How to incorporate biologically active essential oils into an integrative treatment plan for endocrine dysfunction and disease in canine and feline patients. 

Biologically active essential oils can be used in different ways to balance endocrine dysfunctions in canine and feline patients. Essential oils contain specific endocrine-mimicking phytochemicals and also have a balancing effect on the autonomic nervous system. In addition, they have often been historically selected for their psychoemotional-spiritual effects.   

Viewing the endocrine system as a whole  

The endocrine system should be considered a system of communication and not necessarily as individual glandular effects. The best way to select essential oils is to use those that will balance the entire endocrine system and not just individual glands. Some oils are known to support certain glands, and they will be mentioned in this article.   The other aspect of balancing the endocrine system is to choose essential oils that support the chakra system. Essential oils have many historical uses for the chakra system and correlate to balancing the endocrine system. Historical uses of essential oils are often embedded in spiritual practices, since medicine was traditionally more in the hands of spiritual leaders like medicine men. Even Christian churches used Frankincense and Myrrh for spiritual ceremonies. The ancient Egyptians held ceremonies for cleansing the flesh that used essential oils designed to drive out evil spirits and heal the body.   These historical accounts have been found to correlate with current pharmacological benefits, such as antiviral and antibacterial effects, and may have been the real reason for their success in ceremony.   Finally, supporting the whole body with clean receptor sites and especially a clean liver will enhance endocrine function overall. We can discuss individual endocrine diseases, but in every case, we must consider balancing the system then adding a specific essential oil to support the specific disease imbalance.    

Good nutrition  

The first thing to consider when balancing the canine or feline endocrine system is good nutrition. Without the raw materials to make hormones the system cannot be balanced. This author believes the best diet for carnivores is one that’s as close to evolutionarily appropriate as possible. Appropriate fats, vitamins, minerals and proteins must be biologically available for pets to maintain good endocrine function. What this means is that all dietary nutrition should be in a form dogs and cats can digests and absorb, enabling their bodies to run all biochemical pathways.    Cats and dogs are carnivores.  The anatomy of their temporal mandibular joints and musculature supports a carnivorous diet, as do their gastrointestinal tracts and types and numbers of teeth.    As carnivores, cats and dogs are designed to eat whole prey animals. Predigested and fermented carbohydrates, digestive enzymes, and probiotics are all found in the entrails of a kill. Carnivores also eat all the organs, including the endocrine glands. The gut microbiome of wild carnivores is very healthy, and not sterile as it would be on a diet of processed food, which means their guts are much better at digesting proteins and fats, the ingredients that make all neurotransmitters and hormones. Wild canines will bury bones and allow them to ferment in the soil to eat later. Yet they do not get ill.   This is how predators are designed to eat. They will hunt for days without eating, then binge. They will eat whatever is available. Carnivores eat the whole animal and then fast again as they hunt. They are slim. Their digestive systems have a break before the next meal. Even though predators do binge eat, and are gluttonous at the time of a kill, they do not do this twice a day 12 hours apart. Fasting can be the best way to support liver function and thereby indirectly support endocrine function. 

Essential oils for nutrition  

The best essential oils for nutrition are those used in the culinary arts, such as Zingiber officinale (ginger) root oil and Coriandrum sativum (coriander). In ancient times, herbs were added to food to flavor it, but also for medicinal purposes. One of the most important purposes of the essential oils used in the spice trade was to preserve food. With pets, I will rotate different culinary essential oils labeled safe for ingestion to enhance digestion and absorption and even provide some phytonutrients.   For cats, I usually use Coriandrum sativum (coriander) or Mentha spicata (spearmint) as my primary ingestive essential oils, using the toothpick method (see sidebar on page xx). For dogs I rotate the following: Cinnamomum zeylonicum (cinnamon) bark, Mentha piperita (peppermint), Mentha spicata (spearmint), Coriandrum sativum (coriander), Foeniculum vulgare (fennel), Cuminum cyminum (cumin), Zingiber officinale (ginger) root oil, Artemisia dracunculus (tarragon), Petroselenum crispum (parsley), Myristica fragrans (nutmeg) and Elettaria cardomomum (cardamom). All these are added to the food via the toothpick method. 

Liver health  

Second to balancing the endocrine system is addressing liver health. Poor liver health will lead to poor endocrine health. Products that assist the liver’s biochemical pathways should be included in all hormone-balancing protocols. This author likes Mediclear from Thorne and Standard Process detoxification products.   

