Following are selected posts to the Holisticat (TM) Mailing List on the subject of flower essences. There's a lot of information here, and the posts are arranged in ascending chronological order. If there is a particular word you're looking for, it's probably best to utilize the "Find in Page" function in your edit menu!
Happy hunting :)
Date: Sat, 15 Aug 1998 13:21:41
From: Leah
<<Three drops four times a day of the following: crabapple to help expel toxins; vine to help relax and aspen to dispel vague fears. >>
<<By the way, how would I get the flower essences into my kitties? I have already tried to give them Rescue Remedy in their water and no go..>>
Jane and list --
I know many people do put it in their pet's water; does not work for
my suspicious dog! Not only that, when I talked with a flower essence
company about this, they said that wasn't the best way to go because the
goodies in the essence evaporate too quickly in open air. You can
make up a dosage bottle with whatever essences you decide to include.
Fill about 1/4 of a
one-ounce dropper bottle with brandy, apple cider vinegar, or vegetable
glycerin (you can get this at a health food store) as a preservative, then
fill the bottle almost full (leaving some room for the essences you want
to put in) with spring, distilled, or filtered water. Finally, add
2-4 drops of the flower essences you want to use. I probably wouldn't
combine more than six maximum, although 2-3 might be better.
You can give this to your kitty either in his/her mouth, put some on the pads of their feet or the backs of their ears. If you don't want to mess with putting in the preservative, it would probably keep 5-7 days in the refrig.
Leah
lknipp@
I also read about the essences evaporating form the water bowl, but
I don't understand why you can't just put a drop (undiluted, straight from
the bottle) directly on the backs of ears, etc. or why not add the
essence directly to food??? Mine don't seem to notice it.
Susan
katseven@
<<I think you may be responding to someone else's post, because
I rub them on the paw pads or front base of ears. I think it works
real well. I tried RR in the water for quite a while, and I never
noticed it worked.
Lee>>
Hi all
Nancy, that's the beauty of flower essences. If you don't need it, it just doesn't work. If you choose the wrong one, it doesn't work. And you can't overdose them. What you don't need just doesn't work.
Now, I don't doubt for a second the power of flower essences. I've had great success with them personally. They're ... deep acting but very gentle. Gotta go, just spotted a bear across the road :) Yay!
Take care
Kathy and the cats
[snip]
re: flower essences
Here are a few more suggestions for flower essences that might be of
use to some kitties on the list -
Hi all
Judy, I don't have a preferred herb brand, just buy whatever's on sale, assuming I know the name brand. I think your American brands are different from our brands, cause I don't recognize any of those names.
By the way, I came across a reference for "Cataplex" kitty vits today, but the site didn't say anything more about them, other than that they're made by Standard Process. I also read that glandulars can sometimes take months to work, but that they work very well. Now I'm wondering if I gave up on them too soon for Kashmir's hyperthyroid? I also researched other holistic vets in case I find one that I have more success with. I don't think it's the vet's fault, just that I'm not real convinced that anythingshe's suggested has helped so far
Anyway, Judy, that's an excellent deal on flower essences!! Man oh man, ours up here are $12 a bottle regular and I've *never* seen them on sale. It's a drag that the Cdn. dollar is so low, cause it'd probably cost me more to buy them and ship them up than it would to just buy them regular here.
And it's interesting about the RR making it so the novocaine didn't work. You didn't actually have to have a procedure done anyway, did you? I don't usually use RR for the kitties anymore cause it just doesn't seem to help. But it sure helps me, especially if I'm having an insomnia night. Oh, about kidney disease essences, you might want to look at vine, olive, pine or ... there's one more. I don't have my book on hand. These are remedies for those who carry on despite great burdens, or who are overwhelmed and have given up. That kind of thing. You may also look at the essences for an individual personality. For some reason water violet keeps popping into my head for Sammy, but I don't know why. These individuals prefer to bear their suffering in silence, keeping it to themselves. They're aloof and quite self-reliant. Does that sound at all like Sammy? This essence helps these individuals to be able to ask for help when they need it, and also helps them to shake off the physical ailments that often arise from keeping everything to themselves.
