NOTE: the article below is written for horses but the information contained is applicable for all pets.
Bach Flower Remedies/ Bach Rescue Remedy
Bach Flower Remedies are a system of holistic natural healing that grew up out of homeopathic medicine. Flower Remedies are to the emotional body what homeopathics are to the physical body. Each of the 38 Remedies correlates to an emotional state such as fear, self doubt or worry. The Flower Remedies act as a catalyst so that an animal's own system can achieve balance after being in a state of imbalance due to the stress of a period of strong emotion. These strong emotions scientists have found to be the seed of most physical disease. It, therefore, is logical to say if you achieve an emotional balance you also will affect the physical dysfunction.
The Flower Remedies are an approved Food and Drug Administration over the counter remedy and available to anyone without a prescription. They have no side effects, can be taken with any homeopathic remedy or allopathic drug and overdose is impossible.
Note: Please substitute the word ANIMAL for any species listed below (such as horse).
Bach "Rescue Remedy"
In the early 1930's the noted British physician and scientist, Dr. Edward Bach, observed that many of his patients would display emotional and psychological difficulties such as apprehension, worry, loneliness, boredom, depression, uncertainty, hopelessness or fear prior to the onset of physical illness. He also noted these same difficulties inhibited the body's natural healing ability to prevent and/or overcome disease. Leaving his lucrative Harley Street practice, Bach moved to the English countryside and dedicated his life to studying the relationship between a person's state of mind and the onset of progression of disease.
Unlike standard medical approaches which treat physical symptoms, Bach believed the only way to truly prevent or deal with an illness, once manifested, was to address the underlying emotional causes. Concerned over the misusage and side- effects of most chemical drugs, Bach believed a safe, gentle treatment could be found in nature.
After many years of research and testing, Bach discovered that the preparation of 38 flowering plants, trees and special waters alleviated a broad range of emotional and psychological difficulties. Bach also developed a highly effective combination emergency rescue formula for the relief of stress during acute stressful situations. "Rescue Remedy" is regarded as the panacea Remedy, having the ability to calm and distress any situation especially, those created by traumatic incidents where an animal was terrorized, injured, or abused.
But, how does one know what emotions animals are experiencing? You would be surprised as to how easy it is to "read" an animal. All it takes is some observation and a little insight. You might discover that animals take less effort than humans!
The Flower Remedies come in small stock bottles. Cost is anywhere from $16 (10 ml) -$25 (20ml). This concentrate is used to make a dilution of a formula just for you or your horse. Four to six drops are added along with a teaspoon of brandy or apple cider vinegar to a 1 ounce dropper bottle. Fill the rest of the way with spring water and shake vigorously up and down.
The Remedies can be taken directly from the stock bottle or from the personal dilution bottle by placing 2 - 4 drops in your horse's feed or water. The Remedies are easy and convenient to use with varied methods of application that can be selected to suit an individual's specific needs. The most common forms of administering the Remedies are placing them into the animal's food or water; dropping them directly into the animal's mouth; or rubbing the needed remedies on one's hands before petting them. Another innovative method for stalled horses is to place the Remedies into an automatic misting units such as fly repellent units.
In acute or emergency situations, you can apply the Remedies every few seconds until a change is noticed, then every 5 minutes until another change is noticed, and then every fifteen minutes. By this time, your horse should be calm and restored to an acceptable level of homeostasis. Normally giving the Remedy 4 - 8 times daily is acceptable, especially immediately upon rising and before retiring.
There is no improper or wrong method of applying the Bach Remedies. It is truly not necessary to be precise in counting the number of drops in any of the dilution methods. The suggestions given, herein, are merely to offer a reasonable parameter of accepted dilution methods. Follow your own judgment and insights. Remember, you cannot overdose the Remedies for they are non-toxic.
The following is a description of the Flower Remedies that make up Rescue Remedy, the most commonly used Bach Flower Remedy. Rescue Remedy is not a Flower Essence in itself but a combination of five of original Remedies. Once these five remedies are combined, the Rescue becomes an essence unto itself. It is different combined, than its individual essences.
Clematis
- Increases attention span and ability to focus on the training lesson at hand.
- When the animal is comatose or unconscious for any reason; returning the animal to consciousness.
- After any surgery to increase recovery alterness time.
