USE OF BACH FLOWER THERAPY IN PETS  HEALING

 

USE OF BACH FLOWER THERAPY IN PETS  HEALING

 

“Behind all disease lie our fears, our anxieties, our greed, our likes and dislikes.”

-EDWARD BACH

Bach Flower Therapy

Bach Flower Therapy is a natural method of healing discovered by an English surgeon, bacteriologist and homoeopath Dr Edward Bach, during the early 1930s. It is a simple system of healing prepared from the wild plants, flowers and trees found in the countryside of the UK.

Bach Therapy consists of 38 unique remedies prepared from nature. It is important to note, that the Bach Flower Remedies may be employed to prevent psychological and physical illness and in support of prescribed treatment, but cannot be used to replace treatment by a qualified medical practitioner.

Bach’s Rescue Remedies are known for their ability to produce a powerful calming effect on stressed and injured animals. Similar in preparation to homeopathic remedies, Bach flower remedies use diluted extracts of a variety of flowers and plants that have been “potentized”. This is a process of dilution and vigorous shaking that increases the potency of the essence from which the remedy is derived.

Dr. Edward Bach (1890-1936), a prominent English physician, developed the Bach Flower Remedies while he was working as a homeopathic practitioner. Dr. Bach used to sit and meditate in the woods while holding different types of flowers. He alleged to have felt very specific negative emotions when holding certain types of flowers. One flower would be associated with one particular negative emotion. He felt that the flower which caused him to feel the negative emotion could be used to treat a patient feeling that same emotion (a theory based on homeopathic principles). He went on to mix tincture solutions from the flowers and found that these diluted blends of flowers and tree buds could be as effective as the homeopathic remedies he was currently using in the treatment of emotional problems.

Dr. Bach theorized that the diseases people and animals experience are the result of imbalances or negativity on a spiritual level and that by rectifying these problems, healing would result on every level. Flower remedies act to balance emotional and spiritual well-being. Essences work on an energetic level. In treating animals, it is essential to find the proper essences that resonate with the animal’s energy field.

Dr. Bach’s research would produce thirty-eight flower remedies, each of which would address a specific emotional condition. There are now over four thousand flower essences available worldwide. These remedies come from the Australian Bush, the wilds of Alaska, the Arizona desert, and other diverse locations.

Flower essences can be used individually or in combination depending upon what the problem is. Quite often it can be most effective to use a single essence. Many practitioners choose to use more than one flower essence, but the number used in a blend of remedies should not exceed seven. An example of using flower essences in combination can be seen in putting together a remedy for treating fear composed of three different Bach Flower Remedies. Mimulus is used for fear of known causes, Aspen for groundless fears and Rock Rose for acute fear or panic. Used in concert these three flower essences will address most areas of fear, making this combination a good general remedy. If the fear was due to a past trauma then another remedy called Star of Bethlehem might be added.

The most popular Bach Flower Remedy is actually a combination of five remedies that work together to relieve stress and fear called Rescue Remedy. Rescue Remedy can be safely used before visiting the vet office or following any kind of injury. It is used to revive animals that are in shock and help with their subsequent recovery. It has undeniably saved many pets and is safe flower remedy. The five flower essences used in Rescue Remedy are: Star of Bethlehem for trauma, Clematis to help ground the patient and prevent passing out, Rock Rose for panic, Impatiens for tension and irritability and Cherry Plum. Four drops are added to a one-ounce glass dropper bottle of spring water and then shaken up. Three or four drops of Rescue Remedy can be given into the mouth or onto the gums every five minutes until a response is seen. Treatment with Rescue Remedy can continue for up to six to eight weeks in order to achieve the desired effect.

The flowers used in these remedies are harvested at the point when they are at their healthiest and in fullest bloom. It’s crucial that these flowers be free of chemicals of any kind. The flowers are left in the sun until the essence is extracted and diluted with water and then preserved with alcohol in order to make a mother tincture. This is then further diluted in spring water to make a solution that can be taken by an animal or person.

