Medicinal Plant Cultivation and Phytotherapy in Equine Medicine: Ecological Perspectives with Case Evidence from Hungary

In recent decades, the role of horses has increasingly shifted toward sport and leisure, resulting in heightened attention to their long-term health and welfare. Parallel to a broader interest in natural therapies, the application of herbal medicine in equine care has gained momentum. Commonly used medicinal plants - such as Harpagophytum procumbens (devil’s claw), Matricaria chamomilla (chamomile), Taraxacum officinale (dandelion), and Allium sativum (garlic) - are employed to support digestive, immune, and musculoskeletal functions. Although generally considered safe, some herbs may elicit side effects, necessitating professional guidance in their administration. Hungary possesses a longstanding tradition in medicinal plant cultivation, facilitated by favorable pedoclimatic conditions. The country is divided into six principal cultivation zones and remains a key European producer, particularly of chamomile. Despite its ecological benefits - such as enhancing agro-biodiversity and promoting organic agriculture - the sector faces several challenges, including labor shortages, market fluctuations, and environmental concerns such as overharvesting and climate change. Sustainable cultivation practices and increased ecological awareness are critical for the resilience and future of this field. As a supplement to our work, we prepared a questionnaire for domestic horse owners regarding the use of medicinal herbs. Our questionnaire-based study revealed that the majority of horse owners are familiar with, and actively utilize, herbal products, primarily for managing respiratory, musculoskeletal, and gastrointestinal conditions. The significance of using medicinal herbs in horses is also supported by the results of two of our previously published experiments. In these two controlled feeding trials, we demonstrated that specific herbal mixtures, administered in dried or fermented form, significantly improved the digestibility of crude fiber, crude protein, and dry matter. The preparations were well tolerated, with no adverse effects observed. These findings suggest that phytotherapeutic supplementation may offer a viable, natural strategy to support equine gastrointestinal health. However, further research is warranted to optimize herbal formulations and to evaluate efficacy across larger, more diverse equine populations.