Authentic Health and Wellness for Pets and their Humans

22/08/2025

🌿 Copaiba Essential Oil: 3 Science-Backed Benefits You Need to Know

Copaiba essential oil, distilled from the resin of the Copaifera tree, is loaded with β-caryophyllene, a sesquiterpene that interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system (CB2 receptors). Here are 4 scientifically supported benefits of copaiba 👇

🔬 1. Potent Anti-Inflammatory & Antioxidant Activity

Chronic inflammation drives conditions from chronic pain, to arthritis, to autoimmune conditions, to cardiovascular disease. Copaiba oil shows remarkable anti-inflammatory activity:
• In animal models of arthritis, β-caryophyllene and copaiba oil reduced swelling, lymph node enlargement, and oxidative damage.
• Reduction in leukocyte infiltration indicates that copaiba modulates the immune response at a cellular level, not just symptomatically.
• Its antioxidant activity also helps neutralize free radicals, reducing oxidative stress, which plays a major role in tissue inflammation.

🧠 2. Neuroprotective Properties

The brain is highly vulnerable to inflammation and oxidative injury, but copaiba oil demonstrates protection:
• In a controlled study, a single 400 mg/kg dose of copaiba resin reduced motor cortex damage by ~39% in animals with induced brain injury.
• Mechanistically, this benefit is linked to its ability to reduce neuroinflammation via CB2 receptor activity, which regulates microglial activation.

✨ 3. Skin Healing & Regeneration

Copaiba’s chemistry makes it a natural ally for skin health:
• Its anti-inflammatory action calms conditions like acne, eczema, and psoriasis by reducing cytokine-driven irritation.
• Copaiba also promotes collagen synthesis and fibroblast activity, accelerating wound closure and improving elasticity.
• Its antimicrobial and regenerative effects further support reduced scarring and prevention of secondary infections.

- Dr. Doug

21/08/2025

The look I get after a "aroma-relax" session 😂🐕🐾
Hutchi is such a stunning boy waiting
for his forever home, just love this big guy at Dassenberg Horse and Dog Rescue Centre 🐕♥️

21/08/2025

New Date & Venue.

Only 4 seats left. Make sure you book today!

Discover a deeper connection with your horse in a transformative workshop exploring equine well-being from a holistic perspective.
Join Louise Broodryk Basson and Spike Lister for a transformative workshop exploring equine well-being from a truly holistic perspective.

Louise Basson offers a deeply intuitive and holistic approach to equine well-being, specialising in Equine Fascia Trauma Release, Self-Medication with Plant Extracts (Zoopharmacognosy), and Animal Communication. Her work centres on emotional awareness, connection, and supporting horses in releasing trauma and returning to balance.

Spike Lister brings a lifetime of hands-on horse experience, having grown up around horses and worked extensively with Polo ponies. He has a particular skill in backing green horses, addressing problem behaviours, and developing liberty work with a calm, grounded presence.

Together, Louise and Spike offer a unique, complementary blend of physical, emotional, and behavioural support for horses.

📅 Date: 30 August
🕖 Time: 09:00 – 13:00
📌 Venue: Silver Oaks Farm Cottage, Rustenburg Road, Wellington
🏧 Cost: R750 (Refreshment included)

🐴 Fundraising workshop in aid of
Contact Justine on 076 9433 446 to book you seat.

19/08/2025

Kitten season is ipon us.
Be vigilant.
Dont drive over any plastic bags etc
Keep eyes open for any bags / boxes lying around

09/08/2025

✨ Did you know? ✨

Just like people, animals feel and respond to our emotions – and their own. Unresolved emotional stress can affect their behaviour, health, and overall well-being.

As an Animal Naturopath, one of the therapies I use with great success is Animal Communication.
This gentle, intuitive process helps uncover the underlying emotional causes of what’s troubling your pet – whether it’s anxiety, grief, past trauma, or a stress pattern they’ve picked up from you.

When we bring those hidden emotions to light, we can support your animal on a deeper level, helping them release emotional burdens, restore trust, and return to a calmer, happier state of being.

🐾 If you’ve been wondering what your animal is trying to tell you, let’s listen together.

📩 WhatsApp me to book your session → 079 845 0564

09/08/2025

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09/08/2025

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🐎 I’ve said it many times — HORSES DO GET HEADACHES!!

And I’ll keep saying it, because too many still ignore the signs.