Subsequent to Bach’s work other Flower Essence Societies have been formed and remedies have been developed that are appropriate to particular areas or the times we are living in. One example is the California Flower Essences that are developed from Native American plants in the Sierra Nevada foothills in California. The Flower Essence Society has developed a vast research program and has been very important in helping people understand and use Flower Remedies as a healing tool.

Without a doubt, the best-known and most widely used flower essence remedy is a combination of flower essences that Dr. Bach named “Rescue Remedy.” The remedy, a mixture of five different flower essences (Cherry Plum, Clematis, Impatiens, Rock Rose, and Star of Bethlehem), is indicated for anxiety, agitation, upset, terror, and shock.

The Bach Flower Remedies are based on the research and findings of English physician Dr. Edward Bach. A medical pioneer in the early 1900s, Dr. Bach became aware of the link between stress, emotions and illness. When treating people, he found that flower essences helped them overcome their illnesses by addressing the underlying emotional contributing factors. This connection is based on Dr. Bach’s idea that negative emotional states can suppress the healing process. The contemporary science of “psychoneuroimmunology”, or the study of the connection between the mind and its influence on disease, seems to support this concept.

Today flower essences are well known all over the world. More than 20 different flower essence systems with more than 1.000 different essences are existing. The founder of the modern flower essence therapy was the English human doctor Edward Bach in 1930-36.

Flower essences are watery dilutions of plants or flowers. They were produced with water, crystal glass and energy and were conserved with alcohol. They are not homoeopathic, not herbal and not aromatic in their preparation.

Flower essences contain no pharmacologic means, have no scientific support at this time and no scientific studies in man or pets. The mechanism of action is really unknown today. They influence the mental, emotional and physical balance of the individuum.

Flower essences are composed of water as a carrier of information an alcohol for conservation. The identification of essences is possible by spectroscopy. There is no defined dose-effect relation; the effects are based on resonance phenomenon.

To understand how flower essences can work, it is necessary to look at the structure and properties of water: It has a dipole structure and forms stable and instable clusters. A rapid information transfer is possible between different clusters for example by shaking a watery solution.

In a living system frequencies of flower essences interact with frequencies of the system. In human beings you find frequencies from < 1 Hz to over 10¹⁸ Hz, so you can have an endless number of interactions.

The founder of the modern flower essences, Dr. Edward Bach (1886-1936) established the Bach Flower System: He found 37 individual plants, spring water and one combination of 5 plants (Rescue Remedy). The essences of the Bach Flower System are numbered from 1-39 and listened alphabetically from Nr. 1-Agrimony to Nr. 38-Willow. Bach prepared his remedies of flowers of non toxic wild plants, bushes and trees and spring water he found in the English countryside. He developed special methods of preparation using spring water, sun and decoction.

English Flower Essences are concentrated (stock bottles) and have to be prepared before use. They were diluted in a solution containing 3 parts of spring water and 1 part of alcohol (vodka, brandy). To make a mixture for use in animals (and man) you add 2 drops of each essence per 10 ml solution. Only the famous Nr. 39 Rescue Remedy makes an exception: you add 4 drops of Nr. 39 per 10 ml water. A mixture can contain several essences.

The dosage in small animals is about 1-5 drops 1-4 times a day–dependant on the species and the reaction of the animal. You can give the mixture into the mouth, add it to food or water or drop it on the head of the animal.

Originally the Bach Flower System was found for treatment of man. Since about 25 years we can see an increasing use in treatment of animals. It is based on the concept that correction of emotional dysfunction can help heal physical dysfunction and can complement other forms of therapy-either conventional or alternative medicine. This form of therapy is demanded more and more by pet owners.

According to Edward Bach’s philosophy you can treat all diseases in man (and animals) with his flower therapy. But Bach Flower Therapy is only one of many instruments we use in curing animals. It also has its possibilities and its limits!

Bach Flower Therapy is indicated for all psychosomatic problems, for behavioural problems, for diseases resistant to all used therapies-for example fearful and timid animals, mourning animals, hyperactive animals, barking dogs, spraying cats or animals refusing medicaments.