I just love flower essences. I've got all different kinds of essences
on my "Holistic Wish List". :)
Take care all
Kathy and the cats
On Monday, August 17, 1998 9:27 PM, allinda@ wrote:
<< I'm at my wit's end (and my wit's are not that long!) - I
need some good advice, Rescue Remedy seems to work, but I'm afraid
of the long term effects of the Bach's alchohol based flower essence.
>>
Linda,
One thing you can do if you are concerned with the alcohol in the flower
essences is to make your own dosage bottles instead of using the stock,
purchased bottle that has the alcohol in it. What you need to do is get
a small, 1 ounce or so, sterilized dropper bottle. Fill it nearly
to the top with spring water, and add 4 drops of the purchased Rescue Remedy.
Gently shake it. This is will have very little alcohol in it.
You can store it in the fridge. And if you're concerned about not
having a preservative in it, you can dump it out and resterilize the bottle
every week or so and make a new batch. Your RR will go a lot further
this way.
I was initially concerned with not having a preservative in the dosage bottle, but a vet who uses a lot of essences in her practice says she always does it this way and they keep indefinitely. her web site is at: http://members.xoom.com/critterchat/bach.htm
be well,
Nancy and the furkids
Hi Linda!
<<Someone on another list mentioned "Quaker Grass Flower Essence" but I can't find it anywhere. My Alternative Market doesn't carry it. Bach's makes the Rescue Remedy, but not the Quaker Grass.>>
I recommended that essence. It's Quaking Grass, but it's not a
Bach essence--it's another brand, a good one BTW:
FES (Flower Essence Services). Sorry I didn't mention that in my original
post. They also use North American flowers for their essences. I'm
not sure about this, but I think Bach only uses European flowers.
You could dilute the drops even further w/ spring water, but it's such a minute amount of alcohol that I never worry about it harming the kits.
Susan
<<Leah, is this book by Kaminski and Katz? If not who's the author(s)? I'd like to try to find one.>>
Lee,
Yes, the authors are Patricia Kaminski and Richard Katz. ISBN #0-9631306-1-7. At the time I bought it, a year or two ago, it was around $20.00. It has a couple pages strictly devoted to animals and animal care - specific essences. As Sandy mentioned, it's easy enough to use a human repertory though, since we know our kitties personalities so well. It has extensive descriptions of *many* flower essences and cross references to emotional/psychological issues. The first part of the book is an overview of flower essence theory and practice.
Also, you may want to consider mixing up a dosage bottle rather than putting it in a water dish. That way, it will be relatively fresh every time you give it to them. If necessary, you can mix anywhere from 3-6 essences in one bottle. I posted some info. about making up a dosage bottle a while back.
Leah
<<What books are a good source of information the the above subjects? >>
Virginia,
You'll certainly get a nice variety of suggestions on these various
subjects on this list. For herb books, I like David Hoffman's Complete
Illustrated Holistic Herbal, Juliette de Bairacli Levy's The Complete Herbal
Handbook for the Dog and Cat and Mary Wulff-Tilford, Gregory L. Tilford's
Herbal Remedies for Dogs and Cats. I can *usually* find an answer
to most herbal concerns/questions I have in one of these.
For flower essences, I posted the name and ISBN number of my favorite
book on Friday - let me know if you didn't get/see the post. Another flower
essence book that's good, but for the most part only focuses on Bach essences
is Bach Flower Therapy, Theory and Practice by Mechthild Scheffer.
For introductory thorough explanation of flower essence theory in general,
I like the Flower Essence Repertory better.
