Date: Wed, 02 Dec 1998 14:06:10 -1000
From: Yumi  <yumig@

Dona,
Kauai Flower Essence has a combination formula for Female Sexual Liberator. It has Hibiscus and Lehua. Hibiscus to free sexual energy blocks in female, and Lehua (Metrosideros collina) to increase female sexual energy and self esteem restoring balance

I don't know if these can bring your girls into heat, though.

-- Yumi

Hi all
Sue, did you get the cancer info I sent? I think (but I'm not positive) that there was also some FelV info in there. As well, I'm not very knowledgeable about liver health, but I do have *some* liver info saved that I can send on to you if you like. It's not organized like the cancer info, but some of it may be useful. Let me know if you're interested.

Also, you mention that you don't want Wiley to give up. A Flower essence might help here: try

• Elm for if he seems to be overwhelmed by it all
• Gentian for despondency / discouragement
• Gorse for hopelessness / despair
• Hornbeam for just plain tired of it all
• Oak if he's despondent but keeps struggling
• Olive if he's completely exhausted
• Wild Rose for resignation and apathy (I used this one for Kashmir once when she seemed not to care anymore, and it helped).

hey all-

<<The question regards the stress that he already seems to be exhibiting.   I  put a few drops of Rescue Remedy in his water this morning.  What is the life of RR in water?   Should I give him smaller amounts of water & replenish it  each morning?  Or would it be better to put it directly on his food?  Are there any other herbs/flower essences/homeo remedies that would be good for me
to look into?>>

jillian, my successes w/ flower essences are pretty limited, at least with the cats. RR knocks me out w/in 15 minutes if i have 4-5 drops in a glass of water. sam seems to mellow out, but he's also locked in a room by himself, so i doubt he gets too froggy.

i seem to remember that it loses effectiveness in water pretty quickly, so when I give it, i just open their mouths and put a few  drops on their tongue. it tastes nasty to them, but that's the easiest way for me.

what has worked the best to relieve stress for sam is liquid dosing calms forte. calms forte is a combo homeopathic remedy that works like a charm on sam. here's sandy's description of how to make the liquid dose:

"Basically, like Nancy said, Calms is a combination remedy (tho one I like too) so to be on the safe side, I told Vick to dilute 1 or 2 pills of Calms or Calms Forte in some spring water in a brown dropper bottle. Since the potencies are really low, it's not as likely to cause a proving but after giving it about 3-4 times, u can take one drop of this solution, and mix it w/ 9 drops of spring water.  Then, depending on whether u believe in the 4th Organon or 5th, u would succuss it 10 times or 100 times.  This way u will end up w/ the next highest potency, and not as likely to aggravate or prove the remedy.  Initially u can dose more frequently but only re-dose if u see any improvement at all; otherwise it's risky to repeat it."

i crushed 2 pills in a coffee filter to help it dissolve, and was pretty lazy about making dilutions -- but sam never proved any of it, and it seemed to take some of the multi-cat stress off of him....

<<A little aside.....waaaaaaay in the back of my head I have vague little thoughts of adopting another kitty.    The hopes, of course, are that Django &  new kitty would be great friends & playmates but that's the luck of the draw isn't it?>>

i think this is a wonderful idea!! the play biting and stuff like that pretty much scream "i need a playmate!" since django is still so young, your potential for problems is pretty low, and i imagine he'd do just fine with a new kitty. do you have frazier's book? she has a great description of the best way to introduce a new kitty to the house. if ya need me to, i'll type it up, but the rainy, humid weather has me feeling lazier than usual... i think i'll make a toasted almond and watch some football :)
--
Vick and company: Skippy, Sam, Max and Jezebel

Hi Kate and all

Here are the urls for the Flower Essence Research. I'd be really intrigued to find out if there are any other such studies, and if so, how I'd get them.

http://www.flowersociety.org/Cram-FFF.html is the main research paper

http://www.flowersociety.org/Cram-FFF/index.htm is the link to the data charts

Take care all
Kathy and the cats

Hi Kathy,

I use the essences from Flower Essence Services in California.  I have only  had limited results with the Bach flower essences and was told that the formulations had changed in the past few years making them less potent.

