Horses with Colic-Peppermint could be the answer

Horses with colic can be helped with herbs but this is definitely a serious condition that can kill so make sure you ring the vet immediately if you suspect colic in your horse. Peppermint- Mentha x piperita can be used as a preventative and a wonderful digestive aid. To buy mint as an additive for your horse go to this page.

There are many common varieties of mint that have the same active constituents such as Spearmint, Watermint  and Apple Mint but Peppermint would be considered the most medicinal out of all the mints. Spearmint is the most commonly found mint in domestic culinary gardens but Peppermint is definitely the better medicinal herb.

Peppermints main therapeutic claim to fame is in its ability to relieve bloating, colic and flatulence. It has antispasmodic  effects on the digestive system so is now used in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome. Menthol, which is the volatile oil in peppermint is also antibacterial, antiseptic and antifungal.

These are possible symptoms of colic you should look out for. Your horse will show signs of restlessness and unable to decide on standing, rolling or laying down. Change in bowel movements with either diarrhea or very hard dry manure. Pawing the ground and biting or kicking the stomach.

There are in fact a couple of different types of colic. There is impaction colic where food has become impacted in the large intestine. Spasmodic colic is where the intestine tends to go into a spasm. This is generally caused by nervousness, stress or even parasites.Lastly there is displacement of the large or small intestine.

Peppermint grows 300-900 mm tall with purple stems. The leaves are green to purple –green with mauve conical shaped flowers. The plants form rhizomes and die back to the ground in winter.

The origin of this herb is unclear but it has been around for a long time and dried leaves have been found in Egyptian pyramids dating back to 1000 BC. The Greeks and Romans highly regarded this herb but it only became popular in Western Europe  in the 18^th century.

Peppermint can be a challenging commercial crop to grow though it loves a daily contrast of weather  in Australia and New Zealand. You need a good understanding of the crop in order to produce a high quality herb.  There is both the volatile oils which can be extracted from the plant for medicinal uses and is improved with daily contrasts in temperature. If you are growing peppermint as a herbal tea then the levels of oil are not so critical though you need to be aware of Mint Rust which is a fungus that attacks the leaves and kills the plant.

 As a crop Peppermint seems to prefer a contrast of temperatures more than anything and does particularly well in Tasmania and Victoria. Western New South Wales and most of South Australia should also be good areas for growing because of the contrast in weather.

With regards to pests, slugs and snails can be a problem. They do not particularly like to eat the plant but seem to enjoy hiding in the foliage which can be problematic  when harvesting so check thoroughly before making a cup of tea.

Peppermint is grown from rhizomes which need to be young and healthy to get you started. Older rhizomes which have already sent up shoots are not so viable and will tend to be weaker. The ideal time for planting is early spring or even mid autumn. Autumn plantings tends to produce a better crop as the plant has more time to get established.

Rhizomes should be planted end to end and covered with about 25-50 mm of soil. Make sure there are no leaves visible as these will lose moisture and they can be a harbour for diseases. By the end of the season you should have a dense cover of peppermint ready for harvesting and which can be left in place for a few seasons. With regards to composting, Peppermint is considered a heavy feeder and will do well with generous amounts of compost.

Harvesting can be done up to three times in a season, usually starting around November. The 2^nd harvest should be ready about 6-8 weeks later and if you are lucky with the weather a 3rd harvest should be available some time into Autumn. If you are growing Peppermint for the volatile oils then harvesting criteria is very important and the timing is centered around when the the highest essential oil content is present.

With regards to using Mint in your horses feed you will find it has a delicious aroma which is hard to refuse. It is considered one of the best digestive aids and will help relax and soothe the digestive tract.

The flavanoids in Mint will stimulate the liver and the menthol oil is antibacterial and anti parasitic. The oils are also used for ulcers and to help with colic. Because Peppermint is anti-inflammatory and anti-spasmodic  it makes it very useful herb for problems with the gut and flatulence. You can easily add 20 gms of dried or 1-2 handfuls of fresh mint daily to your horses feed and enjoy the sweet aroma yourself. A beautiful tasty addition to any horses feed.

For a Free on-line herbal guide “37 Herbs & Remedies for Fabulously Healthy Animals” visit www.brookbyherbs.co.nz

Posted: Tuesday 22 November 2011

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