My Pet is Dying. Can Anything Help Us to Cope?

The Use of Essential Oils in Herbal Choices Therapy for Palliative Care & Grief

The diagnosis you never want to hear, the prognosis you can’t face and it’s all complicated by the practicalities of caring for a sick animal, the needs and opinions of other family members and the horrible demon of cost.

I’ve seen so many pet owners suffer through this. And still the feeling is that if you reach out to the wrong person, they might just say the dreaded words, ‘But it’s only a…’ As if suddenly the animal who has been part of the fabric of family life for years can be clinically despatched without a second thought – except perhaps for its replacement.

The diagnosis you never want to hear

But more research is making it clear that the grief experienced through loss of a pet is as real and often as devastating as losing a human friend or relative [1]. Although few vets seem to offer an antidote to the agony of being handed your dead pet along with your invoice on the way to the carpark, there are changes afoot. The Blue Cross now provides a telephone counselling service for those suffering from the grief of losing a pet, and a proliferation of services exist for memorialising and commemorating a beloved animal friend.

Rediscover some sense of empowerment

As a therapist aiming to improve the wellbeing of animals while they are alive, I also see Herbal Choices therapy as an ideal way for an owner to make a special connection with their pet whose health is failing, and whose only option is for palliative care. A simple introduction to the powers of a handful of essential oils can enable an owner to rediscover some sense of empowerment in the face of the inevitable and make the journey less anxious, more comfortable and supportive; more loving and peaceful.

Hospice-style empathy

Holistic therapist, Terry Bartley, in his article about using aromatherapy for dying human patients explains, “Palliative means to cover or cloak…In practice, this means managing the illness through the relief of pain and other physical symptoms and improving the quality of life.” [2] He also goes on to describe how conventional medical care is ‘clinical’ and ‘soulless’ and that a hospice-style empathic approach is crucial to improving not only the quality of life in its final stages, but the quality of death.

Bringing tranquility and acceptance with essential oils

Bartley outlines the areas that he feels essential oils can help: relaxation; relieving anxiety; reducing pain; reducing depression; reducing nausea; to alleviate physical symptoms; to alleviate side effects of chemotherapy; to improve sleep patterns; to provide emotional support. It can also help prepare animals for their end bringing tranquillity and acceptance in the final moments.

Easing the symptoms of grief and depression in animals

And beyond the death of an animal is the grief suffered not only by owners but by animals who have lived alongside the deceased forming close bonds and emotional ties. And we must also acknowledge the grief and confusion suffered by animals who lose their human companion. There may be a period where the animal is depressed, off its food, not interested in its habitual activities, has lost interest in other animals and people. These classic symptoms of depression can be eased by the judicious offering of comforting essential oils, as can symptoms such as changes in behaviour such as insomnia, separation anxiety or sensitivity to noise.

The therapeutic value of essential oils

Because essential oils are classed as complementary or alternative therapy, they can have a strong association with things ‘fluffy’ or ‘magical’. For some people this may add to their appeal, but some may need reassuring of the genuine therapeutic value of essential oils and that non-Western medicine systems make relevant contributions to our understanding of how essential oils work on both physical and psychological levels, expanding the possibilities for a more holistic approach.

For an animal in distress, reluctant to be touched or very close to dying, offering essential oils for self-selection is a gentle, non-invasive support for their condition which can be additionally supported with energy-work such as reiki and crystal healing.

Chakras and essential oils

Some healing practitioners, such as Bartley, work with the concept of chakras: seven main energy centres within a human body that can become unbalanced and cause physical and psychological difficulties as a result. Animals are believed to possess these too, plus an additional ‘brachial’ chakra and many more, smaller, centres [3]. Each chakra is associated with a specific colour due to its individual vibrational resonance which also links it to certain sounds, minerals and plants which share that resonance. Thus, essential oils and their chakra balancing properties can be a starting point for assessing how best to support a dying animal or the grief-stricken playmate they have left behind.

Aromatherapy and palliative care for animals

While managing physical suffering with drugs and providing a pain-free euthanasia are straight-forward veterinary procedures, managing the holistic process of dying is not. Even Britain’s National Cancer Institute recognises the role of aromatherapy in the palliative environment for the amelioration of both mental and physical distress and refers on its website to many studies which demonstrate clinically significant reductions in anxiety, depression, quality of sleep, and even physical changes such as the reduction of blood pressure and respiratory rate in cancer patients participating in trials using dilute Chamomile essential oil for external application [4] [5].

