The Use of Essential Oils,

Hydrosols and Flower Essences

with Animal Companions

History

* 50,000 years ago the first signs of plants

and EO’s were found in Iraq with the

Neanderthal people

* From there they were tracked to

Mesopotamia, China, India, and Egypt.

* The Ebers Papyrus were found in Egypt in

1872 and these papers documented 850

botanicals.

*EO’s were used in Europe in the 17th century,

mostly used in France and England, then

Canada and the USA

More History

In the 19th century, herbal medicines,

including EO’s were still the only medicines

used around the world.

The first synthetic copy of a natural

compound was made (coumarin) in 1868.

THIS WAS THE BIRTH OF THE AGE OF

PHARMACEUTICAL DRUGS.

Synthetic drugs became the “gold

standard”.

Carrot

Seed

WHAT ARE ESSENTIAL OILS?

• They are not oils! They are highly concentrated plant extracts. They are

volatile aromatic compounds.

• Essential means the chemical compound is essential to the plants survival.

We use oil to dilute them and make them easy to use and apply.

• Mostly obtained from steam distillation. Citrus oils are cold pressed.

Important that all cold pressed oil use ORGANIC material only.

• USE QUALITY ESSENTIAL OILS.

• What to look for?

• Part of the plant used. Juniper berries are different from juniper

leaves and stems.

• Country of origin of the plant. Plants vary in their chemical

composition depending on what type of soils, climates, altitudes, etc.

they grow in.

• Method of cultivation. We want organic, grown without chemical

pesticides.

• Ethically-Wild Crafted. Materials that are removed from the natural

environment in the wild in a manner and in quantities that protect the

future survival of the plant in the wild.

CLARY

SAGE

What are Hydrosols?

* A Hydrosol is the water soluable solution that’s left

over from the process of steam distilling plants to

make essential oils.

* When an essential oil is extracted, the plant

material is exposed to steam. The steam brings out

the oils in the plant and together the steam and oil

travel to an apparatus that slowly cools them down so

they separate again into oil and water. The left over

water becomes the hydrosol, containing trace amounts

of suspended essential oils. They are perfect to use

with animals as they are already DILUTE.

Scent is how animals interpret the world. Humans

and animals have similar olfactory systems but 2

notable differences:

1. Dogs have 250-300 million odor receptors while humans have 6 million

2. A dog’s brain devotes about 40 times greater scent processing ability than

humans

DOG’S SENSE OF SMELL IS 10,000 to 100,000 times greater than humans!

SIGNS OF A DOG TAKING IN AN AROMA OR SCENT

* Licking, air sniffing, yawning, soft eyes and ears relaxed are all signs of

acceptance of the aroma

ROSE

METHOD OF APPLICATIONINHALATION:

1-3 drops EO in 15 ml of fractionated coconut oil

(FCO).

1-2 drops EO in an aroma inhaler with cotton wick.

1 drop of EO on a cotton ball on scent strip. Most

simple and effective use.

MASSAGE: 1-3 drops in 15 ml FCO

BATH: 1-2 drops per 4 ounce non-scented liquid

castile soap

SPRITZER: 1-3 drops in 1oz of Hydrosol or distilled

water

DIFFUSER: 3-5 drops per 4 oz water mist diffuser

unit. Short bursts are better than constant exposure.

Not recommended in multi animal households.

WE DO NOT ADVOCATE THE USE

OF ESSENTIAL OILS INTERNALLY

BECAUSE IT IS UNKNOWN HOW

THEY CAN AFFECT GUT FLORA.

There is some disagreement about the

destruction of beneficial bacteria as well as

harmful bacteria when the gut is exposed to

essential oils. The risks outweigh the

benefits!!!!

EXCELLENT ESSENTIAL OILS FOR ANIMALS

* CARROT SEED

* ROMAN CHAMOMILE

* CLARY SAGE

* CYPRESS

* FRANKINCENSE

* LAVENDER (Lavendula Augustifolia only)

* SWEET MARJORAM

* NEROLI

* VETIVER

* CITRUS ESSENCES (Bergamot, Grapefruit, Mandarin Sweet Orange)

**LEMON AND LIME ARE PHOTOTOXIC IN THE SUN SO NOT RECOMMENDED**

NEROLI

ESSENTIAL OILS ARE HIGHLY CONCENTRATED!

EXAMPLE: one drop of chamomile essential oil is

equal to approximately 50 cups of chamomile tea!!

WHEN USING WITH ANIMALS THEY MUST BE DILUTED!

ANIMAL DOSING IS THE EQUIVALENT OF DOSING FOR A

HUMAN BABY!

