Animals experience emotions just like humans do. Although they can’t say when they’re happy, sad, or stressed, you can get enough information about how your pet feels just by looking at their behavior. So, it’s not uncommon if you notice your pet has been restless, nervous, or agitated. A myriad of factors can affect how your pet is feeling, especially when it comes to stress.

In this case, many pet owners would go with some medication to soothe their pets and help them relax. However, there’s no need to go with such harsh medication as medicinal herbs, and natural remedies can do the trick.

So, if you’re interested in how you can help your pet relax with the assistance of some medicinal herbs, keep reading.

CBD edibles

Cannabis is a widely used plant and is known for its numerous health benefits, such as treating depression, stress, anxiety, cancer symptoms, osteoarthritis, multiple sclerosis, inflammation, and much more. This plant gained popularity and recognition over the years.

However, humans aren’t the only ones able to enjoy the relaxing and soothing properties of the cannabis plant. Namely, there’s a large selection of cannabis products safe for pets, including CBD oils and treats. However, you should strictly avoid giving your pets THC gummies or products formulated for humans.

Designed just like regular treats, you can give these CBD edibles to your pet as a treat or blend them in with their typical meal. The THC levels are regulated, less than 0.3%, so you don’t have to worry about getting your pet accidentally high – there’s just enough THC to provide a soothing effect.

Herbs and a glass bowl

Medicinal Herbs

Cannabis isn’t the only helpful plant, so if you’re not comfortable with it, you can use many other medicinal herbs instead. However, you should always talk to your vet before starting any treatment, especially when using a blend of different herbs to ensure they don’t interfere or cancel each other’s effects.

When choosing a suitable herb, most pets are similar to humans, especially cats and dogs. So, herbs can help with almost any issue, including bladder and kidney diseases, gassing, digestive problems, bone, tissue, joint injuries, and stress. Additionally, herbs can also help with parasites and skin conditions, making them an excellent solution for your furry friend’s overall well-being.

Chamomile, rosemary, thyme, catnip, and valerian are all great choices to naturally reduce stress and provide relaxing effects. Simply mix one of the herbs into their favorite meal, and your pet will be calm in no time.

Aromatherapy

A less invasive way of accomplishing relaxing effects is with aromatherapy. As its name suggests, aromatherapy includes the smell and aroma of plants with therapeutic and soothing effects. Certain plants have stress-relieving properties, so they’re the ones most commonly used in aromatherapy.

Lavender, lemongrass, sandalwood, chamomile, rose, ylang-ylang, and peppermint are perfect for relieving your pet’s stress levels; just make sure you’re careful with the aromas – some are toxic when ingested. In contrast, others can cause allergic reactions if they come in contact with the pet’s skin.

Flower and glass oil bottle

Essential Oil Tinctures

However, there are also other kinds of herbal oils. Namely, some herbs are used to produce essential oil tinctures safe for ingestion or skin treatments. So, if you notice the aromatherapy isn’t giving you the desired effect or it lasts for a short time, you might want to try out these tinctures.

The essential oil tinctures are typically a blend of several medicinal herbs that complement each other’s effects. So you can get specific tinctures for relaxing and soothing purposes. 

Besides, these tinctures have several use varieties, so you can choose whether you’ll put several drops directly in your pet’s mouth or mix it with their water.

Massage

Finally, stress can sometimes be just a side-effect of a more significant issue. Your pet might be suffering from muscle inflammation, tissue pain, cramps, joint injury, or something similar. Increased stress is often a sign that something isn’t right.

In this case, you can try a gentle body massage. Even if it doesn’t help with the potential injury, a massage is going to help your pet calm down and relax until you go to the vet or until your herbal products arrive.

When they do, you can use aromatic and essential oil products for better massage results. Combining therapeutic oils and aromas with physical massage will offer your pet a complete spa experience; just make sure you’re using products safe for the pet’s skin.

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Conclusion

To sum everything up, medicinal herbs can do a great deal for both humans and animals. If you own a pet struggling with stress or anxiety, you don’t need chemicals and heavy medications to help them. By trying out these five ways of helping your four-legged friends featuring natural and medicinal herbs, you’ll see that it’s possible to solve their issues with just a few natural remedies.