Aroma Pets

The Aromatic Dog - Essential Oils As First Aid

ESSENTIAL OILS FOR TRAUMATIC INJURY
Hydrosols and essential oils can deal with pretty much all your first aid needs, such as stings, scratches, bumps and bruises, Undiluted hydrosols can be used to wash wounds, heal bruises and relieve pain, or made into gels to speed healing.

Essential oils can be antiseptic, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, relieve pain and aid healthy skin repair.

I also use essential oils in true first response situations, such as traumatic injury, while waiting for the vet. I offer Neroli  (Citrus aurantium var bigarade) for shock, helichrysum (Helichrysum italicum) for impact injuries, and yarrow (Achilles millefolium) to stop bleeding and relieve trauma.

You should also use lavender ( Lavandula officinalis) to do any of those things, but it is not quite as powerful. Offering aromatics while waiting for the vet will reduce stress and help recovery.

For healing minor injuries I combine essential oils, hydrosols and herbal oils, offering essential oils for inhalations and making a topical gel as well.

CO-OPERATIVE HEALTH CARE
When healing wounds and injuries I tend to let my dogs guide me. even though this is when I am most tempted to force them to take something - anything! - to relieve my worry. Experience and some very wise dogs have taught me better.

If I need to wash a wound I offer a choice of hydrosol, such as lavender, helichrysum or witch hazel. Then let them choose clay or gel to protect it. I usually have a first aid gel and clay ready for use. But if I didn't I would allow them to select the essential oils to add to the gel as well.

In this situation I am asking the dog. "Do you strongly object to me using this?". I will not force topical application if my dog resists, but I am not looking for engagement on a deep level, just acceptance.

This may seem extreme to you , but the truth is when dogs are first injured they will generally accept help. As healing progresses they will start to refuse. The body heals itself, given the right conditions, and your dog knows if/when help is needed.

Aromatics rebalance the whole system as well as working directly on wounds, so you can apply them less frequently than a standard antibiotic application. And the really wonderful thing in a first aid situation is, when you have the right oil for the occasion your dogs don't resist being treated.

No more struggling to dress a wound, that's one stress out of the window already. 

• ESSENTIAL FIRST AID KIT
  Hydrosols are great for washing wounds and to poultice injuries. You can also replace any essential oil with its hydrosol equivalent.
• HYDROSOLS
  Witch hazel: mild disinfectant, stops, bruising, soothes, skin, astringent
  Thyme ct thymol or Tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) disinfectant
  Cornflower: soothing, eye wash
• CARRIER OILS
  Aloe vera gel: anti-inflammatory, skin soothing
  Calendula oil: anti-inflammatory, wound healing, anti-fugal, soothing
• ESSENTIAL OILS
  Helichrysum: antiseptic, anti-bruising, anti-inflammatory
  Lavender: antiseptic, wound healing, prevents scarring and proud flesh
  Neroli: for shock
  Plai: anti-inflammatory, analgesic
  Valerian: sedative

Yarrow: stops bleeding, disinfectant, creates a protective barrier over the wound, anti-inflammatory, releases trauma.

I always have a couple of home made gels ready in my first aid kit, they are a great way to soothe minor irritations and wounds. 

Reference: The Aromatic Dog : Nayana Morag