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Pelvic Inflammation In Horse

by mikemesley - November 17, 2009

A 17 year old warmblood gelding that was castrated well before current O bought him. He has had ongoing bouts of apparent irritation in the region of the castration wound for the ensuing 8 years (and presumably before this)while this O has had him. Saw him recently with a particularly bad case - mild colic signs associated. also the wound site STILL has scabs on it all this time later, and occasioanlly the O describes being able to get small volumes of discharge from the wound.
Have spoken about schirrous cord and potential for Sx presently, but O is keen to attempt something less invasive and I felt combo acupuncture and herbs might be the go.
Basic TCM exam (although remembering he was in a bout of more severe signs at this stage)suggested BL20,21 pain. Hx suggests dampness, and worse in heat also. The lesion is in gelding zone - so I would guess maybe CV2 or 3 area? Rubbing along CV seems to provide temporary relief. Tongue and gums are pink but maybe a touch pale - no overt redness etc here. Pulse was moderate but slippery, but also GIT sounds up and with colic signs wasn't sure dampness in this case wasn't GIT issue as a result of stress?

Plan is to go and see it when "normal" and do acupuncture to determine more accurately the nature of the horse from TCM perspective - is there anything worth specifically focussing on that I may not otherwise be aware of - any CV pathology issues that can be very specific. My knee jerk reaction is SMS for damp heat in the lower jiao, I didn't see the extreme heat signs I would have thought you'd see in a LDXGT horse. Any other ideas??

Thanks
Mike

by naturevet

November 18, 2009

Hi Mike,

Off the top of my head, my only two other ideas are:
1. St. John's Wort (Hypericum). It can really help out with perineal and lower CV irritation, pain and inflammation, especially where there is a slippery pulse.
2. Xian Fang Huo Ming Yin, which moves Blood and transforms Phlegm, to facilitate completeness of wound healing.
3. Topical herbal preparations (e.g. a calendula ointment with options 1 and 2 mixed in for good measure) applied two or three times daily.
All of the above, including SMS, can be used together, to really get things moving. Later you can start dropping therapies as improvements rack up.

One final question for you, Mike. What herbal formulas would you like to have in bulk form in order for them to be of more practical use in horses? Please let me know your thoughts.

All the best,

Steve

by mikemesley

November 24, 2009

Hi Steve -
Sorry for delayed response. I thought I'd sent a reply, but I must have not pressed the post button. Anyway, here it is finally.

I haven't used that many herbs in my horse patients yet. Partly because I am still finding acupuncture alone can help so many of them, even a single Tx if I get it right. Also because so many of them seem to be on western herbal supplements, feed additives etc etc that I just feel it is an uphill battle trying to work out the whole dynamic. I am starting to develop a bit of ground in this arena however. Do you find similar issues, and do you have any soultions you commonly use. I suppose knowledge of the Western Herbs would help greatly in your case!
Also, can I ask you what dose of NPHC herbs you would use in a standard throughbred (maybe 450kg - 1000pounds)sized horse, and a standard riding pony (maybe 300kg/650pounds) on an initial Tx and then on a prolonged Tx basis? I have mostly been using human doses like 1.5-2 teaspoons bid initially, with some good results so far.
The ones I have been prescribing in my mind (which I try to do to all patients now!)to many horses in this district (where overfed low-use "paddock potatoes" seem to abound are the Damp/Heat clearing ones. Especially SMS, LDXGT (esp in thoroughbreds it seems), occasionally SRT. I have thought XHLD occasionally too for older horses. Other than this I can't remember any where I've repeatedly thought any of the others.

I hope that helps you - I also hope that if you do start making the larger pots I'd be able to help you out, maybe with an increase in my horse business, but also potentially with my family/friends' use of some of the formulas! Would the increased pot size be useful for you in your human clinic too?

Best regards
Mike

by naturevet

November 24, 2009

Hi Mike,

Your dose seems about right. Maybe up to 3 tsp BID for a big draft horse.

Thanks for the input on the formulas. You'll be pleased to know this is our first step toward a full equine line of herbs.

Have a good day, Mate!

Steve

by mikemesley

December 17, 2009

Steve,

I am seeing a lot of Gall Bladder pathology in my acupuncture candidates recently, but none of these can I convince myself of TB obstruction type pathology. Often pulses seem wiry but superficial - again unlike a CHJLGMLT type pulse.
My diagnosis, often, seems to suggest more stasis of Qi and/or Blood along the channel.

Any of your formulas (or other formulas) that you would be thinking of in these cases? Generally I get the feeling of heat in these cases to - so I suppose a cooling formula (or at least not too warming a formula - eg XHLD) would be appropriate.

Thanks,
Mike

by naturevet

December 20, 2009

Hi Mike,

Xiao Chai Hu Tang works well to open the GB channel, as well as the TB internally. It's a very versatile formula. To enhance GB channel opening effects, we sometimes add Qin Jiao (large-leafed gentian root). XCHT will be available in bulk for horse cases just like these beginning in about February or early March at the latest.

Steve

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