My
Favorite Herbs
and Fly
Spray RecipesA bit of cinnamon for the insulin
resistant horses, a quarter cup of peppermint leaves for everyone to
inhibit the absorption of the iron in our AZ hay, a handful of
chamomile leaves and marshmallow root for the tummy and a half cup of
my fall blend when the temperatures take a dip.
It's been a way of life for so long that I don't give it a second thought.
My Favorite Herbs section is now part of my new website Witcheylady Creations and Potions
formerly just my dreamcatcher site, the potions part is relatively new. Per the suggestion of friends, I now have some of my own herbal blends available for purchase.
I started preparing my own herbal blends for many reasons. I prepare them in smaller amounts than other herbal suppliers so I can assure a more accurate dose of each individual herb. The other advantage to this is that if my horse has a reaction to an herb I can isolate and eliminate that herb from the mix. I have found that many blends on the market often have an herb or two I prefer not to give. For example some mixtures have herbs that act as diuretics (which means they increase urination), I feel that a diuretic in the Arizona summer could very easily deplete a horse of potassium. Many blends have herbs with warming qualities which again I would not want to administer in the summer. Tamera's arthritis would benefit from yucca but she does not tolerate yucca and colicks. So any of the commercial blends containing yucca are out of the question.
If you are interested in herbs for your horse and a dreamcatcher of course, be sure and visit my other site:
I have just started a new line of flavorings for horses, that are deemed safe for Insulin Resistant horses by equine nutrionist and author Dr. Eleanor Kellon. Dr. Kellon reviews all my herbal preparations. Our gelding Doc convinced me to take on this new endeavor as he is quite the picky eater and tends to get bored with the same feed day in and day out. In addition to the safe flavorings, our dried seasonal blends are my horses' favorites. A taste of the wild to break up the monotony of domesticated life. There is even a blend I give Freddie, my border collie for his arthritis, that has worked wonders. Safer and more effective than rimadyl.
It's been a way of life for so long that I don't give it a second thought.
My Favorite Herbs section is now part of my new website Witcheylady Creations and Potions
formerly just my dreamcatcher site, the potions part is relatively new. Per the suggestion of friends, I now have some of my own herbal blends available for purchase.
I started preparing my own herbal blends for many reasons. I prepare them in smaller amounts than other herbal suppliers so I can assure a more accurate dose of each individual herb. The other advantage to this is that if my horse has a reaction to an herb I can isolate and eliminate that herb from the mix. I have found that many blends on the market often have an herb or two I prefer not to give. For example some mixtures have herbs that act as diuretics (which means they increase urination), I feel that a diuretic in the Arizona summer could very easily deplete a horse of potassium. Many blends have herbs with warming qualities which again I would not want to administer in the summer. Tamera's arthritis would benefit from yucca but she does not tolerate yucca and colicks. So any of the commercial blends containing yucca are out of the question.
If you are interested in herbs for your horse and a dreamcatcher of course, be sure and visit my other site:
I have just started a new line of flavorings for horses, that are deemed safe for Insulin Resistant horses by equine nutrionist and author Dr. Eleanor Kellon. Dr. Kellon reviews all my herbal preparations. Our gelding Doc convinced me to take on this new endeavor as he is quite the picky eater and tends to get bored with the same feed day in and day out. In addition to the safe flavorings, our dried seasonal blends are my horses' favorites. A taste of the wild to break up the monotony of domesticated life. There is even a blend I give Freddie, my border collie for his arthritis, that has worked wonders. Safer and more effective than rimadyl.
I also believe that flies like microbes, worms, bacteria, etc. build up an immunity with increased exposure to the same ingredients (kind of like penicillin resistant infections). So something might work for awhile or what doesn't work for me might just work for you and visa versa. Having said that, here are some recipes. I have graded the ones I have used. My A+ would be the perfect natural spray providing 8 hour maximum protection against all flying creatures. Haven't found it yet.
Recipe #1 (The popular Avon SSS mixture)
(this is my old stand by and possibly most effective on Arizona flies and mosquitoes too)
2 cups White Vinegar
1 cup Avon Skin-So Soft
I cup of water
1 tablespoon of Eucalyptus Oil
(For extra mosquito repellant, a friend of mine adds a few drops of catnip oil too)
Be sure and shake well. I give it a B+
1 cup Avon Skin-So Soft
I cup of water
1 tablespoon of Eucalyptus Oil
(For extra mosquito repellant, a friend of mine adds a few drops of catnip oil too)
Be sure and shake well. I give it a B+
Recipe #2
(another stand-by)
1 part Citronella Oil
7 parts water
You can decrease to 4 parts water if pests are really bad.
I use 1 part c. oil to 5 parts water, and rate it a B-
Recipe #3
2 cups apple cider vinegar
2 cups cold prepared tea, sage or chamomile
1 ml (20 drops) eucalytus oil
1 ml (20 drops) citronella oil
½ ml (10 drops) lavender oil
½ ml (10 drops tea tree oil
½ ml (10 drops) cedar oil
1 ml (20 drops) emulsifier such as polysorbate 20 (you can skip this ingredient but shake mixture frequently)
(Recipe from Dressage Today Staff)
I tried this and gave it a CRecipe #4
1 part insect repellent oil (Citronella, Cedarwood,Lemon Grass, Eucalyptus, Peppermint, Tea Tree, Lavender or castor oil)
10 parts witch
hazel C
Recipe #5
Recipe #5
1oz. Citronella Oil
2 oz. Avon Skin So Soft
1 cup Apple Cider vinegar
1 cup of water
Recipe #6
6 oz. Avon skin So Soft
14 oz of water C+
Recipe #7
½ tsp Oil of Myrrh
2 cups of water
½ cup apple cider vinegar
¼ tsp Citronella Oil
(Recipe from Mary Brennan, DVM author of Complete Holistic Care and Healing for Horses: The Owner's Veterinary Guide to Alternative Methods and Remedies- Visit Dr. Mary Brennan's Website
Recipe # 8
1/3 cup of Listerine mouthwash
1/3 cup of Apple Cider Vinegar
1/3 cup of vegetable
oil B-
If you don't want to mix your own fly spray but want to stay natural, Larry's Horse Spray (http://www.horsesdacor.com/) in my opinion is the best. Dynamite has a spray called Dyna-Shield and Chamisa Ridge has one called Equi-Mist. However, I have had better results with Larry's Horse Spray, during mosquito season I just add several drops of catnip oil.....works great.
Click on the witch to e-mail me.
Please remember that like any other information in this site, use my remedies at your own risk. Horses are like humans, they can be allergic to most anything. Introduce new things (feed, fly sprays, shampoos,etc.) cautiously and I cannot repeat this enough times-always research everything thoroughly.
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[List of Owners with Rehabilitated Navicular Horses] [Lady and Thunder] [Navicular Syndrome...Incurable?...Maybe not?] [Our Favorite Links]
[Our Friends at Rainbow Bridge] [Photo Album] [PSSM and a Quarter Horse Named Doc] [Raining Cats and Dogs]
[The Magical and Wonderful Doc] [Witcheylady Creations & Potions]
[Cushing's Disease/Insulin Resistance and Tamera] [Just What the Heck is Navicular, Anyway?]
[List of Owners with Rehabilitated Navicular Horses] [Lady and Thunder] [Navicular Syndrome...Incurable?...Maybe not?] [Our Favorite Links]
[Our Friends at Rainbow Bridge] [Photo Album] [PSSM and a Quarter Horse Named Doc] [Raining Cats and Dogs]
[The Magical and Wonderful Doc] [Witcheylady Creations & Potions]