Do you have some essential oils and wonder if you can use them with your dog? Or perhaps you are new to essential oils and don't even know what they are? You might be waiting to use essential oils for yourself or with your dog because they seem complicated or difficult to use. If you're an essential oils beginner, have no fear, as you don't need to be a rocket scientist to use essential oils! Just an understanding of a few basics and you'll be ready to get started safely. Essential oils can be uncomplicated, easy, and safe.
Dont forget to go ahead and download my free guide to using essential oils with your dog, click HERE.
WHAT ARE ESSENTIAL OILS?
Essential oils are highly concentrated liquid extracts from plants, often steam distilled or cold pressed from various parts of a plant. I like to think of essential oils as the blood of a plant and no, plants don't have blood, but in many ways, essential oils do for the plant what our blood does for us. They bring and exchange nutrients and help to protect the plant and keep it healthy. Essential oils give the plant its aroma, play a role in pollination, and have varying benefits for the plant depending on its needs. Essential oils are the life force of the plant like our blood. Using essential oils is plant therapy :)
HOW CAN ESSENTIAL OILS HELP ME AND MY DOG?
Essential oils are useful for the whole family in a variety of ways. One of my favorite things to use essential oils for is to help our moods. When we smell an essential oil, it goes to the emotional center of our brain very quickly. This means we can quickly use them to affect our emotions by inhaling the aroma. Have ya ever noticed that if you are in a bad mood, your dog knows! We are half the equation in the household and using essential oils to keep us happy, calm, and confident, transfers to our dogs.
A study found on researchgate.net involving shelter dogs "suggested that the welfare of sheltered dogs may be enhanced through exposure to appropriate forms of olfactory stimulation. Lavender and chamomile appear particularly beneficial, resulting in activities suggestive of relaxation and behaviours that are considered desirable by potential adopters."
Running a diffuser during fireworks or thunderstorms can be an invaluable tool, promoting calmness and relaxation. Becoming a walking diffuser for your dog by wearing an essential oil as a perfume, not only helps your dog, but it helps you too. You can pick an essential oil for grounding, calmness, balance, energy, or even focus.
Essential oils are a safer alternative to many chemical products on the market today. For example, air fresheners. Using an essential oil and a diffuser in your home can keep your home safely smelling amazing, even with pets! They can be useful for skin, breathing, and your dogs coat.
ARE ESSENTIAL OILS SAFE?
What you need to know is that not all essential oils are created equally. Essential oils are a science and an art. You need to start with quality plants, grow them properly, harvest them properly, and then distill them properly.
Essential oils is not a well regulated industry. Governed by the FDA, they fall under the cosmetic laws which allow for the companies to not disclose all ingredients as trade secrets. Also essential oils is a booming market and many companies do not want to take the time to properly distill an oil or wait the reqiured amount of time for the plant to produce the best oil yield. Companies also can add ingredients to standardize an aroma since essential oils distilled from different crops of plants can vary in aroma due to environmental factors. Companies want to sell more and have a lower bottom line, and unfortunately this leads to adulteration in the marketplace.
The first place to start is to read the label. while not a fail safe(remember those trade secret loopholes), that gets us started in the right direction. If the labels lists other ingredients or has the word fragrance or essence in it, definitely pass. Also the label may indicate to not use with pets or to not ingest.
Next find a company you love and trust. For me it's Young Living™ Essential Oils. They own their own farms. I've been to many of them and actually helped harvest and plant. Young Living™ has a Seed To Seal™ guarantee that you can read about HERE. If you want to qualify your own company, use the questions below and make sure you get a yes to each and every question like I have with Young Living™.
HOW ARE ESSENTIAL OILS USED?
Essential oils are typically enjoyed in 3 ways; aromatically, topically, and by ingestion.
Aromatically, which simply means to inhale the aroma. This is by far the easiest and safest way to start using essential oils for yourself and with your dog. Simply open the bottle and smell. Or use an essential oil diffuser that transforms the essential oil into a mist. It's best to use an ultrasonic diffuser that doesn't use heat. It will have a metal or ceramic plate that vibrates and disperses the essential in the water and creates a fine mist. This is very diluted and a safe way to use essential oils for yourself and your dog. Use the minimum number of drops called for in your diffuser manual and watch for any signs of discomfort like watery eyes, confusion, itching or scratching. Keep in mind, your dog may choose to be with you even if they are uncomfortable. Always leave a door open and never enclose your pet in an area where they can't escape the diffuser if they want.
