CardioBoost – Supporting normal Cardiovascular function and return to health
CardioBoost was created specifically for animals needing additional support of the heart, veins, arteries, clot resolution and normal clotting functions, heart rhythm, muscular health, blood cell health and normal numbers, and basically any condition of the Cardiovascular System. Who might be in need of additional cardiovascular support? Beyond the typical animal who may have Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, Dilated Cardiomyopathy, heart murmurs, arrhythmias, valve defects, abnormal blood pressure, Heartworm Disease, and other conditions that affect the Cardiovascular system – “normal” animals who may be of a breed predisposed to cardiac problems (Bengal cats and Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, or Dobermans Dilated Cardiomyopathy), a dog who has recovered from Heartworm infection, a cat with Hyperthyroidism who would be prone to developing a heart condition, or any animal that you desire to support Cardiovascular health for – CardioBoost is a wonderful consideration.
Veterinary Monitoring
Of course, you should always be working with your veterinarian to monitor any animal who is diagnosed with or suspected to have Cardiovascular compromise. In our veterinary clinic, I would obtain a starting “minimum data base” often including a blood chemistry panel, CBC, and urinalysis – prior to starting the use of essential oils. This would give me a baseline indication of health, BEFORE introducing essential oils or natural care. Then, based on veterinary evaluation, I would recheck diagnostic tests or blood values every 2-4 weeks or as indicated for the individual case. I was often pleased to hear reports that the animal appeared happier and more comfortable, while the following blood test results backed up our evidence that we were supporting health and healing.
The CardioBoost formulation has been used clinically with all sorts of patients, with varying levels of Cardiovascular compromise. We also used essential oils alongside many prescription medications and over-the-counter natural remedies – with no apparent ill effects. These animals certainly benefited from essential oils that are traditionally known for support multiple layers of Cardiovascular health.
CardioBoost is a Ready To Use (RTU) product – which is already diluted to a rate that most animals can tolerate easily. CardioBoost builds upon our KittyBoost formula – adding additional essential oils to the already amazing and supportive blend. KittyBoost (as well as CardioBoost) is not “just for cats” – please read through all of the species information in the Instructions for Use – you will learn a lot – even if you do not have a bird!
Supporting the Heart and Cardiovascular System
Essential oils have long been known to help the Cardiovascular System. From heart rate balancing and stress reduction – to actual cardioprotective effects – as reported in THIS RESEARCH ARTICLE – essential oils can support the Cardiovascular System on multiple levels.
That is one of the reasons I love essential oils so much. I can select an oil, that physically is intended to support the reduction of inflammation, balance blood pressure, or improve muscle function – however, I can still have emotional benefits with the use of the very same oil. They are WHOLE-ISTIC is every sense of the word. And, I can assure you, that for an animal who has a heart condition – there is always a level of additional stress associated with it. Whether the animal may be experiencing chest pains, an irregular heart rhythm, is on a multitude of prescription medications, or merely the subject of the “overly-watchful” owner – these things all add stress to an animal who is already in a compromised position.
A Note About Pregnant or Breeding Animals…
There is always concern if certain products can be used during pregnancy. Certainly, essential oil use should be carefully considered and discussed with your veterinarian if you have any concerns. What I have personally noted in my work with pregnant or reproductively active animals – is that the proper use of essential oils has been safe, effective, and even beneficial to conception, pregnancy, and birth. There are cautionary statements on almost every essential oil, and for almost every situation known – whether it is based in full truth or not. We often prefer to err on the side of being overly cautious, than to ever hurt a living being – especially a baby. For the most current safety information on essential oils – I do recommend the book by Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young – Essential Oil Safety, Second Edition. This book compiles data regarding each essential oil, and presents known safety information about them. It is a respected reference, and in general – I am very happy with the realistic comments made by the authors at the end of the presented information.
