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Oils essential for a happy hound
ESSENTIAL OILS as immune stimulating, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, antifungal agents may be imbibed into the systems of your dog via smell, massage or perhaps direct topical application where necessary.
Diffusing essential oils such as lavender, orange or chamomile in the room near your pet’s bed can have very relaxing and calming effects for highly-strung types and reduces stress in sensitive animals.
The rich vasculature in pet’s nasal membranes makes intranasal absorption of nebulised substances very therapeutic. This can be useful for respiratory conditions, including colds and congestion.
Choose eucalyptus, peppermint or niaouli to use in your oil-burner or aromatiser. Ensure immune boosting essential oils such as tea tree, myrrh or thyme are very well diluted before massaging them into the chest area.
Always keep in mind that dogs have a more acute sense of smell than we do, so we need to extensively dilute the essential oils more than would be appropriate for us.
Massaging essential oil blends into animals with musculoskeletal conditions can bring much-needed, safe relief. You could choose black pepper, juniper, rosemary or frankincense for this purpose, blended into a cold pressed vegetable oil base (5:100).
The essential oils will improve circulation, reduce muscular tension and remove cellular toxins from the tissues. Your dog will learn to look forward to this aromatic massage as intimate bonding time.
Some essential oil blends such as cinnamon, thyme and manuka can be used topically to treat nail bed fungal infections as a gentle effective alternative.
Other essential oils suitable for dogs:
|
Citronella: Repels insects and deodorises. |
Cypress: Helps nervous dogs counter fear. |
| Geranium: Improves kidney and liver function. | Grapefruit: General freshener and disinfectant. |
| Lemon: Circulatory system and muscle function. | Lime: Tonic to the immune system; deodoriser. |
| Mandarin: Helps metabolic system. | Patchouli: Curbs appetite; soothes nerves. |
| Petitgrain: Eases joint pain; eases sunburn. | Rose Geranium: The best antidote to a smelly dog! |
| Tangerine: Good digestive tonic, activates tired limbs. | Ylang Ylang: Sedative, eases anxiety and fear. |
DOGGY FART RELIEF
Like many humans our dogs also suffer from uncomfortable excess gas and this always seems to happen when we have guests over to dinner or such. A few drops of the following carminative blend, can be added to your dog’s food and maybe a drop given after eating. The oils in this blend come from digestive spices, which are commonly added to food to reduce flatulence and ease bloating.
To 15ml of quality vegetable oil add these essential oils: 6 drops cardamom, 3 drops cinnamon, 2 drops nutmeg, 3 drops ginger, 3 drops tangerine.
Essential Oil of the Month
Cajeput
Toning cajeput also heightens awareness
THE PAPERBARK was a medicinal remedy of the indigenous Australians to treat aches and pains; rubbing the fresh leaves and twigs or using them in a warm decoction.
In fact this Cajeput (or Cajuput) tree has a long history of use in the East; where it has been used medicinally for colds, headaches, throat infections, toothache and fever. In China, Malaysia and India it was a respected antiseptic and a popular panacea against stomach problems and skin diseases and a traditional remedy for rheumatism and cholera.
In the home it was used in cooking and in perfumes and cosmetics and put to good use as an insect repellent.
Caju-pute means white tree in Malay and it is often called “White tree oil”. It is closely related to other members of the melaleuca family, notably eucalyptus, clove tea tree and niaouli.
Cajeput oil soothes colic and inflammation of the intestines such as enteritis, dysentery, gastric spasm, nervous vomiting. Being a vermifuge it helps to expel intestinal parasites. Use externally in compresses or liniments for diarrhoea and intestinal parasites of the Ascaridae and Oxyuridae families.
The antiseptic properties extend to the urinary system, where cystitis and urethritis can be eased with appropriate cajeput treatment.
Massage a little diluted cajeput into the temple to quell headaches and neuralgia. This oil may be added to toothpastes for additional antiseptic action and gum treatment; in this case the oil is less harsh than clove oil and is sometimes used in dentistry. For toothache use 10 per cent cajeput oil in a base oil.
Cajeput is mildly pain quelling and warming to add to a massage blend for arthritic joints, rheumatism, gout and general aches and pains. It increases circulation, bringing tingling warmth to affected body parts.
CAJEPUT CALMS COUGHS, COLDS
FOR ALL lung (pulmonary) problems cajeput should be included in treatments because of how well it encourages expectoration. The respiratory tract responds well to administrations of this oil, especially with inhalations.
