Why is clove such an effective herb for horses?

You've probably read that clove is a powerful herb for horses. A clove extract can help bring your horse into mental and physical balance, while also providing pain relief and anti-inflammatory effects without making your horse drowsy. How is that possible? What is the secret of the clove plant?

2 February '24 - 3 min reading time

The endocannabinoid system is a system of receptors and transmitters present in the body of all mammals. This system was only discovered about 30 years ago, and scientists are learning more every day. The endocannabinoid system influences the physical and mental balance of an animal (or human) and plays a significant role in the immune system, illness, and stress. When a horse is sick, the body's equilibrium is disrupted. You can help restore this balance by supporting the endocannabinoid system with a supplement of plant-based cannabinoids. Clove is a plant that contains many potent cannabinoids, making it very suitable for such supplements.

What are cannabinoids?

Cannabinoids are the signaling molecules of the endocannabinoid system. Your body produces these molecules on its own, but it can also use cannabinoids from food or supplements. Some plants contain a high level of cannabinoids, and clove is one of them. By supplementing with plant-based cannabinoids, the entire system works better, and the body's balance is restored more quickly after, for example, an illness or chronic conditions like arthritis. The body's natural healing ability works better when a sufficient amount of these molecules is present in the body. Cannabinoids can also be used preventively in horses, for example, if your horse is prone to laminitis or sweet itch.

New research

Recent cell studies in horses show that the cells producing joint fluid contain receptors for the endocannabinoid system (CB1 and CB2). It also became clear that these receptors become more sensitive when there are inflammations in the joints. Supplementation of cannabinoids can support these cells and reduce joint pain. Other scientific research has already shown that cannabinoids reduce chronic inflammation.

Clove: powerful and effective

As mentioned, plant-derived cannabinoids can fulfill the same role as the body's own cannabinoids. The more different types of cannabinoids available, the better it works. Clove plant contains a whopping 111 different cannabinoids, making it a highly effective source of these compounds. Moreover, with clove, it is possible to achieve a very high concentration of active ingredients in a supplement. Truly a remarkable plant for horses!

All information in this article is sourced from https://askheltie.com/en/articles/heltiehorse/why-is-clove-such-an-effective-herb-for-horses