Before using Bach Flower Therapy in animals, look whether they aren’t undercooled, starved or totally exhausted. Contraindicated is flower therapy in deficiencies in food or environment, lack of vitamins or minerals, orthopedic problems which need surgical care, dangerous diseases like failure of organs (liver, kidney, heart) or non-acceptance of the therapy by the owner.

But don’t give up good therapies to use Bach Flower Remedies as only treatment in diseases without any psychic disorder, for example accidents, wounds, fractures.

The most famous remedy of the Bach Flower System is Nr. 39-Rescue Remedy, the only combination in the system. It is composed of 5 flowers: Nr. 6 Cherry Plum, Nr. 9 Clematis, Nr. 18 Impatiens, Nr. 26 Rock Rose, Nr. 29 Star of Bethlehem. It can be used in every case of emergency as a first aid medicament–in practice by the vets assistant, at home by the owner. You can drop a few drops on the head between the ears and repeat every 15-20 minutes until the animal gets quiet.

You can use Rescue Remedy in terror, panic phobias, extreme fear for example during driving in a car, during examination in practice, during thunder, lightning and storms, when animals are afraid of firecrackers, after accidents or fights.Bach Flower Therapy is easy to learn, easy to incorporate in veterinary practice and easily accepted by pet owners. Bach Flower Therapy is a good working, non invasive therapy to treat psychosomatic problems in small animals.

How Bach Flower Remedies May Help Dogs

There are Bach flower remedies to relieve a variety of canine problems. For example, Rock Rose can help relieve a dog’s terror or panic, while Cherry Plum can help with a dog that loses control and exhibits wild and crazy behavior. Aspen is given to a dog that is easily startled or frightened. Beech can be useful for a dog that is a picky eaters or refuses his food. Centaury may help a dog that is easily dominated or pushed around by other animals, and Agrimony can be useful for a dog that is in pain but cannot express it. These are just a handful of the 38 total remedies that may correspond to your dog’s troubles.

Rescue Remedy: A Popular Choice for Dogs

Rescue Remedy is actually a synthesis of five Bach flower remedies that has been found by many to help with anxiety, focusing, pain, fear, and trauma. It consists of the aforementioned Rock Rose and Cherry Plum, as well as Impatiens, which can relieve nervousness, shaking and pain, Clematis, which may help with attention span and returning to consciousness in the event of injury, and Star of Bethlehem, which can be a comfort during or after all types of trauma.

A century of use

Dr. Bach’s insight was born from medical knowledge, observation and empirical research, before the era of evidence based medicine. A recent systematic review of seven randomised trials of Bach Flower Remedies in humans concluded that they failed to provide convincing evidence that they worked any better than placebo.¹ However, the review also noted some limitations and potential biases, and also left out other studies. Another systematic review supported the safety of these remedies.²

Even though Dr. Bach developed his flower essences for people, they have been used in animals for many years by both owners and health professionals alike because they are safe, easy to find and administer, and numerous anecdotes tell us they actually can do something.

Does It Work?

There is no evidence for the reality of Dr. Bach’s model of health and disease. By their nature, emotions are subjective and individual and so difficult to study scientifically. And the concept of divine spiritual energies is a religious, rather than a scientific concept.

It is possible, however, to study whether patients respond differently when taking a flower remedy or a placebo substance not thought to have any healing properties. Several such studies have been conducted with Bach flower essences, and the results clearly demonstrate that humans report positive changes in their feelings when they are given either treatment, with no difference between a flower remedy and a placebo.

For humans, such placebo effects may provide some comfort even if the remedy is nothing but water and has no actual activity. If a person believes their unpleasant emotions will improve when they take such a remedy, this belief may itself be enough to change how they feel. However, since the substance has no actual activity in the body, any physical illness the patient has will remain unchanged.