Essential oils for liver function  

Essential oils that help with liver function include Daucus carota (carrot seed), Apium graveolens (celery seed), and Ledum groenlandicum (ledum). These can be placed topically over the liver. If the liver is very toxic, then use castor oil packs with these three oils, at three drops per 20 pounds of body weight, starting daily for three weeks, then once a week.  Both carrot seed and celery seed may be ingested as long as the oils are labeled safe for ingestion.  

Receptor site health  

The next thing to address when balancing the dog or cat’s endocrine system is good receptor site activity. If petrochemical toxicity is a problem, essential oils are the best way to clear the receptor sites.   Clearing petrochemicals from the lipid membrane of cells is best done with something that is lipid soluble and doesn’t use aqueous delivery systems. Cell membrane health is key to the endocrine system being able to deliver the message to the cell. The key to the message in the endocrine system is the relationship between the ligand (hormone) and receptor site reactivity. This is like a doorbell. If the doorbell is broken, the message from the extracellular environment will never be delivered to the intracellular machinery. It will be as if the glands are not working when really it is the cell membrane that is not working. 

Essential oils for receptor health  

Most essential oils that are safe for ingestion will be perfect as part of the pet’s diet. In cats, oils high in phenols are usually avoided, including Origanum compactum (oregano) and Thymus vulgaris geranioliferum (thyme). In dogs, these oils can be the most effective at clearing receptor sites; in cats, use Coriandrum sativum (coriander).   

Chakra system  

The fourth step to a balanced endocrine system is supporting the chakra system. Many historical accounts describe the use of essential oils for the chakra system.  This author has found certain oils will balance the overall system and allow for harmonious communication between the chakras.  

Essential oils for the chakra system  

• Crown chakra: Rosa damascena (rose oil) or Nymphaea lotus (white lotus).  

• Third eye chakra: Santalum album (sandalwood) or Cedrus atlantica (cedar wood) 

• Throat chakra: Blue oils like Matricaria recultita (German chamomile) 

• Heart chakra: Citrus auranthium (orange), Cananga odorata (ylang ylang) or Pinus sylvestris (pine) 

• Solar plexus chakra: Cupressus sempervirens (Cypress), which moves stagnation and circulation and supports the liver 

• Sacral chakra: Artemisia pallens (davana), which has gonadotrophic and psychoemotional effects, or Piper nigrum (black pepper) 

• Root chakra: Commiphora molmol (myrrh), Nardostachys jatamansi (spikenard) or Vetivera zizanoides (vetiver).   

You can apply one drop to each chakra and quickly see beneficial effects on both the autonomic nervous and endocrine systems.  To balance the overall chakra system, Lavender angustifolia officialis (lavender) would be a great go-to oil. Lavender will often balance all energies in the body and any disharmonies within the social group as well. Santalum album (sandalwood) is also a best choice for balancing the entire endocrine system at once. Often, just smelling the oils can be enough.   It is best to send the oils home with the client and have them diffuse these oils daily — usually, ten drops of each for one to two hours in a space less than 1,000 square feet. There are also some proprietary blends that are effective for endocrine imbalance.   

Targeted glandular effects  

Lastly, certain biologically active essential oils can be used for specific glands and diseases of those glands. It is best to send these oils home with instructions and safety rules so clients can apply the oils correctly to their pets. Create a picture for them so they remember where the gland is on their dog or cat. Some oils will be best ingested (as described above) as long as they are labeled safe for ingestion.   Others should be placed on the skin over the gland itself. The best method is to put a drop in the palm of your hand, then apply a small amount to the area. The hair will act as a wick to pull the oil into the follicle and absorb it. Usually, this application is done once a day for three weeks, then three times a week depending on response. In the case of ingested oils, the dose is added to food once a day for three weeks, then three times a week. 

Hypothalmus and pituitary  

Use third eye chakra oils  Cedrus atlantica (cedarwood)   Proprietary blend of spearmint, sage, geranium, myrtle, German chamomile and nutmeg. Primary active phytochemicals are geraniol, alpha pinene, 1,8-cineole, limonene and sabinene. 

Pineal gland 

Use crown chakra oils  Rosa damascena (rose)  Proprietary blend that will emotionally and spiritually awaken the connection to source and thereby open the pineal gland; you can also use the GV20 acupuncture point. 

Thyroid gland 

Use throat chakra oils or any of the blue color oils over the gland or the CV22 acupoint. 

