Years ago, the owner of a boarding stable called me. A horse belonging to one of her clients had coliced. This mare had not had a bowel movement for five days! They were giving up; mineral oil tubings, Banamine (a drug used for colic in horses) and constant walking if she tried to roll had not helped the sweet mare.

The owner adored this horse. She was herself falling apart at the prospect of putting her "down". I said, "Try senna pods - soak a handful of dry pods in a pint of tepid water for 3 hours, then strain it and dose the liquid orally and just repeat it every hour." They did this and after 3 doses, the mare starting having bowel movements! She recovered. I received a beautiful card from the owner and one perfect manure "apple" sprayed with gold paint.

 My immediate thoughts of Senna came from my past as an herbalist and from the old time medicines we used at my first stable. There was a kind of dark, grainy powder my Veterinarian prescribed and I used for impaction colic in horses that we mixed with warm water and dosed from a syringe into the horse's mouth. I remember that simply getting the liquid all over my skin would give me raging diarrhea - I also remembered always that the main ingredient in that magical powder was Senna Pod.

A human friend had tried lots of laxatives that had been prescribed by doctors and was getting more ill every day. I told him about the simple senna pods and he used 6 pods to a cup of warm water, drinking it every couple of hours until he had relief. After that, he drank a cup every morning.

Senna is not a good choice for those with high blood pressure or known anxiety issues - it can be stimulating to the whole metabolism. It does support peristalsis in the colon. It has saved several horses I've known personally that were in trouble with impaction colics.

The dry pods can be found in health food stores.

We do not diagnose or prescribe. We offer this as information only.

 I hope you enjoy our Herb of the Week newsletters. We are dedicated to the Simple, Natural ways that define Dharmahorse!

 

Katharine Chrisley