Khaleesi, a horse diagnosed with Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy (PSSM), had endured a difficult life on a rural cattle ranch before being rescued by Diana Hagemann-Milenkovitch at the Double H Equine Foundation in Sedona. PSSM, is a genetic muscle disorder that is manageable but incurable, often causing significant pain and discomfort. Khaleesi’s distress was evident by reacting to touch with pinned ears and grinding her teeth,  even gentle brushing  was intolerable.

When I met Khaleesi, her discomfort was unmistakable and her eyes reflected long-standing pain and exhaustion. Recognising the metabolic strain PSSM places on the liver, I chose to support hepatic function before introducing direct pain-relief remedies. Khaleesi showed immediate interest in barley grass and rose hip shells, and her response to liquorice root powder was particularly strong.  She then selected St John’s wort infused oil, often chosen for chronic pain, and eagerly ate comfrey herb, associated with musculoskeletal repair. Only after taking comfrey did she begin to show interest in marigold petals, which she had previously ignored. This pattern suggested a sequential process, where a remedy is needed to prepare her system to utilise the next.

Khaleesi’s engagement with the essential oils was careful and measured. She initially approached them from a distance, pausing for extended periods before gradually working with them. When wintergreen was introduced for pain relief, she declined topical application but instead attempted to nibble the bottle, indicating interest in internal use. However, when offered she refused it,  perhaps suggesting she required it more diluted or via another route, which she did. To accommodate this, I added 20 drops of wintergreen to a five-litre bucket of water, which she drank readily.

Transformational Results

Within a week, Diana observed significant improvements in Khaleesi’s behaviour and mobility: “We measure Khaleesi’s discomfort by where she poops. When she’s in pain, it’s scattered. When she feels good, it’s lined up along the fence. Khaleesi hasn’t done this in a very long time, and now she’s back to lining it up. Volunteers have noticed she looks more relaxed and is moving better.”

Additional buckets were prepared with yarrow (15 drops), wild carrot seed (20 drops), and birch oil (10 drops), allowing her to self-select according to need. Khaleesi moved between the buckets, returning most frequently to wintergreen and yarrow, recognised for their anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Fresh, untreated water was always available, enabling her to regulate intake.

Two weeks later, further changes were reported:“Khaleesi trotted to the gate for the first time since she arrived in April 2016. She continues to crave comfrey and regularly drinks from the wintergreen, birch, wild carrot seed, and yarrow water buckets. The wintergreen bucket is always empty when I arrive in the morning. She still selects barley grass and liquorice root, but in smaller amounts. Everyone is commenting on how much softer she looks, and her movements seem to cause her less pain.”

Three weeks after the initial session, Diana wrote: “My equine body-worker visited on Monday and, for the first time in almost two years of working with Khaleesi, was able to touch her and receive normal release signals. Khaleesi even allowed work on parts of her shoulders that had previously been completely off-limits. We’re hopeful this will help her muscles relax further. We’ve also noticed that Khaleesi is no longer lying down for long periods, and when she does lie down, she gets up immediately when approached and walks away almost normally. There is no more tail swishing from pain or stiff, robotic movement.”

Six months later, the improvements had stabilised: “Everyone has noticed the change in Khaleesi. Her eyes are much softer, and her movement has improved significantly.”.

Diana’s observations:

“Khaleesi always goes for the comfrey first, eating every bit and then she makes for the marigold, sometimes finishing all of that as well. Next, it might be chamomile flowers or barley grass powder, it depends on the day, but she does not usually finish those in one go. I also tried her on devil’s claw, she has days when she will take it and other times it stays untouched. Sometimes she finishes all the carrot seed water but leaves the wintergreen untouched; other times, it’s the opposite. Her intake is varied and seems to align with her body’s shifting requirements. Nothing has changed in her daily routine that gives me a clue as to why her intake is so varied.”

Khaleesi’s transformation demonstrates the profound impact of self-medication in managing chronic conditions, transitioning from a life of chronic pain to one of ease and reduced suffering.