Environmental Triggers & Root Cause Healing — Part 1

I am very excited to bring you this series on how when we see symptoms, it's due to a trigger that impacts the body and how those symptoms that present themselves are the reaction of something much deeper in the body. I hope you enjoy this as much as I do. Please feel free to leave a comment or ask questions at the bottom of this blog.

Triggers = Symptoms → Finding the Root Cause

When a horse develops a chronic cough, stiff joints, recurring skin irritation, or persistent anxiety, the first question most people ask is:

“How do we get rid of the symptom?”

But here’s the truth: a symptom is not the problem. It’s a messenger.

Symptoms Are Messages

In both human and animal health, symptoms are the body’s way of waving a flag and saying, “Something deeper needs attention.” They are not random bad luck or “just aging.” They are the physical expression of an underlying imbalance — the body’s adaptive attempt to cope with ongoing stress.

Whether we’re talking about a horse, a dog, a cat, or ourselves, chronic symptoms often point to repeated exposure to environmental triggers that slowly push the body out of balance.

What Are Environmental Triggers?

An environmental trigger is any factor — inside or outside the body — that initiates or worsens an imbalance.For horses, this can include:

• Feed ingredients that cause inflammation or nutrient gaps

• Mold or dust inhaled in the barn

• Chemical residues from pesticides or herbicides

• Medications, antibiotics, or vaccines creating temporary physiological strain

• Chronic stress from improper management, harsh handling, or lack of turnout

• Even early-life experiences, such as being started too young or suffering injury or neglect

Some triggers are obvious, like a visible injury. Others are subtle and cumulative, working quietly for months or years before symptoms appear.

Why Chasing Symptoms Doesn’t Work

If we only treat the symptom — the cough, the stiffness, the skin rash — without removing the trigger, the root imbalance remains. The body will either:

1. Keep producing the same symptom, or

2. Create a new one in a different system

This is why “managing” symptoms with short-term solutions often leads to an endless cycle of recurring issues.

Finding the Root Cause

Root cause healing begins by asking: “What’s causing the body to express this symptom in the first place?”

• Is the diet creating a constant state of low-grade inflammation?

• Is the environment overloading the respiratory system or liver?

• Has stress altered nervous system balance and immune function?

The process is investigative, often requiring observation, elimination of potential triggers, and support for the body’s natural repair systems.

The Big Picture

A horse is not just a set of systems — digestive, respiratory, musculoskeletal — functioning independently. Every system communicates, and what affects one inevitably affects the others. Chronic joint stiffness might be tied to gut inflammation. A recurring skin issue might trace back to mold exposure or hormonal disruption.

The key to lasting wellness is identifying and removing the triggers before layering on more “fixes.”

A Deeper Understanding Through Herb Testing

Over the last eight years, working with horses through Applied Zoopharmacognosy (herb testing) has opened my eyes to environmental triggers in ways that no textbook ever could. By allowing horses to select the herbs their bodies instinctively need, I’ve witnessed patterns emerge — often the same herbs being chosen by horses with similar symptoms or living conditions.

These experiences have shown me that not everything we’ve been doing for decades in horse care is truly beneficial. In fact, some “common practices” may quietly contribute to the very issues we’re trying to resolve. While many of these signs can’t be detected through traditional lab testing, herb testing has proven that horses can speak to us — just not in words. This process has guided me to create blends and protocols that target root causes, not just surface symptoms, and has deepened my belief that true healing starts with listening to what the horse’s body is asking for.

Looking Ahead in This Series

This is Part 1 in a multi-part series on environmental triggers in horses (and yes, these principles apply to dogs, cats, and people too). In the coming articles, we’ll explore each major trigger in depth, starting with the one most horses encounter multiple times a day: food.

Series Navigation:

• Part 1: Triggers = Symptoms → Finding the Root Cause (You’re here)

• Part 2: Food: The First and Most Constant Trigger (Coming soon)

• Part 3: Dust & Airborne Particulates (Coming soon)

• Part 4: Mold & Mycotoxins (Coming soon)

• Part 5: Pesticides & Herbicides (Coming soon)

• Part 6: Medications, Antibiotics & Vaccines (Coming soon)

• …and more

With Love, Herbs & Harmony

~Debbi, Wholehearted Harmony

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