Team member dr silke kleefeld publishes 1st ever case study on applied zoopharmacognosy with a domestic cat

Alicia selects Linden Blossom essential oil

We are absolutely beyond delighted to announce the publishing of a paper of a Case Study by our own Whitethorn Team member Dr Silke Kleefeld. This ground breaking study demonstrates that domestic cats do indeed self-select essential oils in order to restore emotional balance.
Well done Silke and Alicia - pictured here with Whitethorn Herbal's Linden Blossom essential oil !  We hope that this will open the gates for more such similar studies. 
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For further details on this study see below:

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Abstract
Many animals exhibit self-medication behaviour, when given the choice, by selecting natural compounds that may serve as supportive therapeutic agents against various diseases and illnesses. We describe the use of ethnoveterinary medicine, specifically its subset, Applied Zoopharmacognosy, in a case of a cat (Felis catus) apparently demonstrating emotional distress. The cat was referred with emotional distress signs including sadness, apathy, and accentuated inappetence. No abnormality in physiological parameters was observed. Four therapeutic grade essential oils (EOs) and two absolute oils were chosen to initiate the olfactory stimulation: Lavender EO (Lavendula officinalis/augustifolia), German Chamomile EO (Matricaria recutita), Neroli EO (Citrus aurantium), Yarrow EO (Achillea millefolium), Jasmine absolute (Jasminum grandiflorum), and Linden Blossom absolute (Tilia cordata).
​Based on the self-selection of the cat, olfactory stimulation with therapeutic-grade volatiles was performed. During the acute phase of the depression-like state, the cat chose to inhale Neroli and Yarrow EOs, while during the recovery phase, the cat self-selected Jasmine and Linden Blossom absolutes for inhalation. Concomitantly, the owners provided comforting contact behaviour, including touch and auditory stimulation. This case suggests a potential role for Applied Zoopharmacognosy, that is using olfactory stimulation with self-selected EOs and absolutes, as a complementary approach for domestic cats displaying emotional distress, which warrants further investigation as a supportive therapy.