Through a group on facebook, i came across something called "Pig oil and Sulphur", as a remedy against mites and infections in horses feathers. After a long time of information searching and trying it on my horse, I want to share the knowledge as it has been greatly beneficial for me and kept my horses feathers clean, mite and infection free, along with some other beneficial uses!
Pig oil is a paraffin based mineral oil, called pig oil because it was used on pigs to protect their skin from mites and fleas. It clogs pores and makes the skin a water free environment, making it unsuitable for mites, who thrive in moist skin. So, they end up suffocating.
Note that this is a medical grade paraffin, and not paraffin oil used in oil lamps and such. The paraffin I use is the same type used to rinse out the intestines and bowels of horses suffering from colic and is commonly used within the medical and cosmetic industry.
Flowers of Sulphur is the common english name for pure mineral sulphur and is found in powder form. The sulphur is gather from mineral sulphur deposits in nature, found as yellow rocks, and grinded to yield the powder. Although sulphur sounds scary for many people, as they connect it to harmful substances like sulphuric acid, sulphuric gases and such, the pure mineral sulphur is harmless, mild and has many beneficial uses.
This was infomation I found on sulphur online at http://www.healthylivinganswers.com/vitamins/sulphur-mineral.html
"The Sulphur mineral is an amazing mineral that has a historical reputation for curing many ailments and alleviating the symtoms of many condtions. In third place behind calcium and phosphorus, Sulphur is the most abundant mineral in the human body. Every single living cell inside the body contains an element of Sulphur and it is also a component of amino acids which are seen as the building blocks of the body.
Sulphur has a reputation as being the body's beautifying mineral. If you have ever immersed yourself in a Sulphur spring, you know that this statement is true. Another reason for this claim to fame probably has to do with the fact that Sulphur is in keratin which keeps hair, fingernails and skin strong and healthy. Sulphur also plays a significant role in the production of collagen, skin's best ally. Collagen is actually present in the skin's connective tissues and these tissues help maintain the skin's elasticity. Collagen also helps wounds heal better and faster."
And, relevant to usage with horses, I found this information at http://www.equine-iridology.co.uk/equine-iridology/herbs/buy-herbs-for-horses.php/letter/f/
And, relevant to usage with horses, I found this information at http://www.equine-iridology.co.uk/equine-iridology/herbs/buy-herbs-for-horses.php/letter/f/
"A bright yellow powder obtained from natural deposits of mineral. A natural and pure product that is safe to use and does not harm if ingested. It can be helpful for itchy skin conditions such as sweet itch, lice, flea allergies, mange, ringworm. Being anti fungal and antiseptic it can be put on wounds as it helps the healing process. Mixed with a cream or oil such as Pig Oil, it helps with conditions such as mud fever and mite infestation.
Application: Apply a small amount daily like talcum powder, dusted on using a flour shaker or old talc bottle or;
Mixed with Pig Oil: 1 part flowers of sulphur to 5 parts oil."
The powder is insoluble in water, and is therefore mixed and dissolved in paraffin oil to make the product known as Pig oil and Sulphur.
The sulphur thus has an anti bacterial and anti fungus effect, and additionally aids in the skins wound healing process. Perfect for horse feet suffering from fungus, infections, fleas and mites. It is also mentioned that sulphur stimulates hair growth, so a little mixture in the roots of the mane and tail cant hurt :-)
It is worth noting however, that as with all anti bacterial and anti fungus remedies, bacteria and fungus can develop resistance against the treatment. So I would not recommend using it too often, and not more than necessary. I treat my horse approximately once per 2 months, just as maintenance treatment. During periods of heavy attacks, I used the treatments once per week until the feathers were free from visible infections and wounds. This took maximum three treatments for me.
Everyone will find their own optimal way of using this based on the effect they observe, but here is my "recipe" for the treatment.
I use mixtures of 100 grams sulphur per 1 litre mineral oil. So far I have used Natusan baby oil, which is almost pure cleansed paraffin.
1. Clean and dry feet, skin and feathers. It is important the skin and feathers are clean and dry before applying the sulphur oil mixture. As the mixture is water repellant, it can not work optimally in a wet environment. I wash all feet, as high up as needed, with an appropriate soap having a pH as close to the skin as possible (4-4.5, I use Optima pH animal shampoo). If he can stay indoors, I dry off with a towel, and leave him to completely dry overnight. Otherwise, I use a high effect blow dryer to blow his feet completely dry.
