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Founder, Abscesses and Young Living Essential Oils for Horses

In October of 2003, I attended training with Gary Young in NJ.  Gary is the founder of Young Living Essential Oils.   Someone at home asked me what oils she could use for a horse with severe Founder.  This was a particularly bad case where the coffin bone had rotated considerably.  The point of the bone had rotated so far down, that the point of the bone had begun to come down through the sole of the hoof.  It was extremely painful.

This horse was receiving excellent care by a team of people who were deeply committed to keeping this horse alive, to try whatever they could, as long as the horse wanted to keep going.  They were looking for anything else which might help further.

While attending this training, at the end of one of the days, I went to Jeffrey Lewis, one of our Upline, who is “Gold.”  I know Jeffrey knows everyone, so I asked him, who else would know about treating a really serious hoof condition?  He looked at me a moment, and said, Gary.  He then said, “Let’s Go.”  He ushered me over to the hub of people protectively standing around Gary. In addition to being one of the world’s foremost experts with Essential Oils, Gary Young is an avid horseman.

Jeffrey walked up to Gary, and introduced me, explaining that I was looking for help with a horse.  I briefly shared Druid’s story.  Gary stood and looked at me, shook his head, and said, why is this horse still alive?

I explained a few things about his care and the people, keeping it very brief.  Gary began to walk, and then he paused for a moment.  He turned to me and said,

“Fill a boot with Olive Oil, just enough to cover the surface and then some.  Put Idaho Balsm Fir, Douglas Fir,” and after a very long pause he said, “and add Juniper. Soak the hooves for 2-3 hours at a time.”

I looked at Gary curiously.  I had never heard of soaking a horse’s hoof with Olive Oil and essential oils before.  I could understand using the Balsm Fir for general uplifting, soothing pain and sore muscles, as an anti-inflammatory, and to ground the psyche. I understood the use of the Douglas Fir also as an anti-inflammatory, for pain relief to joints, and to help with tissue repair.  But then I asked, “Why Juniper?”  Gary looked at me, and said, ” I don’t know, it just feels right!”  “Oh, ok,” I replied back.  I thanked him and we went our separate ways.

I loved this interaction for many reasons.  First, it was just great to meet Gary and have a short bit of time with him.  He is small in stature, not much taller than myself, but wow, his energy and presence are huge, even though he was obviously very, very tired.

I was thrilled to have gotten this information.  It is definitely not something my brain would have thought of before!  And it was so very different in its type of treatment, even for the oil uses!

The other aspect I loved, was that when I asked Gary, founder of this huge company, the man who had just completed a day of presenting extensive information and research about the single oils, when asked why use Juniper in particular, instead of giving me all the technical possibilities, he just said honestly and simply, ” I don’t know, it just FEELS right.”  For me personally and professionally, a person who is guided by my intuition, this was just THE BEST and most affirming response!  Often this kind of statement comes out of my mouth.  Often I don not know the reasons for doing something a particular way, or why I choose to use a particular oil or apply oils in an unusual and new way.

That night I called Paige, the person caring for Druid, and let her know what had transpired. These oils and a few others that I came up with to use on his body were immediately ordered.

The oils that Gary suggested to soak the hooves in Olive oil in hoof boots:

1. 1. Idaho Balsm Fir
2. 2. Douglas Fir
3. 3. Juniper

The additional oils that I suggested to use along the spine and all over the body to massage in:

1. Frankincense, a ‘heal all oil,” a sacred and ancient oil containing much wisdom, an oil that is also excellent for depression.  Frankincense is also very strengthening and fortifying.  Druid was not a happy camper at that time, and needed some big help in this department.
2. Lavender, often called a “Universal Oil’ because it is so wonderful for just about everything.  It is great for muscles, is soothing, calming, and softening.  And it is restorative to the heart emotionally.  I felt like this would be most helpful for Druid at this time.
3. Idaho Balsm Fir in addition to using it in the boots with the Olive Oil Mixture for his feet to also use this down the spine and all over the body.  This oil is generally uplifting, soothes pain and sore muscles, is a wonderful anti-inflammatory, and helps to ground the psyche.
4. Peppermint was another used to help pain, soothe the nervous system, soothe the digestive tract, and is also cooling for the heat of inflammation in his feet.  It also is great when used after the application of other oils to help drive the other oils in more deeply.  This could be very useful if the hooves are hot to the touch to use topically along the coronet band as well.
5. DiGize.  This blend is often found to be helpful for toning the digestive tract.  I felt that there were some serious issues with digestion that were also a contributing factor.  I have found this to be a great oil to put in the food, and or on the belly.

