CalmTonic Veterinary Reference Extract

EquiNatural® | Nutritional Botanical Support for Situational Calm, Autonomic Balance & Neuro-Somatic Regulation

Organically grown • Human grade • Not veterinary medicine

1. Important Context for Veterinary Review

Short-term stress reactions in horses are characterised by rapid activation of:

• Sympathetic nervous system (SNS)
• Adrenal medullary response
• Cortisol–adrenaline interplay
• Gut–brain feedback loops
• Cardiovascular arousal (tachycardia, vasoconstriction)
• Heightened sensory vigilance

These acute responses are adaptive but can become disproportionate in:

• Loading/travel stress
• Clipping, veterinary or farriery procedures
• Environmental changes
• Competition environments
• Separation or routine disruption

Horses may display:

• Trembling, reactivity, flight attempts
• Sensory over-alertness
• Tension through thoracolumbar chain
• Gut-tightness contributing to emotional escalation

CalmTonic is designed for short-term situational use, addressing transient stress spikes rather than chronic stress syndromes. It is valerian-free and suitable for FEI-governed disciplines. It is not intended to treat behavioural pathology, endocrine disorders, or chronic anxiety. Veterinary caution is required where corticosteroids, anticoagulants, or sedative medications are used.

Functional Positioning — CalmTonic

CalmTonic occupies the acute-event, situational-stress position within EquiNatural’s emotional-regulation pathway.

While StressTonic addresses active chronic stress states, and AdrenaVIVE supports post-stress recovery, CalmTonic is specifically formulated to:

• Interrupt the early neuro-somatic escalation
• Provide short-course, targeted calm
• Maintain cognitive clarity without sedation
• Support horses experiencing episodic, event-driven tension

It is best suited for:

• Loading/travel
• Clippers, farrier, veterinary handling
• Competition warm-up
• Environmental overstimulation
• Temporary separation stress

CalmTonic is not designed for: chronic stress, persistent reactivity, endocrine-driven anxiety, or burnout — these require StressTonic or AdrenaVIVE.

Core Actions

• Rapid-acting nervine modulation
  Supports early de-escalation of sensory over-arousal.
• Cardio-emotional grounding
  Hawthorn moderates adrenaline-associated cardiac excitability.
• Autonomic balancing
  Helps restore parasympathetic tone during acute stress.
• Gut–brain calming
  Demulcent herbs ease gut tension that often perpetuates emotional distress.
• Adrenal buffering
  Liquorice root provides gentle, short-term support for stress-induced adrenal fluctuations (→ requires steroid-interaction monitoring).

Rationale for Key Components

Melissa officinalis & Verbena officinalis

Nervines supporting emotional steadiness, sensory down-regulation, and reduced reactivity.

Matricaria chamomilla

Gastro-nervine whose apigenin-rich profile supports the gut–brain axis and softens tension.

Crataegus oxyacanthoides (Hawthorn)

Cardiotonic botanical supporting stable heart rhythm and emotional grounding in acute stress.

Glycyrrhiza glabra (Liquorice)

Low-dose adrenal buffering; harmonises blend actions.
Contraindicated with corticosteroid therapy.

Althaea officinalis radix

Demulcent herb that relaxes the soma → helping the nervous system settle.

Mentha piperita (Peppermint)

Cooling, tension-releasing aromatic improving respiratory ease and somatic relaxation.

2. Product Summary

CalmTonic is a short-course, FEI-compliant botanical formula designed to support:

• situational calm
• autonomic balance
• emotional regulation
• reduced reactivity under pressure
• enhanced focus without sedation
• gut–body–mind integration during acute stress events

It is ideal when horses need temporary, targeted support to remain manageable, attentive, and safe in stressful contexts.

