• • PRODUCTS FOR HORSES
  • CurOST EQ Horse Information
  • CurOST EQ Comparison Chart
  • CurOST EQ Green - (Best Seller)Curcumin Based Supplement
  • CurOST EQ Plus2X More Curcumin
  • CurOST EQ Plus Green Tea Free2X More Curcumin
  • CurOST EQ Immune SupportClinically Proven Immune Formula
  • CurOST EQ IREquine Insulin Resistance
  • PRODUCTS FOR YOUR PETS
  • CurOST Small AnimalClinically Proven Joint Support Formula

A Message From Dr. Schell

Anti Inflammatory For Horses
Please click the video to view a discussion about the Cur-OST EQ Line of anti-inflammatory products for horses and how Dr. Schell uses them in his practice to help horses.

Anti Inflammatory for Companion Animals
Please click the video to view a discussion about the Cur-OST Companion animal product and how Dr. Schell uses the formula in his practice to help dogs combat inflammation and pain.

Comparison of Cur-OST EQ Products
Please Click on the Video To View a Comprehensive Comparison of Cur-OST and Glucosamine/Chondroitin Joint Supplements From The Doctor and Creater Of Cur-OST Brand Products Himself.

EQ IMMUNE Support For Horses
Please click on the video to view a discussion about Cur-OST EQ Immune support for horses, the benefits and how Dr. Schell uses the formula in his own practice.

Research & Science

The Cur-OST® line of products utilize the finest herbs, vitamins, and minerals that have been scientifically researched and clinically proven to reduce the inflammation associated with many disorders as well as support the immune system.  With our high-grade formulations and blends, you can trust that you are getting the best product nature provides.  It’s our passion at Nouvelle Veterinary to provide your companion animal or horse with fast, safe, and effective results.

Driven by his personal life changing experience, Dr. Schell started his search for a natural alternative to boost the immune system and reduce inflammation.  During his extensive research, he discovered various combinations of ingredients to develop clinically proven results.  During this research, he discovered Curcumin and Boswellia.

Cur-OST® is formulated using both Curcumin and Boswellia in addition to a host of other ingredients that work synergistically to:

Curcumin:  a compound found in the spice turmeric, inhibits multiple inflammatory pathways in the body.  It is also a potent antioxidant.  Some of the benefits associated with Curcumin include immune system modulation, protection from oxidative stress, and support for the body’s natural anti-inflammatory response.  The specialized extract, BCM-95®, in this formula has the highest absorption of any Curcumin extract available for the maximum health benefit. Curcumin has also shown benefits as a potent anti-oxidant, immune system modulator and provides protection against oxidative stress.  It has also been shown to demonstrate potent anti-cancer properties.

Curcumin is one of the active ingredients extracted from Turmeric.  Turmeric is composed primarily of Curcumin, desmethoxyCurcumin and bisdemethoxy Curcumin.  Curcumin is considered the most active of the three Curcuminoids and composes about 2-4% of the total content of Turmeric.  One of the most heavily cultivated Turmeric species is Curcuma longa, which is primarily grown in the southern and eastern parts of India.(1)

Modern research has exploded regarding Curcumin over the past several decades.  Curcumin acts at multiple targets and levels, affecting numerous transcription factors and cellular signaling pathways.  Curcumin has been shown to benefit numerous chronic diseases by reducing inflammation.  It is also an antioxidant, more powerful than vitamin E, which serves to quench oxygen and nitrogen free radicals.  It has been termed a “complete anti-inflammatory”, affecting all processes and facets of inflammation including cytokines, chemokines, adhesion molecules, growth factors, transcription factors such as NF-kB and AP-1, as well as a large number of kinases such as p38 and JNK. (1)

Curcumin’s biological activity is attributed to being both an anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory, with both activities being complementary.  Oxidative stress elicits an inflammatory response, so to be effective, the agent should quench free radicals as well as reduce inflammation.  Most modern drugs fail to meet this standard and in most cases target to block COX-2, which is only a small piece of the inflammatory process.  By blocking COX-2, there is then a reduction in the production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE-2) which is involved with pain signaling.  All chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and Alzheimers have inflammation as a root component.  COX-2 is also constitutively present in some tissues such as the brain and kidneys (2,3), as well as the gastrointestinal system (4).  Thus, complete inhibition of COX-2 is not without possible negative consequences such as gastric ulceration and kidney damage.  Most drugs exhibit a complete blockade or inhibition of a various pathways, which then impacts other pathways and leads to side effects.  Curcumin does not exhibit complete blockade, but instead only down regulates the overactive pathway to basal or normal levels. 

