Which essential oils to use when your horse has colic and you are waiting for the vet

If you have a horse, or two like me, you've probably heard of colic. You may have even experienced this scary condition! I think, next to laminitis, it's one of the scariest health situations horse owners can face. Sometimes it can be mild, but oftentimes, it can turn life threatening very quickly. We want all the tools in our toolbox that we can possible cram in-right?! Did you know one of those tools is essential oils?!

In a nutshell, essential oils are super concentrated plant extracts. They are known for a variety of health benefits including emotional benefits like relaxation and promoting calmness. Let's chat what essential oils I keep on hand to use when the dreaded colic strikes! 

In case you haven't heard of colic....lucky you! it's a general term used to describe clinical symptoms for digestive conditions, associated with abdominal pain, that can range from mild to life-threatening. Colic can be caused by many different things, such as gas, impaction, twisted gut, and more. If you suspect your horse has colic, call your veterinarian right away! Conditions of colic in your horse can become life threatening in a short amount of time, so I can't stress enough, your first course of action should be to call your veterinarian! The purpose of this article is not to give you a substitute for veterinary care, rather tools you can use to help support the situation, while you are waiting for your veterinarian!

The symptoms of colic can vary depending on the severity and cause of the pain. However, some common symptoms include restlessness, pawing at the ground, sweating, rolling, and looking or biting at their sides. If you notice any of these symptoms in your horse, call your veterinarian right away. Then grab your essential oils!  

If you suspect your horse has colic, again, the first thing you should do is call your veterinarian. While you are waiting for your veterinarian to arrive, you can use essential oils.

There are hundreds of different essential oils in the marketplace today...which ones do you choose to support your horse? ! I have 3 must haves-2 essential oils and 1 blend of essential oils that I always keep on hand. 

By the way, if ya wanna go ahead and grab these essential oils so you have them at the ready, simply click HERE and it’ll take ya to my specially curated bundle of these oils from the world leader in essential oils-Young Living™. With their Seed To Seal guarantee, you know you're getting pure and premium products for your health! (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)

DiGize™ ( a blend for Young Living™ Essential oils containing Tarragon, Ginger, Peppermint, Juniper, Fennel, Lemongrass, Anise, and Patchouli)

Lavender is used to help calm and relax your horse. Studies have shown an increase in relaxation after a horse inhales the aroma of Lavender. If you don't have Lavender, you can substitute it for any essential oil you think might help to calm you and your horse. 

Other calming essential oils I like to have on hand are: (To read more about my top calming essential oils for your horse and how to use them click HERE)

Valor™ ( a blend for Young Living™ Essential oils containing Frankincense, Black Spruce, Blue Tansy, Camphor Wood, and Geranium)

For best results, add a few drops of the essential oil to the palm of your hand, rub your hands together, inhale deeply and then allow your horse to inhale the aroma from your hands. Then apply the leftovers on the back of your neck and/or your horses poll. Lavender is a very mild essential oil and since you are applying the 'leftovers', I generally don't bother to dilute it when applying in this way. If you haven't used essential oils with your horse before, or your horse has sensitive skin, consider grabbing a dollop of a carrier oil like coconut oil first, to dilute. 

Next offer your horse the aroma of Peppermint essential oil. You can offer them a whiff from the bottle or in the same way you offered the Lavender. Peppermint essential oil is very strong and can cause a tingling sensation on the skin, so if you'd like to try applying it, its best to grab a dollop of coconut oil and dilute before application. Then you can rub on the abdomen. 

Take great care in that some horses will act aggressive when touched in a painful area, even if they have never acted in such a way before. Do not put yourself in harms way by trying to rub essential oils on your horses belly! Essential oils are made up of tiny volatile molecules that pass thru the olfactory receptors and into the limbic area of the brain rather quickly by inhalation, so it is not required to put them on topically for them to have a positive effect. If you don't have Peppermint essential oil, you can swap out for Spearmint or Ginger essential oil. 

You may already notice a difference with your horse! If not, consider applying DiGize™ to your horses belly. It is best to dilute this blend by grabbing a dollop of coconut oil (you can use any carrier oil you have-like olive oil)( for more info on carrier oils, click HERE)in the palm of your hand, adding a several drops of DiGize™, rub your hands together to mix, and then rub on the abdomen, again taking care to be safe. You can also rub the diluted mixture on your horses gums in addition to the belly rub or instead of. If you dont have DiGize™, you can do this with diluted Peppermint essential oil as well. Or, if you have any of the single essential oils that are found in Digize™, you can try those. 

Thanks for reading my guide on how to use essential oils to support your horse when colic occurs. Remember, I am not a veterinarian nor do I prescribe, treat or diagnose, and essential oils are not a replacement for veterinary care! I simply have more peace of mind knowing that when the inevitable occurs, I have more tools in my toolbox for the situation, that can make a difference in the comfort of my horse.