<<What does everyone else use as supplements? >>
My cat is showing early signs of CRF, so besides flax oil and cod liver oil, he gets one multi-vitamin supplement (Nu-Cat by Vetri Science) and a couple supplements by Standard Process that are vet prescribed. Nu-Cat *does* have some PABA in it, but since he gets only one tablet, it's only .5 mg., which is a pretty minimal amount. My vet has said he has many clients on this vitamin and has heard of no ill effects from it. I'm having a blood panel hopefully done this week, so that may help me determine what I should continue or cut out of his regimen.
I tried putting supplements in his food (such as lecithin, nutritional yeast, bran, kelp, bone meal, etc.) and it was preventing him from eating his food. He can't afford to lose weight just to get him to take supplements in his food.
Leah
lknipp@
<<I've been doing some reading regarding possible homeopathic
remedies, and the flower essences stuff. I'd really appreciate some suggestions.
I would like to make her happier, but nothing seems to satisfy her otherthan
my being home and around her 24/7.
thanks..
stephanie>>
I think Flower remedies might be an easier place to start without the
guidance of an expert. Ellon USA has a brochure on some of the more
popular remedies used in pets, try calling them for info at 1-800-433-7523.
I've also seen the flower remedies in various pet catalogs, and the cheapest
I've come across so far have been in Morrill's www.morrills.com Some remedies
that I pulled out of the Ellon brochure that might apply are:
jane@ writes:
<< Didn't someone on the list say that you could rub the
flower essence behind their ears? I don't understand how that
works. Is it absorbed through their skin and the skin behind
their ears is thinner than anywhere else? >>
Flower essences should be rubbed on the head - it's not because of the thin skin, it's because the essence is best absorbed that way. Remember flower essences apparently work on an emotional raather than physical plane, so absorption is different than, say, homeopathics. Also, you can put flower essences into the cat's food, which I do every day. If I can't get it in their food I will put it on the ear itself - ears are easy to grab and my cats know I'm coming! Also, when I'm showing my cats I don't want to get the fur wet, so ears work well.
Lee
vick@ writes:
<< i usually put a few drops on my hands and rub
it into the fleshy part of the ear and on the fur. if you're strong, just
put a few drops on their tongue. >>
Flower essences are not like homeopathic remedies. You CAN put it in their food. I put a couple drops in the food or in a spoonful of baby food, the cats gobble it up.
Lee
GoForaSail@ writes:
<< I thought I read somewhere that you weren't supposed
to mix the FE's with any food because it would take away
from the healing vibrations of the remedy. >>
Emily and list, this quote is from Dr. Jean C. Hofve, from her site at http://home.earthlink.net/~jhofve/usingthe.htm
"Flower essences can be given by mouth, added to your animal's food or water, applied topically (usually around the head and ears, where the animal is most sensitive to the energy vibrations of the essences), or used in a spray bottle to spray problem areas such as the carrier, car, house, trailer, or stall."
I have had great success with flower essences, and always put them in the cats' food. I always thought you could only put them in the water, till I read this and started using them. Now I don't put them in water at all, because I have only one cat who even drinks out of the bowl!
Lee
GoForaSail@aol.com writes:
<< spring water to 4 drops of the RR and shake 104 times
or something like that? I think that is what Frazier says to do.
I don't think any kitty would be able to detect anything at all if
you do that. >>
In this case, I would rather listen to someone who specializes in flower essences than a generalist like Frazier. Much as I like some of what she says, I definitely DO NOT agree with all of it.
Lee
GoForaSail@aol.com writes:
<< Shake 108 times (not 104 like I said before) and store
in the fridge for two weeks. No alchohol is necessary. Just make
up a batch every two weeks. >>
This ONLY works if you put it in the fridge, and it is only good for
a couple of weeks. I would end up throwing out more than half the
bottle each time. Not worth it when there is a perfectly good way to do
it with a little alcohol my cats don't taste. And I don't know why
Frazier says to shake it so much. I only shake a tiny bit to be sure it's
mixed. Patricia Kaminski, who has written a couple books on FEs,
mentions shaking the bottle a couple of times before each use, but never
says you have to shake "108 times" when mixing. This sounds like Frazier
is trying to potentize a homeopathic remedy, which FEs are NOT. Kaminski
says if you are dealing with alcohol sensitive people , you can use apple
cider vinegar for 1/4 to 1/3 of the dosage bottle (my cats
won't touch anything with the tiniest bit of vinegar in it) or use
1/3 to 1/2 vegetable glycerin, and fill the rest with spring water.
