Itchy Witchy Information
Welcome to the Itchy Witchy Experience
The Itchy Witchy line is distinctive for two reasons, the novel use and blend of essential oils to naturally calm and soothe the cause of itchy dogs and the unique nano-encapsulated delivery device that makes topical application stress free for human and canine.
Our use of certain essential oils is predicated by the elements contained in four base oils that target specific bacterial, fungal, or yeast origins of itch.
Essential oils, derived from the "essence" of a plant, have been utilized for centuries in various cultures for their therapeutic properties, including the treatment of skin conditions. These highly concentrated plant extracts are gotten from the aromatic parts of plants, such as leaves, flowers, stems, and roots.
Essential Oils History
Historical Use
Ancient Civilizations: Historical records reveal that civilizations like the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans were pioneers in using essential oils for skincare. They blended essential oils with natural substances to create balms, ointments, and perfumes, often associated with religious and medicinal purposes.
Traditional Medicine: In Asia, Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicine have long employed essential oils to treat skin disorders. Oils from trees and bark were applied topically to combat infections, wounds, and acne.
Herbalism: Throughout medieval Europe, herbalists and apothecaries used essential oils in salves and poultices to address various skin issues, from rashes to burns.
Modern Use
Aromatherapy: In the modern era, aromatherapy has gained prominence. Essential oils are diffused or added to carrier oils and applied topically in diluted form. Lavender oil, for instance, is used to soothe and heal minor burns, insect bites, and dermatitis.
Antimicrobial Properties: Cinnamon and basil oil are often recognized for their potent antimicrobial properties. They are often employed in holistic alternative treatments to combat fungal infections, acne, and skin irritations.
Anti-Inflammatory Effects: Some essential oils are known for their anti-inflammatory qualities. They can alleviate redness and itching associated with many skin conditions. Cinnamon and tea tree oils, for instance, can improve blood circulation in the skin, which may aid in reducing puffiness and swelling.
Skin Rejuvenation: Essential oils like coconut and myrrh are believed to have rejuvenating effects on the skin. They are even found in numerous modern skincare products.
Essential Oils Care and Use
Start with Itchy Witchy
The proprietary Itchy Witchy essential oils formula are pre-diluted within the nano-encapsulation. The use of Itchy Witchy products should be done gradually to get the dog used to the new sensation and to watch for adverse reactions.
A small number of dogs may experience irritation or allergic reactions to certain essential oils. You're more likely to see a reaction if the dog has a history of reactions to other topical products.
For the first week, limit use to 1 to 2 hours a day. After the introductory period, the products can be used as desired.
Washing Instructions
Itchy Witchy products are machine washable and will not effect the efficacy of the embedded micro-encapuslated essential oils.
Machine wash in cold water with mild detergent.
Supporting Research
Use of Essential Oils in Veterinary Medicine to Combat Bacterial and Fungal Infections
Abstract: Essential oils (EOs) are secondary metabolites of plants employed in folk medicine for a long time thanks to their multiple properties. In the last years, their use has been introduced in veterinary medicine, too. The study of the antibacterial properties of EOs is of increasing interest, because therapies with alternative drugs are welcome to combat infections caused by antibiotic-resistant strains. Other issues could be resolved by EOs employment, such as the presence of antibiotic residues in food of animal origin and in environment. Although the in vitro antimicrobial activity of EOs has been frequently demonstrated in studies carried out on bacterial and fungal strains of different origins, there is a lack of information about their effectiveness in treating infections in animals. The scientific literature reports some studies about in vitro EOs’ activity against animal clinical bacterial and fungal isolates, but in vivo studies are very scanty. The use of EOs in therapy of companion and farm animals should follow careful studies on the toxicity of these natural products in relation to animal species and route of administration. Moreover, considering the different behavior of EOs in relation to both species and strain pathogen, before starting a therapy, an aromatogram should be executed to choose the oil with the best antimicrobial activity.
The Inhibition of Non-albicans Candida Species and Uncommon Yeast Pathogens by Selected Essential Oils and Their Major Compounds
Abstract: The epidemiology of yeast infections and resistance to available antifungal drugs are rapidly increasing, and non-albicans Candida species and rare yeast species are increasingly emerging as major opportunistic pathogens. In order to identify new strategies to counter the threat of antimicrobial resistant microorganisms, essential oils (EOs) have become an important potential in the treatment of fungal infections. EOs and their bioactive pure compounds have been found to exhibit a wide range of remarkable biological activities. We investigated the in vitro antifungal activity of nine commercial EOs such as Thymus vulgaris (thyme red), Origanum vulgare (oregano), Lavandula vera (lavender), Pinus sylvestris (pine), Foeniculum vulgare (fennel), Melissa officinalis (lemon balm), Salvia officinalis (sage), Eugenia caryophyllata (clove) and Pelargonium asperum (geranium), and some of their main components (α-pinene, carvacrol, citronellal, eugenol, γ-terpinene, linalool, linalylacetate, terpinen4-ol, thymol) against non-albicans Candida strains and uncommon yeasts. The EOs were analyzed by GC-MS, and their antifungal properties were evaluated by minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum fungicidal concentration parameters, in accordance with CLSI guidelines, with some modifications for EOs. Pine exhibited strong antifungal activity against the selected non-albicans Candida isolates and uncommon yeasts. In addition, lemon balm EOs and α-pinene exhibited strong antifungal activity against the selected non-albicans Candida yeasts. Thymol inhibited the growth of all uncommon yeasts. These data showed a promising potential application of EOs as natural adjuvant for management of infections by emerging non-albicans Candida species and uncommon pathogenic yeasts.
