Using Nature to Heal Your Horse
By Seri
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20th Nov 2010 •
5,503 views
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8 comments
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Some of you might be wondering what Aromatherapy is. Aromatherapy is known as the use of natural based oils for the care of different ailments. The oils used in Aromatherapy are very concentrated and, as a side note for those of you who have cats, can be toxic to your feline friends.
In this article I will be sharing one of my most successful techniques in helping a rescue horse recover after a traumatizing event or a life of abuse. I have treated many other rescue and problem horses besides Mohani and this technique has helped me quite a bit with their recoveries. I will be mostly sharing the oils that I have used in Mohani’s case since I have seen more rescue horse articles than problem horses.
Sweet Basil: Good for any muscular, pulmonary and emotional problems.
Roman Chamomile: Emotional, muscular or wound problems.
Cypress: Cardiovascular and muscular issues and can act as an insect repellent.
Eucalyptus: Pulmonary, wounds, and muscular problems.
Lemon Eucalyptus: Good insect repellent, muscular, and emotional problems.
Frankincense: Pulmonary, wound and emotional problems.
Geranium: Emotional and wounds problems, insect repellent.
Juniper: Muscular and wounds problems, good insect repellent.
Lavender: Muscular, wounds, emotional and cardiovascular problems.
Tea Tree Oil: Pulmonary, itching, and wound issues, insect repellent.
As you may have noticed, the word “Pulmonary” was used quite a bit and some of you are probably wondering what it means. Pulmonary means something relating to or affecting the lungs.
The oils offer a wide variety to choose from in case your horse does not like a particular one. Listen to the horse and allow it to tell you which remedy will help it the most. One way you can do this is to put a couple of drops of the oil on your wrist, or simply take off the cap to the bottle and allow your horse to sniff it. If the horse turns its head away or acts disinterested move on to a different oil. Continue this until you find an oil that your horse will accept.
You will know when your horse accepts the oil when it does a flehman with its nostrils. See image 2 below.
Or your horse will simply keep smelling your hand or even simply bob its head. You know your own horse far better then me so you should be able to tell if your horse is reacting positively. Mohani usually does a flehman before bobbing his head up and down vigorously and sniffing at the bottle. When I used this treatment to help my horse Silver I would line up the scents and then she would choose the one she liked by standing in front of it and flaring her nostrils.
There are a few different ways that you can give your horse the selected oil. You can massage it onto your horse, diffuse it through the air or taken internally. I would advise that you clear the internal method with your vet before using it. In general the oils are safe for internal consumption, but it also varies from horse to horse so just be on the safe side and ask your vet first. If your horse has a liver disease do NOT have the horse take the oil internally.
When using the oils in massage it helps to ease any stiffness, soreness or stress on your horse’s body. The diffusion method requires the use of a vaporizer and they usually require either fire or electricity. If you do not wish to use a vaporizer then another option would be a mister. A mister only requires a glass bottle and an atomizer.
Combining different oils allows you to be more flexible and cover more ailments if your horse is suffering more than what one oil can care for. Below I have listed several different recipes that I use with my own horses.
Poor Circulation and Congestion:
100 drops cypress
75 drops lavender
Blend into 2oz of Hazelnut, Pecan, or Fractionated Coconut Oil. Shake, cap, and label. Pour blend onto palm and rub in.
Can used after exercise. For best results use after dousing limbs into cold water. This can be use to prevent congestion from regular exercise or work.
Joint Pain, Stiffness, and Lameness:
100 drops juniper
50 drops lavender
50 drops chamomile
Blend with 2oz of Hazelnut, Pecan, or Fractionated Coconut Oil. Shake, cap, and label.
Use before putting your horse up (after a workout or for the night etc.) if the horse is having a problem.
DO NOT apply this mixture in the morning or else your horse will act as though there has been no damage (injuries) taken and will act normally and will exercise/play which CAN cause serious and sometimes life threatening damage to the already injured part of the body.
When there is no damage like rheumatism or lameness, it can be used before and after exercising.
Aches and Muscular Pain:
100 drops sweet basil
50 drops chamomile
Blend with 2oz of Hazelnut, Pecan, or Fractionated Coconut Oil. Shake, cap, and label.
