Flower essences are vibrational medicine geared toward correcting the emotional and spiritual imbalances that lead to disease. In use for centuries, flower essences entered the mainstream when Dr. Edward Bach, an English M.D., systematically researched and popularized them in the 1930’s.

Early in his medical practice, Bach observed that each patient’s disposition and emotional reactions to situations correlated with the efficacy of treatment. He came to believe in the importance of healing the emotions to pave the way for good health. To this end, he studied how the unique energy pattern of each flower resonates with aspects of the mental, emotional and spiritual body. Over time he developed a set of essences that addressed what he had identified as the core, problematic emotional states: aloofness, apathy, discouragement, doubt, impatience, indecision, indifference, fear, loneliness, over-caring, over-enthusiasm, pride, uncertainty, and worry. Those who develop flower essences continually update and extend the list to reflect the challenges we face in our time.

First used for humans, flower essences are now commonly used in animal healing as well. For animals essences are wonderful, gentle catalysts for emotional and spiritual growth. In my experience, many problem behaviors are symbolic expressions of imbalanced emotional states. That is why it’s helpful to work with an animal communicator who, through speaking telepathically with an animal, can identify what motivates a given behavior. The communicator can then pair what the companion animal has expressed with the appropriate flower essence.

The following are a few examples of selecting essences for animals:

The dog-aggressive dog
An exaggerated desire for dominance commonly results in aggressive behavior between alpha dogs. Canine behavioral training is designed to address this motivation for aggression. What about dog aggression arising out of an expectation of hostility from others? Aggression powered by fear is tough to address through training or animal communication alone. For fear aggression I typically recommend a set of essences that will predispose the dog toward trusting and cooperating with others. Clearing the filter through which animals interpret the world around them leads to new, positive behaviors.

The scaredy cat
Some cats fear specific things, such as vacuums, dogs, or children. Others experience generalized anxiety or fear of the unknown. Discerning the cause of fear is important to determining the most beneficial flower essence. Again, an animal communicator can get it straight from the horse’s mouth.

A sense of safety is critical to a cat’s health and well being. Over time the stress and anxiety that accompany fear drain the individual and play into urinary tract infections, litter box problems, and spraying. Flower essences can help restore the energy to the animal’s emotional and spiritual being that have been lost through worry, anxiety, and fear.

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Flower essences are

• nontoxic
• free of side effects
• not habit forming
• not drugs
• not harmful to other animals in the household

At first blush, flower essences and the essential oils used in aromatherapy sound as if they are interchangeable because both draw on the healing properties of plants. However, that is where the similarity stops. Essential oils are made by cold-pressing, or distilling, plant material – bark, flower, fruit, leaves, roots, and stem. By contrast, flower essences are made by placing the head of a flower in water and exposing it to strong sunlight. The flower is then discarded and the mixture of flower essence and water is preserved with alcohol or vegetable glycerin. This process preserves the energetic vibration of the flower in water much as water in a battery holds an electric charge.

The completed flower essence contains no physical substance of the original flower. For this reason, flower essences neither conflict with medications nor cause allergic reactions.

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As in so many pursuits, intuition plays a critical role in the creation of an essence. To ascertain the qualities of each flower, flower essence practitioners study plant structure, growth pattern, relationship to the environment, chemical properties, and perceived energetic qualities. These energetic qualities are correlated with human and animal emotional patterns.

After the initial development comes empirical testing. Practitioners draw on data derived through countless case studies to revise, expand, and verify the qualities of each flower essence. Homeopathic remedies have been researched in the same way for the past two centuries.

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Flower essences are most effective with regular application over a period of time. For example, adding four drops daily to your animal companion’s water is more effective than adding 20 drops once per week. If you can manage it, dose your animal four times per day. Dose even more frequently in emergency situations.

More is not better in vibrational medicine. Those four drops per dose have the same impact as 10. Try each essence or set of essences out for at least a month. In some cases, you will see results in minutes, hours, or days. In others, you will see change after a few weeks.

