Hello all ~

With so many people talking about ferrets moving, relocating, or having
adjustment problems, I thought the following list might be helpful.
This is a repost of the article from 2 years ago, so some of you may
have read it.

[This post originally appeared in three parts, but it posted here in
its entirety today. BIG]

FLOWER ESSENCES

by Mary L. Conley, N.D.
All Rights Reserved
Jan. 2005

Flower essences were originally discovered by Dr. Edward Bach, an
English physician, who understood the context of mind-body medicine. He
studied that emotions are directly related to the health of our bodies
and psyche, and was far ahead of his time. In the early part of the
20th century he sought to find a remedy that was most harmless. His
explorations led him to discover that many different plants in nature
corresponded to a particular state of mind.

These remedies are harmless, very gentle, and can work in layers (if
needed). They are usually available in good health food stores. There
are only 32 of the Bach Flower Remedies. I work with them some of
the time. But, I prefer The Flower Essence Society's work out of
California. They have over 100 different remedies and encourage us
to do research. For more information have fun visiting the site of
The Flower Essence Society:
www.floweressence.com.

Animals and Animal Care:

Arnica - shock, trauma, injury, recovery from surgery. (This works so
well)

Aspen - unknown fear or terror in a wild or unsettled animal.

Bleeding Heart - breaking emotional attachments to a caregiver (whining
cats or moping dogs). (Used when one is away)

Borage - lifting the spirit of an animal that may be down due to old
age or illness.

Chamomile - for unsettled animals that bark or act out of sorts,
accompanied by gas, nausea, or vomiting.

Cherry Plum - extreme tension or stress. (A terrified animal in a trap)

Chestnut Bud - instilling effective learning patterns during training;
stimulates emotional memory and ability to retain training and not
repeat mistakes.

Chicory - used with younger animals who whine; used when an illness may
be psychosomatic or animal wants excessive attention.

Cosmos - encourages interspecies communication when lots of different
animals are involved; establishes psychic bonds in a one-to-one
situation. (Taken by both animal and caretaker.

Dill - when an animal is overwhelmed or confused such as during travel
or an upset of schedule. Helps to adjust to new homes.

There are 28 in all, so I'm going to split them up over the next few
nights.

Tomorrow I'll also include how to prepare these wonderful essences for
your tiny animal.

(Part 2)

To make a remedy for an animal as small as a ferret you would take a
clean one ounce dropper bottle and fill with spring water (not tap or
distilled). Drop 4 drops from the flower essence stock bottle you just
bought into the bottle with the water. Gently agitate the bottle. You
now have your own stock bottle. Label it and place in a cool, dark
place. Each day when you change your ferrets' water drop *one* drop
from your stock bottle into the water. Gently shake and watch for
results. Sometimes it takes up to 2 weeks to see behavioral results,
but they do come. The water must be changed each day to fresh and a new
drop added. If, during the 2 weeks you do not see a change, you can add
2 drops a day, but no more. I have not yet tried more than 4 drops on
my little one, but her biting case was extreme. Of course let your vet
know what you are doing, and give him/her the web site from part 1.

Animals and animal care:

Five-Flower formula - This is the same as Bach's Rescue Remedy. I do
like the energy from the Flower Essence Society in California, but I
use the Bach also. For any form of stress or emergency, or when
uncertain of which remedy to give.

Holly - For jealous pets, used when another pet is vying for attention
from the caregiver.

Impatiens - For nervous, high-strung, impulsive animals.

Love-Lies Bleeding - Wounded or deeply suffering animal who may not
live.

Mariposa Lilly - If a little one needs to be introduced to a surrogate
mother, this helps any bonding you may want; or for young animals in a
new home.

Mimulus - nervous conditions in animals; used on shy animals that hide
from people.

Penstemon - For illness or trauma; gives inner strength during adverse
circumstances.

