Very few of us can honestly say that we have few negative emotions and many of us suffer from stress on a regular basis, especially if we have a few children. The children also have their own negative emotions to deal with, this is part of growing up. A certain amount of worry, stress and so on is normal and we deal with it appropriately and move on. At other times these feelings get on top of us and we feel unable to cope or that they are holding us back. If this is the case then we should do something about it. One method is the use of flower remedies.

Flower and gem remedies are based on homeopathic principles and use a very small amount of a flower or gem diluted an enormous amount of times. This is normally put in brandy because it keeps better that way, but you can also buy alcohol free versions.

Many people these days have heard of the Rescue Remedy, this is generally given in extreme nervous or panic type situations. My daughter recently had to have a medical which I thought would involve a blood test. Since she has a big problem with needles I put a couple of drops of Rescue Remedy in her drink, hoping to take the edge off the fear. I also had some myself, but as it happened there was no blood test so it didn?t matter. Rescue Remedy is also often used if you have a shock or something like that.

There are numerous other flower remedies, as an example, my first aid kit includes the following:

• Agrimony ? for people who keep their troubles hidden under a mask of pleasure and happiness
• Avocado ? for memory
• Chrysocolla-gem-silica ? afraid to speak, unsettled, scared
• Crowea ? unsettled and agitated, worrying and not knowing why
• Happy Wanderer ? encourages standing on one?s own feet
• Heather ? people who are obsessed with themselves but who do not like to be alone
• Hybrid Pink Fairy Orchid ? for those who go up and down with the praise of others
• Isis ? Sick, tired, unbalanced
• Mallow ? socially insecure
• Olive ? exhausted in body and mind after long people of stress
• Scleranthus ? inability to choose between alternatives
• Star of Bethlehem ? after effects of shock, even shock received many years ago
• Travel Essence ? for travel related fears
• Two ? useful when thinking the same thought over and over again
• Vine ? dominance and inflexibility
• Walnut ? protect against outside influences
• Water Violet ? pride and aloofness
• White Chestnut ? unwanted thoughts and mental arguments

No doubt, this list says something about my personality!

These remedies have been used with pregnant women, babies and animals. If in doubt, check with your doctor before use.

Further information

Energetic Healing Association, Australia

British Flower and Vibrational Essences Association

Flower Essence Society