Flower Essences
Flower Therapy for Animals
by Dr. Jean C. Hofve
Copyright © 1994 - Dr. Jean C. Hofve - All rights reserved
No reprints without permission
ABOUT THE BACH FLOWERS
Bach Flower Essences were discovered by Dr. Edward Bach, an English physician and homeopath, in the early 1900's. While originally developed for human use, we have found that the Bach Flower remedies work beautifully on animals, too. The remedies work on an energetic level, similar to homeopathy, acupuncture or Reiki. They affect the mental and emotional planes, and are useful for problems originating on these levels. Dr. Bach felt that even physical illness has its roots on the emotional plane, and by treating at this level, a general improvement in well-being could be achieved.
To make up a combination, use 2 drops of each desired flower essence to one ounce of water; for Rescue Remedy use 4 drops per ounce of water. You can add up to 20% alcohol (usually brandy or vodka) as a preservative as desired, but some animals dislike the taste. (You can use flower remedies straight from the stock bottle, but they taste terrible!) You may use up to 6 essences in combination, with Rescue Remedy counting as one essence. In general, use the fewest essences possible.
The remedy can be given by mouth, which is the most effective method. Only a few drops (4-8) are necessary, and need not be swallowed, but only must contact the mucous membranes (gums, tongue, lips). Be careful not to contaminate the dropper by touching it to the animal (if this occurs, rinse the dropper in very hot water before returning it to the bottle). You can also add a dropper-full to the water dish, or a few drops on wet food (there is no effect of dilution). You can add a dropper-full to a spray bottle filled with spring water, and use it to spray a room, carrier, car, around litter boxes or plants, or other problem areas. You can even put a few drops in your hand and pat the animal on the head and around the ears with it--the head is very sensitive to energy and will absorb the flower essences in this way. In the case of chewing or excessive licking or hot spots, you might want to try applying the remedy directly to the problem spot (IF it isn't too raw, otherwise the remedy will sting); the animal will then consume it when it next licks that area.
Just a few drops (about 4-8) at a time are sufficient. For serious or acute conditions the remedy can be given as often as needed, even every few minutes. For most behavioral problems, we recommend 3-4 times a day for 2-4 weeks. If the response to the remedy is adequate by that time, you can begin to wean off by decreasing the frequency of administration. You may need to add a dropper-full to drinking water or give once a day long-term for some problems.
The Bach Flower remedies are nontoxic and will not adversely affect any other animals in the household. It is fine to put the remedy in a common water dish. In some cases we may even want to treat multiple animals in this way. The Bach Flowers work through a principle of resonance; if the animal needs the remedy, the remedy will act. If the particular remedy is not correct, there will simply be no effect.
SUGGESTED BACH FLOWERS FOR
SPECIFIC CONDITIONS
The following are some particular flower essences you may want to consider for certain problems. Not all will be applicable to any particular case, but the group of remedies listed includes those most often useful in similar conditions. Use your judgment as to which ones to use for each animal.
