Animals, essential oils, and lessons for humanity
I recently became aware of the work of Caroline Ingraham who uses essential oils with animals. I found it deeply moving and extremely interesting.
Not only has Caroline saved the lives of countless wild animals including an endangered Siberian Tiger (see story below) by helping them self-medicate with aromatics, her work has major implications for how we humans can benefit from essential oils. And before you get alarmed, it has nothing to do with cruel laboratory tests – just the opposite.
Caroline uses essential oils therapeutically with animals who have been physically harmed or are in emotional distress. She allows them to choose different aromas, and carefully notes their preferences.
Main findings
- Animals will choose essential oils that precisely fit their physical and emotional needs.
- They ignore what is unhelpful, ‘drinking in’ the aromas of what is needed.
- Furthermore they dose themselves appropriately, turning away from the oils when their needs are met.
- This simple act of smelling turns out to be significantly therapeutic, frequently producing immediate physical and emotional relief.
Significance for humans
Caroline’s work adds credence to the idea that we underestimate the value of surrounding ourselves with aromatic oils and the benefit that can bring. It also suggests that we should pay careful attention to the oils that we are attracted to, and how that may change from day to day. Perhaps also it is not too far-fetched to say that the simple act of smelling essential oils has something to say to us in relation to the mental health crisis we appear to be in the middle of.
The extraordinary story of Ronja, the Siberian tiger
At the Wildlife Heritage Foundation (WHF) in Kent, a three-and-a-half year old Siberian tiger called Ronja faced euthanasia. Her arrival had been marked by extreme aggression and rage towards men, as she hurled herself against the side of her enclosure, injuring herself.
Drawing on her experience with domestic cats, Caroline presented Ronja with strips of plywood onto which she had put drops of different essential oils (angelica root, hemp, frankincense, sandalwood and peppermint), and watched and waited while Ronja worked with the different oils, initiallly showing a preference for sandalwood, hemp and frankincense. Not only did Ronja almost immediately no longer show aggression towards men, but within five days of this ‘self-medication’ she was comfortable with Mark, the WHF director, (suitably covered with a selection of essential oils) sitting in front of her separated only by a wire fence, while Ronja rested her head between her paws, closing one eye in a sign of deep relaxation. Euthanasia was cancelled as she was no longer a danger to herself or others.
Several years later Caroline was working on a book featuring Ronja, and asked the zoo if they had any images she could use. It is hard to imagine how thrilled she must have felt to see Ronja with three cubs! Essential oil enrichment not only saved the life of an endangered tiger, but resulted in three cubs!
Some specific findings from Caroline’s work
- Horses with inflamed tissue caused by injury tend to select yarrow, but those with conditions exacerbated by underlying stress – e.g. colitis, laminitis, arthritis – prefer German camomile.
- The horses sometimes simply smell the oil, but if they want a more potent dose or faster absorption they lick the oil. If they lick with the underside of the tongue absorption is greater due to its rich vascular supply. The horses actively control their dose in this way, sometimes alternating between top and bottom of the tongue.
- Shimba, a reclusive orphaned elephant calf in a sanctuary in Kenya, initially selected angelica root followed by neroli. Very soon afterwards he became extremely affectionate, wanting to sit on Caroline’s lap. Fascinatingly, back in the UK (cow’s) calves who had been separated from their mothers followed exactly the same pattern, spending 20 minutes inhaling the aromas from the angelica bucket before moving on to neroli. They ignored rose and jasmine. However calves preparing for separation because their mother was about to give birth chose jasmine, showing virtually no interest in the buckets which contained angelica root or neroli.
- Angelica root is generally selected by animals that need support and opening up to healing, neroli for loss and separation, and jasmine for its nurturing qualities.
Animals living off adrenaline, such as street dogs or horses fearful of being loaded into a trailer, will often select valerian (which is known to inhibit excitatory neurones), or rose which reduces adrenaline. - Essential oils can also help diagnostically. Animals with physical pain will frequently select birch, and if there is vascular damage then carrot seed may be favoured.
If you would like to know more about Caroline’s work and the courses that she offers then feel free to visit her website.
