Most horse owners are familiar with common joint and muscle issues that can lead to stiffness. For example, arthritis in older horses. Or a deficiency in vitamin E when the horse is not on fresh grass. But apart from these well-known causes of stiffness, there is also a relatively unknown one: uric acid crystallization.

What is uric acid?

Uric acid is produced during physical exertion and stress. It is a breakdown product of protein metabolism. Under normal circumstances, this acid is absorbed into the blood and then leaves the body through the kidneys. During intense exercise or stress, there can be a high concentration of uric acid in the blood. This can be caused by overproduction of uric acid or reduced excretion through the kidneys. The body then converts the excess acid into crystals that accumulate mainly in the joints but also between muscles and tendon sheets. These crystal deposits can cause painful inflammation and even acute pain and stiffness. Unfortunately, a horse's body cannot easily and quickly excrete uric acid crystals. It is therefore wise to occasionally help your sport horse with this. We therefore recommend giving a supplement* at least twice a year to counteract this crystallization.

Herbs against uric acid crystals in horses

Glucosamine is often given for stiffness, but it only works on cartilage. It does nothing against uric acid crystals. For horses in higher training, it is wise to give an herbal extract twice a year that dissolves crystal formation in the joints. This prevents stiffness and pain. Scientific studies show that the following herbs help against gout, stiffness, and crystal formation and support the kidneys in excreting uric acid that can occur during heavy training:

• Boswellia Boswellia serrata

• Turmeric Curcuma longa

• Horsetail Equisetum arvense

• Blueberry - Vaccinium sp

A treatment twice a year for your sport horse

Multiple herbs have an acidifying effect, including horsetail. Horsetail also has a strong diuretic effect and lowers the uric acid content in the blood. Turmeric and Boswellia together have been proven effective against joint complaints. Turmeric reduces pain and preserves joint function. The herbs mentioned above yield good results against uric acid crystals without the need for painkillers. This is great because painkillers often have a negative effect on the stomach. Help your sport horse clear up crystal formation in its joints by giving an herbal extract as a course twice a year. Of course, you can also use these herbs if your horse is a bit stiff or during periods of increased stress. The supplement can also be given to horses during the competition season or heavy training periods. Older horses also benefit from it during the cold winter months.

Such an herbal supplement combines well with silicon as silicon is the building material of, among others, cartilage and all other connective tissues. By giving silicon, you can give horses a stronger and healthier constitution.

Sources:

1. I. Bayeva & G. F. Zhegunov. Influence of physical and emotional activity on the metabolic profile of blood serum of racehorses. 2016. Biosystems Diversity Vol 24 No 2.
   https://ecology.dp.ua/index.php/ECO/article/view/011665

2. Traistaru et al. Boswellia Derivates and Rehabilitation Program in Knee Osteoarthritis Patients REV.CHIM.(Bucharest), 69, No.11, 2018.
   https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Paraschiva-Postolache-2/publication/339117093_Boswellia_Derivates_and_Rehabilitation_Program_in_Knee_Osteoarthritis_Patients/links/5ecfe99f92851c9c5e65bb69/Boswellia-Derivates-and-Rehabilitation-Program-in-Knee-Osteoarthritis-Patients.pdf

3. Dragos, D.; Gilca, M.; Gaman, L.; Vlad, A.; Iosif, L.; Stoian, I.; Lupescu, O. Phytomedicine in Joint Disorders. Nutrients 2017, 9, 70. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu9010070

4. Danilo Maciel Carneiro, Ramias Calixto Freire, Tereza Cristina de Deus Honório, et al. Randomized, Double-Blind Clinical Trial to Assess the Acute Diuretic Effect of Equisetum arvense (Field Horsetail) in Healthy Volunteers. Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2014. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/760683

5. Grases, F., Melero, G., Costa-Bauzá, A. et al. Urolithiasis and phytotherapy. International Urology and Nephrology 26, 507–511 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02767650

6. Yamasaki, M.; Kiue, Y.; Fujii, K.; Sushida, M.; Yamasaki, Y.; Sugamoto, K.; Suzuki, Y.; Koga, Y.; Kunitake, H.; Kai, H.; Ogawa, K.; Nishiyama, K.; Goto, Y.; Nakayama, T. Vaccinium virgatum Aiton Leaves Extract Suppressed Lipid Accumulation and Uric Acid Production in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes. Plants 2021, 10, 2638. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10122638