Why bring this subject up on the CardioBoost page? Particularly because of the inclusion of Carrot Seed essential oil within the blend. Carrot Seed has been known to aid in balancing cholesterol levels, increase red blood cells, aid in weakness and exhaustion, purify the blood, detoxify the liver, and many other actions which directly benefit the cardiovascular system. However, a few studies from long ago (1981, 1985) – report that there were anti-gestational effects, or that the oil prevented implantation and blocked progesterone synthesis. Due to these reports – Carrot Seed often gets a big contraindication for use with pregnancy – even though the dosages of essential oils used in the studies were very high, and likely not an accurate representation of how any essential oil would be used in everyday life. For example – in one study 2.5-5 mL/kg of carrot seed oil was injected subcutaneously to female rats or mice – and then was shown to prevent implantation. Well, my goodness! I can’t imagine any of my rat family going through any sort of normal pregnancy if I injected them with ANY irritating substance close to implantation – and especially in that quantity! Stress alone has shown damaging effects to pregnancy and fertility rates of animals – so to me, injecting them with large quantities of a highly irritating substance under their skin – does not necessarily relate to what the “normal use” of the essential oil might do.
However, there is likely no one on this green earth that wants to risk the use of a “potentially” harmful essential oil to a fetus. So, we all “fall in line” and recommend that the essential oil should be avoided during pregnancy. That being said – there is likely no reason that you would “have to” use Carrot Seed oil or CardioBoost during pregnancy. We can certainly select other beneficial oils, without any connected drama about pregnancy associated with them. BUT – and this is a huge BUT – an animal with a known heart condition really should not be pregnant anyway!
There are a few situations where I can see valid reasons why CardioBoost may be desired to be used for a pregnant or breeding animal. First, it may be a rescue dog who has “arrived pregnant” – and may also have a condition such as Heartworm that is also damaging the heart. In this situation, the use of CardioBoost may be desired to support the heart and cardiovascular system while the dog is pregnant. While I would personally have no concern in my own dog in using CardioBoost while they were pregnant – the decision would have to be made with your veterinarian and on a personal level, as to if you feel the benefits would outweigh any potential risks. Since the dilution and levels of Carrot Seed oil within CardioBoost are so small – I truly feel you would have more risk to the pregnancy with the heart disease, than with the essential oils within the blend. But – for all intents on full safety – if your animal is pregnant or going to become pregnant – it is probably best to just recommend that you use KittyBoost, CritterBoost, or AromaBoost RTU for your health support purposes than CardioBoost.
Another situation that may arise is the animal who used CardioBoost as a “preventive measure” – for general support of cardiovascular health – then was found to be pregnant after the use was already in place. If I were the veterinarian to a case such as this, I would simply suggest that we stop using the CardioBoost now that we know there is a pregnancy – and use KittyBoost in its place. I would not have any major concerns of potential harm, but I would just discontinue that particular exposure for the future. For those with animals who may be bred in the future, the use of CardioBoost as a support to cardiovascular health is likely of no concern at the concentrations in which the essential oils are being used. However, you may wish to err on the side of caution – and avoid the use of CardioBoost in any breeding animal, and particularly within a month or so of anticipated breeding. Again – the sad truth being that if your animal is so prone to heart disease in the first place – should you really be breeding it?
This is not to say that other essential oils within KittyBoost or AromaBoost have not been included in the list oils to be avoided during pregnancy or lactation. However, these recipes have been used with many pregnant and breeding animals over the years, with no ill effects noted. Oregano is one of those commonly used oils that is within this category according to the Tisserand book. And in actual practice, we just do not see any evidence that proper use of oregano has been anything other than helpful, along with many of the other oils listed.
All of the animalEO products would fall into the category of “These products have not been evaluated for use with pregnant or breeding animals” – as we have not done scientific studies to prove toxicity or safety of the individual products. And, quite honestly – this is unlikely to happen. There are many veterinary and natural products like this on the market. A popular joint supplement that we have used for over 10 years (and in hundreds of breeding situations) also says on the label “Safe use in pregnant animals or animals intended for breeding has not been proven.” In the veterinary field, we understand that there are many items that we feel are beneficial to health, but have not been proven safe for pregnancy.
Please see additional information on a wide variety of essential oils that have safety indications listed for them for pregnancy and lactation on THIS PAGE.
