For Horses:
Equine Micro Minerals
Articles and Research
Article by: Dr. Lauri Grietzer, DC., Equine Chiropractor, Paradise, CA
When Equine Allergies Attack!!
Is it just me, or is every one wondering the same thing? What is up with all of the strange allergy symptoms lately? It seems that every other horse you meet is complaining about allergies, itchy skin, flaky skin, fly bites, hives, digestive issues, immune disorders, weight issues. It sounds like the Oprah Show!
This is no small matter. I have seen toy poodles on steroids and draft horses on cortisone! I am not a vet, but I work with horses everyday. I am shocked by Andalusian's with their hair falling out. Or stories about horses at death's door from an "allergic reaction" to a common vaccine. How about the surge in Cushing's Syndrome? Let's not even get started on the ulcers, colic, and insulin resistance. When did being a "good parent" to our companion animals get so complicated and so expensive?
Well, the answer may not be so surprising after all. Turn on the news. Read the research from The World Health Organization. The results are not pretty. It turns out that 80% of chronic diseases are caused by toxins in our environment. Our companion animals, like the old mine canaries, are just one more indicator that our world is not "as it used to be" when our grandparents were young. Our soils are depleted and chemically treated. Our poor bodies (and our horses') are just not getting the nutrients that we used to from food. Plus, we are overloaded with pollutants and toxins that our bodies can't deal with!
So what is at the root of any allergic reaction? An allergic reaction is the body's way of responding to a toxin or contaminant overload. It could be one toxin, such as some people have to a bee sting. Or, it may be to a complex mixture of chemicals that the body can no longer tolerate or eliminate. In other words the body is saying, "No more, please!"
Interestingly, chemical residue buildup in the body may come from both natural and artificial sources. Things like natural or artificial preservatives, fillers, flavorings, environmental pollutants, vaccines, medications, chemical wormers, and contaminated feed and grain supplies.
The good news is that our bodies are up for the fight. They are well designed to perform a daily detoxification; the vital "flushing", cleansing, or removal of toxins. The key organs or systems that perform this vital task everyday are the skin, the digestive tract, the lungs, the blood, the lymphatic system, the kidneys, and the liver. When these areas of the body display an allergic reaction, such as with the skin or immune system; this is a clear indicator that the body needs help! Something is overloading this hard working system. The body is sending out the alarm. Sadly, with our horses, this is sometimes only evident on the outside, after internal health conditions may have persisted for a long time.
What do we do? Most of us just keep switching feeds, hay, or adding more supplements, or more expensive and complicated additives to the diet. If the allergy is caused by just ONE thing this may help. However, with more and more research we see that symptoms may subside initially from the switch, but gradually, the same problems return. The safest, simplest, cheapest solution is often the most successful. No, we can't send our horses to the spa for a lovely detox session. But we can learn how to get back to basics. The organic, natural, detox approach is the best hope for toxin overload. Yes, I said ORGANIC!
The organic approach is surprisingly old fashioned (and CHEAP). Ancient farming methods teach us that using trace minerals or micro minerals to support the body's natural detox abilities is the most gentle and effect way to go. Minerals work together, self-regulating each other to support the weakest areas of the body. Remember the Romans who drank mineral water and soaked in mineral pools to eliminate disease, remove body odor, promote healthy skin, and vibrant health? It isn't magic, IT'S MINERALS!
Granted these guys were not using isolated minerals with 5 or 6 minerals in a pill or in a complicated supplement mixture. These were full spectrum, naturally occurring, balanced minerals. If the minerals are plant sourced and unprocessed, meaning they have not been heated or chemically treated, they remain naturally ionized, as negatively charged particles. In this state, they perform an amazing microscopic task. When ingested and warmed by the body, they attract positively charged waste particles like tiny magnets and help flush them out of the body. They also help cleanse the digestive tract of toxin residue, mucus, and other buildup. The result is a cleaner intestinal tract, less parasites, less odor in manure, and less flies!
It's not rocket science, a clean horse is a healthy horse. A gentle daily detox with micro or trace minerals is simple maintenance and prevention. Once the digestive tract is back into balance, everything just works better. Less toxins, less allergic reactions. Less joint stiffness and inflammation. Less digestive disorders, diarrhea, and ulcers. We save money with improved feed conversion, and nutrient absorption. Noticeable weight and tone improvement. Balanced energy, better attitude, and performance. Sound good? There's more.
Actually, the minerals are doing much more. They are working together to fortify any other weak tissues in the body as well. They dramatically improve hoof, bone, and cartilage. Bring back healthy skin, with an amazing glossy coat, and rich color. Support a healthy immune system, fertility, and birth weight. (I told you it was good news!)
So where do we get some and how much will it cost, you ask? Again, there is good news and bad news. Bad news first; there are only a handful of organic trace minerals out there. Some have a dozen minerals, some have less. Some are mixed with all sorts of flavorings and additives, and some cost more than a Lexus payment per month! The good news is, as American consumers, we are informed and we have choices. Take a look at the following chart and decide for yourself.