If you dont have a diffuser or are in a hurry and don't want to take the time to start one. You can use items like:
-cotton balls
-wood clothespins
-cork stickers
Simply add a few drops of essential oil onto the item, stash in strategic areas, and refresh as needed.
You can also make a spray by simply adding essential oils and water into a glass spray bottle and spritzing the area. For a step by step guide to making a spray, click HERE.
Your dog has a much better sense of smell than you and you can simply offer the bottle to your dog for a whiff without even taking the lid off. You can also become a walking diffuser by using diffuser jewelry or adding a drop to your clothes in an inconspicuous area (keep in mind some essential oils stain clothes). You can apply an essential oil topically or make a perfume to wear, which leads us to topical use of essential oils, the second way we can enjoy our essential oils.
Topically, which means to put the essential oil on. Another good option if properly diluted and pure. First and foremost, make sure you are using a pure, premium quality, essential oil. Then you are going to want to dilute it. Some essential oils can be safe to use undiluted but if you are just getting started, or using them with your dog, you'll want to dilute them. This is a good thing...your essential oils will last longer, you will have less of a chance for a reaction, you will be able to use on large areas, and it will be safer for you and your dog. Be sure to download my free guide to using essential oils with your dog, that includes my dilution chart, HERE.
The third way is ingestion, which means taking the essential oil as a supplement. There is some controversy surrounding this, but the essential oil company I like to use has a complete line of essential oils labeled for ingestion. Also, you and your pets are already most likely ingesting essential oils in the food products you are consuming. Rosemary essential oil is a common preservative in many dog kibbles on the market and you will often see essential oils listed as a natural preservative in food products for people and dogs. You just need to remember essential oils are highly concentrated and a little goes a long way.
I recommend, especially if you are just starting out, that you get comfortable with using essential oils aromatically and topically first. Then if you'd like to use as a supplement, make sure you read the label and only use an essential oil labeled for dietary use like Young Livings Vitality™ line. It's also best to consult your veterinarian and work with a veterinarian trained in using essential oils in this way.
Phototoxicity
Some essential oils, notably most citrus essential oils that are cold pressed, can be phototoxic, which simply means they can increase your sensitivity to sunlight. Bergamot is a citrus oil that can cause this sensitivity. Angelica, while not a citrus oil, is a phototoxic oil, so be sure to check the label. The label should tell you if the essential oil you have is a phototoxic essential oil. Citrus oils are fabulous and uplifting to use, so don't let that stop you, simply apply under clothing or at night time. Or use aromatically, instead.
HOW SHOULD ESSENTIAL OILS BE STORED?
Some essential oils will eventually degrade the plastic orifice that regulates the drops coming out, so store your essential oil bottles upright and with the lids on. Any essential oil you buy should be in a dark colored glass bottle and this will protect it from light. Store essential oils in a cool place as heat will degrade the essential oil as well.
DO ESSENTIAL OILS EXPIRE?
Essential oils do have a shelf life, contrary to popular belief. Depending on the essential oil, some seem to last for years, while others like the citrus oils, tend to oxidize and evaporate quicker, even stored properly. It's best to use those up within a year, and I keep my extra citrus oils in the fridge to help. I've reached for an older unopened bottle of Lemon before and found it half gone! Lavender essential oil seems to degrade the plastic orifice reducer rather quickly, while I don't notice a difference with other oils. Some essential oils become thicker and some thinner over time, as oxidation occurs. Are they still safe to use? I think so, but it does change the oil, so keep it in mind. Besides, the essential oils that don't work are the ones that aren't used, so get those oils off the shelf :)
WHAT ESSENTIAL OILS SHOULD YOU START WITH?
I recommend that you purchase a diffuser and pick a few essential oils to start with. My top 5 to start with for myself and my dogs are:
Lavender: A versatile essential oil, known as the 'Swiss Army Knife of essential oils', with a calming and relaxing aroma. A mild oil useful for skin, hair, muscles, and nerves!
