm going on but it is just such a wonderful therapy! It is not just a therapy that humans have discovered but one that every species on the plant practices's! Otherwise how else would they have survived these thousands of millions of years!!
Look it up and let me know what you think about it! Thank you! xxx
Hi Sam
That sounds great!
Yea I have noticed with most things that they are so unnatural it is ridicules! usually if you look at the ingrediants of some food you realise how much rubbish you are putting into your body and I'm sure it is not that much different for horses,
I'll have to pass it on to my friends who own horses too.
Thanks for letting us know.
Hi I just thought that I would comment of the statment on how long the herbs had been around for, I dont beleive in Millions of years, so I would say only thousands of years. but yes it is amazing how animals have been doing it for thousands of years by themselves and then humans catch them and fill them with well alot of it would be called junk.
Hi Sam, I have just recently discovered zoopharmacognacy as my DAEP has also recently trained in it. She tried it on one of my horses and it was fascinating. I think that CHOICE is so important for our domesticated horses; freedom of choice is good in my opinion. Great post!
This is very interesting as we do this a bit with our sheep. We put out minerals and different other things for them...and they take them as they want them. And they know when they need them. We can put out baking soda for them (to counter-act bloat) and they won't touch it unless they need it. Same with their differnet minerals. The different mixes have different things, and they eat the one ones they are lacking...and it is different at different times of year (the ones they chose more often). I hadn't thought of trying this kind of thing for the horses. I'd really like to learn more about this.
I don't want to Burst any Bubbles Here But Be Cautious. This is a Greeat Thing, But Not All Horses or other animals are smart enough to know what not to eat. I only Select Animals that are smart enough to do this. Domesticated Animals that have been InBreed to be the Designer Style of the Decade May Eat things that are harmful to them. Please Read up on any thing you offer your Horse to Consume. What can Help one Could Kill Another.
Cavalli yo mention Sheep. We did the same thing.But Some took what they Needed others did not. It showed up as Problems when they Lambed. Same with the Goats.
You should all look into Discernment. It works for me. I can actually touch the other person and run my hand across the Items and the one they are deficient in I just to grab it.
I have been doing this for years.
I Garden by God and wait for his Guidance in so many things.
I would also like to caution against letting animals medicate themselves.
It is true - to a certain extent - that they will feel the need to amend what they get in insufficient amounts, but that doesn't mean they always make very good choices. They can refuse to eat something because it isn't tasty enough, or, worse!, eat something that is tasty but poisonous.
DO be careful what you pick and offer!!! Learn first what parts of a plant that can be dangerous or helpful!
If you suspect a deficiency, do contact a vet before you start testing by yourself. Herbs are great in many ways but some will have bad effect on each other, or medication, and even add to a problem if you're not 110% sure of what you're doing.
That is Good Advise Kicki