SWITCHTONIC *Organic herbal blend for horses - itch-soothing, skin-calming, system-supporting

As the saying goes, "Beauty comes from within," and the skin is a direct reflection of what’s happening beneath the surface. When it comes to itchy skin, the root cause is connected to the detoxification gut:liver:kidneys pathway.

Sweet itch - more than a skin problem

Persistent skin irritations, and especially sweet itch, probably the worst of equine skin torments, are more than just surface problems - they’re rooted in systemic detoxification imbalances.

Sweet itch has been a personal battle for two of Carol's (EquiNatural's founder) horses, Kelso and Mac. While it's traditionally thought to be an autoimmune response to the Culicoides midge, recent research (2021) reveals that sweet itch is not merely a skin issue. The skin symptoms are undeniable, but the underlying cause lies in a multi-metabolic detoxification disorder ( KPU ), where a significantly disturbed microbiome leads to extensive inflammation of the gut lining, disrupting the liver/kidneys detoxification process.

This triggers a hyperactive immune response, leaving the body highly sensitive to allergens and resulting in a massive increase in toxins. In essence, at its core sweet itch is a chronic autoimmune issue, triggered by a detoxification disorder.

The role of the kidneys and skin

The kidneys, tasked with excreting toxins while maintaining vital balances (acid-base, minerals, water, and blood pressure), have a limited capacity. When overwhelmed, the y rely on an emergency detox pathway - the skin. This overload leads to excessive toxin excretion through the skin, causing severe itching, particularly in summer when insect bites compound the problem.

Fly rugs can help by preventing midge bites, reducing symptoms. However, 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.

The hidden danger of kidney overload

A major challenge is that kidney insufficiency often remains invisible until significant damage - up to 70% - has occurred. This makes early intervention critical. For sweet itch or fly-affected horses, fly rugs provide some relief, but for horses with non-sweet itch-related skin issues, the root cause is often severe gut biome dysbiosis.

A whole-body approach

To truly address itchy skin, we need to consider the entire detoxification system: the gut, liver, and kidneys. If the kidneys are overloaded, the liver is likely struggling too, disrupting the toxin biotransformation process. This creates a chain reaction that begins with gut biome imbalance and ends with the skin serving as an emergency excretion pathway.

This same process applies to conditions like mallenders and sallenders, which are also linked to impaired liver and kidney function.

Full disclosure...

SwItchTonic will not cure sweet itch. As of October 2021, emerging research now shows that sweet itch is linked to a widespread, multi-metabolic detoxification disorder called Cryptopyrroluria (KPU). For more information, visit our KPU page .

For the latest research and updates, see our main A-Z Coat & Skin page.

SwItchTonic is designed for horses who struggle with itchy, irritated, reactive skin, especially those with sweet itch, seasonal flare-ups, or deeper detoxification-related skin issues.

🌿 Ideal for horses who…

• Rub intensely during midge season or humid weather.
• Struggle with sweet itch(Culicoides hypersensitivity) and need regular, whole-body nutritional support.
• Have recurring itchiness, even outside of the midge season

⚠️ Not suitable for horses who…

• Are pregnant or nursing, due to the blend’s aromatic and cleansing botanicals.
• Are on anticoagulant or blood-thinning medications (Yarrow-type actions may have mild additive effects).
• Have significant kidney disease or severe fluid-retention disorders ( Taraxicum + Urtica caution).
• Are receiving immunosuppressive medication — consult your vet before use.
• Not suitable for horses with sudden, severe, or rapidly worsening skin changes (such as hot swelling, oozing lesions, widespread hives, or sudden coat loss). These symptoms may indicate infection, acute allergy, or endocrine imbalance and require veterinary assessment before introducing nutritional support, particularly as SwItchTonic contains gentle immunomodulatory and detox-supporting botanicals.

Which blend - SwItchTonic or LKLCARE?

Each works differently depending on the root pattern behind your horse’s skin discomfort:

→ SwItchTonic

- For sweet itch, chronic itching, and detox-overload skin flare-ups.

Choose SwItchTonic when the skin is the symptom, but the deeper issue is a stressed gut–liver–kidney axis — especially in horses with:

• Sweet itch (Culicoides hypersensitivity)
• Intense or recurring summer itchiness
• Heat, reactivity, or inflamed skin
• Year-round itching linked to biome or metabolic imbalance
• Skin issues driven by detox overload (KPU-type patterns)
• Mallenders/sallenders linked to liver–kidney strain

In short:
SwItchTonic supports itch + heat + chronic skin reactivity when the skin is being used as an emergency detox pathway.

→ LKLCARE

- For detox-organ support, winter/early-spring itch, coat-change help, and metabolic sensitivity.

Choose LKLCARE when the horse’s liver, kidneys, or lymphatics need extra support - especially when skin symptoms appear outside typical sweet itch season, such as:

• Winter or unexpected out-of-season itchiness
• Slow shedding, dull coat, “stuck” coat-change patterns
• Skin issues linked to metabolic load (EMS/IR)
• Mallenders/sallenders with fluid or lymph involvement
• Horses post–gut-reset needing detox-axis support
• Horses who seem “toxic-tired,” sluggish, or stagnant

In short? LKLCARE supports the liver–kidney–lymph detox organs, helping the system clear metabolic waste more efficiently - ideal when the horse feels congested, dull, or slow to detox.

→ Quick guide - when to choose which?

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.
• 1 x level 75ml scoop = 12-grams.

💧Tincture

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

• Laboratory tested for identification and compliance to the British and European Pharmacopoeia standards.
• Human grade.
• ♻️ Eco Note: Our packaging is recyclable and refillable.
• 🧊 Storage Tip: Keep cool and dry.

SwItchTonic is a gentle, supportive blend designed to help itchy, irritated skin feel calmer while supporting the deeper gut–liver–kidney systems linked to sweet itch and seasonal skin flare-ups.

It isn’t suitable for pregnant mares or horses on certain medications, so do check with your vet if your horse has a complex medical history (see below).

Advisories

• SwItchTonic is formulated as a gentle, whole-system support blend, suitable for horses with sweet itch tendencies, seasonal skin irritation, or detox-linked flare-ups.
• For gut-sensitive horses or those with long-standing metabolic or lymphatic issues, introduce gradually over 3–5 days.
• Ensure your horse has 24/7 access to forage and fresh water, as detox-supportive herbs naturally encourage normal elimination.
• Safe to feed long-term.

Contraindications

• Not recommended for pregnant or nursing mares, due to aromatics and system-cleansing botanicals.
• Avoid in horses with known bleeding disorders, or those on anticoagulant medications, due to the presence of circulatory herbs.
• Use caution in horses on steroid or immune-suppressant medications, as botanicals like Ashwagandha and Milk Thistle may influence immune balance — veterinary guidance advised.

Note

If you’re discussing this with your vet, you’re welcome to share our SwItchTonic Vet Reference extract with them.