The efficacy of chamomile

Taking chamomile essential oil, both German (matricaria chamomilla) and Roman (chamaemelum nobile) as an example, research shows that this well-known remedy contains at least 120 secondary metabolites including 28 terpenoids (volatile aromatic compounds) and 36 flavonoids (colour-imbuing antioxidants) [6]. Among the latter, apigenin is understood to bind to benzodiazepine (BDZ) receptors, and research by Losi, Puia, Garzon et al (2004) [7] identified that apigenin modulates GABAergic and glutamatergic transmission which disrupts neuro-transmitting pathways involved in the brain’s response to stress. Caroline Ingraham refers to the Yamada study of 1996 demonstrating the reduction of adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) after the inhalation of German Chamomile which demonstrates its calming effects [8].

Essential oils in clinical trials

German scientists G. Buchbauer, L. Jirovetz, W Jäger et al, in particular, have conducted numerous studies to demonstrate the precise effects of essential oil components [9]. This includes studies measuring the reduced motility of mice having been given Valerian (valeriana officinalis), and the sedative effect of essential oils when inhaled. This latter study revealed how an essential oil compound (in this case eucalyptol) was able to be measured in blood plasma and remained present for over 100 minutes.

The spiritual significance of essential oils

On the other hand, the historical and cultural significance of herbs and their essences can add a welcome spiritual dimension to a palliative Herbal Choices session. A specific example is Spikenard (nardostachys grandiflora), a soothing essential oil often selected by cats, which according to the gospels of Mark, Luke and John, was used by Mary of Bethany to anoint Jesus. He interpreted her act as a loving gesture in preparation for his impending death and burial [10].

Likewise, Frankincense (boswellia carterii) - the essential oil is the product of distilling the dry resin - has a longstanding history of use in holy rites from ancient Egyptian tombs, to mentions in the Bible where it is identified with prayer and the evocation of God, in addition to descriptions in classical texts by Herodotus and Pliny the Elder and continued use in modern religious practices [11].

Uniting Eastern and Western medicine

Gabriel Mojay, Principal of the Institute of Traditional Herbal Medicine and Aromatherapy, London, is able to bring to bear his own profound knowledge of multiple ancient medicine systems to explain how essential oils can be used to restore emotional and mental balance. This gives a valuable supplement to what existing research reveals about the physiological effects of essential oils and examines them in context of the physiological and psychological effects of dying, death and grief [12].

The use of bergamot, clary sage and cypress for grief

Mojay writes of Bergamot’s (citrus bergamia) psychological action being dependent on ‘… its ability to disperse stagnant Qi energy.’ Such stagnation results from an accumulation of stress and repressed emotion. This could be the case with a stoic pet who has suffered pain for far longer than their owners may realise. ‘Bergamot oil helps us to relax and “let go”.’ [13] In additional Bergamot’s physical properties are highly antibacterial (useful for protecting the environment for animals with weak immune systems) and potentially cardio-protective [14].

Clary sage (salvia sclarea) is principally known for its support of female hormone balance [] but, it too has its place in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as a means to strengthen and circulate Lung-Qi, offering a balance between stimulation and relaxation, acting on the Bodily Soul, the P’o. Mojay writes: ‘Clary sage imbues clarity and insight and helps us to come to terms with loss.’ [15]

Another oil historically linked to funerals, planted in many Mediterranean cemeteries, is Cypress (cupressus sempervirens). Mojay explains, ‘Dissolving remorse and instilling optimism, Cypress oils help us to flow with the flux of life. From here we contemplate the tree’s long and deep relationship to death and the grieving process and why it was thought to be a comfort to those in bereavement.’[16]

Using chamomile, immortelle and arnica for sadness and depression

Both Roman Chamomile and Immortelle (helichrysum angustifolum) are oils are found to offer profound comfort, reducing rates of anxiety as they slow the rate of respiration and promote sleep. But Immortelle has a more powerful effect than its composite cousin. Its physical property as a strong anticoagulant reflects its ability within TCM to shift blood and Qi and ‘relate it, via the liver, to the Wood Element and the Ethereal Soul (Hun)’ tackling deep hurts and blocked emotions [17]. Its ability to heal bruises and scar tissue [18] suggests that this could work equally on the wounded psyche. In a similar way, Arnica (arnica montana) macerate, a popular remedy for bruises, may be chosen for ingestion or topical application by animals with physical inflammation or bruising or by animals suffering from emotional bruises. This is not as far-fetched as it may sound to some, since psychological distress is frequently manifested in muscular tension from which many physical ailments can result: trigger points and referred pain can develop, as well as GI problems. Treating the source of the pain, the physical area where an animal holds its discomfort can help to release pent-up feelings.