Frankincense: I like to think of 'Frank' as the king of essential oils. Calming, grounding, and balancing. Many dogs love this mild oil. Good for skin and hair. Helpful with timid and shy dogs.
Peppermint: Can support virtually every body system from digestion to breathing. Makes a nice muscle rub or cooling spray in hot weather. Also useful for focus and energy.
Lemon: Perfect for focus, cleaning, and an uplifting aroma thats hard to resist.
Cedarwood: A mild, safe, inexpensive, essential oil that's great for the skin and coat. Has a calming, relaxing, and grounding aroma. Useful for outdoor annoyances.
The best advice is to start using essential oils now, before you have a problem. Especially if you are going to use them with your dogs. By using essential oils during a positive experience with your dog, you can anchor in those feelings so that when you need them during a stressful time , not only will the aroma help you but the feelings it evokes will too. Also start low, go slow, dilute, and observe. If your dog doesn't like an oil , keep going until you find one they do like.
If you're ready to dive in and start using essential oils for yourself and with your dogs, and you need some essential oils, I've put together a bundle of the 5 essential oils mentioned here and a diffuser from the world leader in essential oils-Young Living™. Simply click HERE and get started today. (This is an affiliate link and I earn a small commission from your order at no cost to you. Thanks for supporting my small business! I'm so excited to help you get started, that I'll connect with you once you order and send you something special!)
When I find an essential oil that I just love, I eagerly get to work figuring out how it can also benefit my horses and dogs. Vetiver essential oil (Vetiveria Zizanoides) just so happens to be one of my go tos! When I think of Vetiver, 2 things come to mind...calm and skin! Let's chat my best Vetiver essential oil uses....
What is Vetiver essential oil?
According to Young Living™ Essential Oils "Vetiver is a perennial grass native to the tropical regions of Asia and is now also cultivated extensively in Haiti. It has an extensive root system, making it a useful plant for erosion control. Vetiver essential oil is steam distilled from the roots of the plant, resulting in an essential oil with a deeply earthy aroma that can support a creative, calm, and focused environment for children and is a great addition to your bedtime routine. An important ingredient in several Young Living skin care products, Vetiver also helps promote the appearance of an even skin tone when applied topically."
What can you use vetiver essential oil for?
Vetiver is known as the "Oil of Tranquility" in India and is used in aromatherapy for relaxation. Vetiver oil benefits for the brain have also been studied as well as its effect on ticks, bacteria, and as an antioxidant.
Vetiver has a wonderfully dark, smoky, and earthy scent. If your a horse person and love the smell of Stubben Hamanol, I think its aroma is quite similar to this! This aroma makes vetiver essential oil perfect for meditation, calmness, relaxation, and quieting the mind.
Many horses that I offer it to, eagerly want to inhale the aroma and choose it over other essential oils. Another favorite is Cedarwood.
You can get started using it with your horses and dogs by simply wearing it as a perfume. Both horses and dogs have a way better sense of smell than we do! When you wear it as perfume, you become a walking diffuser for them. Plus, this will help you remain calm too, and you're half the equation.
You can simply add a drop to the palm of your hand, rub your hands together, and offer to your horses and dogs to smell. Let them inhale the aroma for as long as they like, then rub the residue on the back of your neck and pulse points.
It's also fun to create a perfume blend using Vetiver that you can then wear at home or when you head to the barn. A perfume blend will stay on the skin longer, and you can add additional essential oils that can also benefit emotions. Grab my free guide to making your own perfumes HERE.
I often make this perfume blend that adds the additional tranquil aromas of Lavender essential oil and Bergamot essential oil. (Bergamot essential oil can increase your sensitivity to sunlight, so use this perfume under your clothing.)
CALM.ALL.DAY.LONG Perfume Blend
Vetiver essential oil blends well with Ylang Ylang essential oil and Lavender essential oil. So, a few other perfume blends that I like to use are equal drops Vetiver with equal drops of either Ylang Ylang or Lavender. You can add a drop of each of the oils to the palm of your hand, add a few drops of a carrier oil, rub your hands together, and apply to the back of your neck and pulse points. You can also make this in a roller bottle for ease of use and to try different combinations.