For veterinary patients, who cannot reflect on and express their own feelings, it is difficult to see how one would choose which remedy to apply. However, some Bach flower practitioners have adapted Dr. Bach’s list of emotions and the corresponding flowers for veterinary use. There have been no controlled studies of these remedies in animals, however in general placebo effects that require a belief or expectation of improvement do not benefit veterinary patients. Such effects based on belief or expectation can, however, influence the owner’s and the practitioner’s interpretation of the pet’s behavior, leading to an impression of improvement where none has actually occurred.

Their role in practice

So do dogs and cats have emotional states that can influence their health? We know many animals have behavioral problems and we can even describe their “personalities”. From anxiety and fear to aggression and loss, we have seen it all in our patients. We know that stress can reduce immunity, so it is not unreasonable to accept that it can influence the health of patients too.

Despite the lack of high level evidence that Bach Flower Remedies do anything more than placebo, along with the fact that animals can’t really tell us how they are feeling the way humans can, these remedies still find a role within integrative veterinary practices. The Bach Flower Remedies are essentially gentle and non-toxic. And provided they are not used inappropriately – that is, by delaying proper medical care, or trying to deal with serious behavioral disorders without utilizing additional therapies — they can help in two ways.

1. They can be used in the way Dr. Bach originally intended: on their own or to enhance any form of medicine by shifting emotional states to aid recovery or healing. As animal health professionals, we need to rely on our knowledge of the remedies, observations of the patient and from the client, as well as judgement and intuition, to prescribe the right remedy or remedies.
2. The second way they are commonly used in the veterinary context is to help with behavioral or training problems. Careful selection of a remedy or remedies alongside behavior modification or training advice can be employed as part of a treatment protocol.

Two challenges

One challenge in using Bach Flower Remedies is taking the leap of faith to try them, especially when the science is weak. Keep in mind that science is also weak in many common conventional therapies we use in practice. The fact that these remedies can be used alongside conventional medicine without any reported interactions or adverse events makes them worth considering.

The second challenge is how to select the remedies. Each Bach Flower Remedy helps deal with specific states of mind. These states include fear, terror, mental torture or worry, indecision, indifference or boredom, doubt or discouragement, over-concern, weakness, self-distrust, impatience, over-enthusiasm and pride or aloofness. Anthropomorphism and intuition, attributing emotional aspects based on our interpretation of the patient’s history and signs, are necessary to selecting remedies for individual animals.

Guidelines for use

The remedies are purchased as a stock bottle, which contains the concentrated essence. Essences are generally diluted before use, although they can be given straight from the bottle in emergencies. Stock strength essences contain about 2/3 brandy, which most animals hate. So two to six drops of the stock are usually diluted in spring water, with about ¼ brandy as a natural preservative. If the remedy is to be used within one week, it does not need added brandy.

1. Preparation

• The remedies are selected and prepared either singly or in combination (up to six remedies can be mixed together).
  • To prepare a Bach Flower Remedy, place two to six drops of each selected essence (or four drops of Rescue Remedy) into a 1 oz or 25 ml bottle. Fill the bottle ¾ of the way with spring water, then add brandy, vodka or organic vinegar to fill so you have three parts water to one part alcohol. This dilution bottle should be thumped against the palm of one hand to thoroughly mix the remedies.
  • The remedy is given by mouth or applied to the ears or head area. The drops can be added to drinking water (six to eight drops) each day. A dropperful can be added to the animal’s bath water, or to a mister or spray pack so that a kennel, room, cage or animal can be sprayed with the remedy.

2. Dosage

This depends on the pet’s individual response. Try three to four drops by mouth or on the inside of the pinna one to four times daily, or every ten to 15 minutes in emergency situations. If you choose the wrong remedy, there are no side effects and pets cannot be overdosed.

One way to test out Bach Flower Remedies at your clinic is to purchase a bottle of Rescue Remedy. This is perhaps the most well known Bach Flower Remedy. It consists of five flower essences: Cherry Plum, Clematis, Impatiens, Rock Rose and Star of Bethlehem. It is one of the most widely used remedies as it can be applied in any first aid, emergency, trauma or stress situation. It can be given every five to ten minutes as necessary. Ideally, dilute it with spring water only, so the taste is acceptable.

