Harvesting herbs at Chealsfield

A selection of everyday herbs

Wow self selecting hand harvested bladderwrack (seaweed) as an electrolyte

Betty self selecting banana as an electrolyte

Amber with severe life threatening mixametosis

Amber is successfully treated with aloe vera and yarrow topical application made by Elizabeth

Common Yarrow
(Achillea millefolium)

Harvesting cat nip for Celia Hammond Cat Trust

THE APOTHECARY and MAKING AN APPOINTMENT WITH ELIZABETH WHITER

Elizabeth has created her own herb gardens and grows many plant extracts used in her apothecary. Plants grown at Chealsfield include aloe vera, comfrey, yarrow, marigold and peppermint. Elizabeth only uses organic macerated oils from a UK reputable source, and also makes her own comfrey and marigold macerated oils. Elizabeth receives many vet referrals for animal skin problems, behaviour and emotional issues. All preparations are made from fresh and every remedy is made on an individual basis. Please email Elizabeth or telephone 01273 891472 if you would like to make an appointment. A consultation lasts for two hours and depending on the individual animal’s needs: includes healing, aromatics, nutrition and diet and kinesiology. (See below)

As Elizabeth works extensively with vets please email info@healinganimals.org for a vet authorisation form.

WHY DOES ELIZABETH USE PLANT EXTRACTS? 
Elizabeth trained in zoopharmacognosy with Caroline Ingraham a leading authority in animal aromatics and is a qualified therapist of the The Ingraham Institute of Animal Aromatic Science & Research. This method uses natural plant medicines to rebalance the health of an animal or treat specific injuries. Animals have an innate knowledge of self-medication and an ability to self-select exactly the right plant material for its well-being.
In order to offer the animal as much choice as possible and also so as to be as close to nature, we continually look for more plant material that are like those available to the animal in the wild and from plants that are indigenous to their natural habitat. Through domestication and modern farming practices animals have lost their freedom to roam and choose their own medicine.

“Animals rely on plants for most of their metabolic needs, but they also rely on the plants aromatic secondary, non-nutritional compounds (essential oils), which offer no evident metabolic purpose; their use lies in their medicinal compounds. Aromatic plants are very bitter and unpalatable to the taste; they can be both toxic and medicinal depending on the needs of the animal. The unpalatable bitterness of the essential oils serve to deter the healthy animal from the plants toxic biological compounds; sick animals will acquire a bitter taste for the appropriate volatile compounds of the plants oil, that is then taken in small quantities by animals that need the plants medicinal properties.
Animals are very sensitive intuitive creatures and given adequate choice they will select the plant medicine that they need. Their nose can smell and identify thousands of different molecules, which are transferred into messages that are sent to various parts of the brain where mood and bodily function can be affected. When treating very stressed animals the aroma alone can sometimes cause them to relax and even fall to sleep within minutes of inhalation; however other animals may need a stronger treatment and choose to take it orally.
At one time the land provided almost every pharmacological substance needed to self medicate these animals; now much of the land has been cultivated with remedies lost. This together with the fact that many animals are kept in captivity in urban cities or put to graze on fertilized fields is a very good reason to offer plant oils and extracts that offer constituents that They no longer have access too.

Essential oils have been selected successfully for disorders ranging from laminitis, arthritis, allergies, and respiratory and skin problems to fears, nervousness, and many other emotional and physical disorders. The animals choose their oils, their application and the duration of their treatment. Once the areas of imbalance have been corrected then the animal will turn away from the aromas that were once enjoyed. The effects of these odour molecules are determined by their unique structure, therefore when the aroma is inhaled, the animals' brain is easily able to define and select the correct remedy. ." ... Caroline Ingraham

Materials used range from essential oils, resins, flower waters, organic macerated base oils, herbs, rosehips, roots, clays, soaked Seaweed, macerated Comfrey, Rose, Neroli essential oils, the tubers of Devils claw, wild carrot seed etc. Elizabeth always endeavours to use only organic natural substances occurring in the environment.

WHAT ARE MACERATED OILS? Some healing herbs do not contain much volatile, essential oil, yet have very powerful healing properties. Such herbs can be infused in an oil base such as organic sunflower oil to extract their healing virtues. Harvesting of these herbs takes place in the warm months of late spring and early summer to capture the most energetic parts of the plant. Most popular in my clinic include marigold, comfrey, arnica, chickweed and carrot. Specific properties of infused oils depend on the plants that have lent their healing powers to a particular infusion.