10 drops Vetiver
10 drops of Lavender
10 drops of Vetiver
10 drops of Ylang Ylang
5 drops Vetiver
10 drops Lavender
5 drops Ylang Ylang
Add the essential oils into a roller bottle and fill up with a carrier oil. These roller bottles also come in handy for skin care. You can use it on your dogs, horses, or yourself, by simply rolling on the area of skin that needs help.
Diffusing in the house for my scaredy chi's can be really helpful too! Roofers, loud noises, fireworks, thunder, you name it-if it's loud- several of my chi's turn into shaking messes..breaks my heart :(....Running an essential oil diffuser can really support them during these times.
You can diffuse Vetiver alone, but I like to add a few other essential oils that seem to make a winning combo for my chi's....I also use these diffuser oil recipes for times when I have trouble going to sleep.
My go to Vetiver essential oil diffuser blends:
2 drops Vetiver
1 Drops Vanilla
1 Drops Myrrh
2 Drops Vetiver
1 drops Bergamot
1 Drops Cedarwood
2 drops Vetiver
2 drops Frankincense
2 drops Vetiver
2 drops Lavender
Vetiver is a thick oil and comes out of the bottle fairly slowly. To combat this and my patience, I took off the orifice reducer and lid and replaced it with an inexpensive glass dropper top. These are available on Amazon and I like to do this with all my thick essential oils such as Myrrh and Sandalwood too.
Making a salve is another easy way to help skin health with vetiver oil. Simply mix 5 drops into 2 TBS of coconut oil. Adding 5 drops of Frankincense essential oil will supercharge your salve. Did you know that a review of research on vegetable oils including coconut oil on PubMed, found that "In many cases, vegetable oils proved to be more effective than synthetic wound-healing compounds used as controls. The fatty-acid components of vegetable oils are assumed to play a major role in the wound-healing process, in particular polyunsaturated fatty acids such as linoleic acid."
If you're just getting started using essential oils with your dogs and horses, be sure to download my free PDF guides.... everything you need to know like safety and dilution, at your fingertips....click HERE FOR HORSES and HERE FOR DOGS)
The information in this blog is not meant to provide medical advice nor be a substitute for veterinary care.
You may have heard of essential oils and that they can be used to help calm your horse. As an avid equestrian and horse owner, there's certainly a long list of situations I can think of that would benefit from that! Vet visits, farrier visits, clinics, horse shows, trailering, weather-who loves the wind #notme! Even grooming with some horses! If you haven't really heard of essential oils yet and are wondering exactly what they are, go HERE!),otherwise let's go over my top 7 essential oils I use to help calm my horses, and how you use them.
First, you might be asking, do essential oils even work on horses? That's a big yes from me...but don't take my word for it, according to ScienceDaily® "research recently published in the Journal of Equine Veterinary Science found significant signs of stress reduction in horses that inhaled lavender from a diffuser."
A study on PubMed.gov, using Ylang Ylang essential oil concluded that "These findings are likely to represent a relaxing effect of the ylang ylang oil and provide some evidence for the usage of the ylang ylang oil in aromatherapy such as causing a relief of depression and stress in humans." While this study was done with people, relaxing us is never a bad idea as we are half the equation with our horses and it's logical to assume that a relaxing aroma for us could be relaxing for our horses as well.
There can also be additional health benefits to using essential oils with horses. In addition to calming; insect bites, muscle pain, skin care, and our horses immune systems may benefit from some 'equine aromatherapy'.
If you go to PubMed.gov and put 'health benefits of essential oils' in the search bar, you get 302 results of studies done using essential oils for various health benefits. Many of these studies were done with people and on other animals, but it's a logical conclusion that horses could benefit as well.
So, now that you know essential oils can be a natural boost to equine wellness, you might be wondering how to use essential oils with your horse and are they safe?
Essential oils can be safely used with our horses. With a few key factors, such as quality, and dilution with a carrier oil, we can safely incorporate essential oils into our horses health care regime. To dive more into what you need to know to use essential oils safely and easily with your horse, download my free guide HERE
Not all essential oils are created equally! There is minimal regulation in the industry as they fall under cosmetic guidelines and trade secret laws. I like to use Young Living Essential Oils™. They have a Seed To Seal™ guarantee (check it out HERE) which insures that I'm using a high quality and premium essential oil that's safe for my horses.
