Bach Flower Essences for Pets
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Where did Flower Essence Originate?
Dr. Edward Bach developed this therapy in England in the 1930's. Dr. Bach was working with a homeopath when he discovered Flower essences. While flower essence was developed for humans, it has been found to work on animals as well.

How does it work?
Flower essence therapy works on a similar mechanism as homeopathy. Parts of the flower are diluted and then potentised to become effective. The flower essences are found in liquid form. Thus, the remedies work on an energetic level, similar to homeopathy, acupuncture and Reiki. They affect the mental and emotional parts of our being. Dr. Bach felt that physical illness can be caused by emotional upset and by fixing the emotional balance the physical illness disappeared.

Flower essences work to heal both physical, mental and emotional illness. All of the aforementioned illnesses affect each other in one way or another. Therefore, flower essences restore the inner balance by working on the vital force. The vital force is an inner force within the body that governs our strength and well-being. As we get sick our vital force weakens and therefore, the flower essences work on our vital force to strengthen it. The particles of the essences work in specific patterns. This means that certain essences cure certain illnesses. It is the practitioner's knowledge that is needed to pick out the correct remedy for the appropriate ailment. Overall, flower essence are to said to release negative emotions and help heal and calm, using either internally or externally non toxic and have no side effects and are safe for pets, people, children and animals of all sizes.

But, how does one know what emotions dogs, cats, horses and all animals are experiencing? You would be surprised as to how easy it is to "read" an animal. All it takes is some observation and a little insight. You might discover that animals take less effort than humans do!

RESCUE REMEDY   
The following is a description of the Flower Remedies that make up Rescue Remedy, the most commonly used Bach Flower Remedy. Rescue Remedy is not a Flower Essence in itself but a combination of five of original Remedies. Once these five remedies are combined, the Rescue becomes an essence unto itself. If is different now than its individual essences.

Rescue Remedy is the 5-flower combination for any acute trauma or stress. Considered as a single remedy in combinations. The five remedies are Star of Bethlehem for trauma and numbness, Clematis for being grounded and to prevent passing out, Rock Rose for panic, Impatiens for tension and irritability and Cherry Plum to prevent losing control. Basically four drops of the stock bottle are added to a one ounce glass dropper bottle of spring water and shaken up. It is best to make this up immediately before use as the mixture will not keep too long. Three or four drops of the mixture can be given into the mouth or onto the gums every five minutes until a response is seen. Rescue Remedy can also be given in the water during any time of stress and in this case it is best to use ten drops every time the water is changed. 

Rescue Remedy, combined with the homeopathic remedy Aconite makes a wonderful calming essence that can be used on wild animals, and for rehabilitation, as mentioned above it works well on any kind of stress or fear situation and definitely helps with survival rate in these situations. A few drops of the combined essence on the gums or even onto the ear of the rescued animal will calm them down and make them easier to handle. It can even be sprayed onto the skin or ears with a spray bottle and will still have a beneficial effect. A dropper of the combination can be put in the daily water for rescued animals to help them withstand the stress of captivity, and make them more manageable.  You can buy Rescue Remedy online here!

Clematis
Increases attention span and ability to focus on the training lesson at hand. When the animal is comatose or unconscious for any reason; returning the animal to consciousness. After any surgery to increase recovery alertness time.

Impatiens
For the very nervous animal.
a. Any form of nervous difficulties, especially those that have the nervous shakes.

For the overly anxious animal.
a. At feeding times
b. Before a show
c. For animals that have epileptic type fits especially when agitated by being overly excited or upset.

Impatiens is for any form of pain.

Rock Rose
For any form of terror and panic
a. After an accident, injury, fire or any terrifying event.
b. For the overly fearful animal that possibly was terrified sometime in their life. Fear does not dissolve naturally.

Rock Rose is for dauntless courage.
a. For animals that are used in service to mankind such as police work.

For the courageous animal to accentuate their already innate abilities.

Cherry Plum
For the animal that looses control, becoming wild and crazed.
a. for vicious animals that become dangerous when provoked.
b. For the high strung animal, including horses, that lose control easily.
c. for the animal that is destructive, losing control.
d. Losing control when seeing another animal enter into their territory.
e. To help retain control during mating season for both sexes.

To remain in control when:
a. In competition when stressed by strange people, noises, animals.
b. Training animals not to react to gun -fire.

For the animal that becomes frantic when traveling such as horses that spook when being placed in trailers.

For the animal that suffers from:
a. Seizures or anxiety attacks

An animal who chews himself.
a. Allergies to grasses
b. Staying away from stitches after surgery.

Star of Bethlehem
Star of Bethlehem is for all forms of trauma.
a. To give comfort to animals who were left alone or are in a kennel feeling unloved.
b. For an injured or ill animal who is required to remain at a veterinary clinic, during which one time their owners are there with them.

