askHELTIE HELTIEhorse® Which herbs help bring your horse into mental balance?

Which herbs help bring your horse into mental balance?

A horse that is relaxed and happy – that’s what we all want! But a horse is and remains a prey animal; the negative effects of stress and tension are always lurking. During illness, negative environmental stimuli or, for example, a relocation, a good mental balance is therefore not always a given. How can you help your horse stay healthy in its mind as well?

Nettle

Clove

Stress

Triphala

Welfare

Sea buckthorn

13 March '26 • 4 min reading time

Herbs are a great tool to support your horse’s mental health and resilience. A combination of herbs often works best. For optimal results, easily absorbable herbal extracts in liquid form are often the best choice.

Stress is not only in the head

If you want to support your horse’s mental balance, keep in mind that mental and physical balance cannot be strictly separated. Healthy digestion, for example, helps in coping with stress. A well-functioning immune system does too. There is a reason for the saying: “a healthy mind in a healthy body.” Of course, this also applies to horses.

Nettle as a starting point

If you want to boost your horse’s mental resilience, start with nettle. This valuable herb has a blood-purifying effect, and a one- or two-week course gives your horse’s immune system and lymphatic system a boost. We often recommend doing a nettle course before starting an extract containing other herbs.

Clove for inner balance

A healthy body is in balance. This is also called “homeostasis.” Scientists have discovered that this balance – both physical and mental – is largely regulated by the so-called endocannabinoid system (ECS). This system acts as a kind of bridge between body and mind. Feeding cannabinoids from plants such as clove (an excellent source) can help restore balance in the body when it has been disrupted after illness or a stressful event. Thanks to the additional cannabinoids from clove, the body’s natural recovery capacity functions better again.

Chamomile, passionflower and chaste tree berry

Several plants and herbs can have a calming effect in horses and thus contribute to mental balance. Examples include algae, lavender and chamomile. Chaste tree berry, which supports a healthy hormonal balance, can also contribute to better mental health. In the wild, horses eat a wide variety of plants and herbs, but horses in the Netherlands usually do not have that choice. Therefore, it is not strange at all to add some herbs to your horse’s ration. Passionflower and chamomile in particular are known for their calming effects. Your horse will not become drowsy from these herbs, and they are not on the doping list, which means they can also be used for competition horses.

Triphala against stress hormones

The Indian herbal blend Triphala has been well studied in recent years. This traditional remedy supports digestion and actively contributes to lower cortisol levels. Cortisol is also known as the stress hormone, and when this hormone remains in your horse’s blood in large quantities for a long time, it negatively affects well-being. Triphala helps reduce chronic stress and also counteracts the biomedical effects of stress in the body. In addition, Triphala has a positive effect on the immune system. It can also address behavioral changes caused by stress.

Sea buckthorn

Another herb that influences your horse’s mental health “indirectly” is sea buckthorn. The berries, leaves and bark of the sea buckthorn plant (Hippophae rhamnoides) are used to support the overall health of horses, strengthen resistance and supplement vitamins, minerals and omega fatty acids. The Latin name Hippophae refers to the shiny coat of horses that eat this plant. Reportedly, sea buckthorn was already used by the army of Alexander the Great for both humans and horses. The first texts about the medicinal properties of sea buckthorn date back to the 4th century BC. Sea buckthorn contains vitamins A, C and E, among other things, as well as various useful minerals. Fatty acids, amino acids and flavonoids are also present in this rich supplement. Sea buckthorn has beneficial effects on digestion, has a protective function for the liver and kidneys, and plays a role in immune regulation.

Be careful with valerian!

In addition to the herbs mentioned above, you will also often see the herb valerian on the labels of calming supplements. However, this herb has a mildly sedating effect and is on the doping list. Therefore, you are not allowed to give it when competing. Keep this in mind.

Conclusion: multiple herbs in synergy

If you want to support your horse’s mental health, there are several herbs you can use. Often these herbs reinforce each other when used together; they have a synergistic effect. However, do not mix everything together indiscriminately – seek proper advice about what the best solution is for your specific horse. We are happy to advise you!

Bronnen: Christine Tara Peterson, Kate Denniston, and Deepak Chopra. Therapeutic Uses of Triphala in Ayurvedic Medicine. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.Aug 2017.607-614. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5567597/ Dhanalakshmi S, Devi RS, Srikumar R, et al. Protective effect of Triphala on cold stress-induced behavioral and biochemical abnormalities in rats. Yakugaku Zasshi 2007;127:1863–1867. https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/yakushi/127/11/127_11_1863/_article/-char/ja/ Papagianni, E.P., Stevenson, C.W. Cannabinoid Regulation of Fear and Anxiety: an Update. Curr Psychiatry Rep 21, 38 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-019-1026-z Andrea J. Narayan, Luke A. Downey, Brooke Manning, Amie C. Hayley, Cannabinoid treatments for anxiety: A systematic review and consideration of the impact of sleep disturbance, Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, Volume 143, 2022, 104941, ISSN 0149-7634. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104941 Ma, Qin-Ge, et al. "Hippophae rhamnoides L.: A comprehensive review on the botany, traditional uses, phytonutrients, health benefits, quality markers, and applications." Journal of agricultural and food chemistry 71.12 (2023): 4769-4788. Zakynthinos, G., and T. Varzakas. "Hippophae rhamnoides: safety and nutrition." Current Research in Nutrition and Food Science Journal 3.2 (2015): 89-97.

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