Now that we know essential oils work, can be safe, and may be a natural solution with health benefits, let's get into how we can use them to help calm our horses.
Every horse is different and can respond differently to an essential oil. I find its best to have several calming oils to pick from. Then let your horses choose, and use the one that they like too. Remember we are in a partnership with our horse! The great thing is that when we use oils to help calm our horses, they help us remain calm and be a calm and confident leader! Thats half the equation!
Pick two oils from the list below and put one in each hand, then offer to your horse and see which one they smell more intently. Some of my horses actually try and grab the bottle from me, so hang on!
When our horses inhale the aroma, it passes over their olfactory bulbs and heads straight to the emotional center of the brain in about 5 seconds, this is the powerful part that allows us to use essential oils to affect our horses emotions quickly.
Let your horse inhale the aroma for as long as they like. Make sure that you get a nice long inhalation as well....how you are feeling affects how your horse is feeling!
Dont wait, start using essential oils now. If you get your horse used to essential oils now and use them during times that are positive and relaxing, you can anchor those feelings in. Then when you use them in a stressful situation, not only is the aroma calming, balancing, and grounding, but it can bring back all those positive feelings.
Once your horse has picked an essential oil, be a walking diffuser. You can do this by applying to yourself, making a perfume, or wearing diffuser jewelry, check out more info about this HERE
Another easy way to wear oils as a perfume is by making a roller bottle. Click HERE for a step by step guide.
When using essential oils to help calm our horses, having them inhale the aroma and us wearing it as a perfume, may be enough. If inhaling the aroma doesn't seem to be working, we may want an additional boost by using the essential oil topically with our horse. To do that, it's best to dilute the essential oil.
If you're wondering how to dilute essential oils with your horse, you can simply take a dollop or squirt of a carrier oil, like coconut oil, (for more info on carrier oils, click here) in your palm, add a couple of drops of essential oil, rub your hands together, let your horse inhale first..then apply to your horses skin. The chest or poll area work well. Be aware that if you are at a show, some governing bodies prohibit the use of essential oils (like Lavender) topically. In that case, let your horse inhale the aroma as many times as needed and make sure you are wearing the aroma as well.
What essential oils are calming for horses?
This is my go to list of essential oils horses tend to like and can work well for calming:
Valor is a go to blend for me from Young Living™. Containing powerhouse essential oils of Frankincense, Black Spruce, Blue Tansy, Camphor Wood, and Geranium. According to Young Living™ Valor® "was formulated based on historical writings about Roman soldiers who were said to apply plant extracts and botanticals to instill feelings of courage and confidence before going into battle, and a foundational daily blend that features a positive aroma to inspire confidence and courage.
I find this blend helps to overall balance my horses emotions. Remember our horses are half the equation. We are the other half and together, we form a partnership. We can use essential oils to balance and ground us and keep us calm, then use them to help our horses in the same ways too.
This list isn't all inclusive, it's my favorites that I've seen my horses gravitate to a lot. Each and every one of us is different and has a different dynamic with our horse, so don't be afraid to experiment or even just try the essential oil that you have and see what happens! Tree oils like Cypress, Spruce, Fir, Sandalwood, and Myrrh, can also be very calming to a horse.
If you're new to using essential oils with your horse, download my free guide where we go over what you need to know to use essential oils safely and easily with your horse, including safety and dilution, click HERE.
Horse health and dealing with their emotions can be tricky. Lucky for us, there are natural tools available that can help. Using essential oils as part of our equine wellness program can tip the scales in our favor!
If you're ready to dive deeper into using essential oils with your horse, check out my mini course "Oily Horse Intro" where we dive into the what, where, how, and why, of getting started using essential oils with your horse...safely and easily! Check it out HERE!
Did you know that Young Living™ Essential Oils has a line of essential oil blends created specifically for kids?! And it happens to be one of my favorite product lines....Why, Elissa, you don't have kids...hmmmm? Guess what?!
