Are Flower Essences Good For My Dog?

One of my dogs, Beau, has aterrible fear of thunderstorms and fireworks. I don’t know why he’s scared of them. He wasn’t scared when he was a puppy and my other dogs aren’tafraid. But, as he’s gotten older he’sbecome more and more spooked by loud noises associated with storms andfireworks. One loud BOOM and he comesrunning to me and wants to climb up in my lap. You should probably know that Beau weighs almost 100 pounds, so when hetries to get in your lap, you know it! Ifeel so sorry for him.

We’ve tried different thingsto help Beau including flower essences such as rescue remedy. When we give Beaua few drops of one of the flower essences he’s able to calm down and relaxenough to get through his fear until the storm passes or the fireworks areover. Sometimes he’ll relax enough to take a nap.

You may have heard of floweressences — you may have even used one for yourself or your dog — but mostpeople don’t really know what they are or how they work they’re just happybecause for many, they work.

What are flower essences?

Flower essences are thediluted essences of various types of flowers and plants. They’re often used inhomeopathy and are a little similar to herbal remedies but there are some majordifferences.

When were flower essencesinvented?

Dr. Edward Bach, a famedBritish physician, first developed flower essences in the 1930s. He gave hisname to his 38 Bach Flower Remedies.

How do flower essences work?

Dr. Bach believed thatillness of the mind and body was the result of imbalances in the spirit. Floweressences work holistically to heal and repair these imbalances.

Flowers are gathered at theright time, immersed in water and exposed to sunlight or moonlight in order toinfuse the water with their essence. Then the water is added to a substancesuch as glycerin so it can be bottled.

Dr. Bach identified floweressences to calm anger, ease anxiety (and fears, such as thunderstorm phobias),and give confidence, among other things. Today there are many more than theoriginal 38 flower essences thanks to other people who have continued Dr.Bach’s research.

Should you give floweressences to your dog?

By all means, yes. Animalsseem to respond just as well to the effects of flower essences as people do.They have many of the same kinds of emotional imbalances as people — anger, anxiety,fear — and can benefit just as much from the use of flower essences.

There are no side effectsfrom using flower essences. There are no actual plant extracts or materials ina flower essence remedy so there is nothing to ingest that would interfere withother medication or cause you harm. If you take the wrong flower essence youwon’t see any effects at all. When you or your pet take the correct floweressence you will see a subtle, gentle improvement in your condition.

Flower essences work holistically.They bring healing to the spirit so your body and mind can heal and they do thesame for your pets.

How do you use floweressences?

Flower essences are very easyto use. You can give them to your pet with a dropper or by spraying them. Youcan put several drops (it doesn’t take many) in your pet’s mouth or put a fewdrops on a treat or in your pet’s food or water. You can also spray it on yourpet’s paws where he will lick it off, or put a couple of drops on your fingerand apply it to his gums or inside his ears, where it will be easily absorbed.

Which flower essences shouldI use for my dog?

Choosing the right floweressence depends on your dog’s problem. Is he anxious? Is he fearful because ofthings that have happened in the past? Is he in shock? There are many goodflower essences for treating different kinds of fear and anxiety as well as thegeneral purpose rescue remedy. Rescue remedy has helped many dogs overcome fearand anxiety. However, when you can blend flower essences with herbal extracts,you’ll achieve a synergy making the combination stronger. One such exampleis Sleepytime Tonic .

Sleepytime Tonic

Sleepytime Tonic is a BachFlower-based remedy but it also contains an herbal formulation created byRobert McDowell, the world’s leading authority on applying Western herbalmedicines to canine health problems. The formulation in Sleepytime Toniccombines herbs and homeopathic medicine so that the metabolic and nervoussystem imbalances are all addressed together. The flower essences and theherbal mix work together synergistically to help your dog’s anxiety.

According to McDowell, “Theherbal mixes are not toxic in any way, are free from side effects and aresimple and safe to administer at home.”