What exactly are Flower Esssences?
Flower essences are herbal infusions of the flowering parts of plants, and they are preserved in small amounts of alcohol in each bottle. They contain the energetic imprints of the life forces of plants. Essences may be taken individually or combined, using a few drops from each flower essence to create a blend that is specific to a person's or animal's needs. A common blend that is sold in many pet stores today is called Bach's Rescue Remedy. This tends to be used in crisis situations, aiding the animal by addressing the emotional panic, stress, and anxiety that take place during emergencies.
Dr. Edward Bach was a British physician in the 1930s who formulated the first 38 flower remedies. He created a system of healing that recognized that our emotional states are connected to, and have effects on our physical well-being. Rather than simply treating symptoms of illness as he noticed other doctors doing, Dr. Bach considered the person as a whole-body, mind, and spirit. He addressed the emotional states that were both temporary and chronic within people's lives. In this way, he created a unique system for healing illness and disease, as well as preventive medicine.
Understanding that animals also have emotions, flower essences have become widely available for use to treat conditions such as anxiety, fears, phobias, obsession, and aggression. They may be used on a long-term basis to support an animal's general well-being and personality type (i.e. skittish or nervous dogs), or they may be used short-term for specific situations. Some common situational needs for flower essences include:
Dr. Edward Bach was a British physician in the 1930s who formulated the first 38 flower remedies. He created a system of healing that recognized that our emotional states are connected to, and have effects on our physical well-being. Rather than simply treating symptoms of illness as he noticed other doctors doing, Dr. Bach considered the person as a whole-body, mind, and spirit. He addressed the emotional states that were both temporary and chronic within people's lives. In this way, he created a unique system for healing illness and disease, as well as preventive medicine.
Understanding that animals also have emotions, flower essences have become widely available for use to treat conditions such as anxiety, fears, phobias, obsession, and aggression. They may be used on a long-term basis to support an animal's general well-being and personality type (i.e. skittish or nervous dogs), or they may be used short-term for specific situations. Some common situational needs for flower essences include:
- Vet visits
- Fear of noises, storms, etc.
- Excessive barking
- Adapting to new surroundings (moving to a new home, adding a new family member, changes in owner's routine)
- Loss and grief (if the animal has lost another person or animal in his/her life)
- Excessive grooming or feather plucking in birds
- End-of-life emotional support and preparing for one's passing
How can Ricci Cat & K9 help me with flower essences?
I have taken workshops on understanding the Bach Flower Essence Remedies and how to best use them to create personalized blends for pets and people. If you schedule a healing session (massage or energy healing), then as part of the session, I will discuss flower essences with you and make recommendations for which flowers would be best for your situation (if you are interested in them). If you don't want a healing session, but are just looking for guidance on how to create an appropriate blend yourself for your animals, then I am available for phone consults.
Additional Resources for Flower Essences:
Research Study--(Effects of Bach Rescue remedy on cardiac autonomic balance in healthy women) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3373469/pdf/1472-6882-12-S1-P233.pdf
Article in Whole Dog Journal-- https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/care/flower-essence-therapy-for-dogs/
Purchase Bach Flower Essences Online-- www.directlyfromnature.com/Original_Bach_Flower_Remedies_s/1879.htmhttps://www.directlyfromnature.com/Original_Bach_Flower_Remedies_s/1879.htm
Article in Whole Dog Journal-- https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/care/flower-essence-therapy-for-dogs/
Purchase Bach Flower Essences Online-- www.directlyfromnature.com/Original_Bach_Flower_Remedies_s/1879.htmhttps://www.directlyfromnature.com/Original_Bach_Flower_Remedies_s/1879.htm