SWITCHTONIC for Horses | Organic Herbal Support for Seasonal & Recurring Itch

As the saying goes, "Beauty comes from within," and the skin is a direct reflection of what’s happening beneath the surface.

Sweet itch - more than a skin problem

Sweet itch has been a personal battle for two of Carol's (EquiNatural's founder) horses - Kelso and Mac. And over the years, we've learned that persistent itching – especially sweet itch – is never just surface deep.

Increasingly, both research and clinical observation suggest these horses are dealing with deeper, whole-system imbalance involving the gut, liver, kidneys, immune system, and microbiome.

Increasingly, we see overlap between sweet itch patterns and the broader KPU spectrum – where hindgut instability and impaired nutrient pathways create mounting metabolic pressure throughout the system.

When the internal clearance (detox) systems become overwhelmed, for some horses the metabolic burden is so overwhelming that the skin becomes the primary elimination organ. This explains why some horses scratch persistently, even in winter.

This often becomes more noticeable during midge and pollen season, when environmental triggers place additional pressure on an already reactive system, driving excessive "autoimmune" histamine reactions. Cue pollen allergies and sweet itch.

SwItchTonic was designed with this bigger picture in mind – supporting both irritated skin and the internal systems that often sit underneath recurring itch patterns.

Important note...

SwItchTonic will not cure sweet itch. As of October 2021, emerging research now shows that sweet itch is linked to a complex, multi-system metabolic pattern known as Cryptopyrroluria (KPU). For more information, visit our KPU page .

Is this your horse?

✔ Rubbing mane, tail, or belly – sometimes to the point of hair loss or soreness
✔ Itching that ramps up in spring and summer
✔ Skin that looks irritated, inflamed, or over-reactive
✔ C onstant scratching, biting, rubbing or fidgeting
✔ The problem feels deeper than just skin – like something internal is driving it
✔ You’ve tried topical approaches, but it keeps returning

How SwItchTonic fits into your horse’s support plan

SwItchTonic is designed as your first-line support for itchy, reactive skin – helping calm irritation while supporting the gut–liver–kidney axis beneath it.

For many horses, this is the right place to start. It helps take the edge off, settle the skin, and support the systems that are often under pressure during seasonal flare-ups.

However, with sweet itch and recurring skin patterns, it’s rarely just surface-level. If symptoms keep returning, worsening seasonally, or are linked to other multiple ongoing issues (gut, coat, hooves, respiratory), this is often a sign of a deeper, whole-system imbalance - the KPU syndrome.

In these cases, support can be layered or stepped up depending on what you’re seeing.

• DuoBute – where additional comfort is needed for irritated, reactive skin
• LKLCARE – when your horse’s internal housekeeping (detoxing) organs - liver, kidneys, and lymphatics - need extra support - especially when skin symptoms appear outside typical sweet itch season.

Deeper patterns

• KPUCOMBO – KPUCOMBO takes a more comprehensive, whole-system approach – supporting the hindgut, reconnecting the gut–liver pathway, and helping stabilise the underlying patterns seen in the KPU spectrum.

The foundations

For best results, ensure your horse’s core nutrition is covered with a high-quality, forage-based mineral foundation . A well-supported system responds more consistently to targeted blends.

Feed guide

🌿Dried herbal blend

Human grade, produced to ecological standards and free from agro-chemicals. See our Quality page for Organic Certification Documents.

• Feed 5g/100kg bodyweight per day, i.e. 25g for a 500kg horse.

💧Tincture

• Feed 6ml/100kg bodyweight per day, i.e. 30ml for a 500kg horse.

If you want the science, 'energetic architecture' explains how a herbal programme is designed to support the body's interconnected systems – not just which herbs are included, but how they're brought together and sequenced to create a specific approach.

With itchy horses, the skin is rarely the starting point - it’s often the release valve- the place where internal pressure shows up when the gut, liver, or kidneys are under strain.

Functional intent

SwItchTonic is designed for horses showing itchy, reactive skin patterns, particularly where symptoms are seasonal, recurring, or linked to underlying metabolic strain.

The blend works across four interconnected pathways:

→ Skin soothing → lymphatic movement → hepatic processing → renal support

This layered approach helps calm surface irritation while supporting the body’s natural internal clearance systems, allowing the skin to settle as systemic pressure reduces.

Functional categories – skin support in action

1. Skin Soothing & Reactivity Modulation - Stellaria media, Calendula officinalis, Urtica dioica
   Helping calm irritated, sensitive skin and support a more settled surface response.
2. Lymphatic Movement & Tissue Drainage - Calendula officinalis, Galium aperine, Achillea millefolium, Arctium lappa
   Supporting the movement of fluid and helping reduce congestion that can contribute to skin reactivity.
3. Hepatic Processing & Metabolic Support - Silybum marianum, Arctium lappa
   Supporting the liver’s role in managing metabolic by-products that can contribute to skin irritation when not effectively processed.
4. Renal Support & Fluid Balance - Taraxacum officinale folia, Urtica dioica
   Helping maintain healthy kidney function and fluid balance, particularly when the skin is acting as an auxiliary elimination pathway.
5. Circulatory Support & Tissue Nourishment - Crataegus oxyacanthoides, Achillea millefolium
   Supporting peripheral circulation to help deliver nutrients to compromised or irritated skin tissues.
6. Stress Response & Systemic Regulation - Withania somnifera
   Supporting the adrenal–nervous system connection, helping reduce the impact of stress on immune and skin reactivity.

Big Picture

SwItchTonic is not just a skin blend - it's a surface-to-system support formula.

By calming irritation, supporting internal clearance, and improving fluid movement, it helps shift the pattern from itch → react → repeat, to c alm → clear → stabilise.

Advisories

• Ensure your horse has access to plenty of forage and fresh water, as supportive herbs can encourage normal elimination processes.
• Safe to feed for long-term use where ongoing support is needed.

Contraindications

• Not recommended for pregnant or nursing mares, due to the inclusion of aromatic and system-supportive herbs.
• If your horse has a known bleeding disorder, or is receiving anticoagulant medication, seek veterinary guidance before use.
• If your horse is on steroid or immune-modifying medication, it’s sensible to check with your vet before introducing herbal support.

Veterinary reference / formulary extract

A concise, vet-friendly reference is available for sharing with your vet.