After using these oils, Druid turned a corner.  His pain was minimized, his mood began to lift, his feet which had constantly developing really bad and painful abscesses, stopped abscessing!

Juniper was seen to be a particularly important oil.  Abscesses are often difficult to stop with horses that are foundering.  When Juniper was used, no other abscesses developed.  When Juniper was left out of the mix in the boots, a hint of an abscess developing would be detected.  As soon as the Juniper was used again, it seemed to alleviate this and disappear!  I believe that Juniper is useful when also massaged into the coronet band periodically if there was any indication of an abscess brewing.  Juniper also tones the kidneys and bladder, and helps to carry toxins out of the system.  I have found this oil to be extremely beneficial when working with any serious or long-term condition.

Druid’s feet began to improve gradually and he was more able to move around.  He began the gradual comeback to health.  The barefoot trimming that Paige was doing was of particular importance to this process along with very careful supervision of his food.

Many people thought Druid ought to be euthanized.   He was in pain and, his feet were in a very severe stage. Founder of this severity is considered incurable, only manageable at best, and horses are usually lame and have chronic pain for life.  However, this was not the case with Druid.

A year after this turning point, I went to visit Druid.   I had been invited to ride him as he had gone back into work!  He had been monitored carefully for diet throughout the year.  He was very, very carefully trimmed and kept barefoot.  Oils were used as needed.  TTouch and bodywork were implemented. He was given an incredible amount of love and attention by a team of friends.  And, clearly this horse was interested in staying alive and thriving!  He had important work left to do!

What I got to see and experience, was that he was sound, and loving being back in work.  I went out with a group of people that magnificent spring day, ‘Druid’s Team,’ along with some other people, to ride through the fields in Middleburg, Virginia.  Normally, Druid is a totally calm, relaxed, sturdy and extremely kind and QUIET horse.  I was very excited and of course thrilled to have the honor to ride this miracle horse, to go out with all these fun people and to be riding in Middleburg, which has some of the most magnificent places to ride anywhere.

We were meandering through a field, loose rein, all happy, very relaxed.  We were all talking about getting another ride together in another location.  I got excited at the prospect of having people come ride with me and my horses down in Nelson County.

Before I knew what was happening, Druid had lifted all four feet off the ground.  Evidently sharing in the excitement, Druid let out a buck of exuberance.  He landed, and I swear, he placed himself in an instant directly underneath me to make sure I stayed seated on his lovely Conemmara back!  Exuberance countered by his sensible nature.  One person, who was watching, saw the split second timing of everything.  She just shook her head in wonder.  We all had a really good laugh at Druid.  The normally ABSOLUTELY QUIET HORSE, this BEGINNER’S HORSE, who a year ago was as lame as lame could be, who was so close to death, lept up in the air like a gazelle!  His true nature came back through in an instant and became evident when he landed with such extreme care as to make sure that he did not actually unseat me!  I exclaimed that we could most assuredly say, “Druid’s feet were NOT bothering him! “

Druid currently loves his life of teaching children how to ride.  He is one of those safe and bomb-proof horses.  And, years after he foundered, he is sound.  He does continue to go barefoot and wears his boots for hoof protection when being ridden.  And, he has his food monitored carefully.  He rarely needs his oils anymore.  He is just a happy and sound camper these days!

I do want to emphasize that it took a team of people to work with Druid.  This was not an easy case to work with.  It was painful for Druid, and it was also deeply emotional for his person who loves him dearly.  It was difficult to watch him in pain.   And also an amazing thing to see his strong drive to live and that he was not interested in giving up, dying, or, staying in pain.

Several friends who were also excellent horsewoman took turns taking care of Druid.  One of these women was also a barefoot trimmer who is gifted.  They would talk, cry, and work with him, and brainstorm together about how to best deal with Druid. What kept them going they said to me, was that Druid never seemed ready to give up.

I was blessed to become part of Druid’s journey in meeting one of the three women, Paige, when she came to trim my horses.  She casually mentioned to me that she was working with this exceptional horse with severe founder.  I told her about the oils and TTouch and thought it might help.  She called me back a few days later, after I had arrived at the Young Living training in NJ. And the rest is history.

To review, the oils used with Druid were:

Idaho Balsm Fir, Douglas Fir, Juniper, Frankincense, Peppermint, Lavender and the blend, DiGize. Additional Essential Oils that I would also recommend now that were not yet available when Druid was foundering are Palo Santo and Copaiba.  Palo Santo, a relative of Frankincense, has shown to be an incredible help for many people and animals to alleviate pain and to help with tissue repair. Copaiba is also reported to have wonderful pain relieving qualities as well as assisting digestive function.

