Pets Information


Essential Oils and MRSA


Natural preventative pet care isn't a new thing but it certainly isn't fully mainstream yet. One of the challenges is being able to re-educate the public to think outside of the box. For so many years we've been told over and over again by traditional care providers that our pets need yearly vaccinations, prevention medicines for heartworm, fleas, and ticks, and feeding premium kibble. We've been told these will all lead to ultimate wellness in our pets. Nothing could be further from the truth.

While we continue to struggle with conquering the mountain of "alternative care is for new age, crystal toting, chanting hippies", our pets are getting sicker rather than healthier. One of the most challenging problems on the rise is super resistant bacteria that are increasingly resistant to the traditional use of antibiotics. Most notably is the rise of MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). This is a staph infection that the antibiotic methicillin can no longer kill. MRSA is passed from humans to pets and it is still mutating into strains in different species animals. Horses have developed their own strain and antibiotics are not the answer! In fact, the overuse of antibiotics is part of the main reason that these bacteria have mutated and evolved.

This staph infection is deadly and can and does kill humans and animals. In fact, this very thing happened to Jill Moss' most beloved white Samoyed, Bella. Jill lost Bella to this staph infection a little over a year ago. It prompted Jill to take serious action and bring the knowledge of this deadly strain of bacteria to the world so that other pet owners and people would not have to suffer the loss she has. Jill has instituted the Bella Moss Foundation (http://www.TheBellaMossFoundation.com ) and Pets-MRSA (http://www.Pets-MRSA.com ) to help bring not only knowledge about MRSA, but hope, help and healing.

Research has already begun on finding ways to stop these virulent bacteria. Scientists at the University of Manchester in England have found that three essential oils destroyed MRSA! Dr. Peter Warn, who was involved in the research, told the BBC (British Broadcasting Company) back in December of 2004 that when he tested the oils in the lab, "absolutely nothing grew. Rather than stimulating bacteria and fungi, the oils killed them off."

One diligent product formulator for a therapeutic essential oils company discovered that two of the oils used were Melaleuca alternafolia and geranium.

So why are essential oils proving so effective at killing even the most virulent bacteria such as MRSA? According to Jacqui Stringer, the Clinical Lead of Complementary Therapies at the Christie Hospital in Manchester, England which treats cancer patients, the reason that essential oils are so effective is because they are made up of a complex mixture of chemical compounds which super bugs such as MRSA find difficult to resist. I would add that because these compounds are naturally occurring and derived from plants -the "blood" of plants - no two oils are exactly alike ever, which is the perfect complex compound to combat a mutating super bug! Current treatments, according to Stringer, are made up of single compounds (like antibiotics) so the MRSA becomes resistant very quickly and leaving only 50% success in the cases of MRSA. Think about that: only a 50/50 chance of survival. Those are not good odds. The hope comes with this new alternative approach to battling these superbugs.

Another added benefit of using essential oils to combat and help prevent (prevention is the goal in stopping MRSA) the spread of MRSA is the application: inhaled either directly or by diffusing them. MRSA is often carried inside the nose so inhaling the essential oils is all that is needed to prevent patients being at risk. This makes them very easy to administer to both humans and pets.

The biggest deterrent to progressing further in the research with the essential oils and combating these superbugs has been funding. In January 2005, the Manchester researchers were having problems obtaining the Ł30,000 needed for their research to continue. Shortly after finding out about this, Jimmy Savile the former host of the British television program 'Jim'll Fix It", has donated Ł40,000 for the research to continue! The problem with the funding was that since essential oils are naturally occurring as I stated above, drug companies are really not interested in helping this type of work because they can't profit from a product that is naturally occurring since they can't be patented.

This is really reprehensible since this kind of research could potentially help save thousands of lives and completely stamp out MRSA.

I for one am very excited to see more and more research being done in bringing healing and hope to many, using what God created for us to use in the first place!

