Hi,

I'm new to this group. I'm writing on behalf of a friend who's horse has sweet itch. Can anybody recommend anything natural she can give him?

Thanks

Deb

Hi Deb, Welcome to the community

There is a top tip in this forum about using tea for sweet itch - I think you could also probably use chamomile tea as well as your bog standard tea.

There is also a good article here by Christopher Day -  an excellent holistic vet - about homeopathic remedies.

Good luck to your friend  - let us know how she and her horse go.

Cheers

Gina

Hi Deb,

I would defintiely advise your friend to feed her boy garlic. I use the gralic granules, you don't say how big her horse/pony is but the recommeneded dose is usually on the tub. 

I'd also recommend using essential oils. Lavendar, Bergamot, German chamomile, Roman chamomile, Tea Tree, Geranium, Hyssop, Citonella, Lime and Garlic are all helpful.

Be careful with the garlic, it is pretty strong on the skin so also use chamomile or yarrow. With oils I probably wouldn't mix more than 3-4 max and mix them in a base oil or gel (like Aloe vera)

I've used the below essential oils mixed in 100mls of base oil (I used coconut)

4 drops Roman chamomile
4 drops German chamomile
4 drops Garlic oil  
• 10 drops Lavender oil
• 10 drops Tea tree oil

Apply it morning and night, and if may be a few days before you see an improvement - stick with it!

Your friend could also consider getting a Boett rug - stops the midges being able to bite him in the first place.

Good luck!

Your friend could also bathe the affeted areas with a mint infusion which is easy to make. I use about 75 gms of fresh mint or  30 gms of dried, poor over 250 mls of boiling water and leave it to stew for about 1/2 of an hour, then strain. Dip a clean cloth in the infusion and dab onto the mane/tail - where he is affected. Make sure you blot off any excess, you don't want to make it mushy and let it dry naturally. I do it morning and evening. Once it is dry you can put on tea trea or marigold cream (I tend to buy these - you can easily find a supplier near you from an internet search).

Feeding garlic definitely helps - other useful preventitive herbs for next time are clevers, nettles, burdock or seaweed, again you can buy these dried off the internet.

Hope this helps!

Hi again Deb,

Just a quickie - it would be prudent for your friend to check with her vet first before using any herbs/oils etc especially if her chap is on any other medication.

Hi again! I just wanted to write and say thank you - my friend bathed her boy with the mint and used the oils as suggested, she's seen a major improvement in him - oh and she's also added garlic to his feed.

Thanks very much to everyone who contributed