It is NOT normal if your horse hates to have ONE or BOTH ears touched 🚩
Let’s talk about WHY ⬇️

The general term head shyness refers to a horse that moves its head away when touched in certain areas — especially the ears, poll, face, or upper neck.

Yes, rough handling can create this behaviour. But I’m talking about the horses that give a clear pain response — and we MUST pay attention to the 🚩 red flags 🚩

Let’s break it down with some anatomy — including cranial nerves — and real-life examples:

🔺 If you have to take your bridle apart to get it on — this is NOT normal.
🚩 It’s a pain response! Likely involving the poll, the occipital bone, or surrounding soft tissues like the nuchal ligament and suboccipital muscles.

🔺 Soreness around C1 and the upper neck? 🚩
The atlas (C1) supports the skull and sits in close proximity to the brainstem — where cranial nerves originate. If there’s tension, compression, or trauma in this area, horses can experience headaches, vision changes, coordination issues, and hypersensitivity.

🔺 Ear shyness – Behind the ears lies a complex neural and muscular region. Structures here include:

CN VII (Facial Nerve) – controls facial expression; dysfunction can lead to twitching or hypersensitivity.

CN V (Trigeminal Nerve) – especially its mandibular and ophthalmic branches, which are often involved in facial pain and head-shyness.

CN VIII (Vestibulocochlear Nerve) – important for balance; tension near the inner ear can affect proprioception and make head movement uncomfortable.

🔺 Horse is poor to catch?
Many are not trying to be 'difficult’ — they’re avoiding the discomfort of the halter going on, which may stimulate the trigeminal nerve or cause tension in the TMJ area. 🚩

🔺 Can be brushed on one side but not the other? 🚩
Could be unilateral cranial nerve irritation, often stemming from fascial pulls, past trauma, or misalignment.

🔺 Foaming at the mouth under bit pressure? 🚩
This isn’t always “submission.” Bit pressure can impact:

the mandibular branch of CN V (trigeminal nerve)

the hypoglossal nerve (CN XII) — which controls tongue movement

the glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX) — associated with the throat and swallowing
All of these nerves can be compromised by poor dental balance, bitting, or cranial dysfunction.

Summary

Refusal to touch the ears, poll, or head is NOT just “bad behaviour.”
It’s communication.

Horses with myofascial pain, C1 restrictions, cranial nerve irritation, or TMJ dysfunction will naturally protect themselves — pulling away, raising the head, tensing the jaw, or shutting down altogether.

💡 Signs of stress you may see when touching the head area:

Elevated heart rate or subtle sweating

Holding the head unnaturally high

Tight nostrils or pinched expression

Squinting or avoiding eye contact

Rushing to the back of the stable when a rug is taken from the door almost in a panic

Don’t ignore these changes. Don’t write them off as “just being difficult.”
Think about pull-back injuries, rope accidents, or even long-standing bridle or bit pressure. These can have lasting effects on the cranial nerves, cervical vertebrae, fascia, and overall comfort.

Not to forget the cranial sacral connections, got a a horse with SI joint issues ? Could be related all the way to the skull!

🧠 Pain is real.
🐴 Headaches are real.
🎯 And your horse is telling you — are you listening?

Reposting because it’s THAT important.
Let’s do better for them.

04/08/2025

Your horses, pets or animals feel what you feel. When you’re standing with them, your emotions and energy can either calm or unsettle them.

Learning to manage your own emotions helps build a deeper connection and trust.
If you’d love some simple ways to support your emotional balance, I’d love to help—reach out to me :

Authentic Health and Wellness
Lynette 0798450564 🐴🐕🐈🐏🐄🕊️

25/07/2025

24/07/2025

Good morning!!!! ☕️☕️🩷

Two roosters, two friends 🐓 🐓 😁

30/04/2025

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24/04/2025

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💛 𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘 : 𝗔𝗗𝗢𝗣𝗧𝗘𝗗! 💛

Lynx is a special kitten of 9 weeks old who came in, in the most horrible condition 😢 since, he's grown strong but his eye will always tell a story.

Lynx sadly only has partial eyesight left in his one eye, but other than that this boy is a delight 😊 he is super affectionate and loves cuddling up on your lap or at the jack of your legs for a snooze. 💗

He has seen the eye specialist and he will not need any further operations yet. We will work with his adopter to make sure Lynx gets all the care he needs when needed. 😊

Inbox us or email us on [email protected] to adopt this special boy, Lynx