Cerato
keeps animals "on track". Therefore, it is ideal to administer before and during a training session and during competitive events.

ADMINISTERING BACH FLOWERS?
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.

The Bach Remedies can be taken directly from the stock bottle or from the personal dilution bottle by placing 2 - 4 drops in your animal's feed or water. The Remedies are easy and convenient to use with varied methods of application that can be selected to suit an individual's specific needs.

The most common forms of administering the Remedies are placing them into the animal's food or water; dropping them directly into the animal's mouth; or rubbing the needed remedies on one's hands before petting them.

There is no improper or wrong method of applying the Bach Remedies. It is truly not necessary to be precise in counting the number of drops in any of the dilution methods. The suggestions given, herein, are merely to offer a reasonable parameter of accepted dilution methods. Follow your own judgment and insights. Remember that you cannot overdose the Remedies for they are non-toxic.

DOSAGE AND TIMING

Just a few drops (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 , you can give 3 to 4 times a day for 2 to 4 weeks. If the response is reached by that time, you may begin to decrease the dosage gradually. You may need to add a dropper full to drinking water or give once a day long-term for some problems.

MULTIPLE ANIMALS

The Flower Essence remedies are non-toxic and have no side effects. Therefore, they are safe if another pet in your household should receive the flower essence via drinking water. With flower essences, if the animal needs the remedy, the remedy will work and vice versa.

CHOOSING REMEDIES FOR ANIMALS

Assess the characteristics of the animal exactly as for a person. Drops of remedy can be given on food or in the animal's drinking water, 2 drops for birds and small animals; 10 drops in a bucket of water for large animals such as horses.

Bach Flower Remedy Information

AGRIMONY ~ denial, "stuffing" emotions, inappropriate communication, allergies, physical irritants.

ASPEN ~ vague fears, sense of impending doom, fearful (to be left alone)

BEECH ~ intolerance, allergies

BLEEDING HEART - grief - when pups/kittens leave the mom for new homes for stress and emotional pain.

CELERY - restores balance to the immune system when it is stressed or overworked, and during long-term viral or bacterial infections

CENTAURY ~ meek, "doormat", picked on by other animals

CERATO ~ inattentive, easily distracted

CHAMOMILE ~ calming the emotions, soothing irritable and fractious animals, teething and animal who tend to be restless and cranky.

CHERRY PLUM ~ loss of control

CHESTNUT BUD ~ to learn a lesson the first time or break habits

CHICORY ~ possessive, clingy, manipulative, separation anxiety

CLEMATIS ~ consciousness, focus; post-op

CRAB APPLE ~ cleansing; infections, toxins, cuts

ELM ~ easily overwhelmed or frazzled

GARLIC - this helps to repel fleas, and does not have any of the other effects of garlic, including the odor

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 rescue/shelter animals (forget past, face future)

IMPATIENS ~ impatience, irritability, nervous energy; pain

LARCH ~ lack of self-confidence

MIMULUS ~ timidity, specific fears; illness that does not respond to treatment ,fearful (people other animals) fear of travel in car

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, fearful (animals cringe)

PINK YARROW ~ Helps protect animals from negative emotional energy, such as during a divorce, or stressful family situation, or when another animal or person is sick or draining their energy reserves.

RED CHESTNUT ~ worries about others

ROCK ROSE ~ terror, panic

ROCK WATER ~ inflexible, stiff; arthritis

SCLERANTHUS ~ imbalance; neurologic problems, travel sickness

STAR OF BETHLEHEM ~ mental, physical or emotional trauma; need for comfort; any stray or animal from shelter , shock

SWEET CHESTNUT ~ at wits' end, despairing, rescue animals who have been subject to severe abuse

TOMATO ~ also helps the body in throwing off infection or disease.

VERVAIN ~ fanatic, hyperactive, over-enthusiastic

VINE ~ control, domination

WALNUT ~ transition, protection, over-sensitive to environment , before introducing new animals

WATER VIOLET ~ grief, loner, reclusive, arrogant; to bring joy; for most Cats

WHITE CHESTNUT ~ repetitive thoughts

WILD OAT ~ bored, feeling un-useful

WILD ROSE ~ apathy, passive resignation; to "be here now"

WILLOW ~ resentment

The above information is intended to give you more information about the use of Flower Essences. If you have more questions, please consult a Flower Essence professional. Flower Essences are intended to help deal with behavior and emotional imbalances. It takes trial and error to find the correct remedy for your pet. From my personal experience with my own pet, they do work very well.

Excerpts of this article written by T. Nowak, (c) copyright 1999
and Dr. Jean Hofve (c), Spirit Essence

No reprints without permission