Rosehips
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ROSEHIPS - TRULY A WONDER HERB
By Victoria Ferguson Dip.Herb.Med.
The constituents of Rosehips are extensive, headed by Vitamins C A D E, essential fatty acids (omega 3 & 6), anti-oxidants, flavonoids, iron, copper and cobalt. Minerals total 18 and vitamins 14.
This powerhouse of nutrients working in synergy stimulates the immune system, stimulates the capillary circulation (especially dense in the lungs and the hooves), reduces inflammation caused by osteo and rheumatoid arthritis, and helps to resolve respiratory infections and all kinds of tissue destruction.
Research in humans and more recently in equines has shown that antioxidants protect against certain diseases by opposing free radical cells. Free radicals damage tissue and are implicated in many diseases including cardiovascular disease, osteo and rheumatoid arthritis and cancer. Excessive numbers of free radicals are generated in an organism which is stressed, worsened with poor nutritional status (lack of antioxidants) and tissue damage results.
Antioxidants neutralise free radicals so they are therefore an essential nutrient for every horse. They include enzymes synthesised by the body from mineral building blocks such as zinc, manganese, iron and selenium, vitamins ingested in the diet and coenzymes generated during metabolism and phytochemicals with a high flavonoid content. These are found in red wine, beer, vegetables and many herbs.
Norwegian research in 2002 set out to establish the best sources of flavonoids from a wide range of fruit and vegetables. Rosehips from Rosa canina, which is technically a fruit, came out on top. The amounts of Vitamin C in Rosehips naturally varies from 700 to 2000 mg per 100 grams.
So why not just give synthetic vitamin C ? Because research in horses, carried out in Denmark, shows that naturally synthesised vitamins, that is those found in raw foods, such as Rosehips, are more efficiently absorbed than synthetic vitamins. All the other substances in the Rosehips obviously aid absorption and also contribute a wide range of additional benefits.
This research also showed that viral or bacterial infections lower the horse’s level of Vitamin C , which is further worsened in a horse in full training. Persistently low Vitamin C levels inhibits growth and repair of cartilage and bone tissue, which leads to impaired mobility, anaemia and lack of performance. Similarly a substantial English study found that acute lung infections reduced Vitamin C levels.
The Danish trial also demonstrated elevated levels of circulating haemoglobin and raised red cell counts from high dosages of Rosehips, which also enhanced performance. So does Rosehips work like EPO (erithropoetin) ? No the red blood cells were all normal, just more of them.
The ratio of Rosehips in Herbal Horse VitalisÒ is based on a maintenance rate of 20 grams per day for an average sized horse (450 kgs). Feeding rates vary considerably the lowest being miniatures and the highest being heavy horses and high performance horses.
Higher rates of Rosehips can be fed whenever circumstances outlined above prevail, for an average sized horse up to 100 grams a day, to provide a therapeutic effect.
© Victoria Ferguson 2010
References on Rosehips Research
A Randomised, Placebo-controlled, Double-blind Study on the Immune System of Horses, Their Working Capacity and Behaviour : Rosehip Extract Exerts an Anti-inflammatory & Anti-Oxidant Effect in Horses – Kaj Winther, Prof Arsalan Khazazmi, Copenhagen