 

Short Materia Medica of the Bach Flower Essences

1. Agrimony: Animals are sensitive and easily distressed when there is disharmony, “peacemaker”, do not like to stay alone;
2. Aspen: Animals are afraid of anything unfamiliar, become nervous for no obvious reason, can not stay alone;
3. Beech: Intolerant animals, tolerate only their master, do not like other animals or people, show territorial aggression; selective eaters, intolerance of pollution, heat, cold or changes in barometric pressures
4. Centaury: Animals are subservient and eager to please; pleasant, good-natured, tolerant animals, dominated by other animals, can’t stay alone;
5. Cerato:Animals are uncertain, irresolute, easily distracted; lack of natural self-confidence, home-sickness when the owner is in holydays;
6. Cherry Plum: Animals show suppressed anxiety, can outbreak in uncontrolled panic reactions; fear of losing control;
7. Chestnut Bud: Helps animals to learn basic skills and can help to break bad habits; Animals seem restless, inattentive and indocile;
8. Chicory: Animals demand attention, are self-confident, may be overly protective of the house or family; tend to destroy, tend to protest reaction;
9. Clematis: Animals are distracted, indifferent, apathic or inattentive, have a tendency to unconsciousness or absence;
10. Crab Apple: Cleansing remedy; animals may have skin problems or tend to lick excessively themselves
11. Elm: Animals seem to be overwhelmed by a demanding situation, such as travel, competition or pregnancy;
12. Gentian: Animals are uncertain, suspicious, and easily discouraged either emotionally or physically;
13. Gorse: Animals are resigned, weak and tired, they have given up their selves, appear hopeless, refuse food;
14. Heather: Animals demonstrate excessive attention-getting-behavior, are uncertain, can’t stay alone, vocalize constantly or show protest reactions;
15. Holly: Animals are aggressive, jealous and suspicious, tend to uncontrolled reactions, when something misfits them;
16. Honeysuckle: Animals are mourning for the past after removal, change or loss of owner, have problems with new situations;
17. Hornbeam: Animals seem tired and exhausted, have lost interest in life; animals who appear fatigued during work;
18. Impatiens: Animals are impatient, irritable, hectic and nervous, nothing goes for them quick enough; tend to extreme reactions when irritated;
19. Larch: Animals are shy and timid, have no self-confidence, are extremely uncertain and cower in submission;
20. Mimulus: Animals have specific fears that can be identified; for example fear of thunder, lightning, noise, air balloons;
21. Mustard: Animals suddenly become depressed, prefer solitude and stay in one place without a real reason;
22. Oak: Animals continue their efforts in spite of exhaustion; they work too much but can’t stop it, they are struggling forward;
23. Olive: Animals are physically, emotionally and mentally exhausted without clinical signs of certain diseases;
24. Pine: Animals are devoted and submissive, they may cower and make constant attempts to please their owners;
25. Red Chestnut: Animals seem afraid for those they love; overly anxious about their young, do not tolerate separation well;
26. Rock Rose: Animals have uncontrolled panic attacks in threatening situations; extreme fear, panic phobias
27. Rock Water: Animals tend to have routines, are stubborn, inflexible, have problem to accept new things;
28. Scleranthus: Animals may have severe mood swings, tend to lose balance, are uncertain, tend to motion sickness with vomiting and salivation;
29. Star of Bethlehem: Animals are paralysed after shock; helps to digest physical, emotional or mental stress and shock;
30. Sweet Chestnut: Animals have given up, feel they have reached the limit of their endurance; apathic, exhausted, show no interest in anything;
31. Vervain: Animals are hyperactive, strong-willed, seem to have inexhaustible energy, tend to pace, jump and bark;
32. Vine: Animals are dominant, ambitious, imperious, inflexible strong-willed thinkers; very difficult to train, tend to aggression;
33. Walnut: Helps to protect the animal during any state of change, such as a move, new owner, the animals have problems when something changes in their environment;
34. Water Violet: Animals are aloof, want to stay alone and tend to be antisocial with other animals and people;
35. White Chestnut: Animals are unbalanced, nervous and restless, seem under internal tension, have problems with concentration;
36. Wild Oat: Animals seem really dissatisfied, uncertain, feel bored; they are talented but endurance is lacking;
37. Wild Rose: Animals are totally apathetic, seem to lack energy and motivation, seem to give up, stop eating and don’t groom;
38. Willow: Animals are suspicious, discontented, out of temper and offended, they show their displeasure by urinating, defecating or destroying the house.

