Recommended by holistic veterinarians, Herbsmith Rx Persica Heel Relief is a Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) herbal formula that moves Blood and Qi in the lower extremities to address the Blood stagnation pattern underlying navicular syndrome and heel and hoof soreness in horses. Stagnation of Blood and Qi in the heel region generates heat, restricts circulation, and causes significant hoof discomfort; the herbs in this ancient formula move Blood, tonify Blood, and clear the stagnation-generated heat to minimize damage to the heel region and the delicate navicular bone. Because heel soreness is often a long-standing condition by the time it is identified, treatment may be extended or repeated as directed by your veterinarian. 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.
VETERINARY AUTHORIZATION REQUIRED: Submit Your Authorization Request or Request a TCVM Telemedicine Consultation
What It Supports
- Blood stagnation resolution in the hoof: Moves Blood and Qi in the lower extremities to address the root Blood stagnation pattern associated with navicular syndrome and chronic heel hoof soreness.
- Heat clearance from stagnation: Stagnation of any body substance generates heat, similar to the friction and heat produced by a grinding wheel; this formula moves the stagnation to reduce the heat and discomfort that accompanies it in the heel region.
- Blood tonification: Nourishes and tonifies Blood while moving it, ensuring the formula replenishes what is deficient while clearing what is stagnant and supporting healthy tissue perfusion in the hoof.
- Navicular bone and heel region support: Supports the structural integrity of the heel region and the navicular bone by improving Blood and Qi circulation to the lower extremities and reducing the stagnation-driven damage that accompanies long-standing Blood stasis in the hoof.
TCVM Principles
- Primary action: Move Blood and Qi stagnation in the lower extremities, tonify Blood, and clear stagnation-generated heat in the heel region of the hoof.
- Approach: In TCVM, smooth, even movement of Blood and Qi throughout the body is essential to health. Stagnation or uneven movement causes dysfunction and discomfort; wherever stagnation occurs, heat tends to accumulate, similar to the friction generated by a grinding wheel. Navicular syndrome is understood as a Blood stagnation pattern in the hoof, where restricted Blood and Qi flow to the lower extremities leads to heat, structural changes, and hoof discomfort. This formula combines potent Blood-moving herbs with Blood-tonifying herbs to address both the stagnation and the underlying Blood deficiency that often accompanies it. Because heel stagnation is typically long-standing by the time it is identified, treatment may be extended or repeated. Not for use in pregnant mares.
Available Forms
- 500g Traditional Powder: Mix into grain twice daily for the first 20 days, then once daily until hoof soreness has resolved. 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 or multi-horse households.
- 1200g Traditional Powder: Bulk size for consistent long-standing or repeated treatment administration.
- 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 until hoof soreness has resolved.
- Flax Plus - 60-Day Supply: Extended Flax Plus supply for longer treatment courses.
Ingredients
Active ingredients: Sheng Di Huang (Rehmannia glutinosa) - Raw Rehmannia root; Tao Ren (Prunus persica) - Persica seed; Dang Gui (Angelica sinensis) - Chinese Angelica root; Chao Bai Shao (Paeonia lactiflora) - Peony root; Hong Hua (Carthamus tinctorius) - Carthamus flower; Chuan Xiong (Ligusticum chuanxiong) - Ligusticum rhizome; Niu Xi (Achyranthes bidentata) - Achyranthes root.
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
Persica Heel Relief is a seven-herb Blood-moving formula structured to move stagnation, tonify Blood, and direct the formula's action downward to the lower extremities and hoof:
- Sheng Di Huang (Rehmannia glutinosa) - Raw Rehmannia root: Tonifies Yin and Blood, cools the Blood, and clears Heat; addresses the deficiency Heat component of Blood stagnation and nourishes the Blood that is being moved by the formula's more aggressive Blood-activating herbs.
- Tao Ren (Prunus persica) - Persica seed: The chief herb; a potent Blood-moving herb that breaks up Blood stasis, invigorates Blood circulation, and moistens dryness; one of the most important herbs in the Chinese materia medica for addressing entrenched Blood stagnation in the lower body.
