Using Flower Essences
Flower essences are used to treat emotional imbalances in both people and animals. They are made from the diluted extracts of different flowers and plants. In that sense they are similar to homeopathic remedies and herbal remedies as with homeopathic remedies, the more the essences are diluted, the more effective they become for treatment purposes, much more so than using an herbal extract of the original flower or plant. Flower essences were originally discovered by Dr. Edward Bach and there is a line of essences which bears his name. He identified some 38 healing plants and thought that they could help heal negative states of mind. You can still purchase those flower essences today but more healing plants and flower essences have since been discovered by others. Today flower essences are often used by dog trainers, holistic vets and by owners. They use the essences to help dogs (and other animals) with stress, separation anxiety and other problems. Animals typically respond very well to flower essences. Dr. Bach believed that physical diseases are the result of imbalances or negativity in the soul. He thought that if you could correct the problem at the level of the soul then the body could also heal. The flower remedies work to balance the emotional and spiritual parts of the body. They bring the body back into balance with the all its parts. Flowers and plants for flower essences are gathered in nature at their perfect point. They must be free from toxins and preservatives. After it’s gathered, the flower is then left out in the sun and the extracted essence is diluted in water and preserved (sometimes with alcohol, sometimes with another preservative) to make a “mother tincture.” This remedy is then diluted in spring water to make a solution which can be taken orally. Unlike homeopathic remedies which can contain other ingredients, flower essences only contain the flower or plant essence and the preservative. Homeopathic remedies may be used to treat physical illnesses. Flower essences are used to treat the mental and emotional well-being. Flower essences can be used to treat a wide range of emotional and mental imbalances and dogs usually respond well to this treatment. Depression, anxiety, grief, aggression, dominance, stress and separation anxiety have all been successfully treated with different flower essences. The most well-known of the flower essences is probably Bach’s Rescue Remedy. Many people have used Rescue Remedy for themselves and for their pets. This remedy is actually a combination of five of the original flower essences. It is purported to calm down an anxious or frightened dog and to be good to use during an emergency. To use Rescue Remedy just place a few drops on your dog’s tongue or nose, or even on his paws where he will lick it off. Your dog should show signs of calming down in just a few minutes. You can also use Rescue Remedy by adding about 10 drops to your dog’s water. When he drinks the water the Rescue Remedy will start to have an effect. This can be helpful if your dog is under stress. You can also use Rescue Remedy (or the other essences) by placing them on your dog’s pulse points. Put a few drops behind your dog’s ears and in the groin area. Or you can place the flower essence on the paws, inside the tips of your dog’s ears and on his belly. These are all places where the essence will be absorbed through the skin quickly. Flower essences do not have any side effects. They cannot harm you or your dog. They may not work in all cases but they can’t have any harmful effects. It’s also possible to use flower essences in conjunction with your dog’s regular medications without any side effects. If your dog has a specific problem, such as separation anxiety or depression, then you may wish to talk to a holistic vet or an herbal practitioner in order to find out if there is a specific flower essence recommended for your dog. Different flower essences have different healing properties and this way you can be certain that you are using one that is designed to help your dog’s problem. Rescue Remedy is a good choice for general anxiety and for frightened dogs but there can be better choices for other problems. If you talk to a holistic vet or herbal practitioner be sure to tell them about your dog’s behavior and symptoms, his history, his relationship to you and other people in your household, and about any recent changes that have upset him. There are many flower essences available today. Here are a few choices: Clematis is said to be a good choice for teaching your dog. It helps to focus a dog’s attention and can help your dog recover from surgery. Impatiens helps with pain and anxiety. It also helps the attention span and ability to focus on training. Rock Rose is said to help a dog that’s been traumatized. It may help alleviate stress and build courage. Cherry Plum is said to help dogs who hate riding in cars. It may also help a dog who chews on himself and stop a dog from bothering his stitches following surgery. Cherry Plum also helps with panic and anxiety attacks and with tail-chasing. Agrimony is recommended if your dog has fleas and you are treating with conventional flea control. The Agrimony is said to calm the dog and stop the itching. Star of Bethlehem is recommended for all forms of trauma, including grief. Beech is recommended for picky eaters. Also helps with constant barking. Aspen helps with thunderstorm phobias. Cerato helps performance anxiety. Chestnut Bud helps dogs break bad habits. Chicory helps overly possessive dogs. Crab Apple can be used for de-toxification. It’s very easy to find flower essences today. Bach has their own web site and you can order from other companies online, too. You can also buy flower essences at health stores and find them in some pet stores. If you have any doubts about flower essences you should feel free to try them yourself. They were created for people and many people take them. You can experience the flower essence before giving it to your dog so you know what it will do. Some of the companies that provide essences for healing are Bach Flower Black Wing Farms Flower Essence Society NM Essences Pet Essences
