| ESSENTIAL PROCESS, INC. Noreen Ziegler, DVM, CNC |
AROMATHERAPY IN VETERINARY MEDICINE
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
INTRODUCTION AND PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF
AROMATHERAPY IN VETERINARY MEDICINE
Stephen R. Blake, DVM
The history of Aromatherapy has been documented on both, Egyptian
hieroglyphics and Chinese manuscripts, dating back before 2780 BC.
Their uses medicinally are recorded by many cultures around the
world and in the past two decades have been studied in great depth as
to how the chemical components of the oils, specially influence the
human body. Dr. Radwan Farag, Ph.D., the head of the Biochemistry
Department of Cairo University, has documented the oxygenating
molecular activity, antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of essential oils.
The phrase Aromatherapy came from a French cosmetic chemist,
Rene`-Maurice Gattefosse`, Ph.D., in 1920. He was working in his
laboratory and received 3rd degree burns on his hand and forearm.
He looked for something to stop the pain and emerged his arm in a
container he thought was full of cold water. Within a few minutes, all of
the pain stopped. His colleague then informed him that the container
was full of pure lavender oil. With the continued application of
lavender oil, the burn healed perfectly with no scaring. Since he was a
chemist, he analyzed the essential oil lavender and found it to contain
chemical properties, which had healing properties. The oils contain
trace elements, hormones, enzymes, vitamins, and minerals and have
antifungal, antibacterial, anti-infectious, antiseptic and immune
stimulating properties.
What are essential oils? The semi-oily resins of flowers, trees, shrubs,
herbs, bushes, roots, seeds, leaves, stems and flowering petals are
the essential oils used in Aromatherapy. There are from 200 to 800
different chemical constituents with single oil. Because of this fact, no
two oils are alike in the way they affect the body or the way the body
responds to them. The common constituents are Aldehydes (anti-
infection, sedative and calming to the nervous system), Eugenol
(antiseptic and stimulating), Ketones (liquefy mucous and excellent for
burns by stimulating cell regrowth, asthma, colds), Phenols (antiseptic
and bacterial and viricidal), Sesquiterpenes (anti-inflammatory, liver
and gland support, and cross the blood brain barrier) and Terpene
Alcohols (antibacterial, diuretics and decongestants). These are but a
few of the many natural occurring chemicals present in each of the
essential oils and for that reason their applications are unlimited. The
basic properties of all essential oils are that they are antioxidants (help
increase oxygen to the cells), they are detoxifying (natural chelator)
and they are antimicrobial.
How are they extracted? The two most important aspects to selecting
essential oils are the source, which should be organic if at all possible,
and extraction by low-pressure steam distillation. Make sure of the
source of your oils before using them. Due to the abilities of the oils to
penetrate the skin, you want to make sure that are not adulterated
(expanded with synthetic chemicals or contain petrochemicals, which
may be harmful to the patient). At this time there are over 200
different types of essential oils being distilled and aromatic molecules
being recorded and studied. The low pressure (zero pressure is ideal)
is essential because heat destroys the bioactivity of the oils. It may
smell like Lavender, but have no bioactivity and give no results as a
therapeutic modality.
The oils can be utilized topically, orally or by inhalation. The oils have
the ability to penetrate the skin and enter the blood stream in minutes
after application. In Europe, thousand of medical doctors prescribe
the oils for oral consumption for many disease processes. The FDA
here has not approved this method in the United States. Inhalation
therapy will give results within 1 to 3 seconds. This is due to the fact
that the olfactory membrane contains 800 million nerve endings, which
form a pathway to the olfactory bulb. From there are passes between
the pituitary and pineal glands, and then on to the amygdale, which is
the memory center for fear and trauma. Since this area of the brain
has 100,000 times more information than sight, touch and taste
combined, it is no wonder it has such a profound effect on the
emotions of the body.
