The Science of Smell with Lucy, Hedgewitch Essentials Ltd

I'm delighted to be joined by Lucy the founder of Hedgewitch Essentials.  Whilst we often think about what we put in our bodies, how often do we think about the scents & smells we are exposed to? Lucy shares her passion for the science of smell, the therapeutic properties of essential oils & how this lead to the formation of her own products for both horses & humans. We also delve into the challenges of running a small business, delivering quality essential oil based products that preserve their true therapeutic properties.  

We share how embracing self-selection & the use of essential oils, empowered our horses, giving us a new way to communicate & transformed our relationships, whilst also helping them resolve both emotional & physical symptoms. 

Having overcome some incredible challenges, not least a severe brain injury, Lucy reminds us to have hope, look for the silver lining & the opportunities that may arise. 

Learn more about Lucy
Lucy always had a strong connection with the land being a farmer’s daughter. With a B.Sc. Hons in Agriculture, she began her working life as an agronomist, advising farmers on their crops & soil management. She later combined a love of writing with farming, becoming an agricultural journalist & magazine editor.

Her connection with horses also began at a young age & it was the feeling of helplessness when knowing they were ‘not quite right’ – that led her to alternative therapies, & in particular animal aromatherapy – which has since become known as animal pharmacognosy. 

After a severe traumatic brain injury in 2017, life changed considerably for Lucy but it allowed her to follow her dreams & become an equine pharmacognosy practitioner with Caroline Ingraham. The training involved learning about the pharmacology & biochemistry of essential oils & it was this that sparked the founding of Hedgewitch Essentials Ltd, with her partner Mike.

Hedgewitch recognised that the therapeutic properties of species-appropriate essential oils could be enormously beneficial to the wider population of horses. It was a tough decision because the first rule when offering essential oils to horses to self-medicate is to allow them the freedom to move away – to give them a choice. 

With the use of essential oils growing in horse care products, Lucy wanted to create a natural range, based on the oils horses would select themselves for certain conditions. Importantly, she wanted to make sure that these were pedantically & sustainably sourced because the quality of the oils is paramount when using them therapeutically – both for the health of the horse & to be effective. 

Website: https://www.hedgewitchessentials.co.uk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hedgewitchessentials/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hedgewitchessentials/

Other Links:
Caroline Ingraham: https://www.carolineingraham.com/