Impatiens
- For the very nervous animal.
a. Any form of nervous difficulties, especially those that have the nervous shakes.
- For the overly anxious animal.
a. At feeding times
b. Before a race
c. For animals that have epileptic type fits especially when agitated by being overly excited or upset.
Impatiens is for any form of pain.
Rock Rose
- For any form of terror and panic
a. After an accident, injury, fire or any terrifying event.
b. For the overly fearful animal that possibly was terrified sometime in their life. Fear does not dissolve naturally.
- Rock Rose is for dauntless courage.
a. For animals that are used in service to mankind such as police work.
- For the courageous animal to accentuate their already innate abilities.
Cherry Plum
- For the animal that looses control, becoming wild and crazed.
a. for vicious animals that become dangerous when provoked.
b. For the high strung animal, including horses, that lose control easily.
c. for the animal that is destructive, losing control.
d. Losing control when seeing another animal enter into their territory.
e. To help retain control during mating season for both sexes.
- To remain in control when:
a. In competition when stressed by strange people, noises, animals.
b. Training animals not to react to gun fire.
- For the animal that becomes frantic when traveling such as horses that spook when being placed in trailers.
- For the animal that suffers from:
a. Seizures or anxiety attacks
- The animal who chews himself
a. Allergies to grasses
b. Staying away from stitches after surgery.
Star of Bethlehem
- Star of Bethlehem is for all forms of trauma.
a. For the emotional trauma from the loss of a loved master or mate.
b. Physical trauma after an injury of any kind.
c. Birthing trauma
d. Traumatized from extreme cold or heat.
- Star of Bethlehem is needed any time comfort is indicated. a. To give comfort to animals who were left alone or are in a kennel feeling unloved.
b. For an injured or ill animal who is required to remain at a veterinary clinic, during which one time their owners are there with them.
NOTE: Rescue Remedy is not meant to take the place of emergency medical treatment. In serious conditions or situations requiring medical attention, a veterinarian should be notified immediately.
Agrimony
- Agrimony is for the animal that never complains, even when it is obvious that the animal is in pain.
- Useful for any kind of skin infestation or irritation that causes the animal to chew themselves raw: biting ticks, fleas and flies, parasites, mange, eczema.
- For the restless animal that roams from place to place. For the animal that paces back and forth - stall weaving in horses.
Aspen
- For horses that "spook" very easily.
- For use when a horse is anxious for some unknown reason and refuses to enter certain stalls.
Beech
- Beech cures those picky eaters, who of course, prefer only the most expensive foods.
- When intolerant of grasses, insects, dampness, light or dark, heat or humidity or cold.
- For traveling long distances.
Centaury
- For the timid horse that gets easily pushed around in the pasture.
- Increases an animal's will to live when fighting an illness, after an accident or during a difficult delivery for a mare and foal.
- For horses used in the military or police service.
Cerato
- For the "air head" or inattentive horse that appears too stupid to learn or learns very slowly.
- Cerato keeps animals "on track". Therefore, it is ideal to administer before and during a training session and during competitive events.
Chestnut Bud
- To break bad habits such as: horses that won't leave the barn or trailer.
- During any new training session to increase memory retention.
- To break old habits taught by other trainers.
- Enables horses to be more sure-footed on mountain trails - more keenly aware of their surroundings.
Chicory
- For the animals who thinks they "own" their master.
- Use at weaning time to help mare and foal to separate.
- The key word for Chicory is "congestion". If an animal has organic,congestive symptoms such as in the lungs, bowels, heart or nasal passages and the animal is desirous of attention, then, chicory could be indicated.
Crab Apple
- To cleanse all wounds, abrasions, or rashes.
- To rid animal and surroundings of any annoying odors.
- To help diminish their scent when in season.
Elm
- Anytime an animal is overwhelmed by rigors of traveling, such as horses traveling in trailers or airplanes.
- For being overwhelmed by something. Horses being shod, too many strangers in their space, being placed in unfamiliar territory.
- for easily-overwhelmed, high strung horses.
Genetian
- For set backs of any kind, such as being relocated, sold or given again and again.
- For long illnesses or when there is a relapse.
- Depression resulting from the set back experienced by an animal when, for example, it's baby dies.
- For horses that have had a bad experience due to injury or an abusive trainer and now has little initiative to re-begin a training routine.
