Turmeric for Horse with Cushing's? Interactions with other Medications?

[newhorsemommy]

I’m thinking about trying turmeric paste for my gelding with arthritis.

He also has Cushing’s. He gets 1/4 tab of Previcox daily, along with 1 mg of Prascend and chaste tree berry.

I would be adding the turmeric on top of the Previcox, not trying to replace it.

Has anyone used these in combination? Any cautions?

I may end up consulting with my vet and/or an herbalist to be sure there would be no interactions. I was hesitant to add the chaste tree berry powder to the Prascend, but my vet OK’d it, and the results have been fantastic. He shed out MUCH earlier this year and I’m hoping we won’t grow the horrid winter coat next year. Comparing photos of last year to how he looks now, I am very pleased with the results of the chaste tree berry.

TIA.

[shezabrazenmare]

Let us know if turmeric helps. I might try it on my horses.

[Action42]

Turmeric has been shown to be a fairly potent COX inhibitor. Previcox is also a COX inhibitor. I would use caution in using turmeric in any animal (or person for that matter) that is concurrently on another NSAID or steroid as there is a possible risk of causing GI ulceration.

These potential interactions have not been published in literature yet, but the mechanism of action of both compounds should be enough to make us think well before using them together.

TL;DR
Use caution when using Turmeric with other NSAID and/or steroids

[Pippigirl]

Have you checked out the Turmeric User group on facebook? I’m assuming you have. They have a recipe posted and amounts to use (don’t forget the fresh ground black pepper).

[Scribbler]

If the pharmaceuticals are working, why do you want to use an herbal medicine on top of the pharma?

If the pharma is not working, why do you want to continue it?

Also, good idea to find out exactly what it is the herbal is meant to do. If it is doing the same thing as the pharma, would as the other poster mentioned possibly be a problem.

[newhorsemommy]

[QUOTE=Scribbler;8674979]
If the pharmaceuticals are working, why do you want to use an herbal medicine on top of the pharma?

If the pharma is not working, why do you want to continue it?

Also, good idea to find out exactly what it is the herbal is meant to do. If it is doing the same thing as the pharma, would as the other poster mentioned possibly be a problem.[/QUOTE]

I’ll quiz my vet. The turmeric would be for the arthritis. I just thought it might give an extra “boost” so to speak, rather than increasing the previcox. We want him to feel as good as possible, without feeling SO good that he causes further injury to himself.

The chaste tree was an excellent addition to the Prascend. The Prascend was and is controlling his ACTH levels (and laminitis so far) but it was doing NOTHING for his shedding. I’d read that could happen. So rather than upping the Prascend dosage, which I don’t want to do until indicated by the ACTH levels, I added the herbal “support” as well.

Frankly, I’d really like to add astragalus, but at that point I probably really would need to find an herbalist.

[newhorsemommy]

[QUOTE=Pippigirl;8674953]
Have you checked out the Turmeric User group on facebook? I’m assuming you have. They have a recipe posted and amounts to use (don’t forget the fresh ground black pepper).[/QUOTE]

Yes, I was going to try the paste, because I thought the small amount of coconut oil might also help with his dandruff. This all assumes he would eat any of it. He’s remarkably picky. He just sniffs the bowl when anything new is added and walks away. If I scoop it out of the bowl and feed him by hand for a couple of days that will sometimes convince him to eat something new. He would have NOTHING to do with a coat supplement, but scarfed up the chaste tree berry like it was the greatest thing he’d ever had.

[Pippigirl]

[QUOTE=newhorsemommy;8675438]
Yes, I was going to try the paste, because I thought the small amount of coconut oil might also help with his dandruff. This all assumes he would eat any of it. He’s remarkably picky. He just sniffs the bowl when anything new is added and walks away. If I scoop it out of the bowl and feed him by hand for a couple of days that will sometimes convince him to eat something new. He would have NOTHING to do with a coat supplement, but scarfed up the chaste tree berry like it was the greatest thing he’d ever had.[/QUOTE]

I have much better luck with feeding the turmeric If I don’t use coconut oil. For some reason my horse will not eat it with the coconut oil. Dammit. I have more success with using flax oil though…