 

Here are the remedies for different types of anxiety:

• MIMULUS- Anxiety and fear of objects, places or situations that might cause one to panic and feel trapped, helpless or embarrassed.
• ASPEN- Vague apprehension of something going terribly wrong.
• ROCK ROSE- Repeated episodes of sudden feelings of intense anxiety and fear or terror that reach a peak within minutes.
• LARCH- Consistent failure of children to speak during certain situations, such as school, even when they can speak in other situations, such as at home with close family members, or fear of failure in adults.
• RED CHESTNUT- Anxiety that’s excessive for the child’s developmental level and related to separation from parents or others who have parental roles.
• WATER VIOLET- High levels of anxiety, fear and avoidance of social situations due to feelings of embarrassment, self-consciousness and concern.
• CHERRY PLUM- Intense fear and helplessness due to feeling not in control of one’s mind.
• CRAB APPLE- Anxiety of one’s environment getting contaminated, soiled or dirty.

Bach Flower remedies can safely be used for self-healing anxiety. However, as Bach Flower therapy heals in layers and work with combinations of remedies, customised to individuals’ personality and emotional map, it is advisable to consult a therapist, go through a complete therapy and get the combination that is particularly prescribed for you in order to heal from the root.

How to Use Flower Essence on Your Dog

Flower essences generally come in tiny bottles of less than one ounce. The already diluted contents is referred to as a “mother tincture,” which is usually (but not necessarily) diluted further before administration. The undiluted mother tincture can be administered directly to a dog (two drops at a time), but due to the high alcohol content, many animals object to its taste and smell.

Most health food stores that carry flower essences will also sell small (about 30 ml.) dropper bottles and/or mister bottles to use for mixing and administering a “working stock.” Pour three parts water (well, filtered, or bottled water if possible; neither chemically treated tap water nor distilled water are recommended) to one part alcohol (vodka, brandy, or Purol) into the bottle. Most experts suggest adding two drops of each mother tincture to be used (up to a maximum of seven essences, with Rescue Remedy counting as one essence) to the water/alcohol mixture. Then, put the top on and shake the bottle vigorously. Administer four drops of this working stock to the dog four times a day for chronic symptoms, or every 10 minutes or so in emergency or critical situations. (The potency of the essences is best increased by more frequent dosing from the working solution bottle, rather than giving a mixture with a higher percentage of mother tincture.)

Commonly, the working stock is administered with an eyedropper and squirted into the dog’s mouth. Some people prefer to drop the mixture onto a treat and feed it to the dog. The mixture can also be sponged onto the dog’s face, softly massaged into his skin, and rubbed behind his ears. Sometimes a dog who is panicked or aggressive will calm down after being gently misted (through a cage door, for instance) with a mixture formulated for his condition.

None of the essences’ manufacturers claim that the products will heal specific conditions on a physical level. The essences should not replace medical treatment, and should your dog manifest any symptoms of illness before, during, or after treatment, consult your veterinarian as usual. All of the makers say that the essences may be administered by themselves or in conjunction with medical or other treatment; they won’t conflict with medication, including any homeopathic remedies.

Popular Flower Essence Remedies for Dogs

While flower essences are used to treat a variety of canine-related issues, some of the more common ailments include stress, behavioral or emotional issues, allergies, aggression, trauma, bruising, insect bites, and toxic exposure or ingestion.

