Aromatherapy for Animals, Part TWO

(Part Two of a three part article...find the rest at http://www.bukisa.com/people/terraken .)

Most aromatherapy counters in U.S. department, cosmetic or health food stores offer dozens of essential oils; the catalogs and websites of aromatherapy companies list hundreds.  Any of the following oils or their hydrosols (flower waters) may be appropriate for use with your pet.  Do not apply full-strength essential oils; always dilute essential oils in a carrier oil (Sweet Almond, Apricot Kernel, Grapeseed, etc.) or another non-toxic medium before applying directly to your pet. You can also infuse the area around your pet by making your own aromatherapy sprays with essential oils, apple cider vinegar, vodka and purified water.  Remember: DILUTE, DILUTE, DILUTE—that’s the key to using essential oils on animals.  Essential oils are the most concentrated herbal products available, and such powerful substances can be dangerous and even deadly to pets.  For example, undiluted cinnamon oil can burn the skin and cause blisters, as can several other essential oils. Fennel, sage and camphor-containing oils (eucalyptus, rosemary) can cause seizures in epileptics, etc. Please see my column in the June 2009 issue of Critter Magazine for the first part of this article, Aromatherapy for Animals, PART ONE, for more tips and guidelines concerning the safe and effective use of aromatherapy with animals.  You can also find this article online at http://www.bukisa.com/people/terraken .

Basil, sweet (Ocimum basilicum or French basil, also called common basil; O. minimum or bush basil; O. sanctum or holy basil; but NOT including exotic basil, O. basilicum; see note below)

French basil, also called common basil, is a tender culinary herb used in Eastern and Ayurvedic medicine.  Its colorless or pale yellow essential oil, which has a light, sweet, fresh, spicy fragrance, is an antidepressant, antiseptic, antispasmodic, gas reliever, digestive aid, expectorant, fever reducer, nerve tonic, adrenal cortex stimulant and general tonic. In addition, it stimulates the production of milk in nursing mothers. Applied (diluted!) to the skin or fur, basil repels insects, applied to joints and muscles, it helps relieve arthritis pain; inhaled, it treats respiratory infections, indigestion, nausea and flatulence; in all applications it helps relieve anxiety, depression, fatigue and insomnia.

As Julia Lawless notes in The Encyclopedia of Essential Oils, the gentler, French basil and harsher exotic basil share the same Latin name, Ocimum basilicum, but exotic basil is a larger plant with a harsher odor and different constituents.  Its actions are the same as those of French basil, above, but the plant contains methyl chaviocol, which is moderately toxic, irritating to the skin, and possibly carcinogenic.  Exotic basil is not recommended for use with animals.  To avoid confusion, check with suppliers for positive identification.  All basil oils should be avoided during breeding and pregnancy.

Bergamot (Citrus bergamia)

Bergamot oil is distilled from the rind of an Italian citrus fruit and should not be confused with bee balm (Monarda didyma), which is commonly called bergamot because its fragrance resembles bergamot oil.

A traditional Italian folk medicine, bergamot oil was often used to treat fevers and worms.  Recent Italian research has expanded its use to the treatment of mouth, skin, urinary and respiratory conditions.  This oil has analgesic/pain relieving, antiseptic, antispasmodic, antitoxic, gas-relieving, digestive, diuretic, deodorant, laxative, stimulant, tonic and worm killing properties.  An appetite stimulant, it is useful in the treatment of anorexia.  Bergamot helps clear bladder infections and also relieves colic, stomach or intestinal cramps and flatulence.  Once important in the treatment of malaria, the oil helps reduce high fevers, it can be mixed with water and applied as a cold compress, or diffused into the air.  An antidepressant, it relieves anxiety, stress and nervous tension.  Bergaptene, a component of this oil can sometimes cause photosensitivity, so the “BF” (bergaptene-free) version of this oil is recommended instead.

Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla, known as German, true or annual chamomile, and Anthemis nobilis, Roman or perennial chamomile)

The essential oil of annual German chamomile is thick and blue with an intense, sweet herbal fragrance.  The oil of the perennial Roman chamomile is clear and yellowish green with a sweet, clean, fruity odor.  Both are used in aromatherapy.

Chamomile is an anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving, antispasmodic, gas-relieving, fever-reducing, antiseptic, wound-healing digestive aid and calming herb of the highest order.  Applied topically, it treats burns, cuts, infections and abscesses. It is also useful for colitis, intestinal infections, gallbladder problems, colic, flatulence and gastritis. Sprayed into the air, it makes a spirit-lifting air freshener.  Safe for kittens, puppies and nursing mothers as well as during pregnancy, chamomile is one of the most versatile and best tolerated essential oils. Its calming influence relieves tension, depression and anxiety.  In shampoos and conditioners, chamomile improves fur condition while highlighting red, yellow and light colored coats.

Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum and other species)

Cinnamon oil is extracted by steam distillation from the leaves, twigs and dried inner bark of the tree.  The result is a pale to dark yellow or brown oil with the familiar fragrance of this popular culinary spice.

Cinnamon leaf oil is relatively nontoxic, though it should be used in moderation around mucous membranes and sensitive skin areas. Cinnamon bark oil, a serious irritant to the skin as well as mucous membranes, is one of the most hazardous full-strength oils.  It should not be used during pregnancy except in small amounts during labor or whelping, when it stimulates contractions.

