Dr. Edward Bach, who discovered the Bach flower remedies, lived from 1886 to 1936.

He looked at his patients as a whole (holistic), rather than simply looking at their illness or disease. He found personality, emotions and psyche as important as the disease the patient was suffering from. He had spiritual knowledge and knowledge of nature.

Bach flower remedies are made from extracts of flowers, plants or shrubs and preserved with brandy. Only the remedy ‘rock water “is an exception. There are 38 single remedies and one composite remedy.

Bach assumed that every emotion has an opposite emotion. The individual is healthy if these opposites are balanced.

He was following the lead of Hahnemann and his work in homeopathy, but was convinced that nature could offer a simpler and purer product, not based on bacteria, but made ​​from plants.

Homeopathic remedies help the body to heal itself. Bach Flower Essences will bring disturbed emotions back into balance. Bach Flowers neither suppresse nor add to a behavior or emotion. Bach flowers are harmless and there is no fear of an overdose or ill effects.

Both types of remedy can be combined perfectly.

It is generally known that Bach flowers are used for humans, but it is less commonly known that they can also be used for animals!

Bach flowers work mainly by restoring the inner balance. You have your own character and emotions and Bach Flower Essences are not going to change your personality, but will bring your character into balance.

When using Bach Flowers for your dog you should consult a specialist who will advise you as to which remedies will most benefit the dog.  A specialist may combine three to seven different Bach Flower Essences in order to arrive at an optimal result and this is usually administered for a period of four weeks. You may be advised to opt for an acute treatment lasting a few hours or a few days. If you see a decline a few days after the end of the treatment you can ask for a refill and eventually adjust the dosage. The normal dosage will be four drops, four times a day, given directly into the mouth of the dog or 2 drops in the drinking water or else six to ten drops in a humidifier or on the bedding or in the dog’s sleeping area.

Often a complementary treatment is given to the owner. Our animals often mirror our own problems. Consider your own behavior.  Does your pet suffer, for example from separation anxiety? It may well be that your own behavior is causing your pet to experience emotional dependency. If you can learn to let go then your pet will no longer suffer separation anxiety. This is what we mean when we talk about the Animal Mirror, the strong bond between us and our animals.

Classification of Bach Flower Essences in categories:

1. Anxiety

2. Loneliness

3. Despondency and despair

4. Insufficient interest in the ‘now’

5. Uncertainty

6. Over concern for the welfare of others

7. Overly sensitive to influences and ideas

Bach Flower Essences can be given preventively for stressful situations, for example, moving house, a competition or a show, staying away from home, even giving birth.

In addition to emotional imbalance such as anxiety, aggression, hyperactivity; … Bach flowers can also ease physical symptoms, weakness, depression, attention seeking, skin problems, cleansing after illness, surgery or after using antibiotics, and so on.

Bach Flower Essences have proved successful in these cases:

Bach flowers are widely used in rescue shelters, helping with the trauma, the solitude, the aggression and the fear. .

Often, just a short treatment of Bach Flowers, lasting a few days is enough to help an animal through a fear phase,  Mimulus and Aspen are commonly used for these cases.

A hyperactive, noisy West Highland Terrier was helped by a 4 week treatment with Impatiens.

An aloof Newfoundlander blossomed after taking violet water for two weeks.

Dog on dog aggression is often mitigated by using Beech, Vine and Vervain.

This was the case with Baloo, a mixed breed, who responded well after a fortnight’s treatment.

Bach Flower Combination

Often the Bach method is combined with essential oils, herbs, massage or behavioral therapy. This depends on the animal and its owner. Impatiens , a Bach flower used for impatience can be perfectly combined with rock crystal, which brings you into balance and essential oil of lavender . Often, it is also recommended to adjust the animal’s nutrition and exercise.

First Aid and Bach flowers

When the dog is drained, tired, lifeless or exhausted, either morally or physically we use Olive. Everyday life and everyday things become too much to deal with and there is no fun in life anymore, the animals are sleeping for long periods and have little or no appetite. This often occurs after an illness, a stay in kennels, after giving birth…

Olive should be, in addition to rescue remedy and crabapple, a mainstay in all first aid boxes

The rescue remedy is a combination of five flowers: rock rose, star of Bethlehem, clematis, cherry plum and impatiens. It can be given in drop form, as a spray or an ointment and is administered to dogs after a bad experience or shock when they have become anxious and nervous. It is also used preventively for surgery, competition work etc…

Rescue Remedy combines clematis for recovery, fainting and clarity, cherry plum for

self-control, impatiens for overexcitement, impatience and energy, star of Bethlehem for shock and vitality, rock rose for panic and courage . It is a useful remedy for the busy period at the end of the year, a holiday trip or a stay in kennels.

Dogs that feel tainted (physically) and are easily irritated and/or obsessed with details can be helped with crabapple. It is also often used after a course of antibiotics, after an anesthetic for surgery, after a severe illness, dandruff, continuous licking on one place, etc…

It is a Bach flower that purifies body and mind and is used both internally and externally.

Prejudice?

In our society, many people have preconceived notions about things they do not know or understand. Bach Flower Essences is one example of this. The results not “scientifically proven” but are there to see every day, in people’s homes. Whether it’s just the Bach Flower or the combination of faith and the associated behavior is a point that l leave open to discussion. However while it is true that people can be influenced and one can claim a “placebo” effect, animals will either show a change or not. There is no doubt about it.

Unfortunately, Bach Flower Essences do not work for all animals and the choice of the remedy may have to be adjusted or possibly a different method, other than Bach flowers should be considered. However it is important to remember that Bach flowers have no side effects and you can not give an overdose, making it suitable for use for very young animals. That is something one cannot say about most traditional, chemical drugs.

More info at https://www.toscanzahoeve.be/kruiden-bachbloesems-dieren/

Do you have experience with Bach flowers or other herbs? Let us know and be sure to write a comment below.