There are so many different plants growing there I couldn’t name them all. But I do know some, and this morning I saw Fanny eating yarrow. I’ve never seen any of the animals eat yarrow before.
Not only did she eat it, but she seemed very deliberate about it, carefully smelling it first.
It was so unusual, I couldn’t help but wonder what the medicinal uses of yarrow are. And if somehow Fanny knew it would be helpful to her.
So I googled it and on RxList found that Yarrow is used for….
“… fever, common cold, hay fever, absence of menstruation, dysentery, diarrhea, loss of appetite, gastrointestinal (GI) tract discomfort, and to induce sweating.
Some people chew the fresh leaves to relieve toothache….
….In combination with other herbs, yarrow is used for bloating, intestinal gas (flatulence), mild gastrointestinal (GI) cramping, and other GI complaints.”
I thought of how Fanny was foaming at the mouth a couple of days ago from eating too much clover. Did it give her an upset stomach and she instinctively know that Yarrow could help it?
I don’t know.
But donkeys are hardy. In the fifteen years we’ve had Fanny and Lulu, we’ve never had to call a vet for either of them. The worst that happens is a hoof abscess that is easily cared for by the farrier.
Which makes me think that mostly, donkeys take care of themselves. And that Fanny knew just what the was doing when she ate the yarrow this morning.
Fanny and Lulu probably know more about the flowers and herbs growing in the pasture than I do.
beautiful pictures of the donkeys, the color is amazing!
Thanks Nann!
It’s possible that donkeys can hear the plant spirits telling them which plant will help them.
I never thought of it that way Kathryn, I suppose anything is possible.