"Inflammation, inflammation, inflammation!! It has become quite the buzzword in human products advertised on television. The word 'inflammation' is mentioned in asthma medication commercials, pain medications and even in those targeting cardiovascular health. So what is the story and why all the hype?
The truth of the matter is that "inflammation" is a hot topic in research and in overall health. The process of inflammation is a complicated one, yet one that we are all familiar with to varying degrees. Have you ever stubbed a toe, hit your thumb with a hammer, pulled a muscle or experienced back pain? Unless you are a superhero, I am sure you have to some degree or another. Well, inflammation is a defense mechanism put out by our bodie's immune system to help protect us against infection and aid in the repair of injured or damaged tissue. So, let's pretend we hit our thumb with a hammer. First, we feel the pain, then we experience the swelling and maybe bruising. This is the inflammatory process at work, dilating blood vessels, signaling pain to the brain, recruiting white blood cells to clean up infection and to remove dead tissue. After a few days, the process is complete, swelling is reduced and the function of our thumb is fully restored. This in simplest terms is acute or short term inflammation.
The problem comes when the 'acute' inflammatory response becomes a 'chronic' or long term condition. In most cases, the inflammatory response only lasts a few days or until the tissue is healed, but in some cases the fire of inflammation can continue for weeks, months or even years. When the fire ceases to subside, continual tissue damage is done and signaling proteins that ramp up the immune system continue to be released. This chronic inflammatory response is very typical of long term injuries that fail to heal or fully recover such as tendonitis, arthritis and back pain. If the conditions continue to progress, further tissue damage and cellular function can be altered throughout the body resulting in many other diseases aside from typical injuries. It can weaken the body overall, resulting in predisposition to disease, infection and poor overall health.
Human research links 'chronic inflammation' with a host of diseases ranging from allergies, arthritis, asthma, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, skin conditions and even cancer. So, with big name diseases such as these, there is a big push in the pharmaceutical industry to find answers. Take for instance cardiovascular disease and a baby aspirin regimen. Initially, the benefit was thought to occur secondary to the blood thinning effect (anticoagulant)that aspirin provided. This is true, but they have also discovered that the baby aspirin can help reduce overall inflammation within the body, which then can lower the incidence of cardiovascular disease and even cancer. Yes, I said CANCER. Google search aspirin and cancer and you will find that those that take a baby aspirin per day average a 20% reduction in various types of cancers. Hmmmm. Makes you wonder, doesn't it? This inflammation thing could be valid after all.
The problem with various anti-inflammatory prescription pain medications is that in most instances, they only target one arm or one part of the inflammatory pathway. Well, one part is better than nothing right? True...but we can do better. Our diets and food are the key, which is nothing new to the press. Foods hold magical medicinal values, some providing anti-inflammatory properties and other as anti-oxidants. Some foods, such as fried, actually contribute to the inflammatory process. Sort of like throwing fuel on the fire.
Herbs have unbelievable medicinal properties. You have to remember that over 70% of all prescription medications are formulated after herbs. Plants are the root of all that is good. Many herbs have potent anti-inflammatory properties such as curcumin, boswellia, green tea and ashwaghanda. The beauty is that they don't just approach inflammation from one arm, but are multi-modal and affect inflammation from different perspectives. They provide effective, broad spectrum type coverage that is not "overkill". Prescription medications can tend to be 'over-effective', reducing a natural response to nothing instead of just returning it to normal levels. This is why we tend to see ulcers and kidney failure as a result of certain prescription pain medications.
Don't get me wrong, prescription pain medications are wonderful and absolutely necessary in many instances, but can come with a price with long term use. Herbs are ancient technology that have been research supported to exhibit many health benefits not only for ourselves but also for our pets and horses. The results can be phenomenal.
All our best,
Tom Schell, D.V.M.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Equine Insulin Resistance
Insulin resistance in horses has plagued us veterinarians for decades. Those "easy keepers" as we like to call them. The ones that just look at a scoop of grain or a lush pasture and they gain weight or even founder. You know the type. Well, as a veterinarian, I am not immune to this condition and actually have two insulin resistant (IR) horses myself. For years, we have battled with their weight and thankfully have not encountered any incidence of laminitis.
