Canine Botanical Self Healing/self selection (AKA Zoopharmacognosy)

In 2015 I was lucky to attend the Natural Dog Conference in Birmingham. Amongst the amazing presentations was one by Caroline Ingraham. She spoke about the power of animals to self medicate, to understand exactly what herb or aromatic was needed to address a physical or emotional need and to balance their wellbeing. Her 30 years of research was built upon the work of Cindy Engels (Wild Health)  who observed a variety of animals medicating for  a range of conditions.

I was blown away, it made so much sense, and from then on I began to explore for myself. I learned more from practitioners for my own dogs.

In September 2019 I began my own practitioner training with Rachel Windsor Knott (My Animal Matters). I have particulalry been drawn to working woth Aromatics alongside the herbs and powders. To develop a deeper understanding I have spent many months exploring the properties of alll of the essential oils in my colleection, over 50, alongside my dogs.
Sadly Covid has interrupted the final part of the course and my case studies for assessment. However I hope to resume soon.

This Blog was originally an assigment for a module of the Canine Principles Canine Holistic Behaviour Diploma.

What is Botanical Self Selection ?

Zoopharmacognosy is a growing therapeutic modality studied over many years in animals in the wild. Most recently it has been developed in the UK as a Professional modality by Caroline Ingraham after 30 years of research. 

The name means Animal (zoo) medicine (pharma) cognosy (knowledge) it is also often commonly known as “Botanical Self Selection” or “Botanical Self Healing”.

For many years Animal Scientists have observed and studied animals selecting botanicals and minerals to self heal. Cindy Engels book Wild Health in 2002 sets out a wide range of observations within the animal kingdom. For instance Chimps will eat a non nutritional bitter  herb to rid parasites, we observe dogs eating grass or dandelion or cleavers for digestive health. Studying how animals keep WELL instead of focussing on disease it was noted that even with high levels of pathogens and parasites,  animals,  in a natural environment untouched by mans invasion, were healthy and thriving. Studies suggest this is as a result of the animals using plants as medicine to stay well as well as treat overwhelming illnesses.

In developing Applied Zoopharmacognosy  Caroline Ingraham considered the science from scientists such as Engels and worked with different animals (mostly dogs cats and horses). She published her books How Animals Heal Themselves (2014) and Help your Dog Heal Itself (2018) and has set up a  training school. Her aim is for practitioners and guardians to enable their animals to self medicate to work with simple health needs and maintain a healthy body and mind.Many other practitioners are following up her studies with their own and I am also a follower of Nayan Morag who works mostly with aromatics.

How does the modality work?

Botanical Self Healing (BSH) uses a range of herbs minerals and aromatics, selected and studied by Ingrahams in her research, following on from the research of Engels and others on animals in wild environments.  The animal is offered a botanical for them to select from, to work with a physical or emotional issue or to maintain health.

Plants use the sun, air, water and soil nutrition to grow and stay healthy, repair and thrive. They produce chemicals which enable a primary healthy metabolism. This is the plant matter used by other animals for nutrition as part of the food chain. Plants also produce secondary defensive chemicals whose function is to protect them from damage against predators or bacterial viral, fungus infection, these secondary chemicals are often toxic or can be medicinal, they have no nutritive value. Many of the secondary chemicals are volatile and their odour can be identified over a great distance by animals. There is complexity of the relationship of plant biology and its medicinal/psychological support value. To add to this the soil and other minerals also carry a range of secondary organisms and chemicals which are used medicinally, such as green clay. (ref Wild Health – Engels -2002). 

Animals will select and dose those secondary chemicals from Botanicals which will balance them emotionally and physically for wellness.

Each session is individualised, there is no “this for that” approach. It is based upon consent; we offer the chance for the animal to consider if the Botanical offered is needed. Excellent observations skills are used to read the communications from the animal as to its choice of selection, the distance and time to dose for (aromatics) or how much is needed (ingested materials).

