Mare’s milk (milk of female horses) serves as a natural food for foals during their first months, but it is occasionally offered as a food for humans as well. Mare’s milk is generally most similar to mother’s milk. It is high in lactose, iron, vitamin C, vital nutrients, and unsaturated essential fatty acids. Thanks to this nutrient composition, mare’s milk offers the infant a high level of protection against infections and a strengthening of the immune system.
Here’s what you should know about mare’s milk
Mare’s milk (milk of female horses) serves as a natural food for foals in the first months, but it is occasionally offered as a food for humans as well. The Chinese and Egyptians already appreciated the healing properties of mare’s milk 3000 years ago. In Russia there have been many mare’s milk sanatoriums since the time of the tsars, and mare’s milk is still brought to the Kremlin every day from large stud farms in the Caucasus. Widely known is also the beauty of the graceful Cleopatra, which she achieved by bathing in mare’s milk. In the 19th century, some Russian physicians studied this phenomenon. This led to the establishment of a mare’s milk sanatorium in Samara. In the meantime, the effect of mare’s milk has also been recognized by Western medicine. In Germany, for example, there is a rehabilitation clinic in Graal-Müritz where mare’s milk cures are specifically used. Initially, mare’s milk was used as a therapy for diseases of the digestive organs and lungs, but during the Second World War, Russian hospitals also treated wounded people with mare’s milk, because it allowed them to heal more quickly. Even today, the effectiveness of mare’s milk is being scientifically studied. Mares do not have a storage udder, so a foal is required to obtain mare’s milk. This triggers the suckling reflex and the foal must have drunk enough milk beforehand. Approximately two liters are obtained during one milking process. To preserve the valuable ingredients, the mare’s milk must not be pasteurized. After milking, it is cooled, packaged and flash-frozen. It can then be kept for about six months. A granulate can then be produced in a complex freeze-drying process by removing water. Since mares can only give milk when they have a foal, mare’s milk is much more expensive than cow’s milk.
Importance for health
Until the beginning of the century, mare’s milk was one of the few cures for tuberculosis in Germany. It was even said to alleviate incurable chronic diseases of the intestines and liver. Allergy sufferers tolerate the easily digestible mare’s milk better than cow’s milk. It also helps with intestinal problems and even has a soothing effect on Crohn’s disease, as mare’s milk activates lactic acid fermentation in the intestines. The number of bifidus bacteria increases and the digestive glands are stimulated. Consumption of mare’s milk brings significant relief to patients as a supplement to medical therapy. However, mare’s milk not only improves disorders of gastrointestinal function as well as intestinal flora, but also helps with whooping cough, rheumatism, arteriosclerosis as well as osteoporosis. The fatty acid spectrum is similar to that of breast milk. The milk contains abundant long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and many other valuable ingredients. Mare’s milk also has an antibacterial effect and strengthens the immune system. The contained vitamin D is especially needed for the incorporation of calcium into the bones. General signs of wear and tear or states of exhaustion are also said to be significantly improved by drinking the mare’s milk. In addition, positive effects can be achieved with the milk in skin diseases such as neurodermatitis and psoriasis. For about 150 years, alternative practitioners and naturopaths have sworn by the treatment of these diseases with mare’s milk. An important part of the effect of mare’s milk is said to be based on the optimization of the body’s own defenses, since a disease of the skin also means a worsened defense reaction as well as often an overshooting, autoagressive immune system. Therefore, people with a weak immune system can try to strengthen their defenses by drinking mare’s milk regularly. Its application on the skin as well as a drink has a positive effect on various skin diseases. Therefore, the mare’s milk is popularly used in skin care cosmetics.
Ingredients and nutritional values
Mare’s milk contains all the nutrients that humans need to live: Protein, fat and carbohydrates. These nutrients provide the body with energy. There are just under 50 calories (kcal) in 100 grams of mare’s milk. Despite the low fat content, mare’s milk is rich in unsaturated fatty acids, through which the heart muscle, muscle tissue, gastric and intestinal mucous membranes, hormone-producing glands and the central nervous system are positively influenced. Among the valuable vitamins contained in mare’s milk are vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, B12, plenty of vitamin C, D and E. Therefore, the mare’s milk contributes to healthy nutrition. Thanks to its nutrients, active substances and balanced composition, it is a source of strength for the whole body. The milk strengthens the immune system and regenerates the metabolism.
Intolerances and allergies
Mare’s milk contains few components that lead to allergic reaction or intolerance. Therefore, allergies to the milk hardly occur. However, it is not suitable for babies, because it contains too little fat and thus the milk provides too little energy to thrive well.
Shopping and kitchen tips
Mare’s milk should be stored at -18°C, and the shelf life of frozen milk is at least six months. Mare’s milk thawed in the refrigerator can still be drunk a few hours after thawing if stored in a cool place. Mare’s milk thawed in a hot water bath should be consumed quickly and leftover mare’s milk should not be reheated, as the ingredients will be reduced and the desired effects of the milk will no longer be achieved. As a general rule, mare’s milk should not be thawed or heated in a microwave oven.
Preparation tips
A good alternative to fresh mare’s milk is the freeze-dried variety, which is obtained by a freeze-drying process. This protects the delicate ingredients of mare’s milk. The pleasantly sweet tasting powder is simply dissolved in water. It is therefore easy to use and also very suitable for on the go. A drinking cure extends over a period of four to eight weeks, with at least 1/4 liter of mare’s milk being drunk daily in the morning or evening. If a new stomach and intestinal situation occurs within the first two weeks, for example diarrhea, this can be considered positive. The mare’s milk capsules are also an ideal supplement to the drinking cure. This is perfect especially when traveling, when there is no possibility to take, store and thaw the frozen mare’s milk. The capsules are also great for people who have limited time, who find using the frozen milk or mixing the powder too cumbersome.