In many cases, just knowing that a horse is overweight with laminitis is usually all one needs to suspect IR, but we have various blood tests that we can perform to verify. One such blood test is called an insulin panel and is generally performed after an overnight fast. This test will tell us what the horse's insulin level is at rest, when there is no food source in the system. In most cases of IR, the insulin value is elevated, sometimes with an elevated glucose or sugar level as well. To explain further, insulin is the chemical that is produced by our pancreas in response to climbing blood sugar levels. Insulin is responsible for pushing the glucose into the cells in order to produce energy...in simple terms. In the case of an IR animal or human for that matter, for some reason, the cells become non-responsive to the insulin and don't allow it to introduce the glucose. This leads in many cases to an elevated insulin level as well as glucose value. The inability of the cells to respond to the insulin then can lead to not only weight gain but also impairs cellular function at various levels, including that within the hoof resulting in laminitis. If the cells can't get their energy source, they don't function very well.
Traditional treatments for IR include turnout of the horse onto a dry lot with minimal grass as well as reduced grain intake or "low carb" feeds. If the horse has laminitis, then appropriate measures are taken there to stabilize that condition. The problem, in my eyes, with this traditional treatment regimen is that it is not addressing the underlying problem, all it is doing is depriving the system of carbohydrates.
In human research on diabetics, the conclusion has been drawn that chronic inflammation is at the root of the problem. This is a long discussion and meant for another time and post. The bottom line is that the inflammation is responsible on a certain level for the cell's inability to respond to insulin. Therefore, in theory, if we are able to control the inflammatory response, we may be able to reverse the problem and improve cellular response.
Our Cur-OST products are targeted at chronic inflammation, period. We have had reports both in our veterinary practice as well as in our customers across the U.S. that their IR horses are improving on our products, specifically the EQ GREEN product. I have used the EQ Green product in my own horses as well as a few others and followed their insulin values. There is definitely a response going on with reduced insulin values after administration of the product. Recently, I have been utilizing a new formula that we are working on that has a combination of berry extracts shown in human literature to decrease insulin values in IR humans. The results with our new formula have been impressive. Just recently we had a mule on the test formula from Texas. His initial insulin value was 222 pmol/L and after 30 days, his level had decreased to 102 pmol/L. Normal insulin values are 32-187 pmol/L. He is doing well per his owner and feels great.
The big question in my mind is if we can control the inflammation and reduce insulin values, can these horses resume a normal life being on pasture with little to no limitations? In the case of my horses, they are both on the test formula, maintaining normal insulin values, on full pasture and even fed a small amount of grain with orchard grass in the evening when stalled. Clinically they are doing great with some weight loss noted but still much to go. We are headed in the right direction.
Want more information or have questions? Email me through our website.
All my best,
Tom Schell, D.V.M.
In many cases, just knowing that a horse is overweight with laminitis is usually all one needs to suspect IR, but we have various blood tests that we can perform to verify. One such blood test is called an insulin panel and is generally performed after an overnight fast. This test will tell us what the horse's insulin level is at rest, when there is no food source in the system. In most cases of IR, the insulin value is elevated, sometimes with an elevated glucose or sugar level as well. To explain further, insulin is the chemical that is produced by our pancreas in response to climbing blood sugar levels. Insulin is responsible for pushing the glucose into the cells in order to produce energy...in simple terms. In the case of an IR animal or human for that matter, for some reason, the cells become non-responsive to the insulin and don't allow it to introduce the glucose. This leads in many cases to an elevated insulin level as well as glucose value. The inability of the cells to respond to the insulin then can lead to not only weight gain but also impairs cellular function at various levels, including that within the hoof resulting in laminitis. If the cells can't get their energy source, they don't function very well.
Traditional treatments for IR include turnout of the horse onto a dry lot with minimal grass as well as reduced grain intake or "low carb" feeds. If the horse has laminitis, then appropriate measures are taken there to stabilize that condition. The problem, in my eyes, with this traditional treatment regimen is that it is not addressing the underlying problem, all it is doing is depriving the system of carbohydrates.
