ANIMALS BODY MIND SPIRIT
Love Your Animal, Heal Your Animal
ANIMALS BODY MIND SPIRIT
Nicola Richardson, Animal Healer
Love Your Animal, Heal Your Animal
ANIMAL'S NAME: Gibson
SPECIES: Horse
AGE: 13 years old
MEDICATIONS: Not provided at the time
HISTORY: Adopted 3 years ago; history of abuse, used for polo; flighty; extremely insecure; tooth was broken on bit, abscessed molar
Learning from Caroline Ingraham,
the Founder of Applied Zoopharmacognosey
Healing Gibson on His Terms
I found these photos and thought I would share them, to help those interested, understand a little more about Zoopharmacognosey. These were taken with Caroline Ingraham in Wyoming in September 2017. A group of us were learning how to work with the horses. They are one of the easier species to work with as they are very clear in their direction of what they need when they are presented with the remedies.
It is amazing to watch and be a part of the healing process. The animals know you are there to honor them, not “do to them” as so many humans think they have the right to do.
Preparing the Oils and Minerals
Above, Caroline is preparing the buckets for the horses. Each horse is worked with separately. Caroline is pouring Barley Grass (anxiety / magnesium) into a bucket. Already prepared are Marigold flowers (gold) helps with tannins in the gut, Arnica flowers (bruising), Rosehips (red and dry), great for collagen repair and Vitamin C, Seaweed Bladderwrack (black and crunchy), great for clearing toxins especially vaccinations, Comfrey (herb) supports healing in the structure, and Nettle (herb), supports the liver, clearing toxins.
A little water will be added to the Barley Grass to see if the horse prefers it dry, with a little water, or wet.
Offerings Ready for Presentation
Caroline is ready to begin the processing of presenting the buckets to the horses. This is the first stage of the Zoopharmacognosey session. Caroline is seeing if the horse is depleted in any nutrients prior to beginning offering remedies to smell.
If an animal is craving nutrients, then this will interfere with the smelling portion of the healing process as they may be searching for this to be resolved first. Therefore, minerals and macerate oils, and herbs are offered at the beginning of the session. What each horse selects, is a huge indicator what oils will most likely be the initial focus to support the ongoing healing process.
It is a Humbling Experience
What is very important to understand in these sessions, is that the animals are processing pain, trauma, unwanted memories perhaps. This is a humbling process because as facilitators of the session we provide the space and the time for the animal to process everything in their own time frame. There is a lot of watching and waiting and subtle intuition about what the animal may need next.
Nothing is every pushed on the animal nor is the animal made to rush. This is a hugely respectful, honorable process. It is wonderful, but also sometimes a little heart breaking, as the emotions released, the pain released, resonates.
Minerals, and Powders Offered
The following were offered with Gibson’s selection noted.
Barley Grass | took a lot dry
Rosehip Shells | a little
Bladderwrack | a little
Marigold Flowers | a little
Devils Claw | a little
Liquorice Root Powder | a few licks then a massive poop
Nettle Leaf Powder | not interested
Arnica Flowers | very interested, eating them
Comfrey Herb, dry | not interested
Gibson, then took a break and munched on some hay. Next step, high quality, food-grade oils are offered via smell and application.
Gibson Processing through Smell & Application
Focusing on Pain first, based on History
In the above photo, Caroline Ingraham is preparing oils to present to Gibson.
St John’s Wort (SJW) Macerated Oil
- asked to have it applied to his jaw area on both sides; owner stroked it on, Gibson was very still
- next between the ears and eyes; all down his head
- it was at this time, Gibson was able to take some by mouth, ingestion
- Because Gibson took the SJW, the next step was to offer more oils associated with relieving pain.
- Smelled the oil then backed away; stood at the back of the stall, thought about it, was processing it
- Oils offered at the same time to see which Gibson preferred, he chose the Peppermint through smell only; took some time for himself
Next: Offered Inflammation (Blue Oils), with Pain, Cellular Repair, and Trauma Oils
German Chamomile (Blue)
- selected, processed
- selected, processed
- sniffed, head really heavy, more interested than German Chamomile
- Nose running, seemed like Gibson would like to rub his nose on the yarrow; Caroline placed some on the bars of the stall so he could select his dose
- Slight twitch; lip quivering
- selected, processed
- selected, processed
- Wanted this on his jaw, lowered his head to place on forehead
- Also asked to have it applied under his jaw; lower lip quivering
- Stillness, but eyes still open, means we have not found the right spot yet
- Still requesting under jaw, just behind nostrils
- Flies have disappeared from the stall now
- Licking the yarrow now, blue all around his teeth
- Applied all down his nose, head bobbing
- Asked for it also to be applied to his head; head bobbing; yawns twice
- Found head warm
- Used for cooling; offered and applied on the hot areas of the head
- Loads of yawning
- Asking for more yarrow on the head
- On the nose and forehead again, and between his eyes – also offering Wintergreen to see if his preference has changed
- Smelled / processed
- Smelled / processed
- Caroline offered on her hand, Gibson licked it off
- Massive shake; lots of yawning; moved back to the back of the stall for processing
- Gibson looks very tired
Next Offered: Trauma and Loss
Mimosa (Comforting, softer than Neroli)
- Smelled / processed
- Asked to have it rubbed all around his face, and jaw, and all over his whole head
- Caroline sprayed in the air around his nose so Gibson may dose himself; asked to be applied on the joint calcification; bottom lip quivering
- Orange Water is subtler before offering the deep trauma oils
- Smelled /processed, breathing deeply, could hear the breath change; legs wobbling; lips quivering
- Inhaled deeply; turned his head and gave Caroline his back end
- Caroline applied Neroli directly on the top of his back after asking where to apply through soft touch
- This was asked and applied in the same area of the body; Gibson swaying a lot to process. This is a deep oil for those who have experienced trauma.
- A few sniffs, processed
- Taking Gibson back to love after processing the trauma, who he was before the trauma
- Frankincense favored more; smelled
The session continued. Offering Gibson other behavioral oils, and then focusing on his digestive issues. Gibson continued to process oils for ages after this. So much repair to his body, mind, and spirit.
It is a humbling process, to help an animal heal on their terms. To honor their being.
Please reach out if you would like to learn more.
