The Surprising Ways Animals Help Humans Heal

Woman and horse looking at each other - photo credit Pexels _1280-6735455.jpg

By Marianne Graff Published on September 10, 2024

When most people hear the phrase ‘animal healing’, they immediately think of medical treatments for pets, or wild animal rescues from danger or illness. Few think about how animals help heal humans.

But animals have been helping humans heal physically, emotionally and spiritually for centuries.

This article explores some of the surprising ways animals routinely help humans heal from a variety of illnesses and issues.

Emotional Health Benefits of Being Around Animals

Most people know that having a cat, dog or bird as a pet makes them happy.

But how, exactly, do pets reduce stress, relieve depression, soothe anxiety and improve a person’s overall well-being?

It turns out that simply being around pets can reduce the production of cortisol, which is a hormone associated with producing stress in the body. Lower levels of cortisol means lower stress in the body.

Having pets can require taking them outside to play and have walks, and being outdoors in sunlight and fresh air is physically beneficial to people.

Increased sunlight exposure helps regulate hormones such as serotonin which are related to sleep patterns and which contribute to improved moods.

Caring for pets is good for our health. But it goes much deeper than that.

There are many surprising ways that animals help humans.

1. Cat purrs are healing.

Did you know that being around purring cats can help lower a person’s blood pressure, alleviate stress, and heal your bones, joints, tendons and heal wounds more quickly?

Cats purr at a frequency of between 25 hertz and 140 hertz, which is documented as being a frequency of healing. It is well known that cats rarely have issues with connective tissue or incidence of cancer, which many veterinarians have attributed to the healing benefits of their purring. According to studies in vibrational therapy, using a frequency between 10 hertz and 50 hertz led to the healing of bones, joints and tendons in humans. It is thought that since the frequency of cat purrs overlaps this healing frequency range that purring cats can help humans heal.

2. Bees are tiny but powerful healers.

The gentle buzzing of bees (between 150 hertz and 250 hertz depending on the type of bee) has also been reported to have calming effects on people, reducing their cortisol levels and so, the amount of stress they feel.

Bee venom injections and apithetapy treatments have been reported to be helpful in treatments for those suffering from inflammatory forms of skin issues and diseases (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis, Parkinson’s disease, MS, chronic pain) in large part due the presence of melletin in the bee sting venom.

3. Horses have been used to aid physical and spiritual healing for humans for centuries.

Horseback riding is more than just fun.

For those suffering from muscular diseases, accidents and those with balance issues,horseback riding helps people build core muscle strength, and regain mobility.

Horseback riding also helps kids with Autism learn balance and coordination. There is ample evidence that autistic children quickly form a very calming connection with horses just from being around them and riding them. Dr.Juli Coffin , with numerous reports of how horseback riding helps Autistic kids calm and learn to interact better with humans after sessions with a horse.

Horses are famous for their ability to sense and connect with humans on many levels, including spiritual connections. Many indigenous peoples and Mongolian people have a long history of healing on a spiritual level with the aid of horses.

Horses have also been used successfully for treatments for people suffering from childhood trauma. For example, the Guardian featured a documentary series about Dr. Juli Coffin, an Australian Nyangumarta woman and mental-health professional in Australia who used her herd of horses to help aboriginal teens in her area recover from a devastating series of suicides in their community.

This is just a quick glimpse into the amazing ways animals can help humans feel better on a physical, emotional, and spiritual level.

Stay tuned for more articles exploring the way animals can help humans heal.

Sources

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Cercielo,S. et al. “Clinical Applications of Vibrational Therapy in Orthopaedic Practise” Muscles Ligaments Tendons J. 2016 Jan-Mar; 6(1): 147–156. 19 May 2016. doi: 10.11138/mltj/2016.6.1.147

El Gato Veterinary Hospital staff. “The Fascinating Science Behind a Cat’s Purr” Jul 2023 https://elgatovet.com/blog/the-fascinating-science-behind-a-cats-purr/

“Healing Powers of Pets: How Animals can Improve Physical and Mental Well Being”. Child Guidance Resource Centre Staff https://www.cgrc.org/blog/the-healing-powers-of-pets-how-animals-can-improve-mental-and-physical-well-being/#:~:text=By%20pr

Hicklin, T., Piazza, G. (2018). The power of pets health benefits of human-animal interactions. NIH News In Health, 1-2. https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2018/02/power-pets

“How Horses are Healing Childhood Trauma” The Guardian. 24, April 2024. https://youtu.be/ofaT-uqcGjs?si=XX74mS1vDR75XuQD

KPIS. CBS news Bay Area. “Healing Through Horses: the Benefits of Equine Therapy”. May 15,2023 Video. Interview by Ryan Yamamoto News Anchor. Interview with Dr. Beverly Kane, Adjunct Clinical Professor of Medicine at Stanford at the benefits and types of equine therapies.https://youtu.be/hu3na3SVZU4?si=SdBc_UY6Afh5gya1

Mariani, N.“Behind Cat Purrs and their Power- Sharing the Benefits”. TheInspiredMind.com 23 Mar 23.https://www.inspirethemind.org/post/behind-cats-purrs-and-their-healing-power-sharing-the-benefits#:~:text=Is%20it%20possible%20that%20cat,tendon%20repair%2C%20and%20wound%20healing.

Rees, M. “Bee Stings for Arthritis”. Medical News Today.com. 22 Dec 2021.https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/bee-stings-for-arthritis

Shahbandeh, M. “Pet Population in Canada 2020-2025” Statista.https://www.statista.com/statistics/1255017/pet-population-canada/

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