2. Using a squeesable bottle with a tip (I use an empty bottle of wood glue), I apply the sulphur oil mixture all the way into the skin, all over the foot up to the knee. I massage thoroughly to make sure the oil is distributed evenly and properly. It will be messy! And although the mixture is harmless and mild, I recommend using gloves as the sulphur gives off the smell of matches, and as it is insoluble in water, it is hard to get the smell off :-)
3. LEAVE on the skin. Is not to be rinsed or wiped off. It is to be applied and left on. It will look messy for a couple of days with oil and yellow powder residue on the feet, but afterwards the feathers will look shiny, they will be easy to groom and be more dirt and dust repellant.
NORWEGIAN
Gjennom facebook gruppen "Hestefokus", fikk jeg tips om å prøve noe som ble kalt "pig oil and sulphur" mot midd. Jeg lette lenge etter informasjon om denne griseoljen og har nå funnet utrolig god informasjon, og anvendelsesområder! Så jeg tenkte å dele det, da det var utrolig godt for meg å finne et slikt produkt!
The sulphur thus has an anti bacterial and anti fungus effect, and additionally aids in the skins wound healing process. Perfect for horse feet suffering from fungus, infections, fleas and mites. It is also mentioned that sulphur stimulates hair growth, so a little mixture in the roots of the mane and tail cant hurt :-)
It is worth noting however, that as with all anti bacterial and anti fungus remedies, bacteria and fungus can develop resistance against the treatment. So I would not recommend using it too often, and not more than necessary. I treat my horse approximately once per 2 months, just as maintenance treatment. During periods of heavy attacks, I used the treatments once per week until the feathers were free from visible infections and wounds. This took maximum three treatments for me.
Everyone will find their own optimal way of using this based on the effect they observe, but here is my "recipe" for the treatment.
I use mixtures of 100 grams sulphur per 1 litre mineral oil. So far I have used Natusan baby oil, which is almost pure cleansed paraffin.
1. Clean and dry feet, skin and feathers. It is important the skin and feathers are clean and dry before applying the sulphur oil mixture. As the mixture is water repellant, it can not work optimally in a wet environment. I wash all feet, as high up as needed, with an appropriate soap having a pH as close to the skin as possible (4-4.5, I use Optima pH animal shampoo). If he can stay indoors, I dry off with a towel, and leave him to completely dry overnight. Otherwise, I use a high effect blow dryer to blow his feet completely dry.
2. Using a squeesable bottle with a tip (I use an empty bottle of wood glue), I apply the sulphur oil mixture all the way into the skin, all over the foot up to the knee. I massage thoroughly to make sure the oil is distributed evenly and properly. It will be messy! And although the mixture is harmless and mild, I recommend using gloves as the sulphur gives off the smell of matches, and as it is insoluble in water, it is hard to get the smell off :-)
3. LEAVE on the skin. Is not to be rinsed or wiped off. It is to be applied and left on. It will look messy for a couple of days with oil and yellow powder residue on the feet, but afterwards the feathers will look shiny, they will be easy to groom and be more dirt and dust repellant.
NORWEGIAN
Gjennom facebook gruppen "Hestefokus", fikk jeg tips om å prøve noe som ble kalt "pig oil and sulphur" mot midd. Jeg lette lenge etter informasjon om denne griseoljen og har nå funnet utrolig god informasjon, og anvendelsesområder! Så jeg tenkte å dele det, da det var utrolig godt for meg å finne et slikt produkt!
Pig Oil, er paraffinbasert mineralolje, som heter pig oil fordi det ble brukt på griser for å beskytte huden dems mot parasitter. En slik olje tetter porene og ligger som et lag på huden, som i seg selv gjør at parasitter som midd og lus, har vanskeligheter med å trivs. De kveles.
NB! Dette er ikke samme type paraffin som brukes for eksempel i lamper osv. Dette er renset paraffin, som er mye renere og tryggere, og er mye brukt i medisinske og kosmetiske produkter. Renset paraffin brukes for eksempel når man skal rense utav fordøyelsessystemet ved forstoppelse osv, både på mennesker og dyr.
Svovelet er ren elementær svovel i pulver form. Dette er utvunnet fra svovel "steiner" i naturen, og knust til fint pulver. Svovel høres for mange veldig skummelt ut men dette er et rent og mildt produkt som har svært mange positive egenskaper.