In human research on diabetics, the conclusion has been drawn that chronic inflammation is at the root of the problem. This is a long discussion and meant for another time and post. The bottom line is that the inflammation is responsible on a certain level for the cell's inability to respond to insulin. Therefore, in theory, if we are able to control the inflammatory response, we may be able to reverse the problem and improve cellular response.
Our Cur-OST products are targeted at chronic inflammation, period. We have had reports both in our veterinary practice as well as in our customers across the U.S. that their IR horses are improving on our products, specifically the EQ GREEN product. I have used the EQ Green product in my own horses as well as a few others and followed their insulin values. There is definitely a response going on with reduced insulin values after administration of the product. Recently, I have been utilizing a new formula that we are working on that has a combination of berry extracts shown in human literature to decrease insulin values in IR humans. The results with our new formula have been impressive. Just recently we had a mule on the test formula from Texas. His initial insulin value was 222 pmol/L and after 30 days, his level had decreased to 102 pmol/L. Normal insulin values are 32-187 pmol/L. He is doing well per his owner and feels great.
The big question in my mind is if we can control the inflammation and reduce insulin values, can these horses resume a normal life being on pasture with little to no limitations? In the case of my horses, they are both on the test formula, maintaining normal insulin values, on full pasture and even fed a small amount of grain with orchard grass in the evening when stalled. Clinically they are doing great with some weight loss noted but still much to go. We are headed in the right direction.
Want more information or have questions? Email me through our website.
All my best,
Tom Schell, D.V.M.
Friday, September 9, 2011
Testimonials
We get testimonials emailed to us on a routine basis, but thought I'd share a couple today. It is always great to hear how our Cur-OST products are helping horses as well as dogs in need. Keep them coming !!!
"I am the owner and trainer at Galway Farm in Long Grove, Il. We have approximately 49-52 horses boarded and we attend 'A' shows in the midwest. My 22 year old horse was very stiff and lame. I thought I may have to put him down, but by chance we found Cur-OST EQ and gave him the first 14 days double dose as recommended. I couldn't believe the change in him, it was amazing! He is no longer stiff or lame and we are riding him again. When I saw the change in him, I decided to try it on four of my other horses. A 7 y.o warmblood had been lame for 2 years and we had tried everything. After giving him the Cur-OST EQ, he is now sound and we are getting him ready for show season. The other 3 are also so improved that I am recommending the product to several of my clients who have been having issues with their horses and were not able to join us at the shows. We now have 10 horses on the Cur-OST EQ products, first the stronger EQ Plus Green Tea free (for the horses that show) and then we switched them to the Green product for a maintenance supplement"
Lorrie Canady, Galway Farm
"Thank you for the shipment of Cur-OST EQ product to Galway Farm for my horse, Rose. Rose has made such great improvement in just this month since taking the Cur-OST EQ. She has been so much happier as well. It has been great for me to see the difference in her ability as well as her mood and temperament."
Stephanie Syzmonik
Thank you again to all of our customers and patients for their support!
All our best,
Tom Schell, D.V.M.
"I am the owner and trainer at Galway Farm in Long Grove, Il. We have approximately 49-52 horses boarded and we attend 'A' shows in the midwest. My 22 year old horse was very stiff and lame. I thought I may have to put him down, but by chance we found Cur-OST EQ and gave him the first 14 days double dose as recommended. I couldn't believe the change in him, it was amazing! He is no longer stiff or lame and we are riding him again. When I saw the change in him, I decided to try it on four of my other horses. A 7 y.o warmblood had been lame for 2 years and we had tried everything. After giving him the Cur-OST EQ, he is now sound and we are getting him ready for show season. The other 3 are also so improved that I am recommending the product to several of my clients who have been having issues with their horses and were not able to join us at the shows. We now have 10 horses on the Cur-OST EQ products, first the stronger EQ Plus Green Tea free (for the horses that show) and then we switched them to the Green product for a maintenance supplement"
Lorrie Canady, Galway Farm
"Thank you for the shipment of Cur-OST EQ product to Galway Farm for my horse, Rose. Rose has made such great improvement in just this month since taking the Cur-OST EQ. She has been so much happier as well. It has been great for me to see the difference in her ability as well as her mood and temperament."