The essential oil blends are mild and pre-diluted, making them perfect to use with horses and dogs, and I have a lot of 4 legged kids :) Let's chat how I use Young Livings™ KidScents® line with my horses and dogs....(if ya need help just getting started using essential oils, download my free PDF guides.... click HERE FOR HORSES and HERE FOR DOGS)
By the way, I am an independent Distributor of Young Living™ and the opinions expressed in this blog post are solely my own and do not express the views or opinions of Young Living™. Young Living™ does not endorse, is not responsible for, and makes no representations or warranties regarding such content or its accuracy.
Hands down , my favorite is SleepyIze™ ....a blend containing Lavender, Geranium, Roman Chamomile, Tangerine, Bergamot, Sacred Frankincense™, Valerian, Rue, and diluted with Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (derived from coconut oil). The name says it all, when you think sleep, what comes to mind... for me-anything and all things calm, relaxed, peaceful, quiet, tranquil, serene...you get the idea!
Since it's pre-diluted, I will often just add a drop to my hand, rub my hands together, and then pet my dog along the spine. My dogs are all 'seasoned oilers' tho... so if you are just starting out, you may want to add a drop of carrier oil to that drop as well. If you need more info on carrier oils, click HERE.
If you are just starting out using essential oils with your dog, you will also want to wear it as a perfume first, to get your dog used to the aroma. Then start using it before you need calm and relaxation. You'll want to anchor it in to a positive experience with your dog, by diffusing it in a diffuser or wearing it as a perfume, during cuddle time or play time. That way when you use it in times if dire need, it can bring back the emotions of that positive experience. Check out my other blog HERE where we chat more in depth on using essential oils to help calm your dog.
Kidpower™ is my close runner up...it's a blend of Orange, Vanilla Oleoresin, Black Spruce, Cinnamon, Camphor, Blue Tansy, Frankincense, Geranium, and diluted with Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (derived from coconut oil). To me, it smells like 'orange creamsicle', returning me to fun filled kid days and the ice cream truck-remember those-haha!
I will often use it instead of Valor™ during times when my scared chi's seem to be having a meltdown...think thunderstorms, fireworks, roofing guys....several of my dogs seem to prefer it when I offer Valor™ in one hand and KidPower™ in the other.
What's the difference between KidPower™ and SleepyIze™? Well, other than the list of essential oils used to make each blend-lol...I tend to reach for SleepyIze™ when I'm after calmness and relaxation by itself. If I feel like I (or my dogs and horses) need some emotional support for confidence as well as calmness and balance, I'll reach for the KidPower™. See what your horse or dog prefers tho, and pick that way! I simply hold one in my left hand and one in my right hand...then I hold them out to my horse or dog...whichever one they lean into...use it...I've even had horses try and grab bottles out of my hands, so hang on! The dogs seem to be much more polite about it...oftentimes closing their eyes sniffing and pausing at the hand that has their preferred.
I also find this blend to be especially helpful to my horses before a training session. I think it promotes calmness and helps with focus...if you have a horse that gets distracted easily or is spooky, I would give it a try. I wear it as a perfume before I head to the barn....horses have many more scent receptors than we do and if you can smell it, they definitely can smell it. If you need some extra 'oomph' , I add a drop to my hands, rub my hands together, and then offer my hands to my horse to inhale first for as long as they want. Then I usually comb thru the mane with the residue on my hands.
This blend is listed as photosensitive, which means it can increase sensitivity of skin to light. It is diluted tho, and you are not applying much, and even tho it will work its way down the hair shaft to the skin, you have the mane protection. I live in sunny, Tucson, Az., and haven't had a problem applying it this way. Every horse is different tho, so if you have any concerns, or your horse is new to essential oils, or a sensitive red head...rub the excess under your shirt. You don't need to apply it topically. Remember horses have a good sense of smell, and if you wear it as a perfume, you'll both benefit. Wearing it as a perfume can help us be calm and confident leaders for our horses....which leads to calm and relaxed horses.
TummyGize™ consists of Spearmint, Peppermint, Tangerine, Anise, Fennel, Cardamom, Ginger, and Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride. I think the name says it all-haha! I will add a drop to my hand, rub my hands together, and massage my dogs or horses abdomen with this blend. I always offer to let them smell it beforehand as well. Remember, essential oils are tiny molecules that affect us systemically even when we only inhale them!
Owie™ should be in everyones first aid kit. It consists of Balsam Fir, Tea Tree, Helichrysum, Elemi, Cistus, Hinoki, Clove, and Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride.