Initially I had a profile done on all of the cats that seemed to be competing with each other and Molly my GSD who has been very ill for the past 15 months.

Molly has been to hospital so many times and had blood taken so much in the past year that she started to shake every time that we went to the vets office. Her formulation works perfectly for her.  She's getting her self confidence back and her depression seems to be lifting.

Everyone has responded well except for Bandit.  It's expensive to have individual formulations done and now that I know the composition I do it myself.  I ordered some essences and mix them with collidial silver and purified water.

Get Along Spray has holly, star thistle, papaya and zinnia in it.

I think that this company has been discussed on the list before and you may already have the information, but in case you don't: http://www.floweressence.com

They're good about sending out info and orders promptly. If you need any more info, just ask.

Sharon
Boston

After we lost Gumby, Slick's brother, he went into an awful depression and I had good luck with:

• Honeysuckle - for the pet who has lost a loved one; grief
• Mustard - for feelings of gloom and dispair
• Walnut - very helpful for any change a cat may experience
• Sweet Chestnut - if you feel like you've reached the limits of your endurance

Hi list, Evonne,

It's me again :)  I don't think there's an archive.  Bach Rescue Remedy is a combination flower essence--I buy my flower essences at my favorite herb/vitamin shop, but I've also seen them in healthfood stores.  The reason I'm writing is that I think you might want to also try another flower essence for Smokey's hair pulling although it's a good idea to have some Rescue Remedy (or Five-Flower Remedy, same thing) on hand (it's often used for shock--emotional or physical--I use it for my cats who get anxious about going to the vet).  The book I'm looking at now (_Twisted Whiskers: Solving Your Cat's Behavior Problems_ by Pam Johnson) suggests Crab Apple for a compulsive self-groomer among other things.  You might give it a try.  Crab apple is most often used for cleansing--for instance Kathy suggested I give it to my cat Emily after her teeth cleaning to cleanse the anesthetic from her body--but it sounds like it might match your guy's situation.

Johnson suggests mixing the two drops of the FE w/ spring water in a one oz. dropper bottle and then giving the cat one drop four times a day.  I never do this.  I just put a drop straight from the bottle on my finger and rub it into the skin in front of the ear.  I would do that a few times a day--three or four.  Hope this helps!

Susan

Hi everyone, I decided to just resend one of my messages from yesterday since I think it truly disappeared.  Thanks for checking out the mail situation for me Sandy.  Debbie, thanks for that site on urinary tract problems.  I've added it to my file for that subject.

Hi Sandy,
Here are a couple FEs which might help Kitty:

>From _Twisted Whiskers..._ by Pam Johnson

• Beech: intolerant, overreacts to small things.  Unable to see the good in others.  beech is helpful for the cat with inner rigidity, not allowing a new cat, dog, or baby into her life.  It will help her become more accepting and less critical of the differences in her new companion." (p. 18)--I know this one doesn't exactly fit, but might be worth a try.
• Larch:...This remedy is an excellent one to try when you're retraining a cat to a litter box again, especially if she has a negative association with the box (perhaps from a bout with cystitis)." (p.19)

Can't wait for the next Kitty update.  Hey, maybe your friend could slip the &^%$&* hubby some FEs? :)

Susan
 

Date: Sun, 31 Jan 1999 19:46:00 -0700
From: Mary W-T <animals@

Sandy wrote:
<<Homepathic remedies are preserved using Everclear grain alcohol.  The  idea is for the pellets to absorb the homeopathic tincture.  I have never  heard of the alcohol in a homeo remedy causing problems.    No sweat, and I hope I'm not off-base in thinking it isn't an issue.   Someone pls correct me.>>

Hi
no, Sandy, you're not off-base. The alcohol used in homeopathic remedies is very minute. It is nothing to be at all concerned about. The alcohol that is in herbal tinctures, can be a problem, especially for cats......but homeopathic remedies, as well as flower essences, have a very minute amount of ETOH(ethanol), and it is used to preserve the liquid that the remedy is in...
--
Mary Wulff-Tilford, DiHom;  Herbalist,AHG

Noreen,
I don't know about allergic reactions to Pet Calms--I didn't think that kind of thing was very likely w/ PetCalms or other homeo. remedies. Since Slick's previous episode w/ hair pulling was stress-related, I would suspect that this recent episode is also.

