The TCM
therapy is, no doubt, a long drawn-out affair, requires
patience, abstinence from working the horse for a while, and good observation skills. However,
until now the school medicine offered little other than suppressive
measures and surgical interventions i.e. the cutting of the
facial nerves and injections. Positive results are short
lived or in case of the use of, for example anti-epileptic
meds,
side effects are common. In the contrary to school medicine
the TCM offers a chance for the horse to have a normal
life again, symptom free, without suppressing the
neuralgia.
The therapy is not easy to follow through, some owners can't
do it at all, due to barn regulations, etc. But for those of
you, who are a bit flexible it might be a way to go.
Mostly first results are seen within 4 to 6 weeks, the
horses gradually relax, panic attacks lessen, an increased
appetite is noted, symptoms diminish. Altogether it takes about 2 to 3 years
before one can say for certain, the horse is HS free. That
doesn't mean you won't be able to ride your horse for 2 to 3
years, no, not at all. Following the management plan, the horses can be
worked again, the soon ALL symptoms are vanished and the
build-up was successful.
Similar
time frame applies to other therapies, i.e. allergies,
girth syndrome, Cushing's, aso. Viral
(herpes) and bacterial (lyme) infections need to be treated life long.
