Animal Aromatics
Self Selection of Aromatic Plant Extracts and Oils

By Caroline Ingraham

.....Selecting the correct food and medicine is vital for the survival of mammals. It is not unusual for researchers to follow and observe primates in the wild in search for new pharmaceutical drugs by observing their selection of medicinal plants. When animals significantly alter their behavior, stop eating, and start to consume different herbs; the researchers will know to then send these plants to the lab for analysis, looking for possible new cures for humankind.
..... Animal Aromatics works with the principles of giving back to animals the medicinal non -food remedies that would be similar in their chemical make up to those that they would seek in the wild. This includes: a variety of essential oils, absolutes, plant extracts, macerated oils such as comfrey, tubers from the devils claw, clay, spirulina, rosehips and seaweed. .....Essential oils come under the category of secondary metabolites making them easy to work with as they provide no or little metabolic value and are highly active medicinally. Secondary metabolites are generally potent, bitter compounds which, are found within many medicinal plants that are usually unpalatable with a biological activity that is either toxic or medicinal, depending on the needs of the animal. The unpalatable bitterness serves to deter the healthy animal from the plants potential toxicity. Whether such substances are toxic or medicinal is all do with dosage, which is similar in effect to pharmaceutical over the counter medications.
.....Secondary metabolites are too often forgotten in the diets of domesticated mammals, they work with the defense systems in the body, helping to restore health when needed. They are quite different from primary metabolites which play a direct roll in building the cell, and are usually high energy foods such as grasses, hay and oats and are not generally bitter. This is where it can get confusing as many people think that a greedy animal will take the remedy regardless, failing to understand that essential oils (secondary metabolites) are not foods, and that they provide no obvious metabolic value, unlike primary metabolites, which mammals are likely to overindulge in regardless of their immediate needs, in order to store fat for survival incase food becomes scarce.
.....The practice of aromatherapy on people bears little resemblance to that which is employed to animals. To massage oil over an animal's body would be unnatural and would most likely cause much distress. It would not allow the animal to self medicate as it would in the wild. Those who have worked with essential oils and animals will know that sometimes it only takes a few sniffs to produce a profound reaction. This may include going into a trance, lying down and sleeping within minutes of inhalation. Inhalation of aromatic molecules can cause significant physiological, hormonal and behavioral responses to occur, therefore too much could result in an 'over dose'. The animal will select the exact amount needed to inhale or lick until health is restored or the plant oils/extracts are no longer needed. Never underestimate the innate 'knowing' of an animal, allow it to guide you with its remedies, they must always be allowed to walk away from an aroma at all times. The needs of every animal will vary according to its physical and emotional / behavioral state of being.
..... When using essential oils on animals, the species must be considered. Horses for example naturally eat plants containing essential oils and have metabolic pathways to break them down, they would naturally treat themselves orally not topically, however essential oils are applied to the skin to treat isolated conditions.
.....A dog however has a different diet, in the wild, its diet would probably be made up of animals such as rabbit, with contents in the gut that are rich in plant materials. Macerated plant oils provide both important plant components and natural oils, both of which are lacking in diets of many domesticated dogs, causing a break down of vital communication at a molecular level. The results from working with remedies such as macerated oils and spirulina with dogs have been astonishing. With regard to essential oils, dogs are normally drawn to the floral ones and usually choose to take these by inhalation only. Essential oils rich in monoterpenes are usually too strong for dogs with the exception of bergamot Bergamia . This is possibly because they pass too quickly through the nasal mucosa. When an animal flares its nostrils, it is directing the flow of an inspired odor to the olfactory receptors. If flaring does not occur when the odor is presented it most likely will not want the remedy.
..... Cats are different again, in the wild their natural application is to roll on plants releasing fragrance which, will be inhaled. Cats usually only select floral essential oils for inhalation. Chickweed macerate oil Stellaria media is very popular, especially by those with skin conditions, this is normally licked, and powdered clay works well on their wounds. Cats do not have the pathways to breakdown essential oils so they should not generally be applied topically and they are not taken by mouth.

Caroline founded the International School of Animal Aromatics in 1995 and has been working with essential oils since qualifying with the Tisserand Institute over 20 years ago. Her work is constantly evolving as she researches the use of essential oils, macerates and other natural substances. She can be contacted via email at caroline@ingraham.co.uk . Please see the ad for the Heal Center for info about upcoming Animal Aromatics classes.