- ITCHING, CHEWING, ALLERGIES, PARASITES, HOT SPOTS
Crab apple (feeling "unclean")Beech (food or inhalant allergies)
Vervain (chronic allergies)
Elm (compulsive behavior, severe allergies)
Gorse (overwhelmed by allergies)
Agrimony
Chestnut Bud
Olive
Walnut
- LOSS OF CONTROL/PANIC/ASTHMA ATTACKS*
*These remedies are NOT a substitute for Emergency medical care.Cherry Plum (anxiety attacks, incontinence, seizures, breathing difficulties)
Rock Rose (extreme panic, breathing difficulties)
Oak (paralysis, incontinence)
- CRYING, WHINING
Heather
Beech
- SPRAYING CATS
Beech
Holly (especially if due to inter-cat conflicts)
Willow
Agrimony
- OLD CAT ANNOYED BY YOUNGER ANIMAL
Mustard
Beech
Wild Rose
- GENERAL IRRITABILITY
Impatiens
Beech
- HISTORY OF GRIEF, TRAUMA OR ABUSE
Water Violet (grief)
Star of Bethlehem
Pine (guilt; animals that cringe)
Chicory
Honeysuckle
- BOARDING/KENNEL/CONFINEMENT
Heather
Honeysuckle
Star of Bethlehem (for comfort)
Wild Rose
Sweet Chestnut Water Violet (grief)
Wild Oat (boredom)
- DESTRUCTIVE WHEN LEFT ALONE
Chicory
Wild Oat
Holly
Willow
Wild Rose
Heather
- CONFLICTS AMONG ANIMALS
Willow (resentment)
Agrimony (open communication and harmony)
Mimulus (for picked-on animal)
Vine (for dominant, bully animal)
Beech
Holly
Walnut
- TRAVEL REMEDY *(first 3 remedies are the Basic Formula)
*Rescue Remedy
*Elm
*Walnut
Mimulus (fear of riding in car)
Cherry Plum (for panic in car)
Scleranthus - car sickness (balance problems)
- TRAINING FORMULA
Clematis
Chestnut Bud
Cerato
- NEGATIVE ENERGY FORMULA
Rescue Remedy
Mustard
Walnut
Crab Apple
Wild Rose
- RECOVERY ASSISTANCE
Gentian (to give hope)
Gorse (for animals that have "given up")
Centaury (increases the will to live)
Sweet Chestnut (for increased energy)
Olive (for physical exhaustion)
Honeysuckle (restores depleted energy)
KEYNOTES OF THE BACH FLOWERS
AGRIMONY ~ denial, "stuffing" emotions, inappropriate communication, allergies, physical irritants.
ASPEN ~ vague fears, sense of impending doom
BEECH ~ intolerance, allergies
CENTAURY ~ meek, "doormat", picked on by other animals
CERATO ~ inattentive, easily distracted
CHERRY PLUM ~ loss of control
CHESTNUT BUD ~ to learn a lesson the first time or break habits
CHICORY ~ possessive, clingy, manipulative
CLEMATIS ~ consciousness, focus; post-op
CRAB APPLE ~ cleansing; infections, toxins
ELM ~ easily overwhelmed or frazzled
GENTIAN ~ to see "light at the end of the tunnel", restore hope; long illness rehabilitation
GORSE ~ hopelessness, giving up; cancer, critical injury or surgery
HEATHER ~ needy child, very clingy, talkative
HOLLY ~ anger, jealousy, need for love; abandoned, abused
HORNBEAM ~ mental weariness
HONEYSUCKLE ~ grief, homesickness, depleted energy
IMPATIENS ~ impatience, irritability, nervous energy; PAIN
LARCH ~ lack of self-confidence
MIMULUS ~ timidity, specific fears; illness that does not respond to treatment
MUSTARD ~ depression, gloom, mood swings
OAK~ chronic exhaustion, overworked but keeps struggling; loss of control
OLIVE ~ physical exhaustion from long strain
PINE ~ perfectionist, guilt, feeling rejected: abuse
RED CHESTNUT ~ worries about others
ROCK ROSE ~ terror, panic
ROCK WATER ~ inflexible, stiff; arthritis
SCLERANTHUS ~ imbalance; neurologic problems
STAR OF BETHLEHEM ~ mental, physical or emotional trauma; need for comfort; any stray or animal from shelter
SWEET CHESTNUT ~ at wits' end, despairing
VERVAIN ~ fanatic, hyperactive, over-enthusiastic
VINE ~ control, domination
WALNUT ~ transition, protection, over-sensitive to environment
WATER VIOLET ~ grief, loner, reclusive, arrogant; to bring joy; most Cats
WHITE CHESTNUT ~ repetitive thoughts
WILD OAT ~ bored, feeling un-useful
WILD ROSE ~ apathy, passive resignation; to "be here now"
WILLOW ~ resentment
RESCUE REMEDY ~ the 5-flower combination for any acute trauma or stress. Considered as a single remedy in combinations.
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