If you are new to Young Living, please feel free to contact me to help you set up an account and help you to order these or other Young Living Essential Oils. Or, you can go to my Young Living website, www.youngliving.com/oneheartsr to place an order or go to the person who showed you this article.  I also have an email list that sends out educational emails on how to use the oils, includes testimonials, upcoming events around the country, and insights on developing a business with the oils and a monthly conference call devoted to essential oil inspiration and education.  If you are interested in being on the email list, please email me, sandy@onehearthealingcenter.com.

If you would like to set up an individual consult to review the particulars with your horse, and for me to work more specifically with you and your horse, please contact me at sandy@onehearthealingcenter.com Also, please feel free to take a look at my website for additional information about my work with people and animals.   www.onehearthealingcenter.com

I hope that you find the information in this article to be inspiring and helpful.  Please pass it on to any who might be interested showing my authorship and information. All rights reserved.

For additional articles and information about using TTouch and Essential Oils with Horses, please go to; www.onehearthealingcenter.com

Please note that the information is not meant to diagnose or treat in any way.  This information is for educational purposes only.  Please contact your veterinarian for medical consultations.

For more information on diet and founder, please see www.ironfreehoof.com and www.harmanyequine.com

Happy Oiling and blessings to you and your animals!

Sandy

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TTEAM, TTouch, Essential Oils and EPM: Neurological Deficits Case Studies
By Sandy Rakowitz
The following are two case studies of horses that I have worked with who had been diagnosed with EPM or Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis.  Each case was at a very different stage of EPM.  Both case studies demonstrate the usefulness of supplementing traditional medical care with TTouch and Essential Oils.  One horse was in her twenties and had had EPM for at least a year, possibly longer and she had severe symptoms. The other horse was a two-year-old colt, had just been diagnosed, and had much milder symptoms.  In this article, I begin with a description of EPM and its common symptoms.  Then I go on to describe the work with each of the horses and offer resources of  methods you can use to help your horse in its rehabilitation from EPM.
What is EPM, or Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis?
Dr. Doug Hutchens, veterinary parasitologist at the University of Illinois College of
Veterinary Medicine in Urbana talks about EPM and states that, “The disease is caused by [a] single-celled organism, a protozoan parasite called Sarcocystis neurona, which is spread by the opossum. The opossum passes the organism in its feces, which are then ingested by horses when they eat contaminated feed, hay, or water. After ingestion, the tiny parasite invades the spinal cord and central nervous system. When the horse’s immune system tries to fight off the invading parasite, inflammation occurs in the spinal cord or brain. Horses can’t transmit the disease to other horses.”

Common EPM Symptoms
This is a protozoan that gets into the spine of the horse and affects the way information gets transported from the brain to various areas of functioning.  Therefore, symptoms are neurological in nature.  Almost any neurological symptoms may appear. Inconsistencies in motor function are the most notable effect. The most common signs are uneven gait, incoordination, weakness and spasticity. For instance: a slight uneven gait in the hind legs; generalized loss of muscle condition; a locking up of the stifle; back soreness.  In addition, airway abnormalities such as paralyzed flaps, snoring, or airway noise of an undetermined origin may be a result from protozoa infecting the nerves of the throat.

EPM Resources
For diagnosis and treatments, please talk with your veterinarian.  There are a varying treatment options available now with traditional methods and a growing number of alternative treatments.  You can research these options.  A few resources are listed below.  This list is not exhaustive.

Two Vets who have varying treatments for EPM:
•    Dr. Joyce Harman, 540-229-1855; www.harmanyequine.com Holistic, TTEAM Advisory Board
•    James M. Travers DVM, 505-838-7072: Uses an Endocrine Technologies Test
Additional Supplemental Resources for EPM;
•    Advanced Biological Concepts; www.a-b-c-plus.com

TTouch and Essential Oils: Supportive measures for neurological issues

• www.onehearthealingcenter.com/oils-2/
• www.onehearthealingcenter.com/ttouch/

A number of years ago I worked with a 20-plus-year-old mare that had had significant and severe EPM symptoms over a long period of time.  She had gone through several doses of medications to kill off the protozoa that cause EPM.  It is unknown if she was getting re-infected or the medicine was not working.  I believe that TTEAM and Essential Oils were very helpful with this mare.