DO NOT APPLY ESSENTIAL OILS TO NOSE,

MOUTH/WHISKERS, EYES, EARS OR SENSTIVE GENITAL

AREAS

STORE OUT OF SUNLIGHT AND IN A DRY LOCATION

ESSENTIAL OIL THAT ARE UNSAFE FOR USE IN ANIMALS

* Wintergreen * Yarrow

* Sweet birch * Clove

* Eucalyptus * Garlic

* Sweet Basil * Rosemary

* Pennyroyal

* Wormwood

* Rue

* Anise

* Camphor

* White Thyme

WHY ARE SOME ESSENTIAL OILS UNSAFE FOR

ANIMALS?

* Due to their individual chemical components, cautions or contraindications

* EO use depends on the animal’s health, history, allergies, age, breed, etc.

* CAMPHOR, PENNYROYAL, ROSEMARY, SAGE, THUJA ARE HIGH IN KETONES

* SOME PEPPERMINT ARE HIGH IN MENTHOL

* BASIL, CINNAMON BARK OR LEAF, CLOVE BUD OR LEAF, OREGANO, PARLSEY

SEED, SASSAFRAS, THYME ARE HIGH IN PHENOLS

* BIRCH, WINTERGREEN ARE HIGH IN METHYL SALICYLATES

* TEA TREE IS TOXIC (MELALEUCA IS OK)

* LEMON AND LIME ARE PHOTOTOXIC WHEN APPLIED TOPICALLY (IF USING

THESE AVOID SUNLIGHT FOR 12 HOURS)

VETIVER

WE RECOMMEND PURCHASE OF ESSENTIAL OILS FROM SMALL, PRIVATE,

SUSTAINABLY GROWN FARMS. THERE ARE LARGE MANUFACTURERS OF

ESSENTIAL OIL HOWEVER IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THEY MUST BE

ORGANIC.

ATRIUM CHOICES:

AROMATICS INTERNATIONAL

ARTISAN AROMATICS (NORTH CAROLINA)

FLOWER ESSENCES…..FLOWER POWER!

• Considered the vibrational essence of the plant, flower, water or mineral

• Traditionally derived by solar or lunar infusion of the flower/plant

material into spring water

• Flower Essences can contain from 1-7 different individual flower

essences. (1-3 drops of each flower essence).

• They are all natural and do not interfere with any other treatments,

therapies, supplements, herbals, or essential oils.

• They are taken in drop form, 1-3 drops or more, diluted by way of water

and placed directly on the tongue or mouth or inside the pinnae of the

ear

• Very effective for emotional balance

• Can be added into an EO blend and or hydrosol

• Bach Flower Essences, in particular Rescue Remedy, is commonly used

for stress release. It is a blend of 5 individual flower remedies.

EFFECTIVE FLOWER ESSENCES FOR CANINES

• CHERRY PLUM FOR FEAR OF LOOSING CONTROL AND PANIC

• CLEMATIS FOR OUT OF BODY SENSATIONS

• IMPATIENS FOR IRRITABILITY, HYPERSENSITIVITY AND

AGITATION

• ROCK ROSE FOR TERROR AND PANIC

• STAR OF BETHLEHEM FOR SHOCK, TRAUMA, AFTER EFFECT

OF STRESS OR TRAUMA

• PINE FOR GRIEF

• CRAB APPLE FOR SHAME OR DISLIKE

CALMING SPRAY

½ oz Neroli Hydrosol

½ oz Blue Chamomile Hydrosol

5 drops Lavender (Lavendula Augustifolia) essential

oil

Mix the ingredients together in a spray bottle.

Shake before using and mist your dog (keeping away

from the face) when you expecting bad weather.

Refrigerate for up to 6 months.

ANXIETY AND AGGRESSION

15 ml Fractionated Coconut Oil

1 drop Lavender (Lavendula Augustifolia)

1 drop Vetiver

1 drop Roman Chamomile

Place 1-2 drops in palm of hand and rub hands

together. Starting at the shoulders, rub in a

downward motion down the spine to the tail base

several times.

STRESS RELIEF AND ANTI-INFLAMMATORY

15 ml Fractionated Coconut Oil

1 drop Lavender (Lavendula Augustifolia)

1 drop Copaiba

Place 1-2 drops in palm of hand and rub

hands together. Starting at the shoulders,

rub down the spine in a downward motion to

base of tail several times.

ANXIETY AND STRESS RELIEF

15mls Lavender or Frankincense Hydrosol

1 drops Lavender (Lavendula Augustifolia)

essential oil

1 drop Frankincense essential oil

Shake together in a spray bottle and spritz

your dog down the spine, avoiding all paws

and face.

HELICHRYSUM

HAPPY

SPRING