| Before we talk about using the essential | | | | health of our pets, we can become sicker and |
| oils, we first should define what is an | | | | sicker through the use of all these |
| essential oil in the first place.An essential | | | | pesticides, herbacides, and chemical cleaning |
| oil is a bioavailable nutritive liquid. This | | | | products in our homes. What affects us can |
| liquid is derived from flowers, plants, | | | | affect our pets even faster and more readily |
| trees, etc., through a special distillation | | | | because they are lying on our chemically |
| process. Essential oils (when left in their | | | | cleaned floors and in our chemically treated |
| purest, non-diluted state with no synthetics | | | | and fertilized yards.There is hope though! By |
| added) have a 100% kill factor on harmful | | | | using therapeutic grade essential oils, we |
| viruses, bacteria, funguses, mold and | | | | can eliminate much (if not all) of the |
| tumors.*The key to using an essential oil in | | | | poisons from our homes and in our bodies -and |
| the ways I will describe here though is to | | | | that includes our pets too! While I can't go |
| make sure you 1) know your source 2) because | | | | into depth in one single article I can leave |
| you'll want the oils derived from certified | | | | you with some links to follow up on and a few |
| organic plants not grown with pesticides in | | | | of the essential oils you may want to get |
| order to have the full effect of the | | | | immediately to start implementing the change |
| oil.Aromatherapy is often a word you'll find | | | | in your lives and the lives in your pets.When |
| associated with the essential oils. The | | | | using therapeutic grade oils, you can use |
| phrase was first "coined" by French chemist | | | | them "neat" (undiluted) on skin, inhaled, or |
| Dr. Rene-Maurice Gattefosse, Ph.D., in 1920. | | | | even internally with some oils. To apply any |
| One day while he was working in his | | | | to your pets, you may choose to diffuse them |
| laboratory he had an accident that caused a | | | | in a diffuser until your pets become more |
| third-degree thermal burn to his arm and | | | | used to the oils. With cats it is always a |
| hand. His immediate reaction was to plunge | | | | good idea to err on the side of caution and |
| his arm into what he thought was a vat of | | | | either diffuse them or apply diluted to their |
| water but rather it was a vat of lavender | | | | hind feet (using more mixing oil than |
| oil. So, he continued to use the lavender oil | | | | essential oil) or tips of their ears. I only |
| to treat his burn which eventually healed | | | | use one brand of oil and do not use any |
| completely and left absolutely no scar!Now | | | | others. I know my source and these oils and |
| please keep in mind that most of the | | | | trust them. Do your homework before embarking |
| essential oils on the market today have | | | | on the oils for your pets, especially your |
| synthetics added to them as they're basically | | | | cats.Lavender oil has so many uses benefits |
| made for the cosmetic industry and are not | | | | including the one at the beginning of this |
| nutritional. However, there are some | | | | article: for burns, cuts, scrapes, sunburns |
| excellent therapeutic grade oils on the | | | | it is an all-purpose oil. Add to that the |
| market that are pure, unadulterated oils that | | | | calming effect and wonderful smell, you can't |
| can be used internally, topically and inhaled | | | | go wrong with this oil. It can be used on bee |
| as powerful immune system builders.While | | | | stings and insect bites also and is a good |
| these essential oils for the most part have | | | | oil (when diluted with a organic mixing oil |
| been created with humans in mind, many people | | | | such as olive or almond) for cleaning your |
| are using these essential oils in their pet | | | | dog and cats ears (VERY diluted on a cat!). |
| care successfully, and I'm one of them.The | | | | When you use any of the oils (neat or |
| essential oils work synergistically with the | | | | straight undiluted) the oils act an insect |
| body to maintain, help, repair, and renew it | | | | repellant. When you mix them with water they |
| right down to our DNA. The "oil" from the | | | | act as a natural pesticide. This oil is a |
| plants is similar to our blood and immune | | | | good repellant to chiggers, fleas, flies, |
| system so they work very harmoniously within | | | | mosquitoes, and ticks!Peppermint oil: this |
| our bodies. They go in and oxygenate and | | | | oil is great for relieving doggy flatulence |
| detoxify our blood simulatenously and create | | | | (and human!), diarrhea, indigestion, as an |
| an environment where pathogens cannot live! | | | | anti-inflammatory, and can reduce fevers. You |
| Even more exciting is when the oils are | | | | can also use it before or during a workout to |
| either directly inhaled or diffused (using a | | | | boost your mood and reduce fatigue -I do |
| cold air diffuser) they will cross the | | | | daily! Oh and the best part -it can curb your |
| blood-brain barrier and clean out the | | | | appetite! This oil is also good at getting |
| petrochemicals. Due to their adaptagenic | | | | rid of the following bugs: Ants, aphids, |
| qualities they go into our blood streams, | | | | beetles, catepillars, fleas, flies, lice, |
| cells, etc., and seek out where they are | | | | moths, plant lice, and spiders.There are many |
| needed like little therapeutic agents.You | | | | many more oils to help you for nearly every |
| might be thinking, well but I don't have any | | | | single medical protocol for you and your |
| petrochemicals in my brain or blood and even | | | | pets. Here are some articles you can read |
| if I do, my pets don't. Think again. Dr. | | | | along with Dr. Stewart's above which can all |
| David Stewart, PhD, wrote in his article | | | | be found on my dog's blog Bark 'N' Blog (see |
| Essential Oils for Things That Bug You Around | | | | bio):"Aromatherapy Research and Education: |
| the House the following "Among the many | | | | What is AFNOR?" |
| chemicals in our industrial environment that | | | | |
| get into our systems and make us sick are the | | | | "How Do Essential Oils Work?" |
| pesticides we use in our homes. We use them | | | | |
| because we they are toxic to the creatures | | | | "The Healing Power of a Rose" |
| that bug us, but they are also toxic to us. | | | | |
| Sometimes the toxicity is immediately | | | | "Important Facts Regarding Toxins in our |
| apparent: we get a headache, get sick or feel | | | | Environment"*All information presented here |
| nausea from the fumes or other | | | | is intended for educational purposes only. It |
| contact.Sometimes the toxicity is subtle and | | | | is not provided in order to diagnose, |
| can accumulate resulting in chronic | | | | prescribe or treat any disease, illness or |
| complaints and disorder (including allergies, | | | | injured condition of the body or pets and the |
| cancer and miscarriages) that can be serious | | | | author, publisher, and contributors accept no |
| and even deadly over time. Sometimes we even | | | | responsibility for such use. Anyone suffering |
| put poisons on our pets to deal with ticks | | | | or their pets from any disease, illness or |
| and fleas, not realizing that these | | | | injury should consult with their physician or |
| substances are not healthy for us nor our | | | | veterinarian.Originally published for |
| animals."Pesticides normally include some | | | | Holistic Pet Care TopicDISCLAIMER: The only |
| kind of petrochemical. Meaning if we don't | | | | essential oils we use and refer to in ALL |
| take responsibilty for our health and the | | | | articles are Young Living Essential Oils. |