According to Young Living™ "this comforting, reassuring blend naturally soothes, has an aroma that is calming in times of distress, and features premium essential oils that support the appearance of healthy-looking skin."
Just like with TummyGize™, the name says it all. My horses are always getting into mischief! When I find superficial scuffles and scrapes, I reach for this. I drop it directly on the area after cleaning off with some soap and water, if needed. Any minor irritations get some of this applied to them as well. My dogs, being inside couch potatoes, hardly ever need this essential oil blend. Thank goodness, haha, as my horses make up for it!
SniffleEase™ consists of Eucalyptus Blue, Palo Santo, Lavender, Dorado Azul, Camphor, Eucalyptus Globulus, Myrtle, Marjoram, Pine, Eucalyptus Radiata, Eucalyptus Citriodora, Cypress, Black spruce, Peppermint, and Caprylic/capric triglyceride.
According to Young Living™ "SniffleEase has an aroma that helps ease feelings of discomfort and supports the feeling of normal, clear breathing."
Living in a hot, dry, and oftentimes dusty, environment, I like to use this with my horses as a preventative. I'll apply it to their chests a couple of times a week by simply dropping few drops in my palm, rubbing my palms together and then massaging in, always letting them inhale the aroma first for as long as they want. (See a pattern yet-lol)
GeneYus™ last but not least...this blend is great for calm and focused energy when working with our dogs and horses. Containing Sacred Frankincense™, Blue Cypress, Cedarwood, Idaho Blue Spruce, Palo Santo, Melissa, Northern Lights Black Spruce™, Bergamot, Myrrh, Vetiver, Geranium, Royal Hawaiian Sandalwood™, Ylang Ylang, Hyssop, Coriander, Rose, Caprylic/capric triglyceride, and also Sweet Almond oil.
I find that this can really promote concentration and calm, focused energy with the horses. One of my driving ponies can tend to have 'squirrel syndrome'. When I use this blend before a training session, I've definitely noticed a difference with his attention span.
It contains some powerhouse essential oils like Vetiver, Cedarwood, and Frankincense that are known for relaxation and calm. According to a study on PubMed.gov, sedative effects of inhaled cedrol, a main component of Cedarwood oil, had findings that "indicate that cedrol inhalation had marked sedative effects regardless of the animal species". Vetiver has a few studies on Pubmed.gov using Vetiver as aromatherapy for relaxation in rats and comparing anti-anxiety abilities of Vetiver with Diazepam.
I like to swap back and forth using this and then KidPower™, just so things don't get boring-haha. I personally prefer the aroma of KidPower™, so I tend to use it more. Also several of my dogs seem to prefer KidPower™ as well....when in doubt about what to use...ask your dog or horse...they'll let ya know!
So if you are looking for some great essential oil blends to use with your dogs and horses, give the KidScents® product line a try!
If you need help using essential oils with your horses, check out my mini course "Oily Horse Intro" where we dive into the what, where, how, and why, of getting started using essential oils with your horse...safely and easily! Check it out HERE!
According To John Hopkins Medicine "more than 60 million Americans suffer from poor sleep quality"...and I often get asked "which essential oils will help me sleep" or "do essential oils for sleep really work"?
A study published by Biomedcentral concluded that "aromatherapy with lavender and peppermint essential oils can improve the sleep quality of cardiac patients"....and a review published on PubMed (A systematic review of the effect of inhaled essential oils on sleep) that evaluated studies published between 1990-2012 stated "a majority of the study findings suggested a positive effect of essential oils on sleep"......
Great news for those of us who can have trouble sleeping! Now, you may be wondering how do we use essential oils for sleep?
First, let's look at the whole picture. There's a long list of things that can interfere with our sleep. Physical problems like hormonal issues, psychological problems like stress and anxiety, environmental problems like EMF's, medications, and even genetics....can all cause a lack of sleep or trouble sleeping. It's best to dig deep and seek medical advice to rule out those circumstances and know exactly what's going on. In the meantime essential oils may help. Let's also look at some ideas to implement as well as the use of essential oils.