Pink Yarrow - Pets who take on or mirror the emotions of their human
caretakers (used if one is exposed to loud angry fighting, unusual or
prolonged grief of the caretaker or depression of the caretaker).

Quaking Grass - Helps animals living together in a group or herd to
adjust; used when a new animal is introduced. (This is one of my
favorites and works so well)

Red Clover - This is calming to hysterical animals; used when I take my
animals to the vet. I keep a patch of this within their pen and just
let them roll around in it before we go.

[Part 3 and addendum]

Unless you really understand energy medicine, it is very hard to make
your own essences. We grow our own flowers and make our own essences
here on the farm. We also do what is called a "proving" which is a way
of finding out what each flower does and compiling a big list.
Currently we are researching 2 new essences: coreopsis(which retards
appetite), and Galanthus, a toxic plant (which helps those with no
appetite to eat, such as in chemotherapy;) . It is best to get your
essences from a good health food store, or from a Flower Essence
Society. There are a few different Brands out there: Bach; The Flower
Essence Society; and others. I like everything The Flower Essence
Society does and sells. You can visit their website at:
www.floweressence.com.

Animals and animal care:

Self-Heal - Is added to almost any combination to stimulate inner
healing forces of an animal. It awakens vitality and the will to live.

Snapdragon - Used for animals who bite and are aggressive.

Star of Bethlehem - Used for abused animals, or an animal who has
suffered injury or trauma.

Tiger Lily - For hostile or aggressive animals (not necessarily
biters).

Vervain - For hyperactive, overly tense animals.

Vine - For animals which dominate younger or weaker animals.

Walnut - Used before or after a major move. Thie helps break links to
old places of residence. Also used when an animal is giving birth.

Wild Rose - For apathetic, listless animals.

We also use an herb from out west called Chaparral. It is indicated
if someone is being threatened by environmental hazards: power lines;
industrial waste; when the psyche has been over-exposed to violence
(even on TV); when one is energy depleted due to being in the presence
of someone else; or when society in general can be exhausting. It is a
psychic and physical cleanser and I used plenty of it after 9/11. This
is one remedy we all should have, along with Rescue Remedy or Five
Flower Formula. It is powerful so I would only use a drop per 50 ml
water bottle, per day for an animal as small as a ferret.

I have prepared an emergency flower essence kit for Kat's raffle to
benefit Ferretwise Shelter. The container is waterproof, contains 10
essences with instructions, healing candles, a crystal candleholder,
and a beautiful rose quartz necklace for calming moms.

See:
http://ferretlover97.terrabox.com/shelterhelp-FerretWise-Raffle.html
item #6.


SOURCES:

Kaminski, Patricia and Richard Katz. Flower Essence Repertory. Calif:
Earth Spirit, Inc., 1992. ISBN # 0-9631306-1-7.

Kaminski, Patricia. Flowers that Heal. Dublin: New Leaf Publ., 1998.
(Available thru the Flower Essence Society.)

Scheffer, Mechthild. Bach Flower Therapy. Vt: Healing Arts Press, 1988.
ISBN#0-89281-239-7.

Online Sources:

www.medicinegarden.com (click on Flower Essences)
www.floweressence.com
www.essences.com/wwes
www.essences.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mary Conley is an herbalist whose love of natural health sent her back
to school for her Doctorate in Natural Medicine in 1996. She teaches
online and has a small practice in the mountains of Payson, Arizona.
She is the faculty herbalist at The Athena Website and List (the
medicinegarden reference above), and is featured at other natural
health sites online.

She is a member of several professional associations:
American Herb Association
American Botanical Council
National Center of Homeopathy
The Herb Growing & Marketing Network
American Naturopathic Medical Association
Flower Essence Society ( USA)
Worldwide Essence Society

Warmly ~
Mary 

Mary L. Conley, herbalist, N.D.
Conley Mountain Herbs
Teas, tinctures, flower essences
Payson, Arizona
http://www.herbgrow30.com/
fax (928) 468-1808

[Posted in FML 5487]