Activated Charcoal in the Treatment of Farcy (Glanders) in Horses

How Can Medicinal Charcoal Help in the Treatment of Farcy and Glanders in Horses?

In the 2016 movie Ben-Hur, one of the four prize chariot horses (an Andalusian mare) develops an "incurable" disease. The main character, Judah Ben-Hur, recognizes the condition as Farcy.

Sheik Ilderim: "Aliyah is sick, but that's my dilemma. No. She's dying."

Ben-Hur: "I can help her. I know horses. I've seen it before. It's called Farcy. It can be treated with charcoal. I can help her."

Ben-Hur treats the silver-white mare with a simple poultice of charcoal and herbs, and she fully recovers, earning her complete trust and dedication. Rather than handing over the Jewish slave to the Romans, Sheik Ilderim trains Ben-Hur as a chariot racer.

Farcy and Glanders

Farcy, more commonly known as Glanders, is a serious bacterial disease affecting the respiratory tract and skin, primarily in horses and other equine animals such as mules, donkeys, and zebras.

Glanders is caused by Burkholderia mallei (formerly Pseudomonas mallei). It produces nodules along the lymphatic vessels that erupt into thick, yellow, ulcerating sores, primarily on the limbs and abdomen.

Traditionally, the term Farcy is used when the disease affects the skin and external lymphatic system, while Glanders refers to infection involving the nostrils, lungs, and other internal organs. The disease is generally fatal and can be transmitted to other domestic animals as well as humans.

Toxins

Glanders produces highly potent toxic compounds called malleicyprols, which cripple the immune system, promote bacterial growth, and contribute to tissue destruction - their food source for rapid growth.

Since even microorganisms need to eat, activated charcoal is able to indirectly "starve" the bacteria to death by neutralizing the bacteria's toxic flesh-eating enzymes. As the toxic burden is reduced, the immune system revives, and the body takes over the healing process.

Here is an extreme case of terminal Pseudomonas infection in a dog, demonstrating its rapid recovery following charcoal treatment.

It should be understood that charcoal treatments do not replace good hygienic nursing care. However, when used alongside proper care, a natural remedy such as charcoal may produce very favorable results, even over a relatively short period.

Glanders primarily occurs in parts of Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Central and South America. Naturally occurring cases have been eradicated in North America, Australia, and most of Europe. Nevertheless, because only a small number of organisms are required to establish infection, it is regarded as a potential biological warfare agent (Tier 1 biosecurity agent).

It is, no doubt, an interesting coincidence that the Glanders toxin is referred to as a cyclopropanol "warhead."

Biological Warfare

With reference to biological agents, the fabric used in military Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical (NBC) protective suits incorporates spun activated carbon cloth*, quilted into the combat clothing. Electron microscopy has shown activated carbon fibers entangling and immobilizing toxic biological microbes. One wonders whether this same material might also have applications in the treatment of Glanders and Farcy.

Below are examples of plain, unsterilized CarboCloth applied to:

• A non-healing open cancer wound on a dog.
• A mud fever infection on a horse.

A Doberman had a fungating cancer on its rear leg that would not heal. The pain was so severe that the dog refused to stand. Two hours after applying non-sterilized CarboCloth™ to the open wound, the dog willingly stood up. After only four weeks, the wound had completely healed over.

Mud fever is another bacterial infection in horses caused by prolonged exposure to wet conditions. Here we see the rapid benefit of wrapping the affected area with non-sterilized CarboCloth™.

Final Question

Will a simple activated charcoal poultice work as well for Farcy in the 21st century as it did in years past?

Is charcoal worth at least trying on your prize $100,000 Andalusian mare?

We recommend VetDtox® for a variety of animal infections. See the other applications below.

Movies & TV

How is it that medicinal charcoal found its way into a 2016 blockbuster movie?

Because Charcoal Works®.

But this is not the only instance of Hollywood featuring charcoal as a traditional remedy. Check out some of charcoal's other starring roles in productions such as Heartland (2010) and The Hunger Games (2012).

*Today, activated carbon cloth is woven into Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical (NBC) military suits as a first line of defense against many biological agents.