I wonder if other homeopathic treatments would help your guys.  I looked up "Spraying" in George Macleod's book _Cats: Homeopathic Remedies_ (pp 104-105), and this part seems to pertain to your guys.

"This distressing complaint is one of the most difficult to deal with involving as it does psychological and emotional disturbances.  A thorough investigation of the circumstances surrounding this habit may lead to a remedy which could prove useful if only in a palliative sense.....
In the male cat also the habit may have its origin in territorial marking and if this is thought likely, the remedy USTILLAGO MAYDIS should be considered, giving it in 200c potency three times per week for 4 weeks.
In the neutered animal the accompanying use of the potentised hormones e.g. FOLLICULINUM, OVARIUM, OESTROGEN and TESTOSTERONE may also have to be considered.  Potencies of 6c to 30c daily for 30 days are usually sufficient to bring about some response, used in conjunction with or after the other remedies mentioned."

There's also a bit about cats who spray right after being altered, but I didn't think this applied to any of your kits.  Cletus might still have some scarring from the blockage and the catheter--it might still hurt him to pee....I wonder if extra vitamin E would help him or aloe vera in his food?

Also, have you considered any flower essences?  Here's a list of some which might help:

* SPRAYING CATS: Beech, Holly (especially if due to inter-cat conflicts), Willow, Agrimony

I got this info from this website: http://www1.mhv.net/~dca/articles/Bach_Flower_Remedies.html

(I think Evonne posted this earlier.)

Take care, Susan

Hi Noreen, all,

I have to confess that I've not tried any of the stuff I quoted from Macleod's book, but I believe a potentised hormone would be the hormone in a homeopathic form in tablet or pellet.  *I* would prefer to try that on the kits rather than the Ovaban as I believe I've heard of harsh side effects w/ Ovaban, and homeo. remedies don't carry that risk as far as I know. Sandy and others know much more about homeopathy.... You may have to special order these potentised hormones, too, as I have a feeling they are not something you're local health food/vitamin/herb store would carry even if they do carry homeopathic stuff.

Your FE regimen sounds good, but you might also want to try some quaking grass (for group harmony) in the community water bowl.  You might also examine your own issues w/ Cletus. I take flower essences to help me understand what's going on w/ them.  My favorite one is Cosmos for interspecies communication. (Both Cosmos & Quaking Grass are made by Flower Essence Services.) I also put this in their water bowl. When you were talking about your difficulty bonding w/ Cletus, it reminded me of  my relationship to Chloe (our low cat on the totem pole).  I have finally in recent months begun to get closer to her (after nine years).  Jane (the animal communicator) really help open up the communication lines btwn me & my cats, too.  Some things cannot easily be resolved (I.e., Duncan's & Pete's disdain for each other), but at least I have a better understanding of what the deal is.  As far as length of time to administer dosages, here is what Patricia Kaminiski and Richard Katz say in _Flower Essence Repertory_, pp 86-87:

"Although flower essences can be used on a short-term basis for acute situations, their ideal use is for long-term or deep-seated emotional change.  At this level, the most common cycle of essence use is four weeks or one month, a time interval which is strongly correlated to the emotional or astral body.  Seven-day or 14-day cycles may also be of significance in the growth process.  For particularly deep changes, a whole series of monthly cycles need to be considered.  However, in most cases changes will be noticed in one month.  At this interval there is usually the need to re-formulate or re-assess the flower essence
combination.  We recommend continuing to use a formula, or at least one or two key essences from the mix, for a period of time even after some  change has been noticed.  This allows a possibility for the essences to be "anchored" at deeper levels of consciousness."

