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Return to Essential Oil Therapy Page Fella...A horse with multiple, ulcerated Sarcoids Fella is a 9 year old tri-coloured shire cross cob who belongs to Sharon and suffers from Sarcoids. In October 2004, I was asked if I would do an EOT consultation as he had been treated for Sarcoids by tying off and surgery but they had come back and were spreading at an alarming rate to the point where Sharon could not ride him because they were catching against the girth. Sarcoids are often described as wart-like tumours, which, although not normally malignant, can grow at an often-alarming rate and may ulcerate and bleed profusely. The cause is still a matter for debate but there is a suggestion that they are initially viral and that there may be an element of immune-suppression involved. Sarcoids come in 6 types, all with their own distinct pathology...Occult, Verrucous (warty), Nodular, Fibroblastic, Mixed (Nodular, Verrucous and Fibroblastic) and Malevolent. Most vets are very circumspect in their treatment of sarcoids of all types since it is very difficult to remove all the cells by whatever method and they often return worse than before. There are several methods of treatment including surgery, cryosurgery (freezing), the "Liverpool Cream" which is a cytotoxic compound, Vaccines and radiation. Fella had a mixture of types, mainly Occult, Verrucous, Fibroblastic and Nodular and many of them were ulcerated and bleeding. They were mainly located in the corner of his left eye, on his muzzle, on his brisket and in his armpits and there was a nodular one on the left side of his sheath. As they were no longer suitable for surgery, the only other option was the Liverpool cream, which uses a cytotoxic compound to kill the cells that form the sarcoid and involves the vet visiting on several consecutive days to apply the treatment. It can be effective but Sharon was very concerned about using such an aggressive and potentially uncomfortable treatment, especially as the sarcoids covered such a large area and were close to his eye and mouth. Sharon's vet was happy for her to try EOT but was unsure whether it could be helpful. I met Sharon and Fella in early October 2004 and carried out a full consultation which involved looking at the history, management and treatment of the sarcoids so far, Fella's general health, management and lifestyle and any other relevant information on his character and general disposition which could be helpful when selecting appropriate oils. Doing the Assessment I took a small sample of hair from Fella's mane and arranged to do a full kinesiology assessment, returning within a few days with the oils and topical application that had been indicated. Fella showed weaknesses in the energy of the Bladder, Triple Warmer/Adrenals, Gall Bladder (horses have no Gall bladder but they do have the energy meridian or line for it) Liver and Reproductive system and excess energy in the Stomach and Large Intestine. The oils indicated were Carrot seed, Peppermint and Elemi in Sunflower oil and the topical base was white clay, which is very soothing and protective. It is a good sunscreen due to a high level of Aluminium and as Fella also suffers from photo-toxicity, which causes sunburn on the pink skin of his muzzle, this was an interesting choice. However, whatever the assessment shows, the animal has the final word as to whether the oils are correct and we always follow the principles of self-selection. Put simply, if the animal says "No", we don't continue. Fella was immediately interested in the oils and happy to have the topical application applied to the sarcoids and Sharon soon got into a routine of offering the oils and applying the clay twice a day. Fella went off the oils after a month and I carried out a reassessment. This time he had weak energy in the Governing meridian, Stomach, Heart, Bladder, Kidney, Gall Bladder, Liver, Immune system and Reproductive although some of the original assessments which had been weak on both sides of the body were now only weak on one side only. There were no over energies and the oils indicated this time were Myrrh, Carrot Seed and Lemon, again in Sunflower seed but this time the topical base was Aloe Vera gel On the face of it if you simply compare the assessment, Fella's energy systems appear to be in worse shape but there are two important things to remember. One is that often, these sorts of problems can be a long time in the making and by working on one energetic imbalance, we then allow another to reveal itself for resolution. The other thing to bear in mind is that Fella's sarcoids started dropping off within 2 weeks of his owner offering the oils! It is always very difficult to say to an anxious owner how long it may take to resolve a situation, especially when using other methods may be quicker but it is vital that you remember that EOT is concerned with the underlying reason and not just the symptoms. In Fella's case, Sharon's initial motivation was to deal with the symptoms, which were the sarcoids, but she has noticed big and positive differences in his temperament and outlook to life during his time on the oils. The Role of the owner I have chosen Fella as the subject of this case study article because he is a prime example of what can be achieved given time and a totally dedicated owner. Fella would not have showed the improvement that he has without the conscientious and sensitive way that Sharon has offered the oils. Fella continued to take the oils over the next 10 months, usually staying on each set for 4-6 weeks although at the time of writing (11 th September 2005), his last assessment was on 5 th August 2005 and he has not gone off the oils yet. I have included a before and after picture of his brisket area so that you can see the difference. So far he has lost the sarcoid under his left eye and the occult one on his muzzle, virtually all the ones on his brisket have gone and the bare "Rhino hide" has returned to normal skin with a complete covering of hair the same colour as the rest bar a couple of small, bare patches. The only remaining sarcoids are now one large one on the brisket which was open and bleeding at the start of treatment but is now closed and covered in smooth, pink skin, and one in each armpit which have shrunk to about 25% of their original sizes and have flattened out and are still decreasing in size weekly. The only other sarcoid left is the nodular one on his sheath. This began life the size of a large grape and over the next few months, it changed shape to resemble an acorn before finally bursting out in late June to reveal that there has indeed been an Iceberg under the surface as the lump that was revealed was about four times the size of the bump we could see from the surface. It is still a red, shiny lump that bleeds or oozes now and again but appears to be giving him no discomfort and Sharon is able to apply the clay twice a day. Clay is a particularly useful base as it is soothing and drawing but also helps to dry up the area and acts as a physical barrier against flies and dirt and as a result, the attachment to the body is beginning to get smaller and the lump should eventually become starved of blood supply and fall off. I suspect it will be another couple of months before we get rid of the last of the sarcoids but considering Sharon's original goal was simply to get them to heal over so that the flies didn't get to them this summer, I think the result of the therapy has been very satisfying as Fella is now back in full work and able to be turned out without fly problems. I will update you on Fella's progress later in the year.
*** UPDATE April 2006 *** Fellas essential oil therapy is still ongoing but tantalisingly near completion and is a perfect example of how a body will heal at its own pace if allowed to. The sheath sarcoid which suddenly erupted in the summer of 2005, healed over during the winter and is just a small lump, smaller than the original sarcoid, which is gradually covering over with hair and shrinking back flat with the sheath. I would not have believed the size of the lump that was lurking under the surface had I not seen it (see pictures) but now Fellas body has rejected it and it has fallen off, there is every chance that it will not return.
The sarcoid on his chest is proving to be a persistent customer but nevertheless, it too is shrinking and is thinner and just feels like a thickened lump of mobile skin with no attachment to the underlying tissue where as before it was a deep-rooted, solid mass.
More updates soon! Return to Essential Oil Therapy Page
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