Humic acids have been hailed as the most powerful detoxifying agents available for the soil but they can perform a similar function in the sick animal. Humic acid has a CEC (cation exchange capacity) of 450, which can provide an adsorptive capacity similar to activated charcoal to soak up and isolate toxins (before they can cause cellular damage). The physical manifestation of disease is often a negative response to the toxins released by the infectious microbes. When humic acid is used to bind these toxins there is often a dramatic reduction in toxicity. The benefits of humates in animal health are remarkably similar to those in the soil. Where humic acids help to balance the critical fungal: bacteria ratio in the soil they can also stabilise the animal’s intestinal flora to improve feed efficiency (5% to 15% weight gains have been reported in cattle, pigs and poultry). Where humic acids are similar, buffering agents in the soil they can also offer a protective mechanism in the animal where they are able to form a protective film on the mucous lining of the gastro-intestinal tract. This film also helps to prevent excessive losses of water via the intestine. Poor quality foods and grasses burden digestion. Digestively, Fulvic acids can chelate heavy metal build-up which results in fewer burdens on your horse’s intestinal tract. Animal studies also reveal an increase in feed efficiency when Humates are included. Excel with Fulvic has been shown to substantially reduce the incidence of diarrhoea and other digestive upsets as well as to improve animals’ defences against pathogens such as E. coli. (Studies on the antimicrobial effect of natural and synthetic humic acids. Ansorg R. 1978.)