Used externally to repel lice and other small parasites, diluted cinnamon leaf oil can be applied to warts, wasp stings and other skin conditions.  Diluted cinnamon oil warms and relaxes muscles and joints.  It stimulates the appetite, helps prevent colitis, and heals intestinal infections.  Sprayed around an animal, cinnamon helps improve circulation, combat fatigue and boost the immune system.  This oil is considered an anthelmintic or vermifuge (worm killer), antidote to poisons, astringent, gas relieving digestive aid and circulatory stimulant.

Clary Sage (Salvia sclarea)

A close relative of garden sage and native to southern Europe, clary sage was highly regarded during the Middle Ages as a digestive aid and nerve tonic. Despite its effectiveness, the herb fell out of use and few people today had ever heard of it until just recently. Thanks to aromatherapists, clary sage is enjoying new popularity, for this clear, colorless oil with a warm, sweet, light grassy fragrance eases cramps, stimulates digestion, reduces flatulence, treats respiratory infections, relaxes the spirit and reduces psychological tension, fear and nervousness.  An effective deodorant and antiseptic, clary can be used in the treatment of skin infections.  For respiratory problems, use in an aroma lamp, diffuser, humidifier or spray bottle.

The essential oil of garden sage (Salvia officinalis) is toxic in very small doses and should not be used on or around animals. Clary sage is much milder and is often used in place of sage oil for the treatment of physical ailments. It is used as an antidote to the stresses of travel, competition and performing.

Clove (Eugenia caryophyllata, E. aromatica, E. caryophyllus)

Clove oil, the traditional cure for toothache, can do more than numb the gums. This sweet, warm, spicy oil is an effective antiseptic that can be applied to infected wounds; in fact, when diluted to 1 percent, clove oil is up to four times more effective than phenol in killing bacteria. An effective insect repellent, clove oil can be used on herbal flea collars or added to herbal sprays. It helps prevent flatulence, digestive problems and diarrhea.  As clove oil was traditionally recommended for strengthening the uterus and adding in childbirth, this essential oil may be helpful to dogs and cats in the week before giving birth.  Clove oil is also an effective vermifuge or worm killer.

Three types of clove oil are available: clove bud, clove leaf and clove stem.  All three can cause skin and mucous membrane irritation and should be greatly diluted when used topically. Clove bud oil has the lowest eugenol percentage and is the least toxic.

Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus, Blue Gum)

One of the world’s most aromatic trees, eucalyptus is native to Tasmania and Australia, but now grows around the world. Its colorless oil, which turns yellow with age, has a harsh, woody, camphor smell.  Externally, the oil is nontoxic and when diluted does not irritate the skin, but it can be toxic when swallowed (as can most essential oils).  As little as 3.5ml (less than a teaspoon) has been fatal to humans. As always, dilute eucalyptus oil before applying it, this is an oil to treat with caution and respect.

Eucalyptus oil is widely used an insect repellent, applied topically to burns and wounds and dispersed in vaporizers to treat bronchial infections and improve breathing. Traditionally used in the treatment of malaria, eucalyptus can help reduce a fever or the elevated temperature of heat stroke when used in a cold-water compress on the legs or abdomen. 

Lemon scented eucalyptus (Eucalyptus citriodora) shares similar properties and is considered more effective in the treatment of fungal infections.  Eucalyptus radiata is a milder form of eucalyptus and is more safely used on animals and children. The same precautions apply to all eucalyptus oils.

Lavender (Lavandula latifolia or spike lavender; L. angustifolia or L. officinalis, true lavender; and Lavandula x intermedia or lavandin, a cross between true and spike lavender)

Among the most revered essential oils, lavender has a long history of medicinal and cosmetic uses. Originally from the Mediterranean, lavender is now grown around the world. There are many different types of lavender, but all share the same basic actions: analgesic, anticonvulsive, antidepressant, antimicrobial, antirheumatic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, antitoxic, gas-relieving, bile-stimulating, deodorant, diuretic, insect-repelling, relaxing, circulation-stimulating, tonic and worm-repelling. Lavender is so effective against burns that it is a recommended treatment for most burns and scalds. For that reason and because it neutralizes the venom of insect bites and stings as well as some venomous snakes, it belongs in every first aid kit.

Distilled lavender oil is clear to pale yellow with a sweet, herby, woody scent.  Inhaled it treats respiratory conditions, nausea, prevents flatulence, alleviates cramping, improves digestion and clears urinary tract infections.  Applied to the skin or coat, it helps repel insects and treats abscesses, fungal infections, ringworm, lice, scabies, sores, sunburn, dermatitis, earache, wounds and inflammation. In any application, lavender reduces anxiety and lifts the spirits.  By all the accounts I have studied, full-strength lavender oil is safe for dogs of all ages, but you may want to dilute it first with a small amount of carrier oil or vodka. Definitely do dilute this oil for use on kittens and cats.

Check out PART THREE of this three part article at http://www.bukisa.com/people/terraken .

(This column is authored by Carol Koenigsknecht, Herbal Practitioner and owner of Terra Ken Herbals.  She is available for consultations, classes and lectures, and can be reached via her website at http://www.TerraKenHerbals.net or by phone, (706) 797-0091.  She also owns and operates Carol’s Critter Care, a pet-sitting service.)

DISCLAIMER: The information provided in this column is intended for educational purposes only.  It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.  Please seek the advice of a QUALIFIED veterinarian or health care practitioner before using any herbs, supplements or other natural approaches to health discussed in this column.