- Dang Gui (Angelica sinensis) - Chinese Angelica root: Tonifies and invigorates Blood, moves Blood stasis, and moistens; provides the dual action of nourishing Blood while simultaneously moving it, ensuring the formula replenishes what is deficient rather than solely breaking up stagnation.
- Chao Bai Shao (Paeonia lactiflora) - Peony root: Nourishes Blood and Yin, softens the Liver, and moderates the more aggressive Blood-moving herbs; supports healthy Blood quality and provides a moderating influence that prevents over-dispersal of Blood during stagnation treatment.
- Hong Hua (Carthamus tinctorius) - Carthamus flower: Strongly invigorates Blood circulation, breaks up Blood stasis, and reduces stagnation-generated heat; works alongside Tao Ren as a key Blood-activating herb to open and restore circulation to the lower extremities and hoof.
- Chuan Xiong (Ligusticum chuanxiong) - Ligusticum rhizome: Moves Blood and Qi, activates circulation, and alleviates stagnation-related discomfort; one of the primary Qi-within-Blood moving herbs, ensuring that Qi stagnation accompanying Blood stagnation is simultaneously resolved.
- Niu Xi (Achyranthes bidentata) - Achyranthes root: Invigorates Blood, expels Blood stasis, tonifies the Liver and Kidney, and directs the formula's action downward to the lower extremities and hooves; the guide herb that focuses the combined Blood-moving action specifically to the lower limbs where navicular stagnation is located.
Potential Drug Interactions
Herbsmith Rx Persica Heel Relief contains potent Blood-moving and Blood-activating herbs (Tao Ren, Hong Hua, Chuan Xiong, Dang Gui, Niu Xi) that may interact with certain medications. Horses on prescription medications should use this formula under veterinary supervision, as herb-drug interaction research in horses remains limited. Not for use in pregnant mares.
Medication categories warranting extra caution include anticoagulant or antiplatelet medications (multiple Blood-moving herbs in this formula have additive anticoagulant properties; concurrent use with anticoagulants warrants close veterinary monitoring), NSAIDs and other medications used for hoof and musculoskeletal discomfort, 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 is Persica Heel Relief used for in horses?
Persica Heel Relief is most commonly recommended for horses with TCVM patterns of Blood and Qi stagnation in the lower extremities, particularly horses diagnosed with navicular syndrome or experiencing chronic heel hoof soreness and stiffness. In TCVM, navicular syndrome is understood as a stagnation of Blood in the hoof that restricts circulation, generates heat, and progressively affects the heel structures and navicular bone. Because this is typically a long-standing condition by the time it is identified, treatment courses are often extended or repeated under veterinary guidance.
How is Persica Heel Relief 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 until hoof soreness has resolved. For the Flax Plus format, administer one scoop (six-tablespoon scoop included) twice daily for the first 20 days, then one scoop daily until hoof soreness has resolved. 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. Confirm dosing for horses of other weights with your authorizing veterinarian.
How long does it take to see results, and how long should the formula be used?
Because navicular syndrome and chronic heel soreness are typically long-standing conditions by the time herbal support is initiated, response time varies considerably by horse and the severity and duration of the stagnation pattern. Many horses begin to show improvement in comfort and movement within 4 to 8 weeks of consistent use. Treatment may need to be extended or periodically repeated under veterinary guidance, as long-standing Blood stagnation patterns require sustained herbal support to fully address. Your authorizing veterinarian will determine the appropriate course length based on your horse's response.
Can Persica Heel Relief be used alongside other Herbsmith formulas or conventional hoof treatments?
Persica Heel Relief is designed to complement conventional veterinary management of navicular syndrome and heel soreness by addressing the underlying Blood stagnation pattern from a TCVM perspective. The Flax Plus format adds ground flaxseed Omega-3 support for joints and connective tissue in a single daily feeding. Because this formula contains potent Blood-moving herbs, always consult your authorizing veterinarian before combining with anticoagulant medications, NSAIDs, or other Blood-activating herbs. Not for use in pregnant mares.