When my cat, Holly, was turning 20 my father said, “It’s hard to tell if animals are in pain because they don’t complain like we do!” My father is a retired minister who spent time with the sick and old at nursing homes. He would come home and say, “Well, Olga told me all about her bowels today — what they were and weren’t doing.” He swore to never do this, but with age, he too has succumb to sharing those details.
As I sat and looked at my 19-year-old cat who would soon be turning 20, I reflected on the fact that she never complained about her health. And although I could see her slowing down and maybe it took longer getting up the steps, she never meowed out in pain or spent our moments together rattling off all the places in her body that hurt. In fact, she only ever greeted me with purrs and smiles.
But I wasn’t living in a dream and I knew she was aging. Not wanting to be powerless, I became an energetic practitioner. I learned about energetic bio-field therapy, essential oils, sound therapy and vibration and, thus, I was able to help assist her in illness and disease with natural methods as she started her transition.
Energetic therapy
Our energetic body is just as important as our physical body. Through energetic therapy we can create relaxation, which releases endorphins in the brain. The endorphins relax the muscles. Relaxed muscles create more space between cells, providing increased circulation. The increased blood flow elevates oxygen levels throughout the body. Accelerated blood flow allows nutrients to be absorbed more efficiently, enzymes build for proper digestion, hormones regulate to strengthen the body’s constitution, and toxins release from the body.
When the body has a stable physiology, the immune system is regulated. Your protein cells begin to change and work with you to heal your body.
Essential oils
The olfactory bulb in the brain is made up of 50 million neuron receptors. When we inhale the fragrance of an essential oil, the odor molecules travel up the nose where they’re registered by the nerves of the olfactory membranes in the nose lining. The odor molecules stimulate this lining of nerve cells and trigger electrical impulses to the olfactory bulb in the brain. The olfactory bulb then transmits the impulses to the amygdala and the limbic system of the brain.
Because the limbic system is directly connected to the parts of the brain that control heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, memory, stress levels and hormone balance, essential oils can have profound physiological and psychological effects. Olfactory responses to odors induce the brain to stimulate the release of hormones and neurochemicals that, in turn, alter the body’s physiology and behavior.
The limbic lobe is a group of brain structures situated directly below the cerebral cortex of the brain and includes the hippocampus and the amygdala. It’s capable of directly activating the hypothalamus, which often is referred to as the “master gland.” This gland is one of the most important parts of the brain and acts as the hormonal control center. The hypothalamus releases hormones that affect energy levels. The production of growth hormones, thyroid hormones, and neurotransmitters such as serotonin, are all governed by the hypothalamus.
Because of their fragrance and unique molecular structure, essential oils can directly stimulate the limbic lobe and the hypothalamus. Inhalation of essential oils can be used to alleviate stress and emotional trauma. It can also be used to stimulate the production of hormones from the hypothalamus. This stimulation may increase production of thyroid hormones (our energy hormone) and growth hormones (our youth and longevity hormone).
Holly passed away just after her 20th birthday. The health benefits of energy therapy, essential oils and sound therapy were all huge factors in Holly’s quality of life, pain management and peaceful transition.
A diagnosis from your veterinarian can be scary, but creating an energetic plan can keep everyone healthy and happy!
