Animal aromatics down on the smallholding

Written by ***merlin***

You will be forgiven for thinking that the term Animal Aromatics relates to how smelly or not your animals are!! However, it is actually used to describe an amazing therapy, devised by Caroline Ingraham, The Ingraham Method.

Basically, Caroline, an aromatherapist who trained over 20 years ago with Robert Tisserand, through necessity and desperation used essential oils to save her dying dog, who had been bitten by a rattle snake (she was living in California at the time)…it worked and the dog made a full recovery. Caroline went on to use essential oils with horses, and again found a very positive response with both physical and emotional/ behavioural problems. She has gone on to use the oils with most species, with great success. (see www.ingraham.co.uk) I have trained and qualified with Caroline, and now have a practice offering natural health advice and support to owners of all types of animals.

The way The Ingraham Method varies from other therapies is that it recognises the innate ability of animals to know what is good for them, and recognises their ability to self select their remedy if it is available to them. Self Selection has been noted by many botanists and animal behaviourists over the years, observing wild animals in their natural environment. Stephen Harrod Buhner (2002), in The Lost Language of Plants, states: ‘Wild boars in India dig up pigweed (Boerbavia diffusa)and eat the roots, which are hightly antithelmintic (antiworm)compounds, to control infestations of intestinal worms ……..African Colobus monkeys, chimpanzees, gorillas and Muriquis monkeys also seek out a variety of plants to help with certain conditions or heal themselves when ill’

The Ingraham Method recognizes that we may never be able to provide for our domesticated animals the number of herbs and other plants for them to self select their remedy to any ill, but that a range of essential oils, herbs and other natural items such as bee products, clays and spirulina, may be enough to offer an ill animal.

There are a number of herbs that would be very beneficial for grazing animals to have access to in their paddocks, including:

YARROW

which is a herb known to reduce fevers, reduce bleeding,and to improve healing of wounds.

PEPPERMINT AND SPEARMINT

Both mints can bring relief and soothing to animals who have intestinal gas problems as well as those with aches and pains.

LAVENDER

is a favourite of cats, who love to roll in its leaves and flowers in summer, as it disgusts fleas and other flying pests!!

DANDELIONS

This amazing plant, which is often regarded as little more than a weed, is in fact invaluable to your livestock. It has blood cleansing and tonic properties making it excellent for skin complaints, circulation problems and weak liver function.

NETTLES

Another amazing ‘weed’ which is useful for animals with poor appetites, blood impurities and arthritis, amongst many complaints. This way, they can self select as necessary for minor ills, often without you even knowing about it!

I urge all caring owners of livestock to consider adding as many beneficial herbs as possible to their pasture, the above list only being the beginning! Should you wish to learn more about the healing powers of essential oils and herbs, please contact me, as I will be running some training sessions throughout the year.

For further information, please contact me on 01830 520098, leigh@essentialsforequilibrium.com or see my web site www.essentialsforequilibrium.com

Leigh Smyth B.A. (Hons), Diploma in Animal Aromatics, Member of ISAAP, Reiki Master, Independent distributor of Bioflow Magnotherapy Products.