News article references:

http://www.irishhealth.com/?level=4&id=6820
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4116053.stm
http://www.innovations-report.de/html/berichte/medizin_gesundheit/bericht-38150.html
http://www.news-medical.net/?id=6975
http://nutraingredients.com/news/ng.asp?id=56962&n=dh357&c=GICenlwpeazyefa
http://tahilla.typepad.com/mrsawatch/mrsa_wounds_essential_oils/
http://www.cosmeticsdesign.com/news/news-ng.asp?n=56957-essential-oils-in
http://www.media52.net/archives/000199.html
http://www.courant.com/classified/custom/pets/petworld/hc-cl-pets-0608,0,3927853.story
http://quikonnex.com/channel/item/14556

About the Author:

Kim Bloomer is a natural pet care educator helping pet owners learn alternative and natural ways to care for their pets. To learn more about the essential oils visit her pet care & supply website at Aspenbloom Pet Care. Visit her dog's blog to learn more about caring for pets naturally from a canine perspective at A Dog's View

Kim is now a USA Representative for the Bella Moss Foundation.


MORE RESOURCES:

Pet-centric Retail Site Muttropolis.com Included in Internet ...
MarketWatch - 10 hours ago
Featured alongside some of the world's most highly regarded brands, Muttropolis is one of only three pet related sites to be included among the honorees and ...
ToolKing.com Makes Internet Retailer’s Hot 100 Retail Web Site List WebWire (press release)
all 7 news articles


InSight UT: Pets line up to take their pictures with Santa Claus
Tennessee Journalist, TN - 1 hour ago
23 pet owners took their animals to the Agri Feed Pet Supply store to get their pictures taken with Santa Claus. Many owners said they participated in the ...
Have your pet pose with Santa to benefit animal organizations Clarksville Leaf Chronicle
Santa Paws is coming to town State Gazette
all 3 news articles


Outrageous hotel perks for pets
MSNBC - 7 hours ago
“Like their owners, pets should have a chance to get away from their normal routine,” said the hotel’s chef concierge, James Little. ...


Homeless pets still need to eat
Reuters - 6 hours ago
With foreclosures of homes on the rise, so are stories of pet abandonment, but pet food maker Del Monte says sales of dog and cat food and treats hasn’t ...


Pets need a home for the holidays
Ponte Vedra Recorder, FL - 9 hours ago
The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is hosting its third annual pet adoption event, "A Home for the Holidays," on Saturday, Dec. ...
Mango: Be Aware of the Holiday Let Down Edge
all 2 news articles


Get your pets in the holiday spirit
Bayshore Courier, NJ - 5 hours ago
The Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is ushering in the holiday season with several opportunities for pets to take pictures ...
MCSPCA offers free wrapping Bayshore Courier
all 2 news articles


Holidays bring safety challenges for family pets
Atlanta Journal Constitution,  USA - 11 hours ago
By DENISE FLAIM Cooked turkey and chicken bones are an oft-warned-about danger, as they splinter easily, creating the potential for perforation or choking. ...


The Oregonian - OregonLive.com

Oregon Humane Society technology matches pets to adopters
The Oregonian - OregonLive.com, OR - 38 minutes ago
Adorable Rocky, looking for a home at the Oregon Humane Society, might be your perfect pet. If he isn't quite your match, the organization will email you ...


Dogpile raises money for pets in need
CNET News, CA - Dec 2, 2008
Metasearch engine Dogpile announced Tuesday that it has raised $100000 toward its goal of raising $1 million to help pets in need. ...
Dogpile.com Users Raise First $100000 for ASPCA MarketWatch
all 14 news articles


Providence Journal

Protecting pets during the holidays
Charleston Gazette,  USA - 19 hours ago
Here are tips from PetSource.org to ensure your pets remain safe this holiday season. Don't feed your pet human food. Human foods such as turkey, ...
Smiling all the way Providence Journal
Area animal shelters need holiday help Kentucky.com
all 4 news articles

Pets - Google News

home | site map
© 2007