• Hypothyroid — Matricaria recultita (German chamomile) or a combination of Cymbopogon citratus (lemongrass) and Myrtus communis (myrtle) 

• Hyperthyroid — Commiphora molmol (myrrh) or a combination of myrrh with Tanacetum annuum (blue tansy) 

Thymus 

Use heart chakra oils over the area or on CV17  Use essential oils for the immune system  A great combination for dogs is ten drops of Citrus limon (lemon), eight drops of Origanum compactum (oregano) and five drops of Satureja Montana (mountain savory). For cats, use Melissa officinalis (melissa) by itself. 

Pancreas 

Use solar plexus charkra oils 

• Diabetes type I — use essential oils that support the immune system 

• Diabetes type II – Use Coriandrum sativum (coriander) with Cinnamomum ceylanicum (cinnamon); or individually, Foeniculum vulgare (fennel) (ten days on then ten days off), Anethum graveolens (dill), Cupressus sempervirens (cypress), Rosmarinus officinalis cinieole (rosemary) or Pinus sylvestris (pine). You can muscle test for which oils or combination of oils to use, then test for how many drops, then frequency of application. Applying over ST36, SP6 and CV12 acupuncture points is best.  

Hypoglycemia   

Use Mentha X piperita (peppermint) and Coriandrium sativum (coriander) both orally and over CV12 and ST36 

Adrenal glands 

Use root chakra oils. 

• Adrenal support – Myristica fragrans (nutmeg) is best for balancing the adrenals no matter the condition 

• Addison’s disease — use Salvia officinalis (sage) with Myristica fragrans (nutmeg) 

• Cushing’s disease — use 6 drops Citrus limon (lemon), 3 drops Eugenia caryophyllata (clove), 3 drops Myristica fragrans (nutmeg) and 7 drops Rosmarinus officinalis cineole (rosemary). Application at the CV4 acupuncture point is most effective. 

Gonads 

Use sacral chakra oils. 

• Estrogen — use Salvia sclarea (clary sage), Artemisia pallens (davana), Foeniculum vulgare (rennel), or Vitex aguus custus (chasteberry). 

• Mastitis — use 10 drops of Citrus reticulata (tangerine) and 10 drops of Lavendula angustifolia officialis (lavender) in jojoba oil. Rub on the gland or on ST18. 

• To increase lactation — use Foeniculum vulgare (fennel), Salvia officinalis (sage) orally; and fennel, sage and Pelargonium asperum (geranium) over the organ and on SI1 and ST18. 

• Testosterone — make sure you give zinc and saw palmetto as supplements, and use a blend of olive oil (1 tbsp), grapeseed oil (1 tbsp), sweet almond oil (1 tbsp), wheatgerm oil (1 tsp) and vitamin E (½ tsp) with 30 drops Boswellia carteri (frankincense), 30 drops Commiphora myrrha (myrrh), 20 drops Salvia officinalis (sage), and 20 drops Cuminum cyminum (cumin)  as a rectal implant. Give 0.5 cc daily for seven days, then rest for three days. Do this for a total of 21 days. Avoid any oils that increase testosterone, such as sandalwood 

• Male infertility –– use sandalwood to increase testosterone, usually over CV6. 

• Alopecia (hormonal) — use a combination of thyme, rosemary, lavender and cedarwood — 4 drops each in 2 tbsp of jojoba and 2 tbsp of grapeseed oil — and massage into fur daily Also use essential oils that will balance the entire endocrine system (see above). 

• Spay incontinence — use essential oils with estrogenic effects like Salvia officinalis (clary sage), Foeniculum vulgare (fennel) or Vitex aguus custus (chasteberry).

By viewing the endocrine system as a whole, and factoring nutrition, liver health, receptor site health, and the chakra system into a treatment approach, biologically active essential oils become a powerful way to support and balance this system in our dogs and cats.    

References 

Evolutionary Feeding of Pets, Dr Nancy Brandt, Spark Education LLC 2017  www.safe4animals.com.   ABC’s of Aromatherapy for Animals, Dr Nancy Brandt, Spark Education LLC 2019 www.safe4animals.com.   Veterinary Medical® Aromatherapy Course, VMAA.vet.  Quick Reference Guide for 114 Important Essential Oils, Monika Haas, Terra Linda Scent and Image, 2004.  Medical Aromatherapy, Kurt Schnaubelt, Frog Ltd., 1999.  l’aromatherapie exactement, Pierre Franchomme, Roger Jollois, Daniel Penoel, Editions Roger Jollois, 2001.  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7309671/  www.sciencedirect.com/topics/pharmacology-toxicology-and-pharmaceutical-science/diterpene  Veterinary Medical Aromatherapy® Association, VMAA.vet