This is a good blend to use as a warm-up. Good prevention of aches and inflammation. Can be used before or after exercise.
Coughs and Respiratory Issues:
Worming is recommended at the beginning of treatment as some coughs are the result of parasitic infestation.
Recommended for diffusing. It can be rub into the chest. Diffusing oils are not blended with fixed oils. If rubbed onto chest, they are blended with fixed oils. Diffusing can be achieved with a mister but for long lasting results an electrical diffuser or vaporizer is needed.
1/3 oz blend
100 drops eucalyptus
100 drops tea tree
50 drops frankincense
Add drops to 1/3oz brown bottle. Place the insert and cap into place. Shake and then label. This blend can be taken internally. 10 drops a day until condition clears. Can be added to food until the horse is use to the oils. Use this blend for the diffuser. Add this to a mister with water and alcohol. Add 50 drops to 1oz of Fractionated Coconut Oil and Massage into Chest
Stress and Anxiety:
Nervousness in horses can come from many sources. This blend can help many of them.
1/3oz blend
100 drops lavender
100 drops basil
50 drops chamomile
Add drops to 1/3oz brown bottle. Place the insert and cap into place. Shake and then Label. This blend can be taken internally. 10 drops a day until condition clears. Can be added to food until the horse is use to the oils. Use this blend for the diffuser. Add this to a mister with water and alcohol. Add 50 drops to 1oz of Fractionated Coconut Oil and Massage into Chest.
Mosquito and Fly Repellant:
1/3oz blend
100 drops lemon eucalytpus
100 drops tea tree
50 drops geranium
Add drops to 1/3oz brown bottle. Place the insert and cap into place. Shake and then label. Use this blend for the diffuser. Add this to a mister with water and alcohol. Mist the horse.
Please remember that you should never, ever replace the care that a vet can provide with these solutions. Always consult your vet to make sure that your horse isn’t suffering a serious condition or even something as simple as worms. Once you get the diagnosis you might even want to clear this treatment with vet anyways. It never hurts to be sure.
I hope this article was helpful and I am looking forward to hearing back from those of you who decide to try some of these oils and mixtures on your own horses. There are many other oils to choose from then the ones I have listed so if you like how the technique works and want to try some other oils consult either your vet or a reliable source for more information. |
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Finally There
I love using Aromatherapy! :) Great article Seri!
I love using Aromatherapy! :) Great article Seri!
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Nov 20, 2010
• 4,080 views
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Nov 21, 2010
• 4,120 views
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Madeirey
Thank you so much! I will deffnetly try the stress one!
Thank you so much! I will deffnetly try the stress one!
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Nov 21, 2010
• 4,071 views
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Velski
Excellent article!!! I can't use it on horses due to the fact I don't have any, but I'll remember this for if I ever do get a horse!
Excellent article!!! I can't use it on horses due to the fact I don't have any, but I'll remember this for if I ever do get a horse!
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Nov 21, 2010
• 4,078 views
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T W I
Quite interesting!
Quite interesting!
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Nov 22, 2010
• 4,075 views
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Candy99
So awesome! Definitly keep it in mind =) Great article
So awesome! Definitly keep it in mind =) Great article
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23 days ago
• 4,088 views
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lovehorse
Great Post, really interesting. Cos i put lavender oil in my bath and i slept longer!
(:
Great Post, really interesting. Cos i put lavender oil in my bath and i slept longer!
(:
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Aug 3, 2011
• 4,068 views
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SMFponies
It sounds strange but aromatherapy is so cool!! A good friend of mine tried over 100 different scents on my little black pony, and the only two she liked were peppermint and orange. Which calm nerves and promote self-esteem who knew I had a depressed pony who suffered from anxiety? It's amazing stuff and has blown me away with the results. Great Article!!
It sounds strange but aromatherapy is so cool!! A good friend of mine tried over 100 different scents on my little black pony, and the only two she liked were peppermint and orange. Which calm nerves and promote self-esteem who knew I had a depressed pony who suffered from anxiety? It's amazing stuff and has blown me away with the results. Great Article!!
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Dec 3, 2012
• 4,336 views
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