Frankincense and sandalwood to aid the process of mourning

Frankincense, quite apart from its ritualistic value, offers analgesic and calmative properties which fearful animals, and noise-sensitive animals are often known to select [19] Sandalwood (santalum austrocaledonicum) makes a good partner to Frankincense. Both oils have been long associated with their use to aid meditation, promoting the clear contemplation needed to ease the process of passing.

Wooden or resinous aromatics such Frankincense and Sandalwood are linked to the practices of burning to extract the volatile compounds, as is Myrrh (commiphora myrrha) which is recommended as a comfort for grief and loss by Nayana Morag in her book The Aromatic Dog [20]. Morag is another practitioner who integrates TCM with self-selection for animals.

Flower fragrances for difficult emotions

However, other flowery fragrances such as Rose (rosa damascene), Geranium (pelargonium graveolens), Lavender (lavandula angustifolia), Jasmine (jasminum grandiflorum), Neroli (citrus aurantium) also have their place in palliative care. All possess calming, balancing properties but can target specific emotional troubles. Caroline Ingraham writes: “Lavender is generally selected when the root cause has an emotional origin.” [21] Ingraham uses Jasmine for trauma of separation [22]and writes that Neroli offers “feelings of emotional security” [23]. Nayana Morag recommends lavender for shock [24].

Rose has a strong association with the heart and emotions in Ayurvedic medicine and has been shown in clinical trials to reduce adrenaline levels in humans by up to 30% [25] and so offers a potentially calming remedy. Caroline Ingraham writes that Rose Otto essential oil works on a very deep psychological level, often accessing old traumas [26] and so the guidance of a Herbal Choices practitioner can support the appropriate offering of such an emotionally powerful oil.

Self-determination in death

Because the principles of Herbal Choices are based on applied zoopharmacognosy, which allows the animal to self-select, a pet which has no choice over its treatment or medication, which may be physically immobile or emotionally overwhelmed, can enjoy some self-determination in its choice of essential oils. For a once-active, curious animal, self-selected essential oils offer them, at the very least, some enrichment in their final days. But perhaps most importantly, this therapy has the potential to enable an animal and its owner to experience a quality of death which goes on to support the mental and physical pain of passing, the ensuing grief and a pathway to move on.

Online article [1]: The death of a pet can hurt as much as the death of a relative

Online article[2]: Aromatherapy in palliative and supportive care

Online article [3]: Chakra System of Animals

Online article [4]: Cancer Treatment and Aromatherapy

Online article [5]: An Evaluation of Aromatherapy Massage in Palliative Care

Online article [6]:Chamomile: A herbal medicine of the past with a bright future

Online article [7]: Apigenin modulates GABAergic and glutamatergic transmission in cultured cortical neurons.

Book reference [8]: Ingraham, Caroline (2014). How Animals Heal Themselves. Bristol, UK: Orphans Press. p70.

Online article [9]: Fragrance compounds and essential oils with sedative effects upon inhalation

Online article [10]: The annointing of Jesus Christ

Online article [11]: Frankincense

Book reference [12]: Mojay, Gabriel (1997). Aromatherapy for Healing the Spirit. 2nd ed. Vermont, USA: Healing Arts Press. p9. [13] Ibid p53]

Book reference[14]: Ingraham, Caroline (2014). How Animals Heal Themselves. Bristol, UK: Orphans Press. p63

Book reference [15]: Mojay, Gabriel (1997). Aromatherapy for Healing the Spirit. 2nd ed. Vermont, USA: Healing Arts Press. p63. [16]Ibid p67 [17] [Ibid pp70-71].

Book reference [19]: Ingraham, Caroline (2014). How Animals Heal Themselves. Bristol, UK: Orphans Press. p97

[20] Ibid p88

Book reference [21]: Morag, Nayana (2015). the Aromatic Dog. Florida, USA: Off The Leash press. p74-75.

Book reference [22]: Ingraham, Caroline (2014). How Animals Heal Themselves. Bristol, UK: Orphans Press. p102 [23] Ibid p98 [24] Ibid p115

Book reference[25]: Morag, Nayana (2015). the Aromatic Dog. Florida, USA: Off The Leash press.p66-67.

Book reference [26]: Ingraham, Caroline (2014). How Animals Heal Themselves. Bristol, UK: Orphans Press. p124 citing Haze S, Sakai K, Gozu Y. (2002) Effects of fragrance inhalation on sympathetic activity in normal adults. JPN J Pharmacol. 90:247-253 [27] Ibid p124