Here are a few examples of the most common flowers essences, as well as a few you may not recognize:

• Agrimony (a plant of the rose family) is used to restore inner peace.
• Cherry Plum helps to remedy uncontrolled behavior or compulsiveness and helps restore control.
• Heather restores inner tranquility and emotional self-sufficiency and may be helpful for abandoned dogs or dogs who have issues with being alone.
• Holly restores inner tranquility and emotional self-sufficiency. May be helpful for dogs who resent a new pet in the household.
• Honeysuckle helps to remedy homesickness and/or an inability to cope with present conditions by allowing a dog to be fully in the present and adjust to present circumstances. Issues often associated with abandoned animals or animals whose owners have died.
• Impatiens, ironically, helps to restore patience and acceptance. (Characteristics that might need to be restored in dog owners, as well!)
  Lavender helps to restore calm and soothes a dog on a deeper, spiritual level.
• Mustard remedies depression and gloominess and restores courage.
• Olive essence relieves extreme physical symptoms of exhaustion and weariness-an issue for many abandoned dogs.
• Sweet Chestnut remedies extreme mental and physical distress and restores endurance. Another issue often associated with abandoned dogs or dogs whose owners have died.
• Walnut essence may be recommended for the treatment of animals who do not get along, experience car sickness, fear, grieving, lack of confidence, or have issues with kenneling.
• White Chestnut remedies restlessness, preoccupation, and extreme mental agitation, and restores the ability to rest.

SOME REMEDIES TO REMEMBER

Aspen
For animals that are very fearful for no apparent reason and are very sensitive to Anxiety and apprehension.

Bleeding Heart
This remedy is good for grieving animals that have suffered a loss of either another animal or person.

Centaury
For overly submissive animals that are eager to please, tending to be bullied by other animals or animals that grovel and urinate from submissive behavior when petted.

Chamomile
Used as a calming remedy that helps irritable animals. It is also useful for teething animals.

Cherry Plum
This is godsend for animals that cannot control their behavior such as aggression and biting, and tend to have violent impulses toward other animals and people.

Chicory
A good flower essence for the overly possessive and maternal animal that wants attention all the time and is also jealous of other animals or people.

Crab Apple
This remedy is for cleansing the body and getting rid of toxins. It acts more on the physical body than any of the other essences and is good for any situation where cleansing is required.

Gentian
For pets that are easily disheartened and give up easily or are easily set back. These animals may give up in training programs even if they make only a small mistake.

Heather
This is really good for animals that hate to be left alone and suffer from separation Anxiety.

Impatiens
This is useful for pets who are impatient, hyperactive animals that never seems to slow down. These animals can be snappy and irritable and they tend to rush ahead, or pull on the leash.

Larch
Larch is for animals that lack self-confidence and tend to be timid and shy. These may be animals that need to perform in the show ring but don’t have the confidence to show themselves well.

Mimulus
This remedy is for animals that are scared of known things, such as thunderstorms, other animals or people. It helps them to overcome their fears and not be timid and scared of the world.

Olive
This is for animals that are exhausted and drained by a long strain or a difficult illness, such as a chronic disease. This will help them handle the ordeal better and become stronger again.

Pink Yarrow
This remedy helps protect animals from negative emotional energy, as may be experienced when there is a divorce in the family, a stressful family situation, or when another animal or person is sick or draining their energy reserves.

Rescue Remedy
This single most useful flower remedy combination helps with any kind of stress or trauma, such as accidents, birthing, illness, or even recovery after a seizure.

Rock Rose
This is useful for animals that are very scared and prone to panic attacks for no known reason. They become totally rigid with fear and tend to be very high strung and nervous.

Self Heal
This is a wonderful remedy that can be used either alone or in combination. It helps healing by stimulating the innate healing reserves of the body and can be useful in any illness to bring about healing.

Special Yarrow Formula
The Special Yarrow formula helps protect animals and people from negative external influences such as environmental pollution, toxins, electromagnetic energy and other factors.

