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.

PDF

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.

PDF

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:

Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of the Essential Oils of Lavandula stoechas L. ssp. stoechas Growing Wild in Turkey

PDF

Biological activities of Lavender essential oil

PDF

The antimicrobial activity of high-necrodane and other lavender oils on methicillin-sensitive and -resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA and MRSA)

PDF

ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITIES OF SWEET BASIL OILS

PDF

Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of Ocimum basilicum L. (sweet basil) from Western Ghats of North West Karnataka, India

PDF

Evaluation of the chemical composition, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of distillate and residue fractions of sweet basil essential oil

PDF

In vitro anti-inflammatory and skin protective properties of Virgin coconut oil

PDF

Supercritical CO2 Extract of Cinnamomum zeylanicum: Chemical Characterization and Antityrosinase Activity

PDF

Cinnamon: A Multifaceted Medicinal Plant

PDF

Clinical use of a ceramide-based moisturizer for treating dogs with atopic dermatitis

PDF

The effect of topical virgin coconut oil on SCORAD index, transepidermal water loss, and skin capacitance in mild to moderate pediatric atopic dermatitis: a randomized, double-blind, clinical trial

PDF