What does a  Botanical Self Healing session look like?

Safety is essential and a full history is taken prior to a session, covering all areas of the animal from pre – birth where known, to current time, noting especially any events or environmental issues as well as health; a truly Holistic approach. It is also important to note the human needs as some aromatics and plant materials can be contraindicated for humans with specific needs. A vet check is a prerequisite where possible and vets should be informed of any sessions undertaken. The Modality is permissible under the Vet Act as it is non invasive and choice led.

With the history and an understanding of the animal as an individual and the dynamics of its home environmnt in mind the practitioner will spend time to get to know the animal a little to build some trust and communication.

Each practitioner develops their own routines and this will change from animal to animal and family to family, it is led by the animal client.

Depending on the animals’ need the practitioner will offer a small selection of aromatics, hydrosol, herbs and minerals and oils and macerates. The order is led by the animal and also the knowledge from the practitioner. Sometimes beginning with hydrosol as it is less olfactorily invasive than Essential oils (EO). Sometimes it is all about the herbs and powders or the oils. The practitioner watches for the communication from the animal, intuitively offering and observing. This is done in a space with plenty of circulating air and the opportunity for the animal to remove themselves from the area at any time.

Essential oils are offered to support either the identified need or one that the practitioner suspects is linked. Sometimes the animals are really clear and will identify the bottle or bottles or packets they wish to engage with.  The oils work with both emotional and behavioural needs as well as physical needs.

Oils are offered with the lid to the bottle loosened and the practitioner judges whether to move to offering the cap or a scent stick/cloth on the floor are helpful, also respecting the distance the animal wishes to work.

Oils or hydrosol are usually never applied, given, or diffused “for” the animal or put on bandana etc. the animal always has the chance to decide when to stop using the remedy and at what distance to dose. However animals often present themselves to rub or roll in an aromatic or powder, this can be facilitated by the practitioner, on a towel for instance. Sometimes Ingraham would suggest that for first aid for instance after checking the animal is not aversive to it, it is ok to apply.

The session is guided by the animal and they will create a selection choice as needed, just as animals in the wild do, sometimes a mineral or herb is needed first or an aromatic. They will also decide how much dosage is needed and this is observed from how the Olfactory system works with it and how the animal processes the intake and also the distance and time taken. The animal may take time out to process during a session. During the aromatic work the animal will usually rest within the area of the aromatic in the dose level they need, this looks like sleep. Sometimes they may whimper, growl or jump, this is considered to be a memory or feeling being accessed. When they have completed the session they will choose to disengage.  This is a video of Lola Processing two oils.

https://youtu.be/qDBUfDue9bU

The practitioner observes until the animal has closed the session. They will then feedback/report to the client what the animal has selected and what commonly this choice can be linked to. This is never diagnostic or suggesting that the animal has a specific complaint, many choices have multiple different uses.

Botanical self Healing is Holisitic because it works with the animal and their human partnership, alongside vets where applicable. The animal is guided by its own physiological and emotional wellness needs and is supporting its own health. Alongside other professionals, such as touch therapists, behaviourists and veterinary professionals BSH offers the animal some autonomy.

As a Botanical Self Healing Practitioner, and also as a guardian, I have seen exceptional outcomes from enabling the animal to lead. I absolutely believe that the dogs have made clear and well communicated indications as to what they do and do not require. Some coming and requesting even when there was no direct offering session. There will always need to be careful safety considerations and also the knowledge that some dogs find it really hard to engage, and this is ok, My own dog Lola finds a “session” pressurising and is superstitious around novel items to ingest. However she will hop into my own oil sessions and engage with mine, at other times she will leave the room! After mugging my bag of devils claw and demolishing several spoons of coconut oil I became aware that Tilly was uncomfortable sometimes but improved when she ate the devils claw and coconut oil, a vet check found she was in pain from a back injury. She was medicating her pain.

