.jpg)
Essential Oils: Great for Humans, Detrimental for Pets
By Lauren Tabacchini
Essential oils have been gaining popularity by many groups over the past decade. There are many different oils for many different purposes. What the essential oil community does not know are the detrimental effects that they can have on pets, specifically cats and dogs.
Herbal medicine had been around since the beginning of time. These medicines have been made into oils and have been used for thousands of years. The oils used then do not look like the oils used today with the present-day glamorous packaging. Still, they have been crafted from the same plants and herbs used as medicine, and much before pharmaceutical companies and big pharma became the go-to for treatment options.
Essential oils cater to a variety of people. Whether it be massage therapists diffusing them between or during their sessions with clients, a young adult using them on a bracelet for stress relief throughout the day, or even a mother using them to help alleviate symptoms of illness in their young children. Essential oils cater to a wide variety of needs.
Roughly every single human will experience the flu in some form in their life. For those who do not want to run to the pharmacy and want a more natural solution for the symptoms they experience, they can turn their heads to essential oils. When it comes to illness, there are a few that essential oil experts would recommend: peppermint oil, lavender oil, eucalyptus oil, and citrus oils.
Peppermint oil is an excellent oil for getting rid of those nasty flu symptoms. If one is experiencing nausea, headaches, or muscle pain, then this is the oil for them. It is always important to test the oil by putting a drop on one's wrist and watching for a reaction, just in case of allergies. If the test run goes smoothly, it is safe to say that diffusing the oil or sitting in a bath with the oil will help reduce these symptoms.
Lavender is great for many uses; the primary use of lavender is for insomnia and headaches such as migraines. Lavender should be applied to a pillowcase or diffused throughout the evening hours to treat insomnia. Those suffering from migraines and headaches alike commonly have a sensitivity to light. A way to combat this would be to put the oil on the outside of an eye mask to shield one's eyes from the light and let the lavender act as a form of relief.
It is important to add that although oils can treat symptoms, it is equally essential to contact a health advisor or primary care physician in case of worsening symptoms or severe illness. The oils can and will reduce symptoms, but they can not necessarily “cure” every condition.
While these oils have their many advantages. They are something pet owners should be cautious of. Certain essential oils are extremely toxic to pets. It is very important to note that the oils detrimental to cats and dogs differ, so there are some oils that are safe for cats that are not for dogs and vice versa.
According to Animal Medical Center of Deer Valley, the oils toxic to dogs include, “anise, cinnamon, citrus, clove, garlic, juniper, pennyroyal, peppermint, pine, sweet birch, tea tree, thyme, yarrow and ylang ylang”. It is also stated that toxic oils for cats would be, “cinnamon, citrus, clove, eucalyptus, lavender, oregano, pennyroyal, peppermint, pine, sweet birch, tea tree, thyme, wintergreen, and ylang ylang.”
With it being said that these oils are toxic to pets, mistakes happen, and pets sometimes get into things that are not meant for them. Animal Medical Center of Deer Valley says if your pet is experiencing, “breathing problems, difficulty walking, drooling, fatigue, muscle tremors, pawing at the face/mouth, rash, redness or burns on their lips, tongue, skin or gums, vomiting, weakness or collapse” to consult with a veterinarian immediately.
Essential oils have many benefits for many different types of people and their individual needs. Next time you are experiencing discomfort for one reason or another and would like a more holistic remedy, check out essential oils. However, pet owners, be warned, the oils that are good for you may not be good for your furry friends.
Sources:
#holistic #pets #essentialoils #detrimental #cats #dogs #people #massage #therapists #pharmaceutical #lavender #toxic #veterinarian