Selection of Essential Oils in Itchy Witchy
We have found that a combination of Lavendar, Basil, Coconut, and Cinnamon essential oils are most effective in soothing most skin conditions in dogs. We have created a formula that uses a proprietary blend that is believed will be effective on most breeds.
Research:
Bacteria growth inhibition and composition of Lavender essential oil
Analysis of serum cortisol levels by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy for diagnosis of stress in athletes
Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy is a technique with great potential for body fluids analyses. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of session training on cortisol concentrations in rugby players by means of infrared analysis of serum. Methods: Blood collections were performed pre, post and 24 hours after of rugby training sessions. Serum cortisol was analyzed by FT-IR spectroscopy and chemiluminescent immunoassay. Results: There was a significant difference between the integrated area, in the region of 1180-1102 cm-1, of the spectra for pre, post and post 24 h serums. The cortisol concentration obtained by chemiluminescent immunoassay showed no significant difference between pre, post and post 24 h. Positive correlations were obtained between the techniques (r = 0.75), post (r = 0.83) and post 24 h (r = 0.73). Conclusion: The results showed no increase in cortisol levels of the players after the training sessions, as well as positive correlations indicating that FT-IR spectroscopy have produced promising results for the analysis of serum for diagnosis of stress.
Physiological stress reactivity and recovery related to behavioral traits in dogs (Canis familiaris)
This study investigated whether stress responsiveness (in one context) can be used to predict dog behavior in daily life. On two occasions (NT1 = 32 puppies; NT2 = 16 young adults), dogs’ physiological stress response after a behavioral test at home was measured in terms of reactivity (10 min post-test) and recovery (40 min post-test) for three salivary markers: cortisol, chromogranin A (CgA) and secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA). For each marker, it was determined whether dogs with a strong physiological response displayed different behavior in daily life compared to dogs with a weaker physiological response. The results revealed three main findings: first, for CgA and cortisol, different patterns were identified according to sample time. High reactivity related to desirable traits, whereas slow recovery after the behavioral test related to undesirable traits. The findings suggest that increased levels of CgA and cortisol 10 minutes after the behavioral test reflected an adaptive stress response, whereas elevated levels 40 minutes after the test reflected unsuccessful coping. Second, patterns for sIgA differed from CgA and cortisol: significant associations were only found with behavioral traits at T2, mostly considered desirable and related to Trainability. Possibly, the delayed reaction pattern of sIgA caused this difference between markers, as sIgA reflects the (secondary) immune response to stress, due to immunosuppressive effects of cortisol. Third, predictive capacity of puppies’ physiological stress response (T1) was inconclusive, and contrary relations were found with behavioral traits at T2, suggesting that developmental factors play an important role. This study provides new insights about the relation between stress physiology and behavioral traits, and methodological advice is given to study these patterns further. In conclusion, physiological markers could provide additional insights in dogs’ tendencies to display certain behaviors, especially at the young adult stage.
Research:
Anti-Microbial properties and composition of Sweet Basil essential oil
Analysis of serum cortisol levels by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy for diagnosis of stress in athletes
Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy is a technique with great potential for body fluids analyses. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of session training on cortisol concentrations in rugby players by means of infrared analysis of serum. Methods: Blood collections were performed pre, post and 24 hours after of rugby training sessions. Serum cortisol was analyzed by FT-IR spectroscopy and chemiluminescent immunoassay. Results: There was a significant difference between the integrated area, in the region of 1180-1102 cm-1, of the spectra for pre, post and post 24 h serums. The cortisol concentration obtained by chemiluminescent immunoassay showed no significant difference between pre, post and post 24 h. Positive correlations were obtained between the techniques (r = 0.75), post (r = 0.83) and post 24 h (r = 0.73). Conclusion: The results showed no increase in cortisol levels of the players after the training sessions, as well as positive correlations indicating that FT-IR spectroscopy have produced promising results for the analysis of serum for diagnosis of stress.
Physiological stress reactivity and recovery related to behavioral traits in dogs (Canis familiaris)
This study investigated whether stress responsiveness (in one context) can be used to predict dog behavior in daily life. On two occasions (NT1 = 32 puppies; NT2 = 16 young adults), dogs’ physiological stress response after a behavioral test at home was measured in terms of reactivity (10 min post-test) and recovery (40 min post-test) for three salivary markers: cortisol, chromogranin A (CgA) and secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA). For each marker, it was determined whether dogs with a strong physiological response displayed different behavior in daily life compared to dogs with a weaker physiological response. The results revealed three main findings: first, for CgA and cortisol, different patterns were identified according to sample time. High reactivity related to desirable traits, whereas slow recovery after the behavioral test related to undesirable traits. The findings suggest that increased levels of CgA and cortisol 10 minutes after the behavioral test reflected an adaptive stress response, whereas elevated levels 40 minutes after the test reflected unsuccessful coping. Second, patterns for sIgA differed from CgA and cortisol: significant associations were only found with behavioral traits at T2, mostly considered desirable and related to Trainability. Possibly, the delayed reaction pattern of sIgA caused this difference between markers, as sIgA reflects the (secondary) immune response to stress, due to immunosuppressive effects of cortisol. Third, predictive capacity of puppies’ physiological stress response (T1) was inconclusive, and contrary relations were found with behavioral traits at T2, suggesting that developmental factors play an important role. This study provides new insights about the relation between stress physiology and behavioral traits, and methodological advice is given to study these patterns further. In conclusion, physiological markers could provide additional insights in dogs’ tendencies to display certain behaviors, especially at the young adult stage.