I learn so much about the dogs I work with each time, and about the aromatics, oils and powders and herbs. Their power to support wellness is amazing.

To find out more about the olfactory system and why the use of aromatics is so powerful have a look at this video.

https://youtu.be/p7fXa2Occ_U

Should you wish to learn more or to book a session please email:

peacefulpawstherapy@gmail.com

References

Wild Health - Cindy Engels - 2002

These are the books I use for reference daily when working with animals.all are recommended to find out more *** indicates a good first book

Hep your Dog Heal itself – Caroline Ingraham – 2016 ***

Essential Oils for Animals – Nayana Morag – 2011 ***

The Aromatic Dog – Nayana Morag -2015 ***

Hydrosols, The Next Aromatherapy – Suzanne Catty – 2001

Aromatherapy for Healing the Spirit – Gabriel Mojay – 1997 ***

Herbs for Pets – Gregory L Tilford and  Mary L Wuff - 2009 ***

Essential Oil Safety – Robert Tisserand and  Rodney Young -2014

A word about “NO” “STOPIT” “OUCH”

Do you remember Hyacinth Bucket and her friend Elizabeth?

Whenever Elizabeth visited for tea she was a nervous wreck, causing many opportunities for comic slapstick. She had no idea what rule Hyacinth had decided was vital on this occasion.

So here is an imaginary scene from the show.

As Elizabeth comes through the door, all happy to share some news, Hyacinth shouts “STOP” with a Policeman hand.

Poor Elizabeth freezes. Hyacinth carries on laying the tea things. Frantically Elizabeth looks around to see what rule she broke.

“Oh come on in dear what are you hanging around in the door way for?” “NO THIS WAY”

Elizabeth tentatively goes to the table sneaking around the edge of the kitchen. She slides into the chair.

“ NO NO NO” shouts Hyacinth flapping her hands at Elizabeth.

 Elizabeth freezes mid sit. Hovering above the chair and quickly raising hands from the table she had touched. She looks frantically around. What had she done? What had she touched, what was wrong with the chair, what was wrong with her?

Hyacinth tuts. “Not there dear. That’s for the vicar.”

Elizabeth moves. Now literally shaking with anxiety. She still had no idea how to sit at the table, what the rule was.

She pulls out the chair.

Hyacinth spins around glaring at her waving hands around “Ouch ouch ouch” and then pushing at Elizabeth as she jumped back. Now what had happened? Had hyacinth dropped boiling water on her hand? Had Elizabeth banged the chair leg on hyacinths foot ? Had she been stung?

She sees hyacinth hands on ears and remembers the noise of a scraping chair aggravates her. Elizabeth tentatively sits.

Elizabeth reaches forward to take a cup.

“NO,NO,NO” shouts Hyacinth grabbing for Elizabeths hand as  it hovers above the blue cup. She goes for the red cup “NO” she then reaches to the pink one. “NO”!

Elizabeth is confused. She asks hyacinth which cup she CAN have.

“None”, says Hyacinth. “You need to go and ask the vicar if he’s ready yet”.

“Why have you been messing around here? Didn’t you remember that’s what I said yesterday?”

Poor Elizabeth. She had no idea at any point what it was she had done wrong. Hyacinth did, it was obvious to her, she had the plan sorted, knew the rules.

How might Hyacinth helped Elizabeth ?

Clarity. Asking from her what she DID want, right at the outset. She could have mentioned the rules when planning the special tea with her. She could have reminded her at the beginning of the episode that she needed to get the Vicar in a short while. She might have let her know that the floor was wet as she entered the kitchen and helped her to find the best route across the floor.

She could have directed her to where she SHOULD sit and offer her the right cup or set up the table where the cup for each person was obvious so Elizabeth knows in future which one is the vicars and which is hers, set it all up for success.

Can you make the link ?

Our puppy flies into the living room and bounces on the sofa

“NO NO NO” – with much flapping of arms and pushing (giving attention and raising excitement, this is a game !)