How do you use the oils? Over the past five years, I have found that in
the canine, you can apply them directly on the pads of the feet and
massage them one to two times per day, inside the ears and down the
spine. I usually use the oils in an expanded form. Expanding the oils
dilutes them and is more economical when using oils over a long
period of time. You mix 30 drops of the selected oil in one ounce of
cold pressed Almond oil. I normally place one drop of the oil on each
pad. My thoughts are that the ting points are at ends of the extremities
and by massaging into the pads, I am getting these plus the
reflexology points all in one. The oils are absorbed through the skin
and into the blood within minutes. They also get the aroma effect
because they are breathing the oils as the oils evaporate. The feline
prefers not to have the oils applied on their skin directly, so I use a
diffuser or put it on their bedding or place mat where they eat. Horses
do well with applications to the ears and spine. Birds, I mist their cages
with the oils mixed in water and sprits their cage with oils. I mix one
drop per ounce of water and mist twice per day.
The main oils I have used over the past five years are Lavender
(burns, wounds and calming), Frankincense (antiviral, antibacterial,
antifungal, antitumoral, prevents scaring and is antidepressant), Myrrh
(anti-infectious, supportive of immune system, hyperthyroidism,
eczema, respiratory disease), Purification (blend of oils good for
detoxing patient and environment), Valor (blend of oils referred to as
the chiropractor in a bottle, helps the body, mind and spirit stay in
alignment), Lemongrass (repair of ligaments and joints), Helichrysum
(reduces pain, regenerates tissue especially nerve), and many others.
The following oils should not be applied directly on the skin unless they
are expanded:
Cinnamon Bark, Clove, Lemongrass, Oregano and Thyme. All of
these oils are best used mixed with almond oil and you should start
with a weak dilution, to make sure it is not irritating to the patient’s skin.
In my general practice, I diffuse Frankincense in my exam room and
give the patient a light massage with the oil on my hands. Cats, dogs
and horses are very conformable with this application. You only place
a few drops in your hands, rub them together and then lightly massage
the animal for a few seconds. This procedure calms both, the
caregiver and the patient. It is also antiviral, antibacterial and
antifungal. This reduces the chance of my next patient being exposed
to any contagious etiologies. I use this same oil directly on the gums
of dogs and some cats that have severe gum disease. The effect is
dramatic and most dogs are very conformable with doing this. Cats on
the other hand, are not as convinced.
When I have a possible cruciate or joint injury, I have the owner
massage a dilution of 1-drop Lemongrass to one tsp of almond oil
twice per day into the area. You use a very small amount of the oil.
Lavender is an excellent oil to use on burns, eczema, insect bites,
wounds or areas where there is excess itching. You can use it straight
or expanded depending on the animal’s response to the oil.
I have used a blend of Spruce, Frankincense, Rosewood and Blue
Tansy (Valor) as the chiropractor in a bottle for my musculoskeletal
cases. I have the caregiver apply one drop of the blend to each of the
pads of all four feet and massage it into the feet. I have them do this
on couch or table and then immediately after the massage is done, put
them on the floor. They will shake off and in doing so self-adjust
themselves. If they do not shake from head to tail, I have them repeat
the procedure until they do. The oils help to align the body and mind.
I also feel that the massage and the oils are stimulating all of the
acupuncture meridians, which are being absorbed into the ting points.
This combination of massage, essential oils, self-adjusting and ting
point stimulation, results in fewer acupuncture or chiropractic
treatments because of the proactive part the caregiver plays in
maintaining the healing process. I have them do this one to four times
per day depending on the response of the patient to each treatment.
Once they are stable, I reduce the frequency of treatments to match
the progress of the case.
Frankincense has been very effective in my hands on lipomas, cysts,
warts and tumors of all kinds. I have the client dilute the oil as
described above in paragraph five and massage into the growth one to
two times per day depending on the needs of the animal. Over time,
this will help the body break the tumor down and prevent the animal
from having unnecessary surgery. The acceptance with this
procedure is extremely high in cats, dogs and horses.
Bibliography
1. Essential Science Publishing. Essential Oils Desk Reference: Utah: Essential Science
Publishing, 2001
2. Ryman, Daniele. Aromatherapy, The Complete Guide to Plant and Flower Essences for
Health and Beauty. New York: Bantam Books, 1993
3. Restick, M.D., Richard. The Brain. New York: Random House, 1991
4. Chopra, M.D., Deepak. Quantum Healing. New York: Bantam Books, 1989
5. Belvi, Viktor. Aromatherapy. New York: Avon Books, 1993
6. Becker, M.D., Robert. The Body Electric. New York: Wm.Morrow, 1985
AROMATHERAPY IN VETERINARY MEDICINE
Stephen R. Blake, DVM
The history of Aromatherapy has been documented on both, Egyptian
hieroglyphics and Chinese manuscripts, dating back before 2780 BC.
