Herbal simples (one herb) and compounds (multi-herbs) have been applied to veterinary medicine in a number of varied modalities for centuries.  Some of the more common administrative routes are:

• Liniments......................usually prepared in an alcoholic solution with an oil or soap base.  This allows lubrication of the fingers when the liniment is applied. Afterall, what is a liniment without therapeutic massage?  Liniments are formulated for topical application to the horse and designed to induce certain neural and vascular reactions. Counter-irritation is the most common effect desired in the large majority of liniments but certainly not the only one possible.
• Washes/Bathes............utilizes the universal solvent, water, as the primary base.  Alcohol and glycerin may be present in small amounts acting as a preservative and aid in the solubility of herbs.  They are like liniments designed for topical application on the horse, but are considered less potent in strength.
• Braces..............................contains primarily an  acetone base, but can also have alcohol combined in solution. White gasoline (containing no additives) has also been used as a base.
• Paints..............................usualy painted on a body part with a tooth brush-like applicator. It is similar to liniments, only stronger in action.  Counterirritants commonly applied as paints and blisters.
• Freezes.............................contains primarily an ether base.
• Sweats..............................almost always has a glycerin base. When applied to the horse, plastic or wax paper is wrapped over the topical application followed by stable bandages which should produce a sweat effect.
• Poultices.........................are applied as soft, semi-liquid topical applications to various parts of the body. Cataplasms or poultices have been a long mainstay in herbal medicine as well as race horse therapy. Poultices consist of  water and various mineral/herbal materials. They are commonly applied direct to the hide as a mud. Depending on one's theory, either plastic or brown paper next covers the poultice and separates it from the  normal stable bandages.
• Dressings........................are very similar to salves but differ by remaining semi-solid at body temperature.
• Salves..............................usually involves herbs infused into a fatty base of some type, such as hog lard or olive oil. As expected, salves are semi-solid preparations that are designed to be applied to the external body.  They should soften when contacting the animal's body heat.
• Drenches.........................the liquid administration of the herb in tincture, syrup, infusion, or concoction forms.
• Vapors.............................are herbal preparations designed to carry its medicinal properties into the animal's lungs.
• Crude Herb...........................the leave, root, berry, etc. of the herb fed directly to the horse in feed or bolus form.
• Injectables......................sterile herbal preparations which may be injected subcutaneously, intramuscularly, or intravenously.

©2001 Ahart Racing, Unltd