Take care,
Susan

Hi all

I just read in "Let Like Cure Like", a neat new book on homeopathy by Vinton McCabe that, "Many homeopathic practitioners make use of both Hahnemann's remedies and Bach's floral essences. ALTHOUGH THE TWO METHODS SHOULD NEVER BE USED
CONCURRENTLY, BECAUSE THEY INTERFERE WITH EACH OTHER DUE TO THEIR SIMILARITY [my emphasis], both methods can bring about remarkable healings. In general, the Bach remedies work more slowly and subtly than do Hahnemann's. But their ease of use and their ability to bring about a complete cure of the individual give much to recommend them."

Just an alert, since we've been recently talking about using the FEs.

--Jean, Saski the Mellow & Amber Sweet T'ing

<<I just read in "Let Like Cure Like", a neat new book on homeopathy by Vinton McCabe that, "Many homeopathic practitioners make use of both Hahnemann's remedies and Bach's floral essences. ALTHOUGH THE TWO METHODS SHOULD NEVER BE USED CONCURRENTLY, BECAUSE THEY INTERFERE WITH EACH OTHER >DUE TO THEIR SIMILARITY [my emphasis], both methods can bring about remarkable healings.>>

For an excellent discussion concerning differences and similarities, read pgs. 28-30 of Flower Essence Repertory.  Homeopathy works through a Law of Similars, whereas this book mentions that flower essences could be said to work through the Union of Opposites, by which polar opposites are integrated into a higher synthesis.

Does it mention Vinton McCabe's background by any chance?

<<n general, the Bach remedies work more slowly and subtly than do Hahnemann's.>>

Depends on the remedy and whether an illness is chronic or acute - a chronic or longer term illness, when treated homeopathically, can take a while to peel off the layers of the disease state.  In a situation such as this, it can work every bit as subtly and slowly as flower essences. That's why some dismiss homeopathy as something that they think is not working - it can take very close observation to see the changes brought about by a remedy.

People that refer to Bach remedies, such as this author, when they are discussing flower essences in general are doing a great disservice to the other companies out there that are manufacturing essences that perform as well as, or better than Bach's.  Why don't they just say "flower essences" in general?

Leah  (feeling feisty and bored today!)

<<I tho't that if an FE contains something to specifically help a sympton, but that sympton really isn't there, then it would simply "overlook" it.  True??? <<

Well, according to my Flower Essence rep. this is true to a certain degree.  Here's what it has to say:

"Flower essences work by resonance ; thus the wrong essences will not stimulate a "soul chord" within us.  Sometimes inappropriate or chaotic essence selections will stimulate confusion or a sense of uneasiness. Perhaps too many issues are "stirred up." or change happens faster than can be tolerated."    It does go on to say though that "Such reactions are generally short-lived, and may be an indication to re-formulate the flower essence combination, "

Bach Flower Therapy gives more of a reassuring note to this: "If a flower frequency is not the right one, the Higher Self recognizes it as such and it is not admitted to our energetic system.  It will have no effect, therefore, unlike medicaments given in material doses which will always have an effect on the metabolism."

As for FEs for physical symptoms, I always have trouble really believing they can address this *directly*.  Both reference books I have on flower essence imply that they cannot (at least in a direct way like you've mentioned).  The Flower Essence Rep. says this:  "Because flower essences are soul remedies, they should not be used as are drugs or even herbal remedies for directly treating particular physical symptoms or illnesses."  However, it admits the following:  "While flower essences are not cures for particular physical ailments, the emotional and attitudinal shifts engendered by the flower essences can facilitate remarkable changes in physical health."     Bach Flower Therapy says:  "The Flower Remedies are generally not used directly for physical complaints but for the negative states of min dor moods which might hinder the recovery from a physical complaint."

What are the particular essences in the formula, Judy?
Leah

Dear Judi and Gang,
I've been using and making flower essences since about 1981--2, somewhere in there. Gawd, am I that old? <vbg>  It's only been recently that people have started using them for specific physical symptoms, like herpes. I'm curious to know what remedies are in this formula of yours.

Theoretically (and in my experience) what everyone else has said in regards to an essence you don't need doesn't harm you I would say is true, but as in homeopathy it is possible to "prove" an essence but in this case I *think* it would be a mental/emotional proving, not a physical one. You're not going to give your kitty herpes and the other remedies should work the way they're supposed to.

