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Choosing
Remedies
Choosing the
correct remedies in any given case is extremely important if an animal is to
be helped. In order to treat the
problem successfully with the remedies, the emotions which motivate the
behaviour need to be identified. Any
information on the animal's history and experiences to date is extremely useful
as is knowledge of the breed and general temperament. Observation and
assessment of the animal's body language is also a fundamental part of the
process.
The list below
contains examples of how the remedies may be used with animals. It is not an exhaustive list and each case
would need to be treated individually.
Experience of animal behaviour together with knowledge of the remedies
and their indications are necessary for successful treatment.
Rescue Remedy is probably the most well-known of the Bach
Flower Remedies. It is in fact a
combination of 5 remedies and is helpful in emergency situations and where
there is shock or stress. Many pet
owners keep a bottle handy just before bonfire night or when a visit to the
vet is planned. Other areas of
application would be injury or accident or any other situation where the
animal’s emotions may be stirred up. The 5 remedies contained in Rescue
Remedy are Rock Rose, Cherry Plum, Clematis, Impatiens, and Star of Bethlehem.
For further information on each of these remedies please refer to the list
below:
Alphabetical List of all other
remedies
Agrimony For those who hide their troubles and put on a brave face. An animal of this nature may not like arguments
within the home but instead of showing distress may try to distract the owner
or cheer them up by clowning around or being extremely playful.
Aspen This is a remedy for fear of the unknown. It helps treat animals who
appear anxious, unsettled or flustered for no apparent reason.
Beech For intolerance. This remedy could help an animal who does not
like other animals or people from outside their family. It may also help if an animal is intolerant
of certain things eg wearing a collar, being attached to a lead, or being
groomed. They can also be intolerant of insects or pollens. It may help if
there are difficulties with dogs living in the same household.
Centaury For those who always try to please others and find it difficult
to say no to them. They are subservient, quiet and timid. It can be used for
the runt who is being pushed out or to help dogs who are extremely
submissive. It is also the remedy for
animals that have been or are being abused.
These poor animals are unfortunately forced into the Centaury state by
someone who is able to dominate or bully them.
Cerato Lack of
conviction. Doubts about decisions
made. An animal of this nature may
look to you for guidance rather than act impulsively or without your
permission or confirmation that it is OK to do so.
Cherry Plum For those who fear losing control. If an animal is in a state where it is
beside itself and cannot help acting in a certain way. For example when an animal is self-harming,
biting or chasing its tail incessantly or constantly licking or sucking at
parts of its body. Problematic and
chronic skin irritation or insect bites may cause an animal to be in the
Cherry Plum state as it may violently scratch at itself to try and get
relief.
Chestnut Bud For those who repeat the same mistakes or negative patterns over
and over again. It can help animals
who are having difficult learning new things or keep getting it
"wrong". It could also help if
an animal is repeatedly approaching another animal who
is aggressive but not getting the message and continuing to make an approach.
Chicory Over possessiveness. The
more selfish love. Animals for whom it is indicated
may follow their owners everywhere and watch their every move. They may not be pleased if the owner shows
too much affection to anyone else.
They may be extremely possessive and protective of their young and
possibly of other items such as food bowls, toys etc,
Clematis The remedy for day dreaming or living in the future. It may help
for distraction in animals who appear to be distant
and unresponsive. The animal may seem
to sleep more than usual or be generally inattentive.
Crab Apple The remedy for self dislike or loathing. Also the remedy for obsessive or compulsive
behaviour patterns. In animals this
can present itself as constant grooming or nibbling at themselves, tail
chasing or pacing up and down. It is
also the cleansing remedy and so can be used for any infection from
germs/parasites or where there is injury.
Elm Used when capable and dependable souls feel overwhelmed or over
burdened by responsibilities. Elm may
be used for any animal who is put under any kind of
pressure and is finding it difficult to cope.
For example it may help with dogs who are
showed a lot or put in other such trying situations. Dogs who are put in positions of
responsibility such as guide dogs may find this a heavy burden to bear from
time to time in which case Elm may be indicated.
Gentian For feelings of discouragement or despondency due to a setback
of some sort. Use for an animal who seems depressed or disappointed. If an animals has an injured paw and cannot go for his daily walks or is unable to eat due to a bad stomach.
Gorse For feelings of hopelessness and despair. When an animal has
been very ill or has been through a lot of hardship he may feel like giving
up. You will see from the dog's facial
expressions and body language that this is a much more serious state than the
Gentian state above. Where all hope
seems to be gone, Gorse may help life the spirits and aid restore optimism
thereby encouraging faster recovery to take place.
Heather For those who have a need to constantly talk about themselves
and their problems, who hate being alone. Teaches the ability to listen
sensitively to others. An animal of the Heather nature may feel desperate to
have their owner's attention. They may
appear needy by seeking the attention of anyone who visits the house by
nudging or nuzzling into them or putting a paw on their knee. They may even persist in pestering people
who are not interested in petting them in their desperation for company.
Holly For the more strong and volatile emotions. This may help with any intense reactions in
an animal. If there seems to be an
overreaction to certain stimuli, Holly may help calm the situation down. It is highly unlikely that animals
experience anger, hatred, jealousy or suspicion as people do but Holly could
be indicated when any emotion appears to be intense or extreme.
Honeysuckle For those who dwell too much in the past, good times or
bad. It is also the remedy for
homesickness and nostalgia. It may
help an animal who is pining for their owner while they are away on holiday
or away in hospital. It can also help
if an animal is missing another animal companion or has lost some other thing
in their life that they had formed an attachment to.
Hornbeam For procrastination.
Where the thought of doing something is more tiring than doing
it! That Monday morning feeling! If an animal appears lazy or can't be
bothered to get involved in physical activity he may be in this state.
