Page 19 - Summer 21

of the blood. It is high in soy beans, grains (especially sprouted), leafy green vegetables, nuts, seeds and rice bran. Wheat germ and oil are the highest sources. Chlorophyll is needed to activate enzymes to produce Vitamin E.
Homeopathic support for Insulin Resistant horses
Homeopathy has the potential to alter genetic expression.8 I have seen the most significant improvements in cases where diet and management were combined with constitutional homeopathic prescribing. In addition to characteristic symptoms of IR, such as obesity and sheath swelling in geldings, the total health history of the individual gives the best clues to the correct homeopathic medicine for that horse.
In the majority of pure IR cases I have treated, the sycotic miasm homeopathic medicines are seen the most frequently. The sycosis miasm is associated with the anabolic state so often seen in IR cases.
Anti-psoric homeopathic medicines may be needed in the course of treatment to address underlying assimilation issues. For cases that are complicated by PPID, the syphilis miasm comes in with the catabolic state of tissue destruction secondary to high cortiso l levels.
Thuja is often the first medicine used in horses that are suspected to carry the IR gene. In my experience over vaccination is often a trigger for overt symptoms of IR. Most horses needing Thuja will present with a dry, dull hair coat. A past history of warts or skin tumors is an indication for Thuja. Sheath swelling in the gelding is often seen in horses that require Thuja . Left sided signs, such as left ovary problems in the mare, indicate Thuja .
Cracking in the joints when walking and dry, brittle hooves are Thuja signs. Thuja can be a good medicine for the IR horse that is overweight but has delicate f eatures and small bone structure.
Natrum sulphuricum is the chronic medicine for Thuja and many of the same signs apply. Both Thuja and Nat-s are generally better in dry weather. Nat-s cases have stomach issues, can be gassy and pass large piles of heavy manure. A history of pasture dermatitis (scratches) or other moist skin eruptions may be present. Nat-s has affinity for the liver and these horses may show sensitivity on the right thoracic wall and resist girthing. Some Nat-s horses will have a deep dip just in front of the withers and behind a developed crest.
Silicea is another medicine to consider in IR horses that have been heavily vaccinated. The keynote, fear of needles, is often seen in these horses. Even though Sil horses often shows poor assimilation of nutrients, these horses can get fat when given rich, easily digested feeds. Excess fat will trigger the IR gene to manifest but generally these horses are easy to get weight reduced when the diet is corrected.
A history of hoof abscesses can clue you in to the need for Sil. Old scars also suggest poor healing ability of past injuries. Sil horses show a tendency to have internal parasites even when on conventional deworming programs. Equine Streptococcus equi (strangles) infec tion may also be in the history .
Sil horses have a mild disposition and are a pleasure to be around. The conformation of the Sil horse is often weak. This may be related to poor assimilation of nutrients when the horse was growing up.
Calcarea carbonica is one of the first medicines to consider for IR horses. These horses do not like to exercise and can get cranky if forced to work when they don’t feel well. A balanced Calc horse will work, but left to his own devices would rather stay parked at the feed bin. Generally considered an anti-psoric, Calc is also listed as a B remedy for the sycosis miasm. Poor assimilation of nutrients is a prominent symptom, but these horses are often obese and
difficult to pull weight from. Calc has a strong af finity to bone, and arthritis signs are often present in the IR horse needing this medicine.
Calc horses have very strong appetites. Rarely will there be any trouble getting bad tasting mineral mixes into these horses. If free choice minerals are offered, they will need to be limited to prevent over eating by the Calc horse. They may also be seen licking dirt or metal surfaces. Calc horses are generally heavy, slow moving horses with large bone structure.
Lycopodium is an A remedy for psora and a B remedy for sycosis. Lyc has an affinity to the liver, so it is a good remedy to consider when toxins are a possible trigger to the genetic expression of IR.
Right sided signs are prominent, and late afternoon to early evening is the worst time of day for these horses. Right sided ovarian pain in the mare should make you think of Lyc. Digestion is often upset, with lots of gas and bloating.
When in pain the nostrils of a Lyc horse will flare in the classic fan like motion. These horses may also moan when lying down and in pain. Tendon and muscle contraction are pronounced, and these horses can be very stiff through the shoulders. Old scars that are healed on the surface but indurated in the deep tissues can indicate Lyc. Lyc should be considered in horses that turn gray prematurely.
Lyc should also be considered for horses that lose the hair on the edges of the ears.
Lyc horses are smart and sensitive. They can be a bully with other horses but will back down quickly if called on their bluff. The Lyc horse can look fat and bloated through the body but emaciated in the neck area.
Sulphur is remedy that will often follow Thuja to help 17
Continued on p18