Stephanie Syzmonik
Thank you again to all of our customers and patients for their support!
All our best,
Tom Schell, D.V.M.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Frequent Questions
I receive several emails daily regarding the usage of our Cur-OST products in horses. Many horse owners email with questions about particular conditions that their horses are facing, while many also email with general questions about which product might be best for their particular situation. A recent question emailed in to me is paraphrased below:
"Hello, I am emailing in order to determine which of your products might be best for my horse. I have a mid-aged mare that was recently diagnosed with arthritis in her ankle. She is quite painful and lame even when just walking. Right now, we are giving her bute daily, which is requiring a high dose to ease her discomfort. I also have a 4 year old with no current problems, but he will be a hunter prospect. Which of your products would you recommend?"
As a veterinarian, I look at our line of Cur-OST EQ products in a fairly systematic type of approach. First, I ask myself if the condition we are treating is acute (just happened recently) or chronic (has been going on for a while). Second, I try to get a handle on the degree or level of pain that the horse is experiencing. In acute and very painful conditions, I will recommend the EQ PLUS product. The reason is that this particular formula contains a higher level of curcumin as well as provides individual antioxidants to combat oxidative stress that may be present. In more chronic and less painful conditions, I will generally start with the EQ Green product which helps to combat inflammation and pain, but also provides important nutrients to help improve blood flow and aid in tissue repair.
Having said all of this, we have cases of laminitis, arthritis and navicular disease that may fall into the acute or the chronic category. Again, here we have to look at the time frame of the condition. If you have a horse with arthritis, how long has the condition been going on? How bad is the pain? If the condition has been present for several months or maybe even a year, then I will start with the EQ Green product. If the horse has just recently become lame and is quite painful, then I will start with the EQ Plus product.
Keep in mind that many horses that start with the EQ Plus product can be switched to the EQ Green product successfully after the condition is controlled. In the case of prevention and joint maintenance for those horses that are currently not having any problems, I will use the EQ Green product as this formula seems to readily support the joints and reduce inflammation.
I am hopeful that this response helps to clarify how and when I will use one product over another as a veterinarian. My intention is to help, not to confuse. If there are any questions out there, please feel free to email me directly through our website.
All our best,
Tom Schell, D.V.M.
"Hello, I am emailing in order to determine which of your products might be best for my horse. I have a mid-aged mare that was recently diagnosed with arthritis in her ankle. She is quite painful and lame even when just walking. Right now, we are giving her bute daily, which is requiring a high dose to ease her discomfort. I also have a 4 year old with no current problems, but he will be a hunter prospect. Which of your products would you recommend?"
As a veterinarian, I look at our line of Cur-OST EQ products in a fairly systematic type of approach. First, I ask myself if the condition we are treating is acute (just happened recently) or chronic (has been going on for a while). Second, I try to get a handle on the degree or level of pain that the horse is experiencing. In acute and very painful conditions, I will recommend the EQ PLUS product. The reason is that this particular formula contains a higher level of curcumin as well as provides individual antioxidants to combat oxidative stress that may be present. In more chronic and less painful conditions, I will generally start with the EQ Green product which helps to combat inflammation and pain, but also provides important nutrients to help improve blood flow and aid in tissue repair.
Having said all of this, we have cases of laminitis, arthritis and navicular disease that may fall into the acute or the chronic category. Again, here we have to look at the time frame of the condition. If you have a horse with arthritis, how long has the condition been going on? How bad is the pain? If the condition has been present for several months or maybe even a year, then I will start with the EQ Green product. If the horse has just recently become lame and is quite painful, then I will start with the EQ Plus product.
Keep in mind that many horses that start with the EQ Plus product can be switched to the EQ Green product successfully after the condition is controlled. In the case of prevention and joint maintenance for those horses that are currently not having any problems, I will use the EQ Green product as this formula seems to readily support the joints and reduce inflammation.
I am hopeful that this response helps to clarify how and when I will use one product over another as a veterinarian. My intention is to help, not to confuse. If there are any questions out there, please feel free to email me directly through our website.
All our best,
Tom Schell, D.V.M.
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