There is no real evidence of reduction of male fertility with essential oils with proper use. Two studies with enormously high amounts of essential oils ingested seemed to report reduction of sperm counts and fertility, but with such unrealistic dosages – it is more likely that the dose was more damaging than the essential oil used.
What about Blood Pressure…
This is another area of concern and controversy. So many essential oils have been “reported” or rumored to be bad for high blood pressure, or need to be avoided for people with high blood pressure. Again, almost any and every essential oil has been “named” in the hearsay game of which oils should be avoided or not. Most people regurgitate the information they have heard, without any clear knowledge or confirmation of the actual data or science behind it. In this way, “urban legends” are created – and spread like wild fire.
What I will say about Blood Pressure – is that in veterinary practice – I have only witnessed positive support of normal blood pressure through our proper use of essential oils. Again – I always have to say with PROPER use, because there are many who are using essential oils in very aggressive or improper ways – which certainly could lead to adverse physical effects.
Even in Tisserand’s book – Essential Oil Safety – his Conclusion on page 115 regarding Blood Pressure is quite wonderful – stating that many essential oils should be “scratched from the cautionary lists” and that “There is no clear evidence that essential oils have adverse effects on the control of BP in humans.”
There is far more evidence and practical use data – showing that essential oils are helpful in balancing blood pressure. And while there can be individual variation with any essential oil, whether listed in a “concern list” or not, the decision of if essential oils should be used in a case should be considered by the individual and with the help of a knowledgeable veterinarian, rather than on random internet searches or word of mouth.
A word about Clotting…
Clotting issues can be very difficult to manage traditionally. There are situations where although the body is not clotting normally, we also need to prevent the occurrence of abnormal clots in damaging locations in the body. This often means that we give medications to reduce excessive clot formation – while still hoping that the body will clot adequately enough to prevent a dangerous bleeding episode. I can guarantee you – that managing cases such as Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC) – is no easy feat. We practice on a teeter-totter of medical management – and never seem to achieve that perfect balance.
There will be questions about CardioBoost for conditions such as Immune Mediated Thrombocytopenia and Anemia. In these cases, there are reduced amounts of Red Blood Cells and Platelets – causing an abundance of issues to arise. There are oils within CardioBoost that play on both sides of the teeter-totter. Cistus and Helichrysum can support normal clotting functions as well as clot absorption and resolution. While oils such as Clove and Cinnamon – have anticoagulant actions. In my veterinary practice, I use caution with any animal having a clotting dysfunction – in anything I do. And you should be working incredibly close with a veterinarian if your animal is experiencing a health issue such as this. However, I find that our body needs to function at both ends of the teeter-totter. We cannot have clotting without the ability to dissolve the clot, and we cannot exist without the ability to clot. To me, an essential oil blend with the capability to support both spectrums of the body’s functions – is a good thing. Not confusing – but good. In the proper ratios and dilutions, and with guided use – the use of essential oils that support multiple, but seemingly divergent functions in the body can bring more balance and support to that body system.
Even cases with bruising or hematoma formation (as in ear/aural hematomas) can be supported with CardioBoost by simply applying directly to the area.
Ingredients:
Fractionated Coconut Oil, Essential Oils of Helichrysum (H. Italicum), Ylang Ylang (Cananga odorata), Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), May Chang (Litsea cubeba), Frankincense (Boswellia carterii), Copaiba (Copaifera officinalis), Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens), Marjoram (Origanum majorana), Thyme (Thymus vulgaris), Oregano (Origanum vulgare), Basil (Ocimum basilicum), Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens), Peppermint (Mentha piperita), Melissa (Melissa officinalis), Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), Citronella (Cymbopogon nardus), Cistus (Cistus ladaniferus), German Chamomile (Matricaria recutita), Roman Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile), Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans), Carrot Seed (Daucus carota), Rosemary-V (Rosmarinus officinalis), Blue Cypress (Callitris intratropica), Myrrh (Commiphora myrrha), Catnip (Nepeta cataria), Clove (Eugenia caryophyllata), Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum), Rose (Rosa damascena), Neroli (Citrus aurantium), Valerian (Valerian officinalis)