Either way, no alcohol or refrigeration needed.
Lee
Jnglecats@aol.com writes:
<< This ONLY works if you put it in the fridge, and it is only
good for a couple of weeks. I would end up throwing out more than half
the bottle each time. >>
Lee,
Keep in mind that you would only be throwing out what you didn't use
of the few drops of RR that you added to the spring water. It isn't like
you would be throwing out half the bottle of Rescue Remedy. We are only
talking a few drops of RR here (and 3/4 oz of water)..but not a lot of
waste. Sorry if I didn't explain well enough before.
<<but never says you have to shake "108 times" when mixing. This sounds like Frazier is trying to potentize a homeopathic remedy, >>
There are some similarties to homeopathics in this respect according
to Bach Flower Therapy Theory and Practice by Mechthild Scheffer. On page
204 of her book she make similar reference (as per Frazier) to taking 4
drops from a "stock" bottle of RR added to a 1 oz medicine bottle (of water
I presume). In acute cases 4 oz from the "stock" bottle can be added to
a cup of water and
"sips taken until the shocked feeling abates" and after that every
15 to 60 mins. She says if no water is available it can be given directly
from the stock bottle.
It can also be used externally for burns, sprains stings bumps etc.
For treatment of animals she says 4 drops from the "medicine bottle" (diluted mixture) can be added to drinking water or milk or (as you said before) sprinkled over food.
When plants have suffered a shock 10 drops (of the diluted) per gallon of water can be used.
In wartime, Rescue Remedy was applied to wounds to alleviate pain.
Alchohol use for preservation- she maintains- is only required in the summer time or if the remedy will be used over a long period of time and not stored in the fridge. She says you need to use one part alchohol to three parts water. You can use Brandy (Cognac) or Cider Vinegar if you don't want to use alchohol.
You can also use RR in compresses and baths. For a bath you need 5 drops from a stock bottle.
Emily
Jnglecats@aol.com writes:
<< for emotional issues - I don't think they are effective,
or intended to be effective, on any other level. >>
Lee,
In the Scheffer book it explains how the remedies help to unblock chakras and help the person to reach his "full (best)potential". It addresses the body's energy system. "The remedies re-establish contact and harmony with our wholeness, the true source of our energy...", the book says. Since energy effects everything, it stands to reason why it implies that although you are primarily matching the remedy to emotional patterns in the patient, that physical problems can also be helped that are perhaps by-products of the emotional problem and or related to the particular blocked chakra. In this respect, FE's may be the ultimate holistic remedy treating the whole patient and not just one aspect or symptom.
One example she gives of using an FE more for physical pain is compresses used on wounds and burns etc. where the pain was not only greatly alleviated but healed faster and left no scar tissue.
Emily
Hi all
Leslie, crabapple flower essence is a very good cleanser. The initial
bottle is a little pricey depending on where you live (essences are $12
here) but it'll last ages if you re-mix it. Crabapple is the essence I've
had most success with.
Take care
Kathy and the cats
Hi all
I think most of these have been posted before, but I'm re-posting them
as per request. I just love these sites, as they're all exceptionally informative.
http://www.desert-alchemy.com/txt/essences.html Desert Alchemy website, commercial with info
http://home.earthlink.net/~jhofve/index.htm Jean Hofve's site on essences for animals. Very informative.
http://www1.mhv.net/~dca/articles/Bach_Flower_Remedies.html Very comprehensive set of uses for each essence
http://naturalnet.com/bach.html
Take care all
Kathy and the cats
FraDCat@aol.com writes:
<< s there a difference between Bach's FEs and any FE?
