Viruses and The Immune System

By: © Victoria Ferguson Dip.Herb.Med.

Guaiacum

Meadowsweet

St Mary's Thistle

In today’s world, a healthy immune system is the best protection any horse can have from the nasty array of pathogens that are constantly mutating and becoming resistant to antibiotics. 

So to keep your horses at the top of their game, it is good to have a basic understanding of how the immune system works and how viruses attack, and how to keep the immune system in top order. 

The body wards off diseases through two systems of defence, immunity and non-specific resistance.  The latter offers immediate protection against a variety of invaders, by mechanical barriers such as skin and mucous membranes as well as phagocytosis, inflammation and fever.  Phagocytosis is the engulfment and digestion of bacteria and other foreign particles by macrophages and monocyte cells.

Immunity involves activation of specific lymphocytes that combat a particular pathogen or other foreign substance. The body system that carries out immune responses is the lymphatic system.

It concentrates invaders such as bacteria, viruses, foreign substances and cancer cells in certain lymphatic organs, circulates lymphocytes through the organs to make contact with the foreign substances, destroys them and eliminates them from the body. 

Immunity also involves distinguishing self from non-self molecules and memory for most previously encountered antigens so that future encounters prompt an even more rapid and vigorous response.

VIRUSES

To gain a better understanding of how viruses spread, consider how a virus reproduces. It does not have its own reproductive apparatus, it penetrates a host cell, kills the DNA in that cell, then inserts its own DNA, so the cells of the host do the reproduction work for it, this is why viruses are so insidious.

Therefore a virus can only live outside a host for short periods of time, up to 48 hours on hard, non-porous surfaces, and up to 12 hours on fabrics, skin and hair, but can survive in still water for up to 18 days.

Herpes viruses by nature are latent viruses, meaning that they lie in hiding and then, when the animal is stressed, become active again. This highlights the need to maintain a healthy immune system at all times.

The natural immunity of a body, be it man or horse, is a precious possession which requires nurturing, not abuse. Feeding processed feeds, synthetic supplements and routine injecting of drugs and manufactured vitamins constitutes abuse which seriously weakens the immune system.  Every injection causes a metabolic shock and there is a serious risk of infection being introduced, especially into joints.

The basis of immune system protection is to provide immune system strengthening herbs in the feed on a daily basis. The number one herb to use here is Rosehips, which has the highest plant source of Vitamin C, is full of anti-oxidants, is an immune system booster and also exerts a beneficial effect on the micro circulation. 

The capillaries is where exchange takes place between the arterial and venous circulation so the health of these vessels is paramount and they are particularly dense in the coronet band of the hoof and in the lungs two areas of stress in the performance horse.  It’s important to get the feeding rates of Rosehips right.  For a high performance horse up to 100 grams a day can be fed to good advantage. 

Whilst there is now a new and hastily developed breed of anti-viral drugs and vaccines, the mutation of viruses will forever be miles in front of any drug company’s laboratories, because of their ability to react rapidly to single chemical compounds. Herbs will always be in front of mutating viruses, because of their incredible array of constituents.   

Viral diseases of horses mainly affect the respiratory and musculo-skeletal systems but also cause abortions.

There are four types of equine herpes viruses.

EHV-1 has two strains, the first being an abortive strain and the second being a respiratory strain.  The abortive strain is uncommon and has also been associated with paralysis and lack of coordination of the hind limbs. Symptoms of the respiratory strain are snotty noses, coughing as well as elevated respiratory rate and effort, crackly breathing and swollen lymph glands.

EHV-2 is a slow growing respiratory virus and is not as commonly encountered.

EHV-3 (equine coital exanthema) is a mild venereal disease not related to EHV1.

EHV4 is particularly troublesome as it causes a cough that recurs as soon as the horse resumes exercise and is more likely to cause abscessed glands and pneumonia than most of the common cold viruses. It can also be difficult to differentiate from Equine Influenza. 

Equine rhinoviruses are cold viruses as distinct from herpes viruses described above. Often the only symptoms are a watery nasal discharge and an intermittent cough.

Commonly bacteria take the opportunity to multiply in the tissues damaged by the viruses producing snotty noses, abscessing glands between the lower jaws like Strangles and/or bacterial pneumonia.

Ross River Fever is carried by mosquitoes and horses and humans are infected by the bites. It causes lameness, swelling of joints andlethargy with poor performance and dullness recurring as a post-viral syndrome if not properly treated holistically with herbs.    

Horses are often affected by viruses and a common symptom is swelling in the lower part of both hind legs or all four legs.   There are many viruses around that nothing is known about, they may be mild and pass quickly or they can even cause death. 

The best defence you can provide your horses with is a strong immune system, and this in turn will help them to recover faster from viral takeover.

HERBS TO TREAT VIRUSES

Herbal treatments are particularly effective in resolving viruses and post-viral syndrome in conjunction with good nursing and management. The course of treatment must be undertaken continuously over one full blood cycle (12 weeks) using a prescribed mix or formula of herbs in liquid extract form which is given orally.   

Just some of the herbs which are used include Elecampane for respiratory viruses, Red Clover and Guaiacum for viruses affecting the joints, and always Garlic, the supreme anti-biotic herb.  Echinacea is always used as another excellent immune booster and hepatic herbs such as St Marys Thistle to support the liver in its vital role of detoxification. 

The body’s natural defence is inflammation but we still need to provide anti-inflammatory herbs which also provide pain relief as that accelerates healing.  Viruses always produce pain and inflammation and there are two excellent herbs which are used to combat this – Devil’s Claw and Meadowsweet, and they work very well when combined together.

Horses are often depressed and lethargic when suffering from a virus or post-viral syndrome and a selection of Bach and Australian bush flower essences added to the herbal extract mix work wonders to lift a horse’s spirits and energy to help fight back.

Real lemon juice is a very effective anti-viral and anti-bacterial which is usually readily available & can be used as an emergency response.  Dilute the juice of a full lemon twice daily in the feed for a big horse and half a lemon for a smaller horse or pony or oral dose combined with raw honey.  

It is vitally important that horse owners seek advice from a qualified herbalist who is experienced in treating horses, when they want to use herbs therapeutically.  It is not just a matter of buying a bag of dried herbs and giving them a tablespoon in the feed.  Dosage rates for each horse, the period of treatment, the selection of herbs and making changes during the course of treatment if needed, are all part of an effective herbal treatment program, which will be provided by a professional herbalist.

The team at Horsezone is excited to bring you informative articles from Victoria Ferguson www.thecountryherbalist.com.au