Essential Oil Therapy 4 Animals

22 March, 2008 by Eileen Mallard

Have you ever noticed how animals are very good at taking the time to "smell the roses"? ... or the lavender, rosemary, jasmine ... And invariably, it's not just because the plants smell "nice" - more often than not, animals seek out specific plants to make themselves feel better.

Essential Oil Therapy is a natural solution for many health and behaviour problems. Essential oils and other aromatics can be used as a complementary therapy for your animals' health and well-being and is highly beneficial for those wanting to take a natural approach to their Pets health. Healing through smell is one of the fundamental principles of essential oil therapy (EOT). EOT is derived from the ancient practice of using natural plant essences to promote health and well being. Pure, therapeutic quality essential oils are extracted from the leaves, flowers, fruit, bark, and roots from a wide variety of plants.

Plants use the essential oils they contain to protect against disease and to heal and it is these qualities that people and animals can benefit from as well

Essential oils can enhance physical and emotional wellbeing. They can help reduce stress, thus increasing the animals capability to learn and this can be helpful where there have been experiences that are causing problems such as fear or aggression

Animals have a natural ability to self medicate seeking out what they need to maintain health through herbs and minerals and the oils contain components that they would intuitively select for maintaining their health if they were living in their natural state in the wild. In a domestic setting however, this natural ability to seek out therapeutic plants is often restricted due to the environments and living arrangements we impose upon our pets.

How are essential oils used on animals?

When we use essential oils with people, massage is one of the best methods to apply an essential oil blend to the body, but obviously when confronted with a fur, hair or feather-coated animal this method would present some potentially sticky challenges

The method that has been developed over the past decade in consultation with aromatherapists and veterinarians uses an animal's ability to know what it needs to heal through the sense of smell.

Essential oils may be useful to treat a wide variety of physical conditions and health problems in animals, however they are particularly helpful in treating behavioural issues such as anxiety, aggression, fear, defensive, compulsive, trauma and abuse disorders as well.

Essential oil Therapy (Animal Aromatherapy) is not intended to be a replacement for qualified veterinary care, but, can be used alongside conventional treatments safely and is best used as part of a holistic health care program

To find out more about EOT contact : for a brochure or go to www.good4yourpet.com.au

About Eileen

I would like to share with you how Good4YourPet came to be. I was introduced to essential oils more than 10 years ago and began using them because I liked the fact that they are natural and I enjoyed their individual and synergistic aromas.

I began reading books about essential oils and aromatherapy and soon realised that they offer so much more than just making a room smell good! I began making my own natural facial moisturisers, cleansers, toners and body products as I was continually disillusioned with what was on offer on the retail shelves and the chemicals they contained.

I went on to study and achieve a Diploma in Aromatherapy with Robyn Minski in 2004 and I now produce a range of natural handmade skincare and offer aromatherapy massage, facial and other treatments.

My love for animals meant it was a natural progression for me to become qualified in the application of Essential Oil Therapy for animals and I have been studying with Nayana Morag of Essential Animals in England and I traveled to Greece to complete my studies with her.

I am really excited to be able to offer a natural non invasive approach to animal health.