Animal Herbal Choice
WHAT IS ANIMAL HERBAL CHOICES?
Animal Herbal Choices is a behavior led method that is based on animals innate ability to self heal by seeking out and selecting plant, herbs, and clays in their environment to restore and maintain good health. This is a process called Zoopharmacognosy.
In an Animal Herbal choices session we utilize this process.
The practice of offering plant extracts to domesticated animals is also called animal herbal self selection or applied Zoopharmacognosy, and was developed by Caroline Ingraham. This is an area of growing scientific research and interest.
Most often our domesticated animals don't have much access to forage plants as the wild animals, so
in an Animal Herbal Choices session we are creating this space for foraging by offering different plant extracts such as essential oils, dry or fresh herbs, clays and flower waters for them to self select. They may choose to inhale, ingest or have plant extract applied topically.
Animal Herbal Choices process may help to support with range of physical and behavior/emotional issues for example digestion, skin issues, pain, inflammation hormonal, respiratory issues and also emotional and behavior issues such has anxiety, fear of noise, aggression, and trauma.
ANIMAL HERBAL CHOICES AND VETERIANRY TREATMENT:
ANIMAL HERBAL CHOICES SESSION DOES NOT PRESCRIBE, DIAGNOSE OR TREAT THE ANIMAL.
YOUR VET IS YOUR FIRST CONTACT IF YOUR ANIMAL HAS HEALTH PROBLEMS. WITH YOUR VET'S APPROVAL AN ANIMAL HERBAL CHOICES SESSION CAN BE COMPLEMENTARY TO VETERINARY TREATMENT AND SUPPORT RECOVERY.
BEFORE A SESSION CAN COMMENCE YOU ARE REQUIRED TO INFORM YOUR VET OF THE USE OF GENTLE HERBS AND OILS IN AN ANIMAL HERBAL CHOICES SESSION OF SELF SELECTION. IF YOUR ANIMAL IS RECEIVING MEDICATION THERE MAY BE SOME RESTRICTIONS.
IF YOUR ANIMAL HAS A CONDITION THAT IS UNDER VET CARE OR MEDICATION YOU WILL NEED A WRITTEN CONSENT FROM YOUR VET FOR A SESSION TO GO AHEAD.
HOW DOES THE INNATE ABILITY TO SELF SELECTION WORK:
Animals are born with multiple signaling pathways that link a problem in the body to the brain via different olfactory and gustatory pathways. The animal is not consciously choosing smells they like. but are driven by hormones and neurotransmitters that the body produce as a response to a problem in the body.
When a plant extract is required by the animal for its therapeutic properties it will taste sweet and palatable, and when no longer required the taste changes to bitter and unplesant and deterring consumption.
WHAT HAPPENS IN AN ANIMAL HERBAL CHOICES SESSION:
First a consultation form is filled in by the animals guardian to give the session some structure, but ultimately the animal will select what they need.
In the session I will facilitate the self selection for your cat or your dog by offering pure, natural and safe plant extracts that are species appropriate in form of essential oils, flower waters, fresh or dried herbs, and clay powders. The animal may choose to sniff, inhale, ingest or sometimes rub against the plant extract as a way of absorbing the phytochemicals in the plant.
The Animal Herbal choice method is used to educate the owner of the process - of how to safely offer plant extracts, how to observe and recognize behavior signs of self selection and the properties of the plants chosen by the animal during the session.
At the end of session samples of the key plant extracts that the cat/dog selected are provided for the guardian to continue offering at home. The consultation includes also includes na post-session summary report.
The session last for about 1.5 hours to 2 hours