The Liver is a vital part of the digestive system, but it is much more than that, it is in fact the receiving and processing plant that takes food, delivered via the digestive tract, works it over, repackages it and then ships it out to the rest of the body for use.

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The liver has literally hundreds of roles in the body

This may be for energy production, it may be for protein building, it may be repackaged fats that can  deliver cholesterol to nerve and brain cells, or rearranged amino acids so the body receives the specific ones it needs. It may be iron in a form that can be delivered to the bone marrow for the formation of new red blood cells. In all these actions, and hundreds more like them the role of the liver is vital.

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The liver is a pivotal player in dealing with toxins in the body

There is no system or part of the body that does not depend to some extent on the function of the liver, or that may not be adversely affected if the liver is unhealthy, under-functioning or toxic. The liver is an essential component, if not the pivotal player, in dealing with toxins in the body, either breaking them down into safer substances or eliminating them from the body. If all else fails the liver will even store toxins itself to protect the rest of the body, however after a while this act of generosity leads to liver damage and the rest of the body will suffer anyway. Because of this amazing and central role that the liver plays, it becomes extremely important in dealing with any health problems to consider the state of the liver and the role it may be playing in both causing and trying to resolve the problem.

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Failure of the liver to perform optimally can have profound results!

Just think what can happen if the liver fails to do its job properly, because it plays such an important role it can affect the rest of the body in hundreds of different ways, these will include indigestion, bloating, colic, diabetes, hormone imbalance, period or menopausal problems, headaches and migraines, and yes horses do get headaches and migraines, the development of allergies, leading to a vast range of symptoms from skin eruptions, lung problems like COPD and mucus on the lungs, bursting blood vessels, blood disorders, arthritis (over acidity of the body), sinusitis, behavioural problems, mood swings and mental confusion. The horse could experience sugar imbalances with all the many associated problems plus many mineral and vitamin deficiency signs, tiredness, lethargy, poor appetite and the risk of cancer greatly increased.
 

Prevention is better than cure

A regular detox is essential for good health, this includes the much maligned bran mash with Epsom salts at least twice a week for a month, in fact a bran mash once or twice a week is a good idea to give permanently, or feed a natural diet that does not contain processed food and cane sugars.  Feed good vegetables that horses like for example sliced turnips, broccoli, carrots, cabbage, apples, it is amazing what fruit and vegetables horses like, for example after hard exertion many like bananas as they replace potassium or celery for sodium. In the spring season, beneficial tonic plants fresh are nettles, cleavers (stickyweed), Jack by the Hedge, dandelions, cow parsley to name a few. Dandelion and Milk Thistle are the best herbs for toning and cleansing the liver, there are others but not always easily accessible fresh so a good alternative is dried herbs specially combined to support Liver function - see product page.

Seaweed also breaks down toxins in the body and is a good supplement to feed for other minerals and trace elements as a broad spectrum supplement. See Seaweeds on product page. 

It is worth remembering that this information is also applicable for you!!!

You can take the Epsom salts without the bran!!!

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updated 14-03-19