Hope this helps and I'm sure glad you're using FE as I"ve found them to be a big help with animals.

Purrs,
Jade and Company

Just for my own knowledge and clarification, I called one of the flower essence companies and spoke with one of their reps concerning putting the essences in food.  She said much the same thing she has said concerning putting them in water.  If the food is not going to be setting out very long, this is fine and has no effect on the outcome of the essence administration.  However, if they are "nibblers" and the food sets out a while, this is not a good thing because it allows the essence(s) to lose
their effectiveness (perhaps because they work in a vibrational/energetic sense of the word).  That is not much of a  consideration for anyone who feeds a raw food diet as we can't leave the food out long anyway; for those who do feed dry, you just wouldn't want to let it set out for a longer period of time.  She didn't specify what would be considered a "longer"
period of time, but I have their e-mail address if ya'  need further info. on this profound and (to the vast majority of you) least important bit of info. re: essences.  <G>

Leah

Greetings, good people,
Does anyone know if flower essences ought to be refrigerated?  If one does not refrigerate them, do they spoil?
Thanks,
Kate

Refrigerate the mix of drops & water derived from the orig tincture, but don't refrig the tincture itself.

I regularly use flower essences, and after advice from a member of this list, I 'repaired' a severely traumatized cat (beaten by neighbours after she killed their pet cockatiel!) within 24 hours with a specific combination of remedies, when I thought she was 'damaged' for life. I've also used Rescue Remedy for years, both as a general physical remedy, and also for emotional problems: it is widely recommended in the UK by rescue organisations for feral or otherwise long-term distressed or aggressive cats.  I rescued a Siamese boy who had been kept alone, un-neutered, in a filthy room for 5 years, with no human contact other than having food pushed through the door, or being beaten out of the way with a stick.  He was completely crazy, and the vet said I was not going to save him.

2 weeks on RR saw significant improvement, 6 months later he was rolling about with my new litter of kittens, completely trustworthy, and a real softie, and 9 months later he was a happy and 'normal' cat in a new home with owners who couldn't believe how lucky they were. I put a lot of work into him myself, but I'm convinced that RR did the real work, or I know I would never have been able to touch him in the first place.

Actually, thanks for your enquiry, because writing this has reminded me that I can try using remedies to improve the integration of a new cat into my house, which is not going all that well...  any advice on that front is gratefully received, particularly on which remedies!

Hooray for flower remedies!
Julia

Dear Linsey,

<<How did you administer the rescue remedy-just add to their water (how much?) or drop directly into their mouth?  I'm using it
for myself and I usually just drop 4 drops in my mouth.>>

For emergencies I do put remedies directly into the mouth , though they often hate that.  For long-term stress, stressful situations, and stress-relief, I put it into the water: about 5 drops in a big bowl of water (about a pint).  There must always be some in there though, so you have to replenish every time you change the water.  I have also used it straight in the mouth for colic in young kittens, which you get if you're hand-feeding, as basically gripe-water for babies is just alcohol.  Again, it has worked really well.

I have also used it on skin lesions of various descriptions, including vaccination reactions, with dramatically good results: it deadens the nerve endings, thus decreasing the irritation, and then the alcohol base dries the skin in cases where the sore is weepy.  Better results here than antibiotic and
steroid creams!

Best wishes,
Julia

Hi all

<<ggressive one is an entire female of 1 year, a bit nervy and very wary of being held or confined in any way, who is probably normally bottom of the heap, and is showing signs of jealousy as well as just plain aggression.  I need something for her and also for the newcomer (a kitten of 16 weeks), who is being surprisingly resilient, but could probably do with some support.>>

Julia, you may want to try Quaking Grass by FES (Flower Essence Society): it's for group integration. FES has a huge selection of other appropriate remedies as well: Baby Blue Eyes for defensiveness and mistrust; Calendula for argumentativeness; Chamomile for irritability; Mallow for social insecurity and creating barriers; Oregon Grape for the "loving inclusion of others"; Snapdragon for verbal aggression and hostility; Star Thistle to help with generosity and inclusion, for "Basing actions on a fear of lack, inability to give freely and openly"; Tiger Lily for aggression and hostility, competitiveness, to aid in "Cooperative service with others"; Yellow Star Tulip for insensitivity to suffering and being unaware of effects of one's actions on others.

