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 …
Jasmine absolute inspires quiet confidence. Especially for animals who bully others because they feel insecure.
Manuka is the flavour of the month at my place! This is one of those oils that I forget about for a while, and then suddenly seem to use all the time. It has a slightly off-putting fragrance in my opinion, but it is a wonderfully effective oil.
Zoopharmacognosy, or animal self-medication, is a fascinating subject, and one I am lucky enough to observe pretty much every day of my life. I was happy to find this article, which gives some good examples of how wild animals seek out the herbs and minerals they need.
Sweet Fennel bridges the Traditional Chinese Medicine seasons of Late Summer and Autumn (Fall). The sweet yet pungent fragrance, tell us that Sweet Fennel belongs to Earth and Metal, governors of those seasons. Traditionally used as a digestive aid, working on the stomach and large intestine, Sweet Fennel also helps to clarify mental confusion, let-go of obsessive behaviour and to express yourself clearly. Late summer is the time for integrating lessons learnt over the fruitful summer time and Autumn is the time for letting go of that which is no longer serving you.
I can tell Late Summer is here by the state of my hat (sweat-stained and a bit battered!) and the outbreak of Damp Heat. I don't just mean we are hot and sweaty, I am referring to the Chinese internal climate of Damp Heat, which leads to fungal infections, digestive problems and some types of itchy skin.