Blandt annet dette fant jeg om svovel på en nettside (http://www.healthylivinganswers.com/vitamins/sulphur-mineral.html)
"The Sulphur mineral is an amazing mineral that has a historical reputation for curing many ailments and alleviating the symtoms of many condtions. In third place behind calcium and phosphorus, Sulphur is the most abundant mineral in the human body. Every single living cell inside the body contains an element of Sulphur and it is also a component of amino acids which are seen as the building blocks of the body.
Sulphur has a reputation as being the body's beautifying mineral. If you have ever immersed yourself in a Sulphur spring, you know that this statement is true. Another reason for this claim to fame probably has to do with the fact that Sulphur is in keratin which keeps hair, fingernails and skin strong and healthy. Sulphur also plays a significant role in the production of collagen, skin's best ally. Collagen is actually present in the skin's connective tissues and these tissues help maintain the skin's elasticity. Collagen also helps wounds heal better and faster."
Og relevant til hestehold fant jeg dette, hos en forhandler av svovelpulver (http://www.equine-iridology.co.uk/equine-iridology/herbs/buy-herbs-for-horses.php/letter/f/)
"A bright yellow powder obtained from natural deposits of mineral. A natural and pure product that is safe to use and does not harm if ingested. It can be helpful for itchy skin conditions such as sweet itch, lice, flea allergies, mange, ringworm. Being anti fungal and antiseptic it can be put on wounds as it helps the healing process. Mixed with a cream or oil such as Pig Oil, it helps with conditions such as mud fever and mite infestation.
Application: Apply a small amount daily like talcum powder, dusted on using a flour shaker or old talc bottle or;
Mixed with Pig Oil: 1 part flowers of sulphur to 5 parts oil."
Om en søker på svovel på nett så finner man mye informasjon om bruk og egenskaper.
Så rent mineral svovel må ikke forveksles med skumle ting som svovelgass, svovelsyre osv. Dette er noe helt annet, og verken gass eller syre kan dannes når man bruker svovelpulver. Pulveret er ikke løselig i vann så man må blande det i olje om man vil ha noe flytende å smøre på huden til hesten. Ellers kan man drysse pulveret direkte på huden, på samme måte som man bruker babypudder.
Svovelet, som det står i informasjonen over, har en antibakteriell, og soppdrepende effekt, og i tillegg hjelper svovelet i sårhelingsprosessen i huden. Helt perfekt for hesteføtter med mugg/betennelse/midd osv. Det er også beskrevet at svovel styrker hårvekst blandt annet. Så her skal hesten få svovelolje i både man og hale:)
Vær obs på at som alle bakteriedrepende og soppdrepende midler, så kan bakterier og sopp utvikle resistens mot produktet. Så det jeg vil gjøre er å bruke oljen med svovel i av og til, og ellers bruke kun mineralolje, for å beskytte huden. Selvfølgelig alt etter hvor mye mugg/midd som er i føttene.
Alle finner sin egen måte å bruke dette på, alt etter hvordan de observerer effekten osv. Men her er min "oppskrift" på bruk. Jeg bruker 100g svovel iblandet 1 liter mineralolje. (foreløpig har jeg brukt babyolje, da dette er nesten ren renset paraffin, men andre har brukt planteoljer og matoljer også med god effekt).
1. Vasker alle føttene i dyreshampo med pH regulert til hudens egen pH. (opp hele beinet, men trengs nødvendigvis ikke hvis ikke det er utsatte områder), slik at huden er helt ren før oljen kommer på.
2. Føner alle føttene knusktørre.
3. Bruker en tutflaske (jeg har en ketchupflaske jeg har svoveloljen i), og påfører svoveloljen overalt på alle føttene, og passer på at det kommer inntil huden. Og la det være.
Beina er klissete i et par dager, og man ser masse gult støv i hårene. Men etter 2-4 dager er alt tørt og fint og hovskjegget er lett å børste, skitt setter seg ikke skikkelig og derfor holder hovskjegget seg finere.
Jeg vil gjøre denne prosedyren ca en gang i måneden. For å holde hovskjegget rent og fint. Men om man ikke ser noe mugg eller muffins på huden i hovskjegget kan man godt vente lenger også. Alle finner sin måte å gjøre det på!
Og om jeg ikke ser noe tegn til mugg eller midd, så vil jeg bruke kun olje, uten svovel. Og så vil jeg ha perioder der han vaskes uten at olje smøres på, slik at huden får puste litt, så gjentar jeg oljeprosessen igjen.
