Essential Oils
Essential oils have been used by practitioners of the healing arts since 7000 B.C. Therapeutic grade essential oils are distilled from shrubs, flowers, trees, roots, bushes and seeds. They have significant anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and hormone balancing effects. The can reduce or eliminate pain, release muscle tension and provide strong emotional uplift.
Until the last decade, natural therapeutic agents like essential oils have been largely overlooked by mainstream medicine in the United States although they are widely used by physicians and other health care practitioners in Australia, Germany, France and many other world countries. Nearly all of our prescription drugs have their origins in plant and animal species. It is observed that a given plant or animal has certain characteristics that make it of use in treating a particular disease or condition. The drug companies then identify the active ingredient, isolate it, manufacture a synthetic form and ultimately bring it to market. Most therapeutic plants can be distilled into an essential oil, thereby increasing its' concentration and potency. Unlike prescription drugs, essential oils very rarely generate any negative side effects.
Therapeutic grade essential oils are distilled under exact and carefully controlled conditions and, as a result, are not inexpensive to produce. For example, it takes 3 - 4000 Kg of rose petals to produce 1 Kg of therapeutic grade essential oils. Thus beware the supplier that promises therapeutic grade oils at very low prices. At best, they're giving you a diluted product or, at worst, a completely adulterated product yielding a completely ineffective therapeutic oil. In Europe and Australia there are tight controls and standards concerning botanical extracts insuring high quality oils with therapeutic value. The U.S. has no such controls (although an effort is underway to change this) and these compounds mainly have been adulterated, primarily through dilution and improper distillation making them useful only for perfumes, air-fresheners and artifical flavoring.
In my practice I use both essential oils and hydrosols (floral waters) on your animals. In my pre-assessment I determine which of the oils and hydrosols that particular animal needs with that treatment. I use pure essential oils on most animals with the exception of cats. Cats lack an enzyme in their liver that breaks down the phenols in the oils. There are some oils that are safe for use on cats, but I prefer to use the hydrosols. Hydrosols are likened to homeopathic medicines in that they contain the essence of the true essential oil in a form that is soluable in water. This enhances the overall safety of the oils while still supplying the full effectivity of the oil. For that reason, they are very gentle and safer to use with cats, children, babies and pregnant women as well as for internal use.I obtain my essential oils from a company in Utah - Young Living Essential Oils - because I have great confidence in their manufacturing protocols and quality.
Essential oils have been used by practitioners of the healing arts since 7000 B.C. Therapeutic grade essential oils are distilled from shrubs, flowers, trees, roots, bushes and seeds. They have significant anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and hormone balancing effects. The can reduce or eliminate pain, release muscle tension and provide strong emotional uplift.
Until the last decade, natural therapeutic agents like essential oils have been largely overlooked by mainstream medicine in the United States although they are widely used by physicians and other health care practitioners in Australia, Germany, France and many other world countries. Nearly all of our prescription drugs have their origins in plant and animal species. It is observed that a given plant or animal has certain characteristics that make it of use in treating a particular disease or condition. The drug companies then identify the active ingredient, isolate it, manufacture a synthetic form and ultimately bring it to market. Most therapeutic plants can be distilled into an essential oil, thereby increasing its' concentration and potency. Unlike prescription drugs, essential oils very rarely generate any negative side effects.
Therapeutic grade essential oils are distilled under exact and carefully controlled conditions and, as a result, are not inexpensive to produce. For example, it takes 3 - 4000 Kg of rose petals to produce 1 Kg of therapeutic grade essential oils. Thus beware the supplier that promises therapeutic grade oils at very low prices. At best, they're giving you a diluted product or, at worst, a completely adulterated product yielding a completely ineffective therapeutic oil. In Europe and Australia there are tight controls and standards concerning botanical extracts insuring high quality oils with therapeutic value. The U.S. has no such controls (although an effort is underway to change this) and these compounds mainly have been adulterated, primarily through dilution and improper distillation making them useful only for perfumes, air-fresheners and artifical flavoring.
In my practice I use both essential oils and hydrosols (floral waters) on your animals. In my pre-assessment I determine which of the oils and hydrosols that particular animal needs with that treatment. I use pure essential oils on most animals with the exception of cats. Cats lack an enzyme in their liver that breaks down the phenols in the oils. There are some oils that are safe for use on cats, but I prefer to use the hydrosols. Hydrosols are likened to homeopathic medicines in that they contain the essence of the true essential oil in a form that is soluable in water. This enhances the overall safety of the oils while still supplying the full effectivity of the oil. For that reason, they are very gentle and safer to use with cats, children, babies and pregnant women as well as for internal use.I obtain my essential oils from a company in Utah - Young Living Essential Oils - because I have great confidence in their manufacturing protocols and quality.