Equilibrium and Harmony Through Knowledge
Seeking to better understand herbs, their actions, and how they are used in formulas to assist in healing and balancing horses?
Equine Herbal and Energetics is a fantastic place to begin your journey.
For centuries, many cultures have understood the energetics of plants, herbs or food and how this can impact the body. Western Herbal Medicine does not look at energetics the way Eastern Medicine does, this viewpoint has been lost and herbs are thought of like pharmaceuticals. This is unfortunate since herbs chosen based on their energetics and in small doses encourage the self-healing powers of the body.
We felt it was important to inform our readers about the energetics of herbs, in the hope that herbs can be blended and used properly. We do not want any animals to have situations worsen or stagnate due to lack of knowledge about the herbs properties.
In the 1980’s Stacey Small began work on this book, but as life got busier, the beginnings of the book sat dusty on a shelf. Fast forward to 2013, Stacey and Andrea met through a mutual herb mentor, David Winston. They quickly became friends due to a shared common goal of protecting and advocating for the horse. As Andrea began writing herb blurbs for Holistic Horse Magazine their friendship grew. Then one day, the shelf the book was sitting on broke, scattering the notes and research on the floor. Stacey immediately thought of Andrea and knew they could work well together to finish the book. Andrea brought her determination and passion for educating to the book creation. Both instantly agreed the focus should be “Herbal Energetics” as this topic is not seen in any of the herbal or whole food products marketed to horse owners.
Understanding the energy of each plant or food will help you begin to understand the language of plants and how best to work with them. Focusing on the underlying reason for a horse’s imbalance or deficiency will help in choosing herbs accordingly to support the body.
It is important to look at the whole horse versus looking at the horse in parts. For example, why is a horse constipated; are they stressed, are they eating something in their diet that is very drying, do they need herbs to provide moisture or nourish a deficiency?
Looking at the whole horse can help you choose food or herbs that are most appropriate. Our scientific minded culture tends to think in terms of fixing one aspect of a body instead of looking at the whole being.
- REVIEWS -
"While the number of books published on the use of herbs for human healthcare has skyrocketed, information on their use for animals has lagged behind. This is especially true for our larger companion animals such as horses. Two of my former students, Stacey Small and Andrea Baldwin have teamed up to create an Equine Herbal, that gives veterinarians, herbalists, horse owners and trainers the needed knowledge to help prevent and treat the ills common to these amazing animals. I am proud of their effort to bring healing and good health to this neglected area of herbal medicine. "
David Winston, RH (AHG)
"Stacey and Andrea have done a great job of putting together a book that will be a mainstay of equine literature for a long time. Thank you both for doing this."
Joyce Harman DVM, MRCVS
"This is the book I have been waiting for. Finally, someone has put all the known information on our favorite herbs in one convenient place. In this comprehensive text you can find the physical action of an herb as well as how it is used in homeopathy, flower essences, and aromatherapy with specifics on use in horses. Most importantly, is the focus on the energetics of herbs. The energy of an herb affects how it interacts in the body and with other herbs. In my opinion, using an herb without understanding its energetic nature is like trying to play a game without a rulebook. Considering the energetics of an herb, like rules in a playbook, facilitates harmony towards a common goal rather than individual forces acting randomly or against each other. Congratulations to the authors for a job well done."
Madalyn Ward, DVM and author of Holistic Horsekeeping and Horse Harmony
"If you want to use nature’s medicines to keep your horse healthy, buy this book! Stacey and Andrea have created a much needed reference work complete with herbal safety, methods of use, dosage, and the most importantly the essential energetics of each herb according to Traditional Chinese Medicine. As a doctor of oriental medicine, this is my go-to book for working with my two mares…. a great addition to the library of anyone interested in holistic equine healthcare."
Barbara Thurman, DOM, AP, CCT
"Truly a holistic approach – encouraging the reader to learn and understand the actions and interactions of herbal use with horses."
Mary Ann Simonds, MA - Author, Educator, Equine Ecologist
"Through much of my career as an integrative veterinary medicine practitioner, Stacey Small has been my "go to" for really practical, accurate, understandable information about herbal remedies. Her passion for learning and research, and her talent for education have made her knowledge base something we all want more of! And here it is, in a beautifully written and organized book that everyone can own! Thank you Stacey and Andrea; the horse’s thank you!"
Judith Shoemaker, DVM
“Andrea Baldwin and Stacy Small have done a wonderful job in putting together a concise herbal reference for horses that can be used by both professionals and horse lovers alike. The book, Equine Herbal and Energetics, contains easy to follow practical information: photos, growing tips, parts of the the plant that are used, how and when to use the herbs along with some contra-indications. Both science and traditional medicine indications are presented. Along with particular plant constituents, the authors also include energetic aspects of the plants: temperature and taste. As a traditional herbalist myself I appreciate this information which I can then match to a horse in need. I recommend this book to my colleagues and any clients who want to educate themselves about herbs for their horses. Thanks Andrea and Stacey for this addition to the herbal library!”
Cheryl Schwartz, DVM and Author of Four Paws, Five Directions