I've purchased one through Cat Faeries, which included about 15 or
more different flower & mushroom species. I don't know
much about this stuff yet, so any input would help. >>
<Yes, Cat Faeries uses different essences. There are many other
essences than the basic ones that Bach uses, made by different companies.
Lee>
----------------------------
Judi,
There are many different flowers, gem, cactus, and plant essences available. The only difference between Bach and others are the name and type of materials they use. Bach is the original one, but I think the healing potency is getting weaker. (just my opinion)
Make sure that FE that you get is from reputable company. otherwise, you might be wasting your money. These essences has its own vibration. More vibration it has, it has more healing power. Ordinary person like me doesn't notice these vibration. But when spiritually gifted people hold it, they can tell.
The best bet is to pick FE from the company or person who is spiritually connected. Also where and how they make it influence the power too. The essences that are made in middle of big town, of course, wouldn't have the strong healing power. And the essences that are made in the spiritually powerful place would have strong healing power.
-- Yumi
mailto:yumig@
<<I've purchased FE's from a company called Green Hope Farm and
have been really pleased with them. I believe they're based in New
Hampshire. The woman who runs the farm is very spiritual and sends
out a quarterly booklet explaining thoroughly what each essence is for,
as well as, new essences she's bottled. She also goes to Bermuda
and the Adirondaks to use a variety of different plant life. Last
I ordered, it was $6 or $7 a bottle with a free bottle if you ordered 6
or more. If anyone is interested, I'll look for the number.
Allison>>
<<Judi,
You should be ok with any FE with the same essence name as the Bach
FE I would think. I think you might be better off choosing a stock
bottle or two of a single essence that seems to match best rather than
something with everything in it. I think the Bach Flower Remedy book
I have says that you generally wouldn't have an occassions to use more
than 5 ot 6 max. sometimes you may start out with a few and then
move on or graduate to another.
Emily>>
I've tried flower essences from Green Hope Farms, Flower Essence Society and Bach with relatively little luck with any of them. I have become very well informed on essences throughout my foray into this modality as a result of this. Green Hope Farms by far makes the most in number of the three; I've talked with Molly and she is very nice. The FES people are the ones that have produced that wonderful flower rep. I've recommended on the list and I also believe their essences are of high quality. Believe me, I have approached essences with the right attitude; i.e. I *really* want this to help, it just hasn't happened.
Several years ago, when I first attended a holistic workshop for homeopathy
and natural pet care in animals, Green Hope Farm came highly recommended.
The booklet that is produced on their essences is very informative.
I've had a little trouble with them not sending materials that I have requested,
but I think they do have quite a few people using their essences with
animals, as does Flower Essence Society.
Actually, one of the people that makes some of the flower essences for FES has worked directly with a person who was associated with the Bach Centre, so they have a group of essences very similar (both in name and possibly higher quality) to the Bach essences. FES also maintains a research program whereby they invite practitioners to send in case studies of some of their essences currently in their research program before they release them to the general public.
Bet you're sorry you asked,huh???
Leah
Leah -- I was probably the one you remember on the hair-pulling. Slick lost his brother in May and was very stressed out (even for a siamese). Here is what I gave him:
Leah wrote:
<<I was thinking that someone on the list had used flower essences
for a kitty that was pulling hair out due to being stressed out.
An acquaintance where I do some volunteer work said his kitty has
been doing this lately. I think it's partially because the cat has
not adjusted to his schedule of being gone longer hours, but he also
said the cat has been more "clingy" than usual too. Would anyone
have any ideas as to how he could help with this situation?>>
--
Noreen >^,,^<
---allinda@t wrote:
<<Allison: Yes! I'm very
interested in this Lady in N.H. who sells the Flower Essences! Please
post the #! >>
Hi,
Here is the number for Green Hope Farm: 603-469-3662
The address: P.O. Box 125, Meriden, NH 03770
The woman's name is Molly Sheehan.
Good luck!
Allison
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