Initially this mare had really poor proprioception. In other words, she did not have a clear sense of where the ground was with her feet.  As she began to walk, she would keep the left front hoof raised in the air while she searched for the ground.  Interestingly, I have seen a similar situation in my group where I was teaching TTouch for people with Traumatic Brain Injuries.   Last year I described to my Traumatic Brain Injury Group how this mare would pause and seem to not know where her foot was in relation to the ground.  One person commented that she has a very similar experience. To her, it feels like she cannot tell where the ground is when she steps out with one of her feet.  She has to wait a longer time to find the ground, and sometimes does not know where it is until her foot is placed on the ground.  She said it feels like she is walking off of a cliff each time she steps.  She was amazed to hear about the similarities between herself who had a Traumatic Brain Injury and a horse with Neurological Impairments.

The equilibrium of the mare was so off that her ability to upright herself was severely diminished. I saw in the first session or two that sometimes while she was just standing, she would begin to list one-way or the other as if she were drunk. I was told that she would just keep listing to the side until she gradually fell over or rather, sank down to the ground. Once she was down, she then had great difficulty in getting up again.

Initially, TTouches, TTEAM leading positions and body wraps helped immensely with her motor function, coordination, focus, and body awareness. As she progressed, we added in small amounts of ground exercises as well.
Specific TTouches used:
•    Connected Clouded Leopard Circles for body awareness, relief of extreme muscle contracture/ tension;
•    Coiled Pythons for grounding, increasing circulation down to the hooves, helping large muscle groups above the legs to release;
•    Stroking with one or sometimes two wands down the chest down the legs and across the length of the body. Hoof Tapping was also used to help her find her feet. I used these to help ‘map the body” of the mare to bring a connected sense of awareness through her torso, her limbs into and down to her hooves.
•    Body Wraps (regular 4” wide ace bandages) we began with a simple figure eight body wrap. After multiple sessions, we also began wrapping down her legs so she would get feedback as to where her body was connected with each of her legs. This helped her know where her body was in space more readily.  Each time she moved, the body wrap automatically gave the body feedback.  We had to go very slowly with wrapping in spirals down the legs as she would get overwhelmed and be unable to move at all.  This was the first time that I witnessed the extreme sensitivity that can exist with neurological deficits.  We would wrap one leg, let her walk and integrate.  Then take that one off.  And some days, we could try a second leg.  Often, we could only use one leg wrap at a time.
•    Leading exercises included Elegant Elephant, Dingo and Homing Pigeon to help her orientation and connection with her body.
•    Instead of a Labyrinth initially, we walked the mare inside the barn helping her to negotiate turns while using the wraps, leading exercises and TTouches.  Initially in the first few months, we were unable to go far from the barn or do any tight turns due to poor equilibrium, balance and coordination.
•    Once her motor function and balance began to improve, I added in portions of the groundwork with walking around a pool noodle rather than a wooden pole as the beginning of a labyrinth. We used the soft pool noodles initially as we did not feel the wooden poles were safe for her to negotiate. Step by step, we gradually added additional pool noodles in the barn aisle in the shape of a labyrinth. Eventually she was able to graduate to walks outside, venturing to the ring, negotiating wooden poles and a full labyrinth. These changes were gradual, and made in small increments. The changes were remarkable to watch!
Essential Oils
I introduced Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils in addition to using TTouch.  I have found the essential oils to be helpful for EPM.  They bring oxygen and nutrients into the cells and contain a number of properties that are of particular use for EPM; that is, they are anti-parasitic, anti-inflammatory, and help in boosting the immune system.
For this particular mare, I only used a few Essential Oils.
•    Cypress in combination with TTouch eased her muscles considerably as she was extremely tight with very contracted muscles.  Cypress is also excellent for circulation and strengthening the blood capillaries and I felt this oil to be useful in these regards.
•    Valor, a blend of oils sometimes known as “Chiropractor in a bottle” was also used.  I love this blend because it helps muscles and ligaments along the spine to relax for grounding and overall balance.
•    Using the Raindrop Technique would have also been useful because a number of the oils used in the technique such as Oregano, Thyme, Cypress, Marjoram, Basil, Peppermint and others are anti-inflammatory, anti-parasitic, and helpful to boost the immune system as well as being excellent for back issues.  This technique has been found to be very supportive with EPM. An important note here is that prior to my working with this mare, she had gone through several rounds of Medicines to treat the EPM and was receiving some Feldenkrais work already.  The addition of TTouch and the essential oils added assistance in helping her to regain significant function, safety, and quality of life.
I worked with this mare about once a month for 6 months.  The caretaker of the mare used TTouch and Feldenkrais daily in between my visits.  Once the mare was walking, staying upright, knew where the ground was, and could move around safely, the horse returned to her home.  She was well enough then to be turned out in a field with other horses.  A year later, I heard she was continuing to do well and was able to walk, trot and canter again, lie down and get up safely on her own!

