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An animal has an innate ability to self-heal, and in the wild, we see copious examples of animals that eat otherwise poisonous plant matter and shortly afterward show none of their previous symptoms. We only have to look at the Elephants who mine for salt in Kitum Cave, Chimpanzees with intestinal worms selecting the bitter and anti-parasitic Vernonia amygdalina plant, and the Caterpillars with parasites which ingest plants rich in toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids. We have all possibly observed our cats or dogs eating grass, which could be for a number of reasons, but we often see it if the dog has an upset tummy and/or they are trying to induce vomiting.
I trained as an aromatherapist over a decade ago as a result of a long healing journey I was on. The oils were pivotal in my healing and in bringing my body back into balance, hormonally and emotionally, and I wanted to help others heal. I was told by medical professionals that I wouldn't be able to carry a child, a fate which I didn't want to accept, so I started to look for answers elsewhere. Essential oils were the answer for me.
I arrived back in Ireland in 2018 after living in Australia for 8 years and was quickly introduced to Zoopharmacognosy by a dear friend, Annie Ward McLaughlin. I jumped into study and practice and was blessed with four very different ponies on my yard to explore the modality at a deeper level. It was interesting coming from an Aromatherapist background as I knew the benefits of the oils and often found I was offering the oils I thought the horse 'should' want rather than letting the horse lead the session. My practice, both human and animal, has evolved tremendously as a result of stepping back and allowing intuition to be my guide, backed up with my theoretical knowledge.
Oils are so powerful because they work not only on the physical but they also go a lot deeper than that. When I am working with an animal or human, I am looking at the whole being - I am simply not trying to treat a symptom, and this is where the magic lies. I look at the environment, the workload, the owner, the handlers, the horse's background because they all impact the horse.
Patience is KEY with self-selection - You cannot rush a session! You hand the power back to the animal and listen. You learn so much about the animal when you stop and simply be with them.
When you hand back choice to the animal, you empower it!
If you are interested in learning more, please follow my blog where all dates and events will be posted.
Our next upcoming Equine Aromatherapy and self Selection course is on the 5th and 6th of October, hosted by Happy Horse Equestrian, Longford N39 D6R. Please reach out to save your spot.
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