Poll-evil is a condition which affects horses. The poll is the prominence between the ears, indicating where the spine joins the skull. Above and behind this prominence is a fluid filled sac or bursa. Poll-evil is a bursitis (inflammation of a bursa).
Initially it becomes hot, swollen, inflamed and very sensitive to touch. Secondary infection into surrounding tissue, especially bone, can result. There may be pus observed on the mane. The head is stiff in movement.
Due to the serious nature of the problem, it is generally beyond the scope of a home prescriber. A professional homeopath may be your best option.
However, if you have no other choice, or as you are waiting for the homeopath to arrive, you can’t do any harm by consulting your homeopathic home prescribing kit.
The homeopathic medicine Silica is one of several medicines which may resolve the problem, even if it has developed into the chronic stage.
However, you do need to try to work out the cause, as well as make a list of the symptoms which are unique and personal to your horse as well as the condition.
Silica works very well, when the problem has arisen after a recent vaccination.
Silica also works well when the horse is generally not very healthy. Infections, especially in the head and throat region are common and recurring. The skin may be unhealthy, with slow or no healing of injuries and wounds.
This shows a general lack of absorption of nutrients from the food, or malnutrition.
If it is occurring in a foal, then the foal will have growth problems, not gaining weight and so forth, caused by a lack of absorption of nutrients or from malnutrition.
The horse is likely to suffer badly in cold weather, needing not only warm rugging, but being out of any draughts.
Sometimes poll-evil is considered to be caused by hitting the back of their head when rearing. If this is a serious injury, it is more likely to cause concussion. But if a splinter gained entry to the back of a mild head injury, then the splinter may be the cause.
As Silica is good at expelling foreign objects from the body, then this will resolve the condition, too. It may take a few days, but it will be expelled.
If Silica was a good match for your horse, then you will notice that other areas start to improve. Such as the growth returns to normal, infection slows down and stops, injuries heal better and so forth.
Topical application of a solution of the herbal tincture Hypercal will speed up the healing process.