Case Study #2, Colt with EPM
More recently, I worked with a 2-year-old colt using the combination of TTouch and Essential Oils.  Unlike the mare, this horse had very recently been diagnosed with EPM and was just beginning to show early neurological signs of impairment.  He had uneven and, at times, jerky movements at the walk and trot.   He was anxious to be handled and touched and very sensitive to most pressures and types of TTouches initially.  I know that in working with people with neurological impairments that physical sensation can be significantly heightened.
I was not easily able to take the colt outside to work in hand to see if the Labyrinth and leading exercises might help.  Initially I tried a wide variety of TTouches for calming like Stroking with a Wand, Clouded and Lying Leopard Circles, Abalone Circles, Zig Zag Strokes and a few others TTouches. These all seemed to activate too much sensory information initially.   He displayed this as being antsy, anxious, fidgety, and moving away from being TTouched. He was not able to maintain his balance to stand still very easily.  So, I went to another tool and used some of the Essential Oils to see if these would have a calming influence.
•    First, I let him smell Valor for calming and grounding. Initially his head carriage was very high.  But after smelling the Valor, he began to lower his head.  As he relaxed a little bit, I was able then to apply some Valor topically by wiping 4-5 drops of the oil on my palm along his poll area.
•    I also used a lot of Vetiver. This is a very earthy scent. This oil is very calming to the sympathetic nervous system and has wonderful pain relieving qualities.  I used this oil both for scent, and also topically on numerous locations for relaxation.  He continued to relax more and more each time I used Vetiver.
•    Additional oils I used were Oregano, Thyme, Marjoram, and Basil from the Raindrop Kit along with Palo Santo, and Frankincense.
As he began to relax, I was able to begin using TTouches.
•    I then added a Body Wrap.  His focus and coordination improved immediately with the body wrap.  He was more able to receive the TTouches.
•    I used Mouth Work to help release some of the emotions relating to how he was feeling,
•    Ear Strokes were used to help his systems balance and to boost his immune system
•    Long strokes with a wand were also used for mapping the body, calming and grounding.
•    I gradually added in The Whole Body Sequence of connected circles.  I have found this sequence to be especially vital to helping horses and people with neurological deficits.
•    I lead him in the stall as if I were walking him around a Labyrinth.  This was for focus, coordination, bending, integrating the TTouches, and to get a sense of how he was organizing and using himself.
The horse improved during the session.  He was calmer, his head came down, his balance improved and his motor function improved.  I was told he continued to improve after this initial session. This person followed up with some TTouch and oils, however, I am not sure how much or how often.  She also used a holistic protocol of medicines and nutrition.

Conclusion:
For anyone dealing with EPM, or any neurological impairment at all, I very highly recommend using TTouch in addition to Young Living Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils. I recommend using this combination as I have found them to work synergistically. The TTouch will help your horse’s neurological system to function as fully as it is able to. Remember that the EPM protozoan affects the neurological system’s ability to function. TTouch affects the neurological system, and so it is particularly useful with such issues. The essential oils enhance and deepen the effects of TTouch as well!
The Whole Body Sequence of Lines of Connected Circles and additional ways to work specifically with Neurological impairments can be found in the booklet:  TTEAM as a Complement in the Rehabilitation of Horses with Neurological Deficits. This booklet is available from the Santa Fe TTouch office and TTouch.com This booklet was made specifically for horses with neurological issues like EPM.  It has specific sequences of TTEAM and TTouch that are especially helpful for EPM. To order the booklet call 1-800-854-TEAM.

For more information about therapeutic grade essential oils and their uses please go to www.onehearthealingcenter.com
To order Young Living Essential Oils please go to www.youngliving.com/oneheartsr

This information in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or prescribe treatment for any specific horse or condition.  If you suspect your horse has EPM or a neurological related issue please speak with your veterinarian.  Early detection most often allows for the greatest range of rehabilitation.  Lymes Disease can also have a wide range of odd neurological presentations. This information is offered to support and supplement whatever treatment protocol you choose with the help of your veterinarian. I hope that you find the information in this article to be useful and inspiring.

Sandy Rakowitz owns and operates One Heart Healing Center in Charlottesville, VA.  Sandy is a TTouch Companion Animal Practitioner Level 1, a TTEAM Equine Practitioner Level 2, Centered Riding Instructor, and a graduate of the Barbara Brennan School of Healing where she taught for 6 years. In her private practice, Sandy also integrates the use of Animal Communication, therapeutic-grade essential oils and flower essences. (434) 973-8864 www.onehearthealingcenter.com

Copyright 2008