As a horse owner, I’ve always believed that caring for our animals means paying attention to the whole picture and being interested in natural ways to support the body.
Paying attention to the animal – not just how they perform, but how they recover, how they handle stress, how they move, and the little things they communicate to us through their behavior.
Growing up with a mom who has been a naturopath her entire life I was surrounded by natural wellness and witnessed the positive results firsthand. Because of that upbringing, stepping into this role myself felt like a natural extension of what I had learned and experienced throughout my life.
In many cases, we get to work alongside each other. She brings her knowledge of nutrition, herbs, holistic healing through energy, and custom-made poultices and sprays; while I bring my certification in halotherapy, red light therapy, and phototherapy in my wellness trailer.
From Navy Survival Technology to Wearable Wellness
I can credit finding phototherapy patches to my hay supplier, who is also my neighbor and friend. He mentioned them to me one day and I was intrigued enough to do my own research.
The technology traces its origins to work David Schmidt was doing with U.S. Navy survival equipment and a next-generation mini-submarine project involving Navy SEAL crews. The problem they were trying to address was how to keep the crew – including Navy SEALs – awake and functioning for extended periods without relying on drugs or stimulants.
Schmidt says that research eventually led him to explore phototherapy as a way of influencing energy production in the body. After roughly three years of research, the first LifeWave prototype, Energy Enhancer, was developed. LifeWave says the first patent was filed in 2002 for its non-transdermal technology.
But the research didn’t stop there.
As Schmidt continued studying light, the company’s technology evolved into research involving peptides and stem-cell biology. LifeWave describes its later work as exploring how specific wavelengths of light may influence naturally occurring peptides, including GHK-Cu, which is associated with cellular signaling and regenerative processes.
That eventually led to the development of newer generations of LifeWave patches designed around this research. (www.lifewave.com/lifewaveinc/home/the-science)
Using the body’s own light and energy as a part of a non-transdermal wellness approach rather than delivering a drug or chemical through the skin is fascinating.
My Own Experience
I currently deal with neck, nerve and back discomfort from the demanding physical work of owning horses. I was diagnosed with Lyme and bulging discs a few years ago. I hold a lot of tension in my back muscles making it hard for a chiropractic adjustment to hold. I have incorporated the patches into my own wellness routine. I use different patches for seasons of high stress, hormones, inflammation, etc. Knowing that my company developed a patch for horses was icing on the cake!
Horses Can’t Read the Brochure
One of my favorite things about using natural wellness with animals is that horses don’t know what they’re supposed to feel.
They don’t read the marketing.
They don’t know what a patch is supposed to do.
They aren’t thinking about whether I expect it to work.
They simply respond to what they’re experiencing. Sometimes the best feedback has four legs!
I’ve used patches on my personal horses when they are showing signs of discomfort or are sore. I’ve patched alongside open wounds and areas that are swollen or holding tension. When they need a natural energy boost for a long ride, or they need a patch to help them relax in stressful high-energy environment.
Phototherapy patches are one of the 3 wellness tools I use in my natural approach to support horses, both personally and professionally. That includes the respiratory system, recovery, relaxation, circulation, physical comfort and overall wellness.
A couple of memorable experiences for me was a llama whose ear couldn’t be touched until I patched her. Another was an aggressive show steer who didn’t like to be approached until I patched him and then his owner was able to give him scratches and rubs all over.
“We have seen horses that jumped around in pain, kicked; buckled down to their knees and after these horses have had LifeWave patches placed on them, they stopped kicking, jumping around and really relaxed. We have now had our entire staff trained and will include them in our pain management portion of our clinics.” - Martha Josey WPRA, AQHA, NBHA World Champion/RE Josey – Three-time AQHA World Champion Calf Roper
“…an exciting product that I truly believe will make a dramatic difference in the equine industry. Since I began using and recommending LifeWave patches, I have seen many horses benefit from this wonderful product. As both a veterinarian and competitive horse owner, this product line and its results are very exciting. I look forward to using them on my horses and in my practice.” – Courtney T. Shumpert, DVM
You can find more testimonials at (aculifenow.com/testimonials)
About Salt of the Earth Ranch
I’m Chelsea, owner of Salt of the Earth Ranch and creator of the Salt & Light Trailer near Durango, Colorado. I am a certified halotherapist and provide holistic equine wellness services including dry salt therapy (halotherapy), red light therapy and phototherapy patch sessions.
I believe in natural approaches, paying attention to the individual animal and supporting the body’s own wellness processes. If you would like to schedule a session privately or have an event that you would like to incorporate my services into, please reach out!
Chelsea Kiter
(814) 795-4757
LifeWave phototherapy patches are wellness products and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. Individual experiences vary.