I always knew that essential oils were great for people, but never thought about using them on animals until I saw Cesar Millan using lavender to calm a nervous dog. [However, due to new 2015 FDA regulations, this video was taken down.] One can try oils for everything from taking away a skin allergic reaction (lavender), to aiding with digestion (peppermint), to help with breathing (eucalyptus) and many claim they are beneficial for not only people, but animals too. Oils should be used only with proper instruction and tested first. Always consult your physician or vet and remember that not all benefits are proven by science.
So what is an essential oil?
“An essential oil is a concentrated liquid containing aroma compounds from plants. Essential oils are also known as volatile oils, ethereal oils, or simply as the “oil of” the plant from which they were extracted. An oil is “essential” in the sense that it carries a distinctive scent, or essence, of the plant. Essential oils are generally extracted by distillation. There are many historical accounts of use of essential oils for many health related purposes. Interest in the essential oils has increased in recent decades with the popularity of aromatherapy, a branch of alternative medicine that claims that essential oils and other aromatic compounds have curative effects. Oils are usually diluted in a carrier oil and used in massage, diffused in the air by a nebulizer, heated over a candle flame, or burned as incense.” (Wikipedia)
Essential oils have been used medicinally throughout history and have been used to help heal physical ailments. They are volatile and concentrated liquid compounds distilled from plants. Oils can sometimes be ingested, used for massage, or diffused as incense; they are also put into soaps, perfumes and even cleaning products. Typically, essential oils are diluted with a carrier oil such as rose oil. Pure, therapeutic grade is the best and before applying, directions must be read carefully. Make sure to purchase the oils from a trusted source.
There are too many oils to list here, but besides the biblical oils, these are worth mentioning.
- Bergamot acne, psoriasis, stress, urinary & digestive health
- Black Pepper digestion, intestinal health, endurance, energy
- Cinnamon diabetes, obesity, arthritis, high cholesterol, blood pressure, urinary tract, stomach issues
- Clove asthma, chest infections, respiratory, warts, cuts, bruises
- Eucalyptus antibacterial, arthritis, respiratory, muscle pain, migraine
- Geranium circulatory system, cold sores, PMS, menopause, skin problems
- Ginger allergies, arthritis, circulatory, backache, cold & flu, lymphatic, motion sickness
- Grapefruit acne, muscle fatigue, antiseptic, detoxification, menstrual
- Helichrysium bruising, varicose veins, circulatory health & muscle tension
- Lavender skin issues, burns, relaxation, mood swings, insect repellant, sunburn, allergies
- Lemon anemia, digestion, kidney, colds, removing pesticides from fruits and vegetables
- Tea Tree (Melaleuca) [DON’T INGEST] asthma, athlete’s foot, chicken pox blemishes, cold sores, skin issues, warts
- Peppermint heart palpitations, migraines memory, digestion, fatigue, arthritis, cramps, poison ivy and colds
- Rose allergies, anger, anxiety, circulation, depression, menstruation, asthma
- Ylang Ylang anxiety, rapid heartbeat & breathing, mild food poisoning, intestinal health
Other resources: My post on seizures and frankincense oil here. Cancer and frankincense oil information is here. See also my post on essential oils for tick and mosquito repellent for people and dogs. For more on the science behind essential oils, check here. So do your own investigation on essential oils and see if this may be just what you are looking for.
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