Opinion, Research, and Information contributed to Ride Magazine by
Dr. Lauri Grietzer, DC., Equine Chiropractor, Paradise, CA
530-877-9333
Copyright 2007
Independent Consumer Comparison
|
Product/Manufacturer |
Mineral Count |
Naturally Occurring Balance/ Full Spectrum |
Natural Detox Support |
Organic Human Grade Plant Sourced |
Avg. Cost Per Day |
|
Farnam Vita Plus www.Farnam.com |
12 |
No |
No |
No |
1.00 |
|
Platinum Osteon www.Platinum.com |
1 |
No |
No |
No |
4.00 |
|
EnviroMin Micro Minerals www.EnviroMin.com |
70 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
1.00 |
The Importance of Trace Minerals in Supplementation
as Published in Holistic Horse Magazine Fall 2007 © 2007
by Dianna Lee, Nutritional Research Analyst
Horses and humans (all mammals, in fact) need a full spectrum of minerals, both macro-minerals and micro-minerals, for healthy digestion, nervous system, immunity, and reproduction. The body has differing levels of minerals, and differing needs for minerals on a daily basis, being affected by things such as stress, reproduction, and activity levels.
Nature, or healthy plant material, has a balance of about 70 major (macro) and trace (micro) minerals. Major minerals, such as calcium and magnesium, are needed in larger quantities. However, the often overlooked trace minerals are the tiny building blocks needed on a daily basis that assist in the absorption of ALL other nutrients.
Simply put, minerals can be broken down into two main groups: macro and micro. As you might guess, macro-minerals are needed in larger amounts, and micro-minerals in smaller amounts. Adequate amounts of each variety are essential to proper absorption and good health. Macro-minerals include calcium, magnesium and phosphorus; micro-minerals include silicon dioxide, bromine, selenium, boron, chromium, copper, iodine, iron, manganese, zinc, and more than 60 others. Most trace minerals are not considered for supplementation because they are not recognized as important nutrients by regulating authorities.
It’s a Macro/Micro Team Effort
Minerals must work together to "self regulate" or balance each other. Research shows that supplementing only "isolated minerals" can lead to an imbalance in other minerals, or worse, block absorption completely. One mineral needs several others to be properly utilized in the body.Many quality products contain a variety of vitamins and minerals to provide a good foundation for nutrition. However, most products cannot contain by volume the full spectrum of trace minerals now needed from current depleted soil conditions, and contend with the varying soil conditions and health issues nationwide.
Some avid horse owners test every batch of hay for key minerals, but without the long list of trace minerals or micronutrients, they are still experiencing health problems related to deficiency, poor immune systems, poor protein conversion, and poor absorption in their horses. Deficiencies of trace elements can influence the immune system, such as antibody responses, cell-mediated immunity, and natural killer cell activity. A functional immune system is required for the ability of the host to prevent or limit infections. Clearly, the optimum level of trace elements and other nutrients for immune function needs to be included in any diet.
Trace Mineral Supplementation
Supplementation of trace minerals may occur through a variety of means including dry top dress supplements, trace mineral blocks, and fortified protein supplements. Choices can be dizzying. Look for full spectrum, macro and micro mineral supplements containing at least 50 or more balanced trace minerals, if possible. Plant-sourced minerals are naturally chelated and ionized for the best absorption and are usually the most cost effective.
In most grazing and stable situations, trace mineral salt blocks cannot provide sufficient trace mineral intake to meet nutritional needs. Formulated as a hard, salt-based block, horses and livestock are often unable to consume enough product to achieve their necessary level of trace mineral supplementation. While important for salt needs that vary with heat conditions, micro minerals are needed daily at differing levels from salt.
“Clearly, many trace mineral deficiency symptoms overlap. This is best explained by the intricate interrelationships shared between many of the essential trace minerals. High levels of one element may induce a deficiency in another. Therefore it is essential that formulations take into account the impact of one nutrient upon another. To further complicate the issue, clinical signs of trace mineral deficiencies are often not observed until the animal has achieved an acute deficiency state. Chronic trace mineral deficiencies may impact health parameters for many years without revealing themselves through classic clinical symptoms.” -- John D. Arthington, University of Florida.
Living in a world where "Soils are depleted and chemically treated" we can now arm ourselves with good information, read labels, and demand high quality ingredients, maybe even organic, to give our horses the best health advantages possible.
Dianna Lee has been a researcher and advocate for holistic health solutions for both animals and humans since 1984. Together with her husband and research partner, they have over 200 years of sustainable farming history in their families. Education and good stewardship of the land and animals is a way of life for them. Health practitioners and farriers who use trace mineral supplement "recipes" for patients or clients are encouraged to email Dianna Lee for comparison and possible publication at: Dianna@EnviroMin.com
Reference
Mineral research based on article by: John D. Arthington, Assistant Professor of Animal Science, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Cooperative Extension Service. Original publication date November 20, 2000. Revised October 25, 2002.