FLOWER WATERS Most fragrant flower waters, also known as Hydrosols, or Hydrolats are a by-product of essential oil production, though some are produced for their own inherent healing virtues. In the steam distillation process water is used to extract the volatile, essential oils. As the water heats up and passes as steam through the chamber that holds the plant material, it forms fleeting bonds with the volatile oils and carries them off down through the cooling coils where the water condenses and the two elements are separated once again. The oils form a layer on the top of the collecting cylinder while the water can be drained from the bottom. Some of the volatile parts however, remain bonded with the distilled water, which in the process takes on their fragrance and some of their therapeutic properties.  Flower waters include rose and cornflower.

NUTRITION, DIET AND LIFESTYLE FOR ANIMALS WITH ELIZABETH WHITER
Elizabeth specialises in nutrition and diet. As every animal is unique Elizabeth assesses every animal’s nutritional needs individually making sure that the ratio of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals, and water are sufficient, including vegetables, fruits, fish, seeds and nuts. I.e. for dogs.  Animals that eat well live a long life, coping with every day stress. One that eats a poor diet can lead to many complaints and becomes unhealthy.
In this day and age there are numerous major health concerns manifesting as food sensitivities and allergies. There are many hidden substances in foods such as additives, colour, GM and preservatives that we are unaware of, and can be very harmful to our beloved pets. Animals eating cheap processed foods can develop eczema, constipation, diarrhoea, wind, lethargy, kidney and immune problems to name but a few.  Environmental and topical allergens are equally important to test.
Every cell in an animal’s body needs fuel. Fuel comes from food and water which is converted into energy. More than ever is it important to create optimum health levels in the body by eating healthy food and the nutritional support we give our body. A whole variety of chronic conditions respond favourably to food/nutritional changes. Kinesiology can even help identify nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, trace elements and supplements which may be needed to re-balance an animal’s energy system.

WHAT IS KINESIOLOGY?
Kinesiology refers to the study of muscles and movement in the body.  It is a holistic system of natural healthcare using muscle testing to communicate directly with the body.  It can assess an animal’s response to any stimulus.  Drawing upon Chinese medicine and western osteopathy it can evaluate body function through the muscle/meridian relationship. The meridian system is an essential, but unseen, factor in health. Meridians run up and down an animal’s body through which flows a ‘vital energy.’ It is responsible for conveying the life force to every tissue in the body. If this energy system is in balance, health can be maintained, if this is disturbed in any way then ill health is likely to occur.
Kinesiology applies a wide range of gentle yet powerful techniques, which restores balance and harmony in the body.  It can increase energy and vitality, prevent illness, and relieve physical and emotional pain and stress. It can also detect and correct various imbalances related to nutrition, such as food intolerances, food sensitivities, eating disorders, and allergies.

ANIMAL HEALING WITH ELIZABETH WHITER
Elizabeth is a fully qualified and insured animal complementary practitioner. Currently with over 800 animal patients Elizabeth heals many animals with many problems e.g. rescue, re homing, abuse, depression.  All animals benefit from healing, as it is helpful in a wide range of physical, emotional and psychological conditions. Healing is the channelling of healing energies through the healer to the recipient; it re-energises and relaxes the patient to enable his or her own natural resources to deal with illness or injury in the best possible way. Healing can be given for any illness, stress or injury as a therapy, which is completely natural, has no side effects and is complementary to other therapies.

As a complementary therapist I work very closely with the veterinary fraternity in a holistic approach for the highest good of all animals. I receive many referrals from vets. If you are in any doubt about the welfare of your animal(s) please consult your vet first.

Over 30 different herbs I have picked from a set aside field next door to Chealsfield

Dancer self selecting hand harvested bladderwrack (seaweed) as an electrolyte

Comfrey leaf, harvested and ready for drying

Macerated Comfrey leaf ready for infusion

Dog rose and rose hips harvested at Chealsford

Rose hip contain high levels of vitamin C and also flavonoids, tannins and vitamins A, B1, B2, B3 and K. Horses self select rose hips as an immune booster

Harvesting marigolds at Chealsfield

Macerated marigold oil from Chealsfield