Boswellia: a fragrant tree found in the valleys of India.  Its resin is used to make frankincense… but it has also been used to promote joint health and proper inflammatory response for decades in humans.  Boswellia also helps to control COX-2 which will ensure FAST long lasting effects.  The special Boswellia extract found in Cur-OST® has been standardized to contain 65% Boswellic acids.  So with every dose of Cur-OST®, you can feel confident that your pet or horse is getting the highest standard of Boswellia available. 

Research studies, in-vitro, indicate that boswellic acids are capable of inhibiting pro-inflammatory 5-lipoxygenase products which can contribute to bronchoconstriction, chemotaxis and increased vascular permeability. (1,2,3) The enzyme 5-lipoxygenase is one of the two key enzymes in the arachidonic acid cycle which contribute to inflammation. A Boswellia extract was compared to ketoprofen, a common non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, for effects on glycosaminoglycan metabolism in the joint cartilage. The Boswellia extract  significantly reduced the degradation of glycosaminoglycans, while the ketoprofen group exhibited a decrease in tissue glycosaminoglycan content. (4)

Clinical Studies:

Oxidative Stress in a Small Population of TB Racehorses
Oxidative stress is part of the inflammatory process and is the state in which there is an imbalance between the level of free radicals and antioxidants present within the body. Oxidative stress is a normal part of life and influenced by basic metabolic processes such as respiration as well as diet, exercise, genetic factors, environment and even pollutants. Free radicals are oxygen and nitrogen derivatives generated within the body as a response to the before mentioned events and result in positive and negative outcomes. Free radicals are essentially unstable molecules that can induce harm to various cellular DNA, proteins and lipids within the body. On the positive side of things, free radicals are generated by our immune system in response to invaders such as bacteria and viruses. These free radicals create an unstable environment for the bacteria and viruses, with the end goal being death to the intruder. In most normal situations, free radicals are quickly neutralized by antioxidants (vitamin c, vitamin E, CoQ10) present within our bodies before long term damage can occur. In many cases, our bodies will produce naturally occurring antioxidants such as glutathione, while in most situations, we are dependent on our diets to provide the necessary nutrients. If the level of free radicals exceeds that of the antioxidants, then this condition is generally termed oxidative stress. Long standing elevated free radical levels have been implicated in a host of medical conditions in human literature including arthritis and respiratory ailments.
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A Promising Natural Therapy for Equine Osteoarthritis
Equine osteoarthritis is a debilitating, degenerative condition affecting horses of various age groups and with a multitude of causes, ranging from conformational flaws, trauma to infectious origins. Osteoarthritis is also one of the main causes of lameness in the equine athlete, resulting in lost time, performance and high expenditures on various therapeutics. Curcumin, the active constituent of turmeric, has been shown in human research trials to actively down regulate inflammatory mediators through two main mechanisms: NF-kB inhibition and through activities as a secondary antioxidant. Equine osteoarthritis is primarily mediated by various cytokine release from damaged cells within the joint, resulting in high levels of PGE-2 and MMP-9, which further result in cartilage degradation and pain. Through NF-kB inhibition, curcumin has been shown to down regulate many inflammatory mediators, including PGE-2 and MMP-9, along with COX-2 enzymes. Curcumin has not only been shown to be fairly effective in human trials, but has also been shown to be safe even at high dosages with no noted side effects.
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Influence of Proprietary Herbal Blend on Insulin Resistance in Horses
Insulin resistance in the horse has been a problem plaguing private veterinary practitioners for years if not decades. The problem seems to be getting worse and more prevalent as time progresses, which raises issues and questions as to a possible husbandry or dietary problem that are contributing to the rise in caseloads. Insulin resistance or noninsulin dependent diabetes is a condition whereby the cells with in the body fail to respond to insulin in a normal fashion. Insulin is a hormone secreted by the pancreas in all mammals with the primary function of helping to drive sugar into the cell for purposes of energy production. In cases of insulin resistance (IR), the cells fail to respond to the insulin for various reasons, and in the end there is a void of sugar available for the cells to use as energy and perform their normal tasks. This problem then leads to malfunction at a cellular level, which can then lead to more of a broader based problem at a multi-organ level. In humans and horses, this overall problem is generally referred to as a "metabolic syndrome" due to the fact that the insulin resistance then leads to potentially other health problems such as elevated blood lipids, hypertension, renal disease, cardiovascular disease and in horses, laminitis.
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Oxidative Stress, Orthopedic Disease, Insulin Resistance and a Potential Target for Therapy.
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) or free radicals are unstable molecules present within the general circulation and produced through normal physiological activities, diet, toxin exposure and general obesity. Free radicals primarily stimulate an immune response, aiding the body in elimination of invading organisms, and also serve a cellular signaling role. When found in excess, free radicals or ROS can trigger normal cellular damage leading to malfunction and possibly disease. Elevated levels of ROS have been shown to contribute to insulin resistance formation and lead to the trigger and release of further inflammatory cytokines. Detecting an elevated free radical status in horses can be accomplished utilizing the FRAS-4 device. With detection of this status in conjunction with a reduced antioxidant potential, therapy can be initiated to reverse the pathway. Elevated free radicals and a decreased antioxidant potential is common in equine orthopedic conditions as well as other metabolic conditions. Treatment of the underlying oxidative stress has been shown to aid in overall recovery including improvement in lameness. Investigation using a natural blend of herbal anti-inflammatories and antioxidants called Cur-OST® has shown to produce a dramatic response clinically in equine patients afflicted with elevated free radicals and a decreased antioxidant potential, resulting in improvement in lameness as well as insulin resistance status.
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Educational Materials:

Prescription Anti-inflammatories vs. Natural Therapies
When we think of inflammation, we almost inevitably think of pain. One of the most common sources of pain in horses, humans and dogs is joint pain, whether if that is related to a malformation or poorly formed joint, an injury to the joint or degradation of the joint associated with conditions such as arthritis. In most cases of human joint pain, the average person will reach for traditional medications called non-steroidal anti-inflammatories or NSAIDs. There are many NSAIDs available over the counter for human use and include acetaminophen, aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen sodium. In the veterinary world, we will occasionally use acetaminophen in dogs but on a very restricted level due to side effects. Acetaminophen should never be administered to cats due to life threatening side effects. We have veterinary approved NSAIDs for use in dogs which include Etogesic®, Rimadyl®, Deramaxx®, Previcoxx®, Zubrin® and Metacam®. In horses we commonly will use phenylbutazone (bute), Banamine®or Equioxx®.
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Arthritis
Arthritis by definition is inflammation within the joint. Osteoarthritis (OA) is the more appropriate term and indicates inflammation within the joint and involving the bone. A joint is an area where two bones meet, such as the fetlock region. Each of the bone ends is covered by articular cartilage and the region is encased by a tissue called the joint capsule. The purpose of the joint capsule is to essentially hold or contain joint fluid within the area, whose purpose is to lubricate the joint and thus reduce friction as the bone ends glide across one another. There are many joints in the horse, but generally arthritis afflicts those joints from the carpus (knee) and tarsus (hock) proximally to the distal joints further down the limb. In cases of OA, the articular cartilage begins to degenerate or breakdown, leaving defects on the gliding surface. Theses defects then begin to expose the underlying bone, which when irritated, can trigger pain for the animal.  During the process of cartilage degredation, various inflammatory proteins are released into the joint fluid, such as prostaglandin E-2 (PGE-2), matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-9) and interleukin-1 (IL-1). These inflammatory proteins further stimulate inflammation, leading to more cartilage loss, joint capsule irritation and pain for the horse.
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Laminitis
Laminitis is inflammation of the laminae, which is the tissue that secures the coffin bone or distal phalanx to the inside of the hoof tissue.  Laminitis is often interchangeable with the laymen’s term, "FOUNDER". The coffin bone is normally secured in a position where the front of the bone is in alignment with the front of the hoof capsule.  The laminar tissue is just like any other tissue, being dependent on daily blood circulation to provide nutrients in order to maintain cellular health.  In episodes of laminitis, the tissue begins to breakdown or exhibit cellular death.  When the tissue is damaged, the coffin bone becomes unstable in its position and gradually rotates downwards towards the ground due to a backward pull via the deep flexor tendon. (Picture "A" on the left shows the coffin bone at a 14.34 degree rotation) The condition is very painful for the horse and can be fatal if not treated promptly.  In severe conditions, the coffin bone can rotate and penetrate the sole of the hoof, resulting most likely in euthanasia.  Prognosis is dependent not only on the degree of rotation and laminar damage, but also is dependent on the pain tolerance of the horse.  In some cases of minimal rotation, the horses are in such extreme pain that they must be euthanized due to lack of ability to relieve their suffering.
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Navicular Disease
