Recommended by holistic veterinarians, Herbsmith Rx Chronic Hoof Heat is a Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) herbal formula that helps manage hoof health during chronic laminitis and founder episodes. Both Western and TCVM perspectives recognize laminitis as a systemic condition; this twelve-herb formula addresses both the root systemic disharmony and the branch manifestations of Blood stasis, Heat accumulation, and Qi stagnation expressed in the hooves. Suitable for chronic laminitis and founder cases; use for up to 3 months. Available in traditional powder (500g, 900g, 1200g) and Flax Plus (30-day and 60-day supply); a six-tablespoon scoop is included with the Flax Plus format. Dosing varies by body weight and health condition; your authorizing veterinarian will provide specific guidance. Not for use in pregnant mares; discontinue use if diarrhea occurs.
VETERINARY AUTHORIZATION REQUIRED: Submit Your Authorization Request or Request a TCVM Telemedicine Consultation
What It Supports
- Chronic laminitis and founder management: Assists in supporting hoof health during chronic laminitis and founder episodes by addressing the Blood stasis, Heat, and Qi stagnation patterns that drive ongoing hoof tissue changes in chronic cases.
- Blood stasis resolution and Blood invigoration: Moves and invigorates Blood in the hooves and lower extremities to address the circulatory stagnation that characterizes laminitis at the tissue level, supporting healthy blood flow to the laminar structures of the hoof.
- Heat clearance in the hoof: Clears the excess Heat that accumulates in the hooves as a result of Blood and Qi stagnation, addressing the characteristic hoof heat associated with active laminitis episodes.
- Root and branch treatment: Addresses both the systemic root disharmony underlying laminitis (Blood stasis, Liver Qi stagnation, internal Heat) and the branch manifestations (hoof heat, discomfort, inflammation) simultaneously, consistent with the TCVM principle of treating root and branch together.
TCVM Principles
- Primary action: Resolve Blood stasis, invigorate Blood, clear Heat, resolve Qi stagnation, and address hoof discomfort at both the root and the branch.
- Approach: In both Western and TCVM understanding, laminitis is a systemic condition in which the disease or disharmony originates within the body and manifests as Heat and Blood stasis in the hooves. TCVM identifies the core pattern as Blood stasis with Heat accumulation and Qi stagnation, which restricts circulation to the sensitive laminar structures and drives the progressive hoof changes seen in chronic founder. This formula treats both the systemic root (Blood stasis, Liver Qi stagnation, internal Heat) and the branch (hoof heat and circulatory impairment) using herbs that move Blood, clear Heat, and resolve stagnation. Use for up to 3 months. Not for use in pregnant mares; discontinue if diarrhea occurs.
Available Forms
- 500g Traditional Powder: Mix into grain twice daily for the first 20 days, then once daily. If the horse is reluctant to eat herbs, begin with small amounts in grain to acquaint the horse with the taste, or consider the Flax Plus version.
- 900g Traditional Powder: Larger supply for extended treatment courses up to 3 months.
- 1200g Traditional Powder: Bulk size for the full course of treatment or multi-horse use.
- Flax Plus - 30-Day Supply: Herbal formula blended with ground flaxseed for ease of administration; six-tablespoon scoop included. Administer one scoop twice daily for the first 20 days, then one scoop daily.
- Flax Plus - 60-Day Supply: Extended Flax Plus supply for continued use within the 3-month treatment window.
Ingredients
Active ingredients: Yin Chen Hao (Artemisia capillaris) - Capillary Artemisia; Mo Yao (Commiphora myrrha) - Myrrh resin; Dang Gui (Angelica sinensis) - Chinese Angelica root; Chai Hu (Bupleurum chinense) - Bupleurum root; Chi Shao Yao (Paeonia lactiflora) - Red Peony root; Hong Hua (Carthamus tinctorius) - Carthamus flower (Safflower); Jie Geng (Platycodon grandiflorum) - Balloon Flower root; Tao Ren (Prunus persica) - Peach kernel; Yan Hu Suo (Corydalis yanhusuo) - Corydalis rhizome; Qing Pi (Citrus reticulata viride) - Unripe Tangerine peel; Da Huang (Rheum palmatum) - Rhubarb root; Chen Pi (Citrus reticulata) - Aged Tangerine peel.
Inactive ingredients (Flax Plus only): Ground Flax Seed. Traditional Powder contains no inactive ingredients.
VETERINARY AUTHORIZATION REQUIRED: Submit Your Authorization Request or Request a TCVM Telemedicine Consultation
Active Ingredient TCVM Actions
Chronic Hoof Heat is a twelve-herb formula structured to resolve Blood stasis, invigorate Blood circulation, clear Heat, and move Qi stagnation at both the systemic root and the hoof branch of laminitis:
- Yin Chen Hao (Artemisia capillaris) - Capillary Artemisia: Clears Damp-Heat from the Liver and Gallbladder, drains Dampness, and reduces internal Heat; addresses the systemic Damp-Heat root pattern that contributes to laminitis, particularly in horses with metabolic or Liver-related founder triggers.
- Mo Yao (Commiphora myrrha) - Myrrh resin: Invigorates Blood, resolves Blood stasis, reduces swelling, and supports tissue healing; provides direct Blood-moving action in the affected hoof structures and complements Tao Ren and Hong Hua in breaking up entrenched Blood stasis.
- Dang Gui (Angelica sinensis) - Chinese Angelica root: Tonifies and invigorates Blood, moves Blood stasis, and moistens; provides the dual action of nourishing depleted Blood while simultaneously moving stagnation, ensuring the formula replenishes as well as clears.