Routine-Keep a consistent sleep schedule Having a consistent bedtime and wake-up time, even on your days off, is one of the most important steps to mastering a perfect night of sleep because it helps set the pace of your body’s circadian rhythm. It also trains your body so it knows when it’s time to sleep. Once your body is used to the routine, it knows when it’s bedtime. Avoid artificial light 2-3 hours before bedtime Blue light is the light emitted by our computer, cell phone, TV and other electronic devices and it wreaks havoc on our ability to sleep. Light exposure before bedtime suppresses melatonin by more than 50 percent. This means limiting or avoiding all screen time 2-3 hours before bed or use blue light blocking glasses. Minimize your EMF exposure Electromagnetic Fields (EMFs) are a HUGE cause of poor sleep because they interfere in your body’s electrical system, including your brain waves. Protecting your body from EMF’s entails unplugging anything electrical near your bed, especially near your head, not sleeping with your cell phone near your bed (ideally a few rooms away in airplane mode), moving your computer to another room, and turning off wireless internet at night when you sleep. Sleep in complete darkness Even a small amount of light at night can disrupt circadian rhythms and sleep quality. Just one pulse of light can suppress melatonin production and wake you up. Create darkness by using a sleep mask and sleeping in a darkened room. Consider using blackout curtains. Remove or cover nightlights, LEDs, and alarm clocks. Don’t turn on lights if you get up to go to the bathroom and resist the urge to look at your phone! |
Other helpful tips: Keep your room cool invest in a mattress and pillow that works for your body |
Get some exercise during the day but at least 2 hours prior to bedtime
Make a chamomile tea ...(for an essential oil twist, try adding 1 drop of German Chamomile Vitality™ to a teaspoon of honey, then add hot water...)
So which essential oils might be good for sleeping?
Lavender, Rose, Roman Chamomile, Jasmine, and Ylang Ylang are all mentioned with links to studies in an article (How Smell Affects Your Sleep) published by Sleep Foundation. Other essential oils I like to include on the sleep list are Valerian, Vetiver, Frankincense, and Cedarwood.
Now, how do we use those essential oils?!
Investing in a ultrasonic diffuser is my favorite way. It's cost effective, and can easily become a part of that bedtime routine. Many diffusers are on the market and some will even run for 8-10 hours which I find can work well if you tend to wake up during the night or have trouble falling asleep once you wake up. You can check out my favorite diffuser from Young Living™ HERE. While it says its for kids-lol-It's my fave. It's easy to use, has a white noise addition, a low mode which runs for 8 hours, and you can turn the lights off! And, how fun to have 'Feather the owl' watching over you as ya sleep-haha! It evens includes a bottle of Lavender essential oil for you to try!
Here are a few of my favorite essential oil diffuser blends for sleep:
2 Drops Cedarwood
2 Drops Lavender
2 Drops Vetiver
2 Drops Frankincense
2 Drops Ylang Ylang
2 Drops Vanilla Oleoresin
3 Drops Roman Chamomile
3 Drops Ylang Ylang
For a free PDF with 8 of my best essential oil blends for sleep, click HERE
Everyone can respond differently to essential oils, and we all like different smells, so have fun experimenting. Try diffusing a single essential oil like Lavender or Frankincense...then if you don't get the desired result, pick another or try one of the blends listed above.
No diffuser, no problem, try these hacks: (But trust me, you're gonna want one, invest in yourself!)
Use an essential oil spray by adding essential oils to a spray bottle. Then fill the spray bottle up with water. Shake well and mist your pillow. If ya want a step by step guide to making' a 'spritzer', click HERE
Make a roller bottle by adding essential oils to a 10 ml roller bottle, available on Amazon. Then fill up the roller bottle with a carrier oil like fractionated coconut oil or olive oil. Then try rubbing on the bottom of your feet before ya go to bed, or the back of your neck, or even your chest. If ya want a step by step guide to making' a 'roller', click HERE
Add a few drops to your pillow or sheets
Add a few drops to a cotton ball on your nightstand
Rub a few drops onto the bottom of your feet, I think Frankincense works really well for this
Or add a drop to your palms and run thru your hair…
Sleep affects everything! From how we feel the following day to our ability to stay above the wellness line. It touches every aspect of health. Why not give essential oils a try!
Be sure to grab my free PDF of my best sleep diffuser blends HERE
Sweet Dreams