Navicular disease is a common cause of lameness in the horse, specifically the Quarter horse, but can affect any breed.  The navicular bone is a small, fan shaped bone located in the heel of each foot, right at the level of the heel bulbs.  Horse with navicular disease or syndrome, typically will have a short strided forward phase of the stride as well as increased pain to the heel region when hoof testers are applied.  Typical diagnostics completed are nerve blocks to help isolate the pain the heel region as well as x-rays to evaluate the integrity of the navicular bone.  In today’s day and age, MRI’s are becoming a new method of evaluating the bone and surrounding tissue as is ultrasound exams.  When evaluated with x-rays, many of these horses demonstrated bone loss or lysis of the navicular bone, which indicates bone degeneration.  Causes of navicular disease are only theories at this point and in my eyes are very similar to those associated with laminitis.  Those include conformational flaws, poor shoeing habits, repetitive trauma to the heel region, altered blood circulation to the heels as well as nutrient deficiency.  One thing that is becoming clear as a potential underlying cause is oxidative stress, but there is much research still needing to be completed in this area.
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Oxidative Stress
Oxidative stress is a fancy term being thrown around in the human and veterinary medical community.  It is a complicated inflammatory reaction or cascade of events that is worthy of some attention.  In cases of inflammation, whether it is direct trauma or secondary to an infection, cells of the immune system release what is termed free radicals into the bloodstream.  Free radicals or reactive oxygen species (ROS), are also release secondary to normal daily events such as breathing, consumption of various food products as well as associated with various medications we consume.  Free radicals are essentially unstable oxygen derivatives with an unpaired electron(s) in the outer orbit.  Given this, they are very unstable molecules.  Their overall purpose or intended purpose in the body is to oxidize or toxify invading bacteria, viruses or abnormal cells…essentially designed to protect the body.  However, this function is intended for short term use only and usually the levels of free radicals decrease as an infection resolves or injured tissue is healed.  If the free radical levels persists for extended periods of time, then they can begin to act on normal tissue, altering its cellular function and even leading to cell death.  Along with elevated levels of free radicals, there is an associated inflammatory response by the immune system, leading to the release of a multitude of pro-inflammatory proteins such as PGE-2, MMP-9 and IL-1.  These proteins signal other cells to invade the area, signify the perception of pain as well as alter blood circulation throughout the body.
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Insulin Resistance
Insulin resistance is a form of “pre” diabetes and is unfortunately very common in the horse as well as in humans.  Insulin resistance or IR is a physiologic condition in which the cells in the body have a decreased response to insulin.  Insulin is a hormone secreted by the pancreas and serves the main function of “driving” sugar (glucose) into the cells so that it can be used as energy.  In IR horses, the cells fail to respond to the insulin and thus there is a reduced ability of the cells to gather sugar for use as energy.  If you deprive a cell of an energy source for an extended period of time, the cells begin to weaken, potentially alter in form and die.  Due to the decreased burning of sugar by the cells, there is a tendency to build fat accumulations in the body.  Most IR horses are noted to be overweight due to this fact.
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