Star of Bethlehem
This remedy is good for animals that have suffered any kind of trauma, emotional or physical, such as an accident or abuse. It will help them to recover from this shock, regardless of how long ago it took place.

Tiger Lily
This remedy helps with aggression and is used for animals that tend to bite and snap. It helps them release aggression and become less hostile and opens them up to learning to co-operate with others.

Vervain
This is good for the very enthusiastic animal that is over-bearing and highly strung. It helps calm hyperactivity and restlessness and suits the animal that wears people out by their excess energy.

Vine
This remedy helps with the dominant animal that wants to be the boss of all the other animals and people. They are bullies to the other animals around them and hate to be disciplined.

Walnut
This is an extremely useful remedy for any time of transition, such as moving house, becoming pregnant, adjusting to new animals or family members, or entering into a new life situation.

Water Violet
This remedy tends to suit cats that are unusually introverted and detached, and it helps open them up to be more friendly and outgoing and less aloof and emotionally distant.

Wild Oat
Wild oat is used for the restless animal that never seems to know what they want or to settle down into anything. It helps them to focus their energies and be less scattered in their approach to life.

Willow
This remedy helps with resentment and bitterness and often helps cats that urinate everywhere due to a change in the household such as the arrival of another animal or a baby.

The primary difference between the application of these remedies for animals and humans is that cats, dogs, and other creatures, because of their innate harmony with their surroundings, don’t usually get as out of balance as we do. The effects of flower remedies on them are often far more immediate. Some conditions that flower essences are used for.

• Abuse, neglect, or abandonment
• Pre- and post-surgical treatment
• Grief
• Fear
• Hyperactivity
• Aggressiveness
• Jealousy
• Possessiveness
• Inappropriate use of litter box (or nonuse)
• Changes in household
• Excessive Grooming

It’s best to have your veterinarian look into conditions that may have a physical cause such as lethargy, hyperactivity, litter box training, and other physical conditions. If a physical condition is found to be the at the root of the problem then flower essences can be used to aid the other healing modalities being used.

While some animals are perfectly willing to take a mixture, be sure that their mouths and tongues never touch the glass pipette. If the pipette does contact the animal’s mouth, be sure to rinse it in very hot water before returning it to the bottle. Do not administer flower remedies directly into the mouth of an animal whose problem is biting, as it may bite the glass dropper with disastrous results. A preferable option may be to put four drops of the chosen flower essences into the pet’s water bowl. Another method to consider would be to rub flower essences on pulse points, such as the throat or behind the ears. You can do this as often as every twenty minutes. For larger animals, it is appropriate to put up to 10 drops of a given flower essence into drinking water.

Flower essences are a great modality to integrate into your pets health care routine, but always keep in mind that you should never substitute flower essences for other necessary veterinary care.

COMPILED & EDITED BY-DR. P. RAVI, VET HOMEOPATH,BENGALURU

References

1. Bach, E., Wheeler FJ.: The Bach flower remedies, New Canaan, Conn., 1979, Keats Publishing Inc.
2. Chancellor PM.: Dr. Philip M. Chancellor’s handbook of the Bach flower remedies, New Canaan, Conn., 1980, Keats Publishing Inc.
3. Kaminski, P., Katz, R.: Flower essence repertory, Nevada City, Calif., 1994, The Flower Essence Society
4. Kübler, H.: Bach-Blüten-Therapie in der Tiermedizin, Johannes Sonntag Verlagsbuchhandlung, Stuttgart, 1999
5. Kübler, H.: La floriterapia di Bach in veterinaria, Tecniche Nuove, Milano, 2001
6. Scheffer, M.: Die Original Bach-Blüten Therapie, Heinrich Hugendubel Verlag, München, 1999
7. Sheffer, M.: Bach flower therapy theory and practice, Rochester, Vt, 1986, Thorsons Publishers Inc.
8. Weeks, N.: The medical discoveries of Edward Bach, physician, New Canaan, Conn, 1973, Keats Publishing Inc.

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