Their uses medicinally are recorded by many cultures around the
world and in the past two decades have been studied in great depth as
to how the chemical components of the oils, specially influence the
human body. Dr. Radwan Farag, Ph.D., the head of the Biochemistry
Department of Cairo University, has documented the oxygenating
molecular activity, antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of essential oils.
The phrase Aromatherapy came from a French cosmetic chemist,
Rene`-Maurice Gattefosse`, Ph.D., in 1920. He was working in his
laboratory and received 3rd degree burns on his hand and forearm.
He looked for something to stop the pain and emerged his arm in a
container he thought was full of cold water. Within a few minutes, all of
the pain stopped. His colleague then informed him that the container
was full of pure lavender oil. With the continued application of
lavender oil, the burn healed perfectly with no scaring. Since he was a
chemist, he analyzed the essential oil lavender and found it to contain
chemical properties, which had healing properties. The oils contain
trace elements, hormones, enzymes, vitamins, and minerals and have
antifungal, antibacterial, anti-infectious, antiseptic and immune
stimulating properties.
What are essential oils? The semi-oily resins of flowers, trees, shrubs,
herbs, bushes, roots, seeds, leaves, stems and flowering petals are
the essential oils used in Aromatherapy. There are from 200 to 800
different chemical constituents with single oil. Because of this fact, no
two oils are alike in the way they affect the body or the way the body
responds to them. The common constituents are Aldehydes (anti-
infection, sedative and calming to the nervous system), Eugenol
(antiseptic and stimulating), Ketones (liquefy mucous and excellent for
burns by stimulating cell regrowth, asthma, colds), Phenols (antiseptic
and bacterial and viricidal), Sesquiterpenes (anti-inflammatory, liver
and gland support, and cross the blood brain barrier) and Terpene
Alcohols (antibacterial, diuretics and decongestants). These are but a
few of the many natural occurring chemicals present in each of the
essential oils and for that reason their applications are unlimited. The
basic properties of all essential oils are that they are antioxidants (help
increase oxygen to the cells), they are detoxifying (natural chelator)
and they are antimicrobial.
How are they extracted? The two most important aspects to selecting
essential oils are the source, which should be organic if at all possible,
and extraction by low-pressure steam distillation. Make sure of the
source of your oils before using them. Due to the abilities of the oils to
penetrate the skin, you want to make sure that are not adulterated
(expanded with synthetic chemicals or contain petrochemicals, which
may be harmful to the patient). At this time there are over 200
different types of essential oils being distilled and aromatic molecules
being recorded and studied. The low pressure (zero pressure is ideal)
is essential because heat destroys the bioactivity of the oils. It may
smell like Lavender, but have no bioactivity and give no results as a
therapeutic modality.
The oils can be utilized topically, orally or by inhalation. The oils have
the ability to penetrate the skin and enter the blood stream in minutes
after application. In Europe, thousand of medical doctors prescribe
the oils for oral consumption for many disease processes. The FDA
here has not approved this method in the United States. Inhalation
therapy will give results within 1 to 3 seconds. This is due to the fact
that the olfactory membrane contains 800 million nerve endings, which
form a pathway to the olfactory bulb. From there are passes between
the pituitary and pineal glands, and then on to the amygdale, which is
the memory center for fear and trauma. Since this area of the brain
has 100,000 times more information than sight, touch and taste
combined, it is no wonder it has such a profound effect on the
emotions of the body.