3. Clinical Rationale (Nutritional Mechanisms of Action)

Nervous System Modulation (Melissa, Verbena, Chamomile)

• Supports GABAergic signalling
• Reduces sensory hyper-reactivity
• Encourages mental quietening without drowsiness

Cardiovascular & Adrenal Modulation (Hawthorn, Liquorice)

• Supports steady cardiac response
• Buffers cortisol/adrenaline fluctuations
• Helps interrupt the escalating stress loop

Gut–Brain Axis Support (Althaea, Chamomile, Peppermint)

• Relaxes GI tension that amplifies emotional instability
• Supports mucosal comfort → improving parasympathetic access

Aromatic Somatic Regulation (Peppermint, Verbena)

• Helps release body tension
• Encourages steady breathing and physical softness

4. Nutritional Indications (Non-Diagnostic)

CalmTonic may be useful for horses showing:

• situational anxiety (loading, clipping, travel)
• heightened reactivity under pressure
• tension-associated behaviours (spinning, trembling, blowing)
• emotional dysregulation during transitions
• competition-associated adrenaline surges
• temporary separation-induced agitation

Not intended to treat chronic stress syndromes, behavioural disorders, endocrine imbalance, neuropathic fear responses, or cardiac disease.

5. Composition (No Ratios Listed)

Botanical Safety Preface
Nervine and adrenal-modulating botanicals influence emotional and stress physiology.
Individual response varies with temperament, prior stress load, fitness, and environment.

Herb Composition

• Matricaria chamomilla
• Crataegus oxyacanthoides
• Melissa officinalis
• Glycyrrhiza glabra radix
• Althaea officinalis radix
• Mentha piperita folia
• Verbena officinalis

6. Herb Micro-Monographs (Technical)

Matricaria chamomilla — gastro-nervine supporting relaxation via the gut–brain axis.
Crataegus oxyacanthoides — cardiotonic botanical moderating stress-associated cardiac responses.
Melissa officinalis — anxiolytic nervine reducing sensory over-arousal.
Glycyrrhiza glabra — adrenal-buffering; contraindicated with exogenous corticosteroids.
Althaea officinalis — demulcent supporting somatic relaxation and comfort.
Mentha piperita — aromatic antispasmodic promoting respiratory and muscular ease.
Verbena officinalis — nervine used to support emotional steadiness and reduce “overwhelm”.

7. Medication Considerations

Use veterinary oversight with:

Corticosteroids (systemic or inhaled)

Liquorice may prolong steroid action and alter cortisol metabolism.

Anticoagulants / Antiplatelet agents

Peppermint and hawthorn have mild circulatory effects.

Sedatives or CNS-active medication

Nervines may influence overall arousal pathways.

Electrolyte/renal concerns

Liquorice may affect sodium/potassium balance at higher or prolonged intakes.

No clinically harmful interactions known at nutritional levels, but monitoring advisable.

8. Feeding Guidance

Organic Tincture
6 ml per 100 kg (30 ml for a 500 kg horse).
Introduce gradually over 2–3 days.

Short-Course Use
Feed situationally for:

• 3–7 days leading up to the event
• day of the event
• 1–3 days after if needed

Sensitivity Advisory
If unexpected behavioural or physiological changes occur, discontinue and consult a veterinarian.

9. Clinical Considerations

Advisories

• Designed for short-term, event-based use
• Suitable for FEI competition (valerian-free)
• May complement StressTonic or AdrenaVIVE outside the immediate window
• Hydration, routine, and calm handling optimise results

Contraindications

• Pregnancy/lactation
• Horses on steroid or anticoagulant medication (unless supervised)
• Concurrent sedative/calmers without guidance
• Horses with known electrolyte imbalance

10. Supporting Products

• StressTonic — chronic stress regulation
• AdrenaVIVE — post-stress adrenal and emotional recovery
• OptimaCARE — internal reset for stress-driven digestive imbalance
• EquiVita / VitaComplete — foundational mineral and vitamin support

11. Standard Professional Disclaimer

CalmTonic is a nutritional, botanical food supplement for horses.
It is not veterinary medicine and does not diagnose, treat, or prevent disease.
Veterinary consultation is recommended for horses on concurrent medication or with significant stress, cardiovascular, or endocrine concerns.