Is the herb red raspberry leaf good for horses? Yes, it is. Red Raspberry leaf is one of the many herbs we use at Silver Lining Herbs for our horse products.
The raspberry leaf is said to increase the fertility of a female. It may also help in regulating and decreasing cramps in the menstrual cycle.
Given this, it is no wonder why you will find this herb in our #14 Mare Fertility and #31 Mare Moods herbal product for horses. Now let’s dive into this herb and see what is so special about it.
Raspberry Leaves May Help With a Mares Fertility
It is thought that the red raspberry leaf helps in fertility. Not just for horses, but for humans as well. Now the question is how does it help with fertility?
For starters, this herb is loaded with nutrients. It contains vitamins A, C, and E. It is also high in calcium, iron and potassium.
These vitamins may not have a direct effect on fertility. However, they may improve the overall health of the mare. A healthy mare increases the likelihood of pregnancy.
What raspberry leaf may do is increase blood flow to the uterus. It also contains a plant component known as fragrine.
Fragrine, is an alkaloid that may help in toning pelvic and uterine muscles. Better uterine health may not only increase the chances of pregnancy but it also lessens the chances of miscarriages.
There are some that claim that raspberry leaves:
“are also beneficial in assisting the embryo attachment to the uterine wall. Red raspberry leaves are loaded with phyto-progesterone, which is beneficial in increasing the levels of progesterone, which is one of the essential hormones required to sustain a healthy pregnancy.” Quote by: By First Cry Parenting.
Red Raspberry Leaves for Moody Mares.
What about if you are not concernd with your mare becoming pregnant? And all you want to know is if there is a way to help her while she is in heat. Can red raspberry leaf help horses during their heat cycle?
To answer that question, let’s first discuss why a mare may be acting out while she is on her heat cycle. In one of our blogs titled: What To Do About My Moody Mare, we discuss two situations that might be causing a mare to misbehave.
The first reason is that her ovaries are inflamed. The second reason that we list is that she is drained physically because the mare’s hormones are out of balance. Mainly her estrogen and progesterone hormones.
Since we already mentioned how raspberry leaf may increase a mares hormone, mainly progesterone, levels. Lets talk about how it may help with inflamed ovaries.
Red raspberry leaves can have an antioxidant effect, which may help to relax blood vessels. Relaxed blood vessels will increase the flow of blood; which in turn can help fight off inflammation by getting rid of all of the junk.
One last thing to point out is that besides increasing blood flow, red raspberry has polyphenolic compounds. Polyphenolic compounds are known for their anti-inflammatory properties.
So in short. Yes, red raspberry leaf may help with a mare in heat. It may help by balancing out her hormones, and causing reduced inflammation in the ovaries.
As with any product, use caution. Do not give red raspberry leaf to your horses, if you are not sure what you are doing. If you have questions it is best to ask those that may know for help.