- Chai Hu (Bupleurum chinense) - Bupleurum root: Moves Liver Qi, clears Liver-related Heat, and raises Yang; addresses Liver Qi stagnation that contributes to systemic Blood stasis and Heat accumulation in chronic laminitis patterns with a Liver involvement component.
- Chi Shao Yao (Paeonia lactiflora) - Red Peony root: Clears Heat, cools the Blood, invigorates Blood, and disperses Blood stasis; directly addresses Heat in the Blood and Blood stasis in the hoof, cooling the inflammatory Heat component while moving the underlying circulatory obstruction.
- Hong Hua (Carthamus tinctorius) - Carthamus flower (Safflower): Strongly invigorates Blood, breaks up Blood stasis, and clears stagnation-generated Heat; works with Tao Ren as the formula's primary Blood-activating pair to open and restore circulation to the laminar structures of the hoof.
- Jie Geng (Platycodon grandiflorum) - Balloon Flower root: Opens the Lung, moves Qi, and serves as an upward-guiding herb that helps direct the formula's actions through the chest and circulation; supports the Lung's role in governing Qi and Blood distribution throughout the body, including the extremities.
- Tao Ren (Prunus persica) - Peach kernel: The primary Blood-moving herb; breaks up Blood stasis, invigorates Blood circulation, and moistens; paired with Hong Hua as the formula's core Blood-activating combination for addressing entrenched stasis in the hoof's laminar tissue.
- Yan Hu Suo (Corydalis yanhusuo) - Corydalis rhizome: Moves Blood and Qi, and relieves stagnation-related discomfort; one of the most effective herbs in the materia medica for addressing both Blood stasis and Qi stagnation simultaneously, directly addressing the discomfort and restricted circulation of chronic laminitis.
- Qing Pi (Citrus reticulata viride) - Unripe Tangerine peel: Strongly moves Liver Qi, breaks up Qi stagnation, and disperses accumulations; addresses the Liver Qi stagnation component of the formula's root pattern, complementing Chai Hu in freeing obstructed Qi flow that contributes to Blood stasis and Heat buildup.
- Da Huang (Rheum palmatum) - Rhubarb root: Clears Heat, purges accumulation, invigorates Blood, and resolves Blood stasis; provides powerful Heat-clearing and stasis-resolving action. Note: Da Huang has purgative properties; discontinue the formula if diarrhea occurs, as it may indicate the dose is too high, or the horse is sensitive to this herb.
- Chen Pi (Citrus reticulata) - Aged Tangerine peel: Regulates Qi, harmonizes the Spleen and Stomach, and moderates the more aggressive herbs in the formula; supports digestive tolerance of the full twelve-herb combination and counterbalances the potential purgative effect of Da Huang.
Potential Drug Interactions
Herbsmith Rx Chronic Hoof Heat contains multiple potent Blood-moving, Heat-clearing, and Qi-moving herbs including Tao Ren, Hong Hua, Mo Yao, Yan Hu Suo, Chi Shao Yao, and Da Huang (Rhubarb root), several of which have significant pharmacological activity. Horses on prescription medications should use this formula under close veterinary supervision. Not for use in pregnant mares; discontinue if diarrhea occurs.
Medication categories warranting extra caution include anticoagulant or antiplatelet medications (multiple Blood-moving herbs have additive anticoagulant properties; concurrent use requires close monitoring), NSAIDs and other medications used to manage laminitis-related discomfort, gastrointestinal medications and laxatives (Da Huang has purgative properties that may compound effects), corticosteroids or immunosuppressive drugs, and horses managing multiple concurrent prescriptions. Your veterinarian can determine appropriateness based on your horse's condition, current medications, and laboratory results.
VETERINARY AUTHORIZATION REQUIRED: Submit Your Authorization Request or Request a TCVM Telemedicine Consultation
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of laminitis cases is Chronic Hoof Heat designed for?
Chronic Hoof Heat is formulated specifically for horses with chronic laminitis or founder, where Blood stasis, Heat accumulation, and Qi stagnation have become established patterns in the hoof and systemically. It is not intended for acute founder emergencies, which require immediate veterinary intervention. A TCVM-trained veterinarian can confirm whether your horse's laminitis pattern is appropriate for this formula before authorization. You can use the formula for up to 3 months.
How is Chronic Hoof Heat administered, and what are the recommended doses for a 1,000 lb horse?
For the traditional powder, administer two tablespoons twice daily for the first 20 days, then two tablespoons once daily. For the Flax Plus format, administer one scoop (six-tablespoon scoop included) twice daily for the first 20 days, then one scoop daily. Mix into grain for easy administration. If the horse is reluctant to eat herbs, begin with small amounts in grain and gradually increase, or choose the Flax Plus version. Discontinue use if diarrhea occurs and consult your veterinarian. Confirm dosing for horses of other weights with your authorizing veterinarian.
How long does it take to see improvements, and how long can the formula be used?
Because chronic laminitis involves established Blood stasis and Heat patterns, meaningful improvement in hoof heat and overall hoof health typically requires consistent use over several weeks. Many horse owners begin to notice changes in hoof temperature and comfort within 3 to 6 weeks. This formula is suitable for use for up to 3 months; longer use or repeated courses should be assessed with your authorizing veterinarian based on your horse's response and current condition.
Can Chronic Hoof Heat be used alongside conventional laminitis management?
Yes, and it is designed to complement conventional veterinary laminitis management by addressing the Blood stasis, Heat, and Qi stagnation patterns that contribute to ongoing hoof changes in chronic cases. Because this formula contains multiple potent Blood-moving herbs, always consult your authorizing veterinarian before combining with NSAIDs, anticoagulant medications, or other Blood-activating herbs. The Flax Plus format adds Omega-3 support in a single feeding. Not for use in pregnant mares; discontinue if diarrhea occurs.