Cinnamon and Laminitis.

[bellajack]

The Laminitis Conference reports touched on feeding cinnamon and they implied, at the conference, that it was worth a try for all sorts of metabolic problems, from Diabetes to Diarrhoea, as the worst it was likely to do, as a side effect in horses allergic to it, was cause minor skin problems. But they said that it had to be from the right source.

I have found someone selling cinnamon for feeding to horses and have asked them if they could give us, on here, some advice regarding feeding it for insulin resistance and possibly to prevent insulin resistance developing in horses with the IR phenotype, and whether I could put their email address on here.

I will put their reply on here asap.

Also, Pam, I have some info. coming about using psyllium husk to treat horses with chronic diarrhoea - I don't know if this is news to you, or history?

I w

[bellajack]

From Jackie Taylor:

My jury is still out on the use of cinnamon as it's use has not been
documented in horses properly yet, not even informally. In groups where
it
has been used, some horses insulin has risen, their condition
deteriorated,
and without some form of controlled study we cannot be sure cinnamon
did not
cause this.

Besides this, in other forms of medicine there are contraindications
listed
for cinnamon. One of the reasons I studied Traditional Chinese Medicine
was
to gain access to their knowledge on the contraindications of such
herbs.

Cinnamon, in TCM, is one of the 'hottest' herbs in the book. It is
thought
to 'warm the visceral organs' and promote circulation in the abdomen
when
there is pain or cramps due to congestion, especially cold congestion,
for
instance due to hypothyroidism. It is no suprise therefore to find it
has
been used successfully to treat PolyCystic Ovarian Syndrome which is
often
characterised by both insulin resistance and dysmenorrhoea.

However, it is contraindicated where people are feverish, or hot and
sweating or have irritable bowels, or multiple allergies and
sensitivities.
If there is fever or diarrhoea caused by irritation or stimulation such
as
stomach flu, food poisoning, irritable bowel or colitis, cinnamon may
worsen
the condition.

It is also classified in TCM as a 'kidney yang tonic', suggesting a
hormonal
effect, and as such whilst it might be indicated for a 'cold yang
deficient'
condition such as hypothyroidism or mild insulin resistance, it would
be
totally contraindicated for a 'hot yin deficient' condition like
Cushing's
disease or diabetes.

It may also be contraindicated where there are other conditions
classified
in TCM as 'heat' - such as inflammation and laminitis, and acid
conditions
such as gastric ulcers or an acid hindgut. Apparently a small amount of
cinnamon may relieve gas in the stomach, but a larger amount will
actually
stimulate acid production.

So, yes, the scientific evidence suggests it can help insulin
resistance in
some cases, in some species, and we would love a whole bunch of people
to
try measuring insulin levels before and after a month after changing
nothing
but adding cinnamon to the diet! We are the research base a lot of the
time.

However, I would say proceed with caution if your horse is one of the
acid/hyper/overstimulated/oversensitive types. I have tried cinnamon on
my
horse, who is of this type, and whilst it may well be a coincidence,
every
time I have it has coincided with a worsening of his symptoms.

Do feel free to share this and my contact address -
[e-mail] would be best to publish on a group.

Jackie

[harveydales]

Thanks for posting this for us. I had been wondering about trying Quest with cinnamon but, having read the previous post, I don't think it would be wise. Quest is very sensitive to all sorts of things and get skin reactions and allergies at the drop of a hat. He also gets diahroea form the slightest food change - he is still suffering from the change to being stabled after living out all winter even though it is the same hay he is eating.

I vaguely remember something about psylium husk but have forgotten the details. Zelda - did you mention it once? Anyway, I would be interested in any details on this again.

[bellajack]

If only there were some simple solutions!!

If anyone needs any feeding advice and has not used Jackie Taylor before she is incredibly helpful and knowledgeable, does not push her own products regardlessly(as you can see, as she is selling cinnamon) and she sorted out a problem I had been having with Bella for ages in one email.

Bella had been very loose on and off for ages, my vet was no help at all, and I didn't know that garlic could have an adverse effect on gut flora. With Bella no garlic has equaled no more loose droppings and tail washing has gone from once every 2-3 days, or more often, to only when she gets it muddy! I think she is nothing short of a genius!!!

[harveydales]

Thanks, I might have a word and see what she can suggest for Quest. I don't feed garlic BUT all this started again shortly after I wormed Quest - having sworn I would never worm him again in the spring or summer!

[shiatsudales]

Just to echo what Jackie has said really. I use cinammon to help me with the CFS symptons as it can help with Kidney energy which becomes really deficient in CFS.

It is a very fine balance as to the beneficial amount to use and there are times when I eat perhaps a heaped teaspoonful in a day yet at other times I know not to eat any at all. Given you need to regulate, balance and alter the amounts used on a daily basis I can't say I'd give it a horse in doses sufficient to alter their energy state as they can't give us, as owners, the detailed feedback we'd need. Taking too much on the wrong day does increase my heart rate and sweating and can produce feverish symptons using a TCM definition of the state.

[bellajack]

That is really interesting. Sorry to be thick but can you explain what CFS stands for, please? I am not very good on human medical terminology. Is CFS Chronic Fatigue Syndrome perhaps?