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  Discussion on Clove Oil for Numbing?
Author Message
Member:
aannk

Posted on Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 - 2:43 pm:

I read in the Brittish magazine Horse & Rider that this can be used to numb a horse's mane to make pulling more tolerable. Anyone ever used it? If so, how would one apply it? The bottles come in 5ml sizes, which would only numb two inches of mane. What do you mix it with, and in what quantities?
Anyone know?
Alicia
Member:
ajudson1

Posted on Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 - 8:48 pm:

Never heard of that, but I've put a whole clove in my mouth when my teeth used to ache. It does work to numb tooth aches.

I guess I would try mixing it with some oil. Maybe a light oil like sesame? Normally with essential oils you only use a few DrOps in the carrier, which would be the sesame seed oil. Full strength might burn. Experiment in a small area of the mane and just watch your horses reaction.

Sorry, don't know any exact measurements but I'd start out with a weak solution and keep tweaking.
Member:
mrose

Posted on Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 - 10:43 pm:

They sell stuff in the drug store and in the baby section at stores like Walmart for teething babies that works good, is it Oral Gel? Something like that. Also, if ask your doctor or dentist, they might give you a little topical anesthetic which works good for numerous things when you need an area numb for awhile. Some of the over the counter throat sprays are numbing, too.
Member:
aannk

Posted on Friday, Apr 20, 2007 - 1:15 pm:

Angie,
Would you really use an edible oil? Wouldn't mineral oil be less, well, likely to spoil?
Sara,
I bet using enough oral gel to numb an entire mane would be VERY expensive. Plus, I don't want to spray a syrup into my horse's mane! I may ask my dentist, but I bet anything they use in the mouth is digestible, which means it would spoil.
Alicia
New Member:
cdhale

Posted on Friday, Apr 20, 2007 - 3:08 pm:

Hi, I've been lurking for a year, I have learned so much from all of you. I'm finally jumping in, I read something of possible use. In Kelly Marks' book Teach Your Horse Perfect Manners, she talks about clove oil for this use. She says it contains a major irritant called eugenol that can cause sores, puffiness and scabbing.The buds contain the least amount of it and can only be harvested when ripe. The rest of the clove oil available is extracted from the stems and leaves. I don't know if it specifies this on the bottle. A knowledgable employee in a natural foods store might be of help. Carole
Member:
ajudson1

Posted on Friday, Apr 20, 2007 - 9:30 pm:

According to the Prescription for Nutritional Healing: Clove oil is very strong and can cause irritation if used in it's pure form. Diluting in Olive oil or distilled water is recommended. Should not be taken internally.

Has antiseptic and Antiparasitic properties. Applied topically for toothache and mouth pain.

Suggested dilution rates: for massage oil, 25 DrOps to 2 ounces of the carrier. For facial oil, 6 DrOps oil to 1 oz of the carrier. Hair rinse, 10 DrOps of the essential oil to 16 oz of water.

Suggested carriers: Almond oil, apricot oil, grapeseed oil, jojoba oil, olive oil, distilled water.

From the Complete Book of Essential oils & Aromatherapy:

Clove oil is antibacterial, antiseptice and analgesic. It is a very powerful oil that has been used for the sterilization of surgical instruments. It should not be used undiluted on the skin.

General suggestions for all essential oils: 2-5 DrOps per teaspoon of the base oil.

Alicia,

Just skimming my books for info for you. Maybe just try a few DrOps in any of the above mentioned oils, do a small area, and leave if for 24 hours to see if your horse has a bad reaction to it. Working a tsp of oil with 2 DrOps of the clove oil would maybe go farther than you think? The reason I said sesame seed oil was I thinking of the nice stuff I use in the bath tub! It's so nice and light, not a heavy oil like if you used mineral oil. I buy the Wal Mart brand, but that may have other things in it which is why you should use the oils like for cooking. Keep both ingredients pure that way.

Let us know what works out for you.
Member:
aannk

Posted on Saturday, Apr 21, 2007 - 7:30 pm:

OK, I will try sesame seed oil and do a test first. thanks for the help!
Alicia
Member:
aannk

Posted on Thursday, May 3, 2007 - 3:46 pm:

Well, I tried it and he didn't seem any less sensitive. Oh well!
Alicia
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