 Garlic for the new cat for fear, weakness or being easily influenced, leads to "sense of wholeness which imparts strength and active resistance" (from "FES Quintessentials"); Mountain Pennyroyal to prevent "absorbing negative thoughts of others, psychic contamination or possession"; Penstemon for "Great inner fortitude despite outer hardships; perseverence"; Yarrow for "Extreme vulnerability to others and to the environment; easily depleted, overly absorbent of negative influences, psychic toxicity."

For Bach remedies, try Impatiens, Holly for jealousy, Beech for intolerance, Vine for dominance and inflexibility, Willow for resentment and bitterness, and Walnut for the newcomer to help him resist the negative energy of the jealous cat.

I hope this helps. I tried Quaking Grass for Kashmir and Annie, but didn't give it long enough to work. Have you tried a communicator?
Take care
Kathy and the cats

Hi everybody,

Julia, I'm going to use a couple of sources here for treating animals w/ FEs: _Flower Essence Repertory_ by Kaminski & Katz and _Twisted Whiskers_  by Pam Johnson.

When my cats are having problems that I think are more emotional spiritual, I like to take Cosmos for myself and kitties--this flower essence enhances interspecies communication--it has really helped me understand my kitties better and thus be more able to help them with disturbances. I use this essence frequently and have noticed I have a more harmonious household although some relationships btwn my cats are strained, and two of my cats have to be kept separated.  (I have 12 cats.)

Here are some possibilities for the kits:

>From FER, pp126-27

• Quaking Grass:  helping animals living together in a group or herd to adjust; especially important when a new animal has been introduced.
• Holly--jealous pets, especially when jealousy involves another pet vying for the attention of the caretaker.
• Aspen-- unknown fear or terror in an animal; especially indicated when treating wild or nervous animals.

• Beech- Intolerant, overreacts to small things.  Unable to see the good in others.  Beech is helpful for the cat with inner rigidity, not allowing a new cat, dog or baby into her life.  It will help her become more accepting and less critical of the differences in her new companion.
• Impatiens- Impatient, little tolerance, irritable, restless, jumpy. This remedy can help encourage your cat's tolerance when introducing a second cat. (end quote)

Susan

Hi Sandy,

:arora@ wrote:
<<I was wondering if anyone has any ideas for a *super active* kitty boy.  Is there any flower essence yall think would help sort of calm him down a  bit. >>

Here are some possibilities from the FES rep:

• impatiens: for nervous, high-strung impulsive animals; to help overly  hasty, impulsive or restless children, who can become easily frustrated;  frustration with the slowness of others and of life; restlessness due to  impatient, quick temperament
• lavendar: overstimulated; tendency to be high strung; frayed nerves
• quaking grass: helping animals living together in a group to adjust;  especially important when a new animal has been introduced; ability to  harmonize with group, to see self-identity within larger matrix of group identity
• vervain: for hyperactive, overly tense animals; following the middle way,  moderation in feelings and actions; counterbalancing overenthusiasm or fanaticism; strong attachment to one's point of view; overzealous need to convert others
• chicory: need to receive excessive attention from others; emotional  neediness; creating temper tantrums; demanding excessive attention, usually by negative behavior; clinging tendency; feeling overly needy, sorry foroneself; never feeling  there is enough love or support
• canyon dudleya: overexcitement, tendency to dramatize emotional life or create intense emotional and psychic experiences; stirred up or extreme emotions, tending to hysteria; dissatisfaction with quiet or ordinary pace of life
• chamomile: calming emotional tension or hyperactivity in children; fussiness; colicky babies; insomnia; emotional quietude and calm
• vine: strong-willed children, the bully; imposing one's will on others; tyrannical disregard for the autonomy of others
• mallow: ability to feel warm and caring with others; abitlity to form social bonds
• holly: jealousy or envy of others, not feeling loved

Be well,
Nancy and the furkids