How do you use the oils? Over the past five years, I have found that in
the canine, you can apply them directly on the pads of the feet and
massage them one to two times per day, inside the ears and down the
spine. I usually use the oils in an expanded form. Expanding the oils
dilutes them and is more economical when using oils over a long
period of time. You mix 30 drops of the selected oil in one ounce of
cold pressed Almond oil. I normally place one drop of the oil on each
pad. My thoughts are that the ting points are at ends of the extremities
and by massaging into the pads, I am getting these plus the
reflexology points all in one. The oils are absorbed through the skin
and into the blood within minutes. They also get the aroma effect
because they are breathing the oils as the oils evaporate. The feline
prefers not to have the oils applied on their skin directly, so I use a
diffuser or put it on their bedding or place mat where they eat. Horses
do well with applications to the ears and spine. Birds, I mist their cages
with the oils mixed in water and sprits their cage with oils. I mix one
drop per ounce of water and mist twice per day.
The main oils I have used over the past five years are Lavender
(burns, wounds and calming), Frankincense (antiviral, antibacterial,
antifungal, antitumoral, prevents scaring and is antidepressant), Myrrh
(anti-infectious, supportive of immune system, hyperthyroidism,
eczema, respiratory disease), Purification (blend of oils good for
detoxing patient and environment), Valor (blend of oils referred to as
the chiropractor in a bottle, helps the body, mind and spirit stay in
alignment), Lemongrass (repair of ligaments and joints), Helichrysum
(reduces pain, regenerates tissue especially nerve), and many others.
The following oils should not be applied directly on the skin unless they
are expanded:
Cinnamon Bark, Clove, Lemongrass, Oregano and Thyme. All of
these oils are best used mixed with almond oil and you should start
with a weak dilution, to make sure it is not irritating to the patient’s skin.
In my general practice, I diffuse Frankincense in my exam room and
give the patient a light massage with the oil on my hands. Cats, dogs
and horses are very conformable with this application. You only place
a few drops in your hands, rub them together and then lightly massage
the animal for a few seconds. This procedure calms both, the
caregiver and the patient. It is also antiviral, antibacterial and
antifungal. This reduces the chance of my next patient being exposed
to any contagious etiologies. I use this same oil directly on the gums
of dogs and some cats that have severe gum disease. The effect is
dramatic and most dogs are very conformable with doing this. Cats on
the other hand, are not as convinced.
When I have a possible cruciate or joint injury, I have the owner
massage a dilution of 1-drop Lemongrass to one tsp of almond oil
twice per day into the area. You use a very small amount of the oil.
Lavender is an excellent oil to use on burns, eczema, insect bites,
wounds or areas where there is excess itching. You can use it straight
or expanded depending on the animal’s response to the oil.
I have used a blend of Spruce, Frankincense, Rosewood and Blue
Tansy (Valor) as the chiropractor in a bottle for my musculoskeletal
cases. I have the caregiver apply one drop of the blend to each of the
pads of all four feet and massage it into the feet. I have them do this
on couch or table and then immediately after the massage is done, put
them on the floor. They will shake off and in doing so self-adjust
themselves. If they do not shake from head to tail, I have them repeat
the procedure until they do. The oils help to align the body and mind.
I also feel that the massage and the oils are stimulating all of the
acupuncture meridians, which are being absorbed into the ting points.
This combination of massage, essential oils, self-adjusting and ting
point stimulation, results in fewer acupuncture or chiropractic
treatments because of the proactive part the caregiver plays in
maintaining the healing process. I have them do this one to four times
per day depending on the response of the patient to each treatment.
Once they are stable, I reduce the frequency of treatments to match
the progress of the case.
Frankincense has been very effective in my hands on lipomas, cysts,
warts and tumors of all kinds. I have the client dilute the oil as
described above in paragraph five and massage into the growth one to
two times per day depending on the needs of the animal. Over time,
this will help the body break the tumor down and prevent the animal
from having unnecessary surgery. The acceptance with this
procedure is extremely high in cats, dogs and horses.
Bibliography
1. Essential Science Publishing. Essential Oils Desk Reference: Utah: Essential Science
Publishing, 2001
2. Ryman, Daniele. Aromatherapy, The Complete Guide to Plant and Flower Essences for
Health and Beauty. New York: Bantam Books, 1993
3. Restick, M.D., Richard. The Brain. New York: Random House, 1991
4. Chopra, M.D., Deepak. Quantum Healing. New York: Bantam Books, 1989
5. Belvi, Viktor. Aromatherapy. New York: Avon Books, 1993
6. Becker, M.D., Robert. The Body Electric. New York: Wm.Morrow, 1985
