It’s the same every year. Suddenly the light shifts from the burning clarity of high summer, to a more mellow yellow tone. It’s the colour of late summer, and I feel it in my digestion and energy levels. I have a slight discomfort in my stomach, an intolerance of starch and sugar and a desire …
Ancient Art It is Midsummer, and I’m writing this as I sit beside my cauldron distilling St John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum). I feel delightfully connected to an ancient lineage of healers and alchemists stretching back into time immemorial. All those others who have gone out on Midsummer day to gather this magick plant and transform …
Lavandula Viridis I have a new love in my life! Green Lavender (Lavandula viridis) is her name. For me getting to know an essential oil has the same frisson as any new love. The growing intimacy, the surprising characteristics that are revealed, the unknown, the edge of mystery. And then the friendly familiarity. This rare …
A Rare Lavender – May be the answer to fungal infections Read More »
Spring! Everything’s full of energy and vigour and new life, bounding around enthusiastically like a foal. It’s time to shake off the sluggishness of winter and get ready for summer fun. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Spring belongs to the element Wood, which also rules the Liver and Gallbladder meridians, so this is the best time …
The safest and most effective way to use essential oils with animals is to use applied zoopharmacognosy. Or in simpler terms, to allow your animals to self-select the aromatics they need, and guide you in how to use them. One of the things I love best about this system is how it can help animals …
I live in Portugal, which is an aromatherapist’s delight. In my back yard (30 hectares/75 acres) aromatic plants grow wild. They include two types of lavender, helichrysum, cistus, rosemary, mint, thyme and chamomile. My horses and dogs are free to interact with theses plants whenever they like. What I have observed is that they hardly ever …
It’s that time of year, Spring has sprung, the bird is on the wing, and so are all the flying pests! Those of you with itchy horses are getting ready to protect your precious friends from suffering, and I am here to give you some ideas how to succeed in your mission. Essential oils relieve …
Aromatic protection Aromatic essential oils and hydrosols are your best ally in the fight against fleas, ticks and mosquitoes. Not only do they actively repel bugs, but unlike chemical treatments they will improve your dog’s overall well-being at the same time. Bug protection starts inside Healthy dogs, fed fresh whole food, are more able to …
Essentials oils protect against Fleas, Ticks (and other unwelcome guests!) Read More »
It’s spring time. I guess it’s natural that things ‘hormonal’ should become an issue. First of all Dharma Dog’s mammary glands expanded, and she was gaining weight. I kept running her recent heat through my memory, checking if whether there had been ANY opportunity for her to have slipped away. Despite being 99.9% sure she couldnt …
Understanding moody mares It’s that time of year! Your mare is moody, pulling faces when you saddle her, not concentrating when you ride, harassing the geldings and rubbing her mane! Her hormones are running riot and you don’t know what to do. First, a little understanding is in order: What are hormones? Why do they …