Gorse
- Gorse is indicated when there is a challenging situation where there are signs that the animal has given up or feels that the condition is hopeless. For example: A horse badly abused or abandoned needing to have their hope of living restored; a critical injury or surgery, for a horse that has been severely neglected.
Heather
- For the horse that has to be the center of attention.
Holly
- For horses who are known to be mean and dangerous.
- When the horse is performing unacceptably. Being dangerous, or a horse causing other horses to react.
- To be taken when mare rejects her foal.
- For the surrogate mother and adopted baby to accept each other.
- When there is a need for more love such as in abused and neglected horses.
Honeysuckle
- for the sulking horse that is lamenting the loss of their master, mate or baby caused by death or separation.
- For horses that have been over-exerted or exhausted.
- For horses that do not perform well when away from home.
Hornbeam
- For the horse that appears mentally lethargic and tired during riding but when it is freed it jumps about with plenty of energy to spare. Or, for the horse that peps up when near the barn.
- For race horses to face the race and jump out of the shoot first.
Larch
- To increase confidence. For the horse that has had their confidence beaten out of them, or for the horse that performs better in pairs.
Mimulus
- For known fears such as thunder and lightning, crossing water, of strange noises, of strange objects. - For the shy, timid, fearful, or abused horse.
Mustard
- For the horse that is experiencing very deep depression.
- For the horse that has personality changes when "in season".
Oak
- For the horse that is a hard worker yet seems to be over burdened, needing to struggle with the task at hand.
- to rebuild the strength of horses that have been starved or mal-nutritioned, over bred, over worked, over exposed to weather extremes.
- Take Oak in preparation for strenuous times ahead.
Olive
- For exhaustion from an especially long ordeal, as in the case of long term pain or abuse caused by the elements, an illness, man's cruelty or predators.
- If plagued with allergies that cause the adrenal system to become exhausted.
Pine
- Pine is the suffering remedy. The Pine type will take it upon themselves their master's pain or illness.
Red Chestnut
- For use when an animal sense impending danger such as: tornadoes, earthquakes, hurricanes, being taken away to the vet or being put to death.
Rock Water
- Increases flexibility for animals that have stiff joints and muscles. Massage topically into stiff sore joints and muscles. Will achieve a more fluid gait.
- For the stubborn or cantankerous horse who refuses to flow with when forced to adhere to a new set of rules. Is uncompromising and inflexible.
Scleranthus
- For the horse that has equilibrium difficulties. For horse that are clumsy.
- for neurological confusion - such as might happen with some kinds of seizures.
- For mares with "yo-yo" hormones that often cause "yo-yo" emotions.
- For horses that suddenly buck or bite.
Sweet Chestnut
- Give Sweet Chestnut during competitive events when the horse shows sign of fatigue that indicate it might not finish the event. Sweet Chestnut strengthens them mentally so that they can perform well physically.
- Sweet Chestnut is for endurance energy and therefore, ideal to tap hidden reservoirs of energy before a physically taxing event.
- To prevent burn out.
Vervain
- For the very intense, hyperactive, high energy horse. This type of horse appears to have inexhaustible energy. This type is anxious to learn but is often difficult to teach because it has it's own way of achieving a lesson's objective.
Vine
- For the horse that thinks he is the "master" and rules the barn, stall or pasture.
Walnut
- Walnut protects against outside influences such as insecticides, pollution and sensitivities to pollens and grasses.
- Protects by insulating the horse due to changes in it's environment - new owners, new barn or when traveling.
- Walnut eases hormonal cycles.
Water Violet
- Water Violet is indicated for the horse that prefers to be left alone, especially when ill.
- For horses that never receive attention and are forgotten by their owners, rarely being released from their stall.
White Chestnut
- White Chestnut works to quiet and still an animal's mind during training sessions or competitive events, enabling them to listen only for their master's command.
Wild Oat
- For the horse that appears depressed, possibly because it is idle and not doing what it was trained to do.
- To create more opportunities to win competitive events.
Wild Rose
- Wild Rose remedies apathy as it's virtuous action evokes the happiness and jubilation for life necessary for: horses confined to stalls and never let out, helping old and grouchy horses to have more fun, for horses that have lost their spirit.
Willow
- Willow is basically for resentment which is caused by feeling victimized by an abuser.