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It’s fine to combine different essences in a single, larger bottle if you find it more convenient to dose from one. Always choose glass containers for essences. I recommend storing the essences away from heat and strong odors. Refrigeration can help preserve them as well.

When you create a remedy from essences, be sure to tap the bottle against your palm 100 times. If you do energy work, such as Reiki, you can hold the bottle and run energy for 15 minutes. I do so with every essence combination I create to infuse it with healing intention.

Don’t give with food or within fifteen minutes before or after eating. Food neutralizes the impact of flower essences.

Popular application techniques:

Water dish
Add essences to your animal companion’s water dish. Firmly tap each bottle 10 times against the palm of your hand. Drip 3 – 6 drops from each into the water bowl, depending on bowl size. Change the water and repeat process 1 – 4 times daily.

Spray bottle
My current favorite is using a spray bottle to disseminate flower essences. This application technique is easy and convenient. It’s also great in the event your animal companion is mirroring issues you face. Spraying around the house benefits everyone with a need for those essences and harms no one.

Combine in spray bottle. Dilute 7 drops in filtered water for dispersal from a mister bottle (preferably glass – if you can’t find glass, go for hard plastic). Firmly tap mister bottle 10 times against the palm of your hand. Spray around house (e.g. favorite sleeping spots and hangouts).

Supplementary application techniques:

• Firmly tap each bottle 10 times against the palm of your hand. Drip some drops onto surfaces where your animal companion spends time.
• Firmly tap each bottle 10 times against the palm of your hand. Drip drops onto your hands and rub onto your animal companion’s fur, ears, and paws. Make it pleasurable.

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There are many lines of flower essences on the market. Flower Essence Society (FES) essences are my current favorite because they are made with great integrity, proofed extensively, and well documented. When I recommend essences, they are from the FES repertory. The Bach essences are easier to locate in stores. Opt for them where FES is not available. However, be forewarned that you may not find all of the essences that I have recommended because the Bach repertoire is not as extensive as the FES line of essences.

FES is available at The Herbalist on NE 65th in Seattle, Washington. They do mail orders: (206) 523-2600. One-quarter ounce bottles generally suffice.

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Flower essences have their time and place. They work to enhance overall health by addressing the emotional and spiritual needs of the being. They do not replace medical diagnostics and treatment. When health problems arise, always take your animal companion for veterinary care. Furthermore, if you are giving your animal companion flower essences, let your veterinarian know. Holistic veterinarians, in particular, factor flower essences into their treatment plan.

Some animals do not want their energetic field messed with. It is important to respect this preference. Others do not embrace the change you are hoping for. In this case, the remedies may not engender the level of change and growth you are hoping for. When all is said and done, animals are sentient beings and make their own choices.

If the selected flower essences do not help, try backing up and using something more fundamental first. For instance, use Rescue Remedy for a week to relieve trauma and crisis, and then move on to shifting specific attitudes. Or use Holly for heart opening and Walnut for embracing change and transformation before moving on to specific changes, such as learning from training, cooperation with others, etc.

Just as humans benefit from both talk therapy and other forms of support, so too do animals. The animal communicator can share information, negotiate changes, and help motivate your animal companion while also recommending flower essences to support them at the emotional and spiritual levels.

Animals benefit from multi-modal approaches. That’s where pulling together a team of practitioners can help you address issues at several levels. I have focused thus far on how animal communicators can help, but let’s not forget T-Touch practitioners, obedience trainers, and veterinarians. The T-Touch practitioner can support change through therapeutic touch. The obedience trainer can do so through behavioral re-enforcement. The veterinarian can support change through addressing any health issues that underlie a sudden shift in behavior or attitude. These are just a few examples of how we can help our animal companions flourish by providing support at many levels.

For more information about flower essences, please see

Flower Essence Society

Bach Centre

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