Impatiens For those who act and think quickly, and have no patience for
what they see as the slowness of others. Impatiens animals will always be in
a hurry to get wherever they are going and may appear to have endless energy.
Larch For lack of self-confidence and the anticipation of failure.
Often they make no attempt to succeed. Animals who appear to lack confidence
and shy away from new situations or experiences may benefit from this remedy
particularly animals who have been abused in some way and who have lost any
spirit of adventure.
Mimulus For known fears: of the dark, thunder, strangers, noise etc.
Animals who are fearful may cower, become aggressive when cornered
or sometimes urinate.
Mustard For depression of unknown cause, a sudden gloom which descends
upon one for no apparent reason. In
an animal, depression could manifest as a loss of appetite, lethargy, lack of
facial expression, tail between the legs.
If an animals exhibits any of these behaviours
however for any length of time for no obvious reason, it would be advisable
to consider a check up with your veterinary surgeon.
Oak For those who
never give up, regardless of difficulties. This remedy gives strength as Oak
types keep going against all odds.
Animals too may be of the Oak disposition and when they are unwell or
tired they may refuse to rest and keep battling on regardless.
Olive For mental and physical exhaustion, caused by illness or
ordeals. This remedy assists in giving strength and vitality again after
physical exhaustion or illness.
Pine For those who are never satisfied with themselves and blame
themselves for not doing better. For people who suffer from guilt and will
even blame themselves for others' mistakes. Can an animal feel guilt? This is debatable. Is it possible that if an animal is
constantly shouted at or reprimanded that he may feel that everything is his
fault and feel "bad" because of his owner's obvious
displeasure? If so, Pine may be an
appropriate remedy.
Red Chestnut The animal who is afraid for those he loves; he may stand at a
door or window waiting anxiously for his owner to return. Any attempts to distract him will probably
fail. This remedy may be useful for an
animal who has to be separated from his owner. Red Chestnut animals may be also be
extremely anxious about their young, more than perhaps is normal.
Rock Rose For extreme fear, terror or panic. Many dogs suffer with these symptoms in
relation to fireworks, thunderstorms, loud household appliances and machinery
or any number of other less obvious stimuli.
In any situation where a dog is terrified, Rock Rose can help to allay
these highly distressing emotions.
Rock Water For those who adopt repressive, rigid personal regimes, and deny
themselves pleasure. May help with animals who
exhibit any rigid behaviour patterns and appear to be inflexible in relation
to times and locations for walks, dietary changes etc.
Scleranthus Indecision and mood swings.
If an animal can't seem to settle and moves from one place to another
or can't make up his mind whether he wants to stay in the garden or come
inside and hovers near the back door he may need Scleranthus. It is helpful where an animal is
unpredictable and has been found to be useful in cases where balance is
disturbed eg motion sickness.
Star of Bethlehem For trauma and shock, whether experienced recently or in the
past. This remedy is useful for animals who have
been mistreated or rescued or suffered any other type of trauma. It is also the remedy for grief. Animals are often subjected to the loss of
their loved ones (human or animal) through death or other circumstance. It has now been shown that animals grieve
just as humans do and Star of Bethlehem can therefore be indicated in these
cases. It is one of the remedies in
the composite Rescue Remedy.
Sweet Chestnut For extreme anguish, the feeling that one has reached the limits
of one's endurance. May help with
animals who have been through a great deal of
distress. They may have suffered
extreme inner torment and anguish and not know what to do with themselves or
where they can find relief.
Vervain Vervain is the remedy for over-enthusiasm which can lead to
tension and strain. The remedy can
calm the over-exuberant and highly strung animal who
may constantly bark and jump up at everyone in an effort to work off his
excess energy.
Vine For those domineering types who insist that others do things
their way. Vine animals may be strong willed and sometimes possibly more
difficult to train. They may assert
themselves or even bully other more subservient animals and, without proper
guidance and leadership, may become a problem for their owner also.
Walnut This remedy is for change and also for protection. It may help in a situation where an animal
is rehomed or moved to a different location, when an animal gives birth or
after weaning, when an owner dies or a new member joins the family. Any change in circumstance large or small
can be helped with this remedy. It
also provides emotional protection particularly for the more sensitive
animals.
Water Violet For those who
loners, sometimes proud and aloof. They prefer solitude when ill. The remedy teaches
them to interact with others without sacrificing their independence.
White Chestnut For repetitive unwanted thoughts and an unsettled state of
mind. This remedy may be useful for
dogs who indulge in repetitive and destructive behaviour patterns such as
tail chasing or chewing, self mutilation or constant whining. Dogs who suffer from separation anxiety are
greatly disturbed in anticipation of their owner's departure and when left
alone they may indulge in destructive behaviour patterns due to their
inability to find peace of mind.
Wild Oat The remedy for lack of direction. This remedy may be appropriate for an
animal who has been a working dog for the best part
of its life and then is suddenly forced into a domestic situation. The dog may feel that he has lost his
reason to be and is likely to suffer from boredom and frustration.
Wild Rose For resignation and apathy, for those who make no effort to find
joy in their lives. Teaches enthusiasm and the ability to make life
meaningful. Animals who
appear to have lost interest in life and lack energy or enthusiasm. They may appear totally submissive and may
appear unconcerned about what goes on around them and the way they are
treated or handled.
Willow For feelings of self pity or resentment. May help an animal that has had an injury
or has been attacked by another dog and is licking his wounds and feeling a
bit sorry for himself. Also a dog who is unable to
go for his usual walks because of some physical restriction and has to resort
to staying indoors may feel a bit down in the mouth. He may show his emotions by tucking his
tail between his legs or mooching around looking a bit depressed.
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