Flower Essence Therapy

I qualified as a Practitioner in Flower Essences for Animals (Dip FEA) in 2010. The course is run by the Society for Animal Flower Essence Research (S.A.F.E.R). S.A.F.E.R is an international research and education organisation based in the UK and is dedicated to the exploration and promotion of Flower Essence Therapy for animals. It is the only organisation of its kind in the world and the leader in its specialised field.

The course was comprehensive and involved thorough research and module study alongside practical field work. It included the study of Flower and Gem Essences from several ranges, animal psychology, the Laws regarding the therapy, as well as observation of animal behaviour and various case studies. Due to S.A.F.E.R's high standards, only students who meet the high level of competence within the course are awarded the qualification and gain Practitioner status.

 What are Flower & Gem Essences?

The procedure by which a flower essence is made is a relatively simple, yet very effective method. When the required blossom/blossoms are at their peak of condition and it is a sunny day, they are picked and placed into a glass bowl of water and left in the sunshine. After a couple of hours have passed, the water (that is now infused with the qualities of the flower/bloom used) is drained into a bottle and the plant material is discarded. In order to preserve it, an equal amount of brandy is added to the water. Drops are then taken from this original bottle and added to another bottle containing brandy - the essence is then ready to be used.

With regards to gem essences, they are created in a similar way but instead of using blossom, a crystal is used e.g. Amethyst and the water is infused with the healing properties of the gem.

Essences work on all animals: from rabbits to horses and everything inbetween; birds of any shape and size and even reptiles! 

 How Do Essences Work & What Can They Help With?

Essences are very different to the other plant remedy therapies. They work on an emotional, rather than on a physical level like homeopathic and herbal remedies do. As Essences contain no chemical properties of the original bloom or crystal (not even minutely so unlike in the case of homeopathic preparations) they are pure and natural, meaning they are safe to use alongside conventional medication and have no side effects.

 Essences work purely on the emotions in a soothing manner in order to bring positive energy back into the recipient and heal their emotions by harmonising negative feelings and belief patterns held in the subconscious mind.   

The main purpose of Flower Essence Therapy is to help animals who are suffering emotionally. Animals that are experiencing negative emotions for any reason, whether it is emotionally, psychologically or behaviourally can be helped by using the correctly chosen essence/s. Just some examples they can help with are:

Phobias (fireworks, storms etc)

Having had a traumatic past (neglect, abuse etc)

Fears (other animals, farrier/vet etc)

Changes (i.e. house moves)

Not wanting to load (horses)

Separation Anxiety

Dominance

Aggression

Training problems

Bereavement

Sadness

Jealousy

Loss of the will to live

Confidence issues

Recovery from illness

In most instances a training/behaviour programme incorporating desensitisation or positive reinforcement will also be recommended for your animal dependant on the issue. You will be given full guidelines on what has been found to be helpful in cases like your own and what to do. At times other experts or therapists may also be recommended to you if it is felt that it will benefit your animal further (trainers, dietary advisers etc).

When dealing with any emotional issue a two-fold approach is needed-that of choosing the correct essences to help (i.e. the 'flower/gem essence') whilst also understanding why the animal is behaving and reacting the way they are and how it can be changed (i.e. 'the therapy') by looking at things from their point of view.

 

Information

I work with the ranges: 'Bach Flower Remedies', 'Australian Bush Essences' & 'Gem Essences'. I have used these ranges in the past with my own animals and have had good results with them all, hence why I choose to work with these particular ones.

Flower Essence Therapy Consultations are available via post/email/telephone.

The first consultation will be in-depth and will include the completion of a questionnaire to help me determine what essences I feel would be of benefit, assessment and questioning and x1 30ml bottle of the chosen essences and aftercare.

Subsequent consultations will be shorter, involving re-assessment and x1 30ml bottle of essences.

Prices on Request - no obligation

With regards to seeing positive changes, this can vary with each individual from as little as a couple of days, to a month, to several months. It is very much dependant on how long the animal has had the problem (and therefore how deeply rooted the problem may be). Patience and perseverance as an owner is the key to gaining long-term success.

 The Law

In all cases, when contacted by the client, I first advise that the animal be seen by a Veterinary Surgeon before any further steps can be taken. A form will need to be signed by the owner to state that this has taken place.

 I follow the S.A.F.E.R Guidelines and always work within the Law and thus I adhere fully to 'The Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966'.  This Act is in place to protect the welfare of all animals in the country. By abiding with this Act, Flower Therapists can legally work with other people's animals, as long as they adhere to the S.A.F.E.R. Guidelines. S.A.F.E.R regards the use of flower essence therapy as a separate area of animal care that does not in any way impinge upon the work of the Veterinary Surgeon.

 As a Flower Essence Therapist I will never personally administer flower essences to any animal (except my own). Instead the essence/combination is passed on to the owner enabling them to personally treat their own animal, again working in full accordance with the Law.

Where the consultation includes the passing on of flower essence products, it shall be made clear to the owner of the animal that the product is being passed on to them as the animal's responsible carer, enabling them to treat their own animal in accordance with the law. The flower essence treatment aspect of the case thus falls on the client.

Flower essence recommendations as are made to the client shall be non-specific to the animal concerned, i.e. the service to the client is simply, having first evaluated the animal's emotional / psychological state, to recommend flower essence products that have in the past been found to help with those particular forms of emotional / psychological state, e.g. anxiety etc. In addition the Practitioner may decide to advise the client on certain behavioural issues and perhaps to recommend a particular training or educational program of their own design.