Improvement of the lung function of horses with heaves by treatment with a botanical preparation for 14 days.
Authors: Anour R, Leinker S, van den Hoven R
Journal: The Veterinary record
Summary
# Editorial Summary Equine asthma (heaves) remains a significant respiratory challenge in practice, prompting investigation into alternative therapeutic approaches beyond conventional corticosteroid and bronchodilator protocols. Anour and colleagues conducted a randomised crossover trial in nine affected horses, administering a herbal botanical preparation containing yellow gentian, garden sorrel, cowslip, verbena and common elder twice daily (15 tablets per dose) for 14 days, with lung function assessed via histamine inhalation provocation testing and measurement of maximal intrapleural pressure difference. The treatment yielded mixed results: whilst three of five histamine-hyperresponsive horses showed reduced sensitivity to the provocation agent, and all treated horses demonstrated significantly decreased maximal intrapleural pressure difference (indicating improved respiratory mechanics), clinical signs, mucociliary clearance and bronchoalveolar lavage cytology remained unchanged. These findings suggest the botanical preparation may offer modest objective improvements in airway reactivity and elastic recoil properties, though without observable clinical benefit or evidence of altered inflammatory or mucociliary mechanisms—implying any benefit is likely peripheral to the primary pathophysiology of heaves, and warranting larger, longer-term trials before integration into management protocols.
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Practical Takeaways
- •This herbal preparation may reduce airway hyperresponsiveness in some heaves-affected horses, though effects on clinical symptoms were not apparent
- •The treatment showed measurable improvements in objective lung function parameters (intrapleural pressure) that could warrant further investigation in larger studies
- •Response was variable between individual horses, suggesting this botanical approach may be suitable for some horses but not as a universal treatment for heaves
Key Findings
- •Botanical preparation treatment decreased histamine sensitivity in 3 of 8 horses tested (37.5%)
- •Treatment caused significant decrease in maximal intrapleural pressure difference across all treated horses
- •Treatment showed no significant effects on clinical signs, mucociliary activity, or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid cytology
- •Study used a crossover design with 14-day treatment periods in two groups of horses (5 and 4 animals)