OCT. 2006

On the scent trail

By Lynn Whittaker, Bow Wow U

When we are cooking in the kitchen, we can use aromatic herbs to liven up our dishes. When we’re not feeling well, we may sip Chamomile tea. When we think of the aromas of the holidays, we might think of Balsam, Cinnamon, or Vanilla. In most cases when we smell certain scents, they can bring us back to certain times, affect our moods or make us feel better or uplifted. It’s not uncommon these days to purchase products like lotions that contain Tea Tree Oil, Rosemary, or even baby powder that contains Lavender or Chamomile. These herbs are said to possess healing properties and have been used for years.

With this renewed interest in natural products many people often ask if we can use essential oils to care for our animals? The answer to this common question is yes. An animal’s ability to smell far exceeds the olfactory glands we have, so why shouldn’t they benefit from these heavenly scents? Oils are not just for smelling. Some oils have antiseptic properties like Tea Tree, others revitalizing such as Lemon. There are great repellant oils; a couple of the most famous are Citronella and Lemongrass. Many oils can be combined for an even greater impact.

We know that the term aromatherapy is the use of essential oils (or EO’s ) to prevent, cure and treat certain diseases or ailments. It is really one of the more important techniques used in complimentary, holistic, or alternative medicine.

When we think of the term "Natural Medicine" we tend to think the least invasive, or the gentlest form of healthcare, but Essential Oils are highly concentrated oils, as they are the "essences" of the plant from which they are derived. Essential Oils first began use in the west sometime in the early 20th century by a famous researcher named Professor Gattefosse, and also by a man named Sevelinge who used the oils in remedies to treat animals.

When you consider using any oils, some important things to examine is where the oil was manufactured. Are the plants commercially grown, or are they wild crafted or organic? The best choices are organic and wild crafted. The oils should never be mixed with any artificial chemicals. You want to avoid oils that are called "fragrance oils" as these are usually highly concentrated artificial scents that may be used in soap making, air fresheners, or some perfumes.

A high quality oil can cost a small fortune for a very small amount, depending on the type of plant it was derived from, how was manufactured, and where it originated.
The oils you use must be stored in a dark dry environment, in cobalt or amber bottles away from extreme temperatures, to maintain their properties.

There are many all-natural products out there that have been developed with pets in mind that you can purchase and safely use, such as bug repellants, coat conditioners, salves, balms, and healing oils. There are even dog bed sprays designed to be disinfectant, repellant, and aromatic!

When using these oils they should be used in a diluted form, whether it be in a carrier oil such as jojoba, sweet almond, olive, etc., or in a dilution of distilled water. Some oils are best suited for dogs, and not for use with cats depending on the chemical composition of the oils. It’s best to consult with an Aromatherapist or an alternative health care practitioner before purchasing oils for use. It is always important to remember using oils is only a complimentary form of maintaining your animal’s health. Using them can be a perfect compliment to good animal husbandry. Not only can it help cure and treat, it can make your pet smell wonderful, enhance their moods and yours too!