He then grabs the slipper from the floor where the toys he’s allowed are spread out.

“NO “

Oooo human is shouting at me for a game. Yep it’s definitely a game cos they are pulling at it and and shouting. So I’ll pull back this is obviously the best toy and they love the game. This is so much fun to get someone to play, Ill play this next time! I’ll look for the slipper.

Human remembers the toy swap option.

Puppy grabs “toy” that’s being offered to swap for slipper but gets a finger in the excitement. Human shouts “ouch ouch ...” ooo it’s a new game. I love it when they talk with me all excited!

The noises are that. They mean nothing. “No” can be used for countless human thoughts. We use it a lot, like Hyacinth. For us it means “that’s not what I want from you”. In a child or older human we can add a reason. “No don’t play with the slipper” ( clarity) “it’s not a toy, here’s a toy” ( this is what I do/ want you to have) .

But “no” is not the only word we use to interrupt what we don’t want (STOPIT LEAVE IT GET OFF)  and we often don’t replace with what we DO want.

Because we can’t reason with a dog. We could however teach one interrupter sound that has a meaning. It means look at me so I can tell you what I DO want.

The dog needs to know this. To know what happens for that human vocalisation. A word we don’t use in other contexts usually- I use  “HEY”. It means “come here to do something else” The tone should be different to usual human chatter to cut through focus on fun or intention, friendly , lively, firm.

So you say why is this any different to “NO”?

It is. We don’t leave the vacuum of the “NO” word, followed by no action or guidance from us. We create a reinforced (rewarded) “do” to do instead.

So “HEY” interrupts what we don’t want and we offer the legal thing we can reward for. The choice then becomes that action or activity, that choice.

 

Illegal stuff gets attention ( minor reinforcement ) but choosing a legal option instead gets major reinforcement ( games, nice touches, treats). Choosing legal activities offered often and reducing the likelihood of illegal ones occurring,  by being careful about what is available to choose and how it is offered, means legal choice pathways are built and more likely to be selected.

So here is an example:

Pup pinches slipper. “HEY”! Pup looks and drops slipper as something better is coming, he knows that, there has been a history of reward for leaving the HEY thing and there will be something better on offer. The better thing will get selected. Dogs choose behaviours that are effective.

If Hyacinth has added what she did want for Elizabeth at each illegal choice she made and removed the chance of confusion by creating clearer options

Elizabeth would not have got confused.

“ Hello Elizabeth , oo careful don’t walk there its wet, come around here”

Sit on the left, the pink cup is yours, and can you get the Vicar in 5 minutes?”

Setting Elizabeth up for success, clearly she knows now what to do, and how each Vicar tea afternoon will go now, making it less likely she gets it wrong and relieving her confusion and anxiety.  

Teaching the HEY interrupter is useful but should be used sparingly and for the unexpected you can’t plan for.

In truth silence is best. No engagement in redirecting from illegal to legal creates clarity - actions are far better understood than words for dogs.

So how do we teach this emergency cue?

Wait for pup to be not engaged with you.

Say “HEY” ( strong and sharp high tone but not angry. Smiling whilst you say it helps set the friendly intention).

As soon as pup looks round or comes to see what the fuss is,

offer what you do want or an alternative activity or ask for a different behaviour. Like sit or spin or hand touch.

Pups don’t know what they’ve done is illegal!

I also use thank you ( especially for barking ) as an interrupter.

Sticking to one or two specific words helps the clarity.

Offering the alternative action or behaviour  is the guidance to be successful.

So what will your interrupter be? How will you teach it? Will you have a reset behaviour like a hand touch as the action for the cue? Or a sit ?

How will you plan to NOT NEED IT! How can you set your dog up for success? How will you train the HUMANS to rarely need it? What can you do BEFORE that situation occurs? What can you teach the dog to do instead so it is not an emergency?

Lets set our dogs and especially pups up for success and not need an OUCH or NO!