USE CAJEPUT oil for head colds, pharyngitis, laryngitis and bronchitis, where its sudorific properties nicely cool associated fevers by inducing light sweating. This is useful for the flu.
FOR THROAT infections use compresses of 10 per cent cajeput oil mixed with water, healing clay or cold-pressed vegetable oil.
THE OIL is beneficial when mixed into a salve for a chest rub.
FOR EARACHE, blend equal parts of cajeput and St John’s Wort oil and gently massage the outer ear.
STEAM INHALATION: Add 1-2 drops to a bowl of hot water, covering the head with a towel to keep the vapours concentrated around the head. Inhale through the nose and out through the mouth for sinus congestion and inhale through the mouth and out through the nose for chest infection.
Cajeput’s tendency to mimic hormonal activity makes this oil an excellent abdominal rub; it is a said to ease the symptoms of menopause and calm period pains.
Insects and do not settle near this oil so it is excellent to add to repellent blends and lice treatments to combat infestations. This also applies to fleas on dogs, when treated with this oil.
Here is an oil well disposed to oily skin, astringent and tonifying.
Conditions such as acne and psoriasis on the skin respond well to cajeput used judiciously in the correct dilution.
On the psyche, Cajeput heightens our awareness of the feelings of reluctance and inertia that we do not want to acknowledge.
Cajeput helps bring awareness to our dysfunctional relationships and the kinds of negative behaviour that keeps repeating itself by default.
Such inappropriate patterns may have been inherited from a parent or formed in the womb or childhood.
Introspection while using cajeput oil allows discovery of the root causes of sexual issues by aligning the root sacral, solar plexus and heart chakras.
Clearing such obstructions that hinder intimacy and inability to connect with others is the reward when sexual abuse is intentionally released from the cellular memory.
Mindful usage of this essential oil means that one’s sexuality can be fully expressed without fear, shame or guilt.
Cajeput encourages a better integration of the masculine and feminine principles in all of us.
Balancing the male and female
The male traits of control, domination aggression and logic can then be balanced with the female traits of sensitivity, intuition, and emotional intelligence. This is very beneficial for the imbalanced relationship whereby one partner seeks his or her needs in the other and releases the need for the partner to act out what the other partner is unable to express.
Breaking dysfunctional relationship patterns enables us to create healthier, more harmonious bonds with our loved ones and co-workers.
This oil helps men who may be in confusion about their feminine aspects gain more clarity and understanding about themselves. This is a unique opportunity to experience the joy of emotionally relating in a deep sense of true intimacy.
Massage cajeput on the throat, womb and ovaries to allow the release of suppressed sexual issues. Massage on the gall-bladder meridian to release abusive memories.
When it is massaged into the conception meridian it will help alleviate obstructions causing menstrual pain in the genital and pelvic regions.
Use the oil massaged into the reproductive reflex point on the back of each foot to overcome impotence and frigidity. While elevating the feet and holding the heel, apply pressure in a circular motion, while visualising sending love up the legs and focusing on resolving the issue.
CAJEPUT FACT FILE
Name: Cajeput
Latin name: Melaleuca leucadendron/cajeputi
Family: Myrtaceae
Common Names: Cajeput, M. minor, Paper bark tree. (A name shared by several other melaleuca species) white tea tree, white wood, swamp tea tree
Scent: Cajeput has a medicinal, slightly camphorous scent both herbaceous and penetrating. There is a faint sweetness born from a mild fruity middle note. The oil is steam distilled from the fresh leaves and twigs leaves of the trees and should be a clear, colourless to pale yellow liquid reminiscent of eucalyptus oil. There is a green tinge due to the traces of copper found in the tree.
Blends well with: Bergamot, clove, geranium, lavender, niaouli, nutmeg, rose and thyme
Habits: The Cajeput is a vigorous tree that grows in swampy regions of the coastal plains in Australia, Malaya and also in the Philippines and the Moluccas. This tree reaches up to 30 metres high with thick pointed leaves, white flowers and a crooked, flexible trunk with spongy whitish bark that flakes off easily. It has a habit of crowding out other trees, so cultivation is not necessary because of the vigorous regrowth after harvesting.
Therapeutic properties: Analgesic, anti-neuralgic, ant-arthritic, antiseptic, (pulmonary, urinary, intestinal) antispasmodic, balsamic, cicatrisant, decongestant, expectorant, febrifuge, insecticide, pectoral, stimulant, sudorific, vermifuge, rubefacient (warming)
Precautions: Generally non-toxic, however use with caution on sensitive skins and well diluted on the skin. Avoid high dosage.
