Monday, December 27, 2010

The Holidays – Time for the Larch Personality to Suffer


Larch personalities whose energy is out of balance are in for a tough time during the holidays – especially when they’re forced into the host or hostess position.

When in balance, the Larch personality is realistic and able to assess situations objectively. He or she perseveres, even in the face of setbacks. But when Larch energy becomes unbalanced, feelings of inferiority take over.

The out-of-balance Larch personality knows absolutely that he or she “can’t do it,” or will fail upon an attempt to do it. As a consequence, the words “I can’t” come up again and again, as do excuses not to try. Severe sufferers will even become ill to avoid facing situations they think they can’t handle.

Thus, entertaining guests during the holidays – even if those guests are family – will be a painful experience.

If you feel that you’re in this state, first stop and think if it is the pressure of the holidays that brings it on, or if you carry this feeling of inferiority throughout the year.

If the problem is chronic, begin treatment with the Larch Bach Flower Essence and continue until you come back into alignment. If it is seasonal, begin treatment a few weeks before the next stressful holiday.

With all the experiences life offers us, it’s a shame to miss out and feel that you “can’t” do what you’d like to do. So take charge – resolve to get your energies back into alignment with Bach Flower Essences in 2012.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

A Christmas Reminder for Pet Owners

While the holidays are both fun and stressful for you and your human family members, they might be merely stressful for your furry family members.

Strange visitors in the house - the hustle and bustle of getting ready for parties - the stress that YOU may be exhibiting as you try to get everything done on time - all put stress on your pets.

In addition, if you've gotten too busy to give them their usual measures of attention, they'll become even more upset.

Cats may merely go hide, but either cats or dogs may seek to escape by bolting out the door. So if it's unsafe for them to be out and about in your neighborhood, be especially careful when people are coming and going.

Meanwhile, you can help them get through the season by remembering to put a few drops of Feel5ive in their water dishes each time you fill them. The Bach Flower Essences in Feel5ive will calm their nerves - without making them drowsy or "dopey" feeling.

While you're at it, if holiday preparations have you in a tizzy, give yourself 4 drops 3 or 4 times a day. When you're calm, the tasks you still need to do will be much easier. Do the same for other family members who are feeling stressed and you'll all enjoy a happier time together.

By the way - if all you have on hand is one bottle, it's perfectly safe to treat both you and your pets from the "human" bottle or the "pet" bottle.

One more thing... Some holiday treats can be dangerous for pets. Chocolate and raisins can be fatal to dogs, but most dogs love both. So keep them out of reach and make sure holiday guests don't slip them a treat just to be "nice."

If you don't already have Feel5ive in your house, visit FeelBach! today and get a bottle on its way to you!

Monday, December 13, 2010

Are Holiday Emotions Bringing You Down?


The holidays re a time of joy for many – and a time of stress and overwhelming negative emotions for many others.

This year, with the job losses and overall economic chaos, an emotion that is taking center stage for thousands of Americans is jealousy.

Are you one of those who is suffering from this painful emotion?

Do you look at people planning trips to visit family over the holidays and feel jealous, angry, and hurt because you can’t afford to go anywhere?

Are you looking at the ads for fabulous gifts that you’d love to buy for the people you love – and feeling awful because you simply can’t afford to do it? Is it making you feel bitter and angry?

If you lost your home to the mortgage meltdown, you may be living in smaller accommodations and feeling jealous of those who have the space for a huge tree while you’re stuck with a table model.

Of course, money isn’t the only reason to feel jealous right now. If your kids are grown and gone and live far away – or if you never had children – you might be feeling jealous of people who will be setting a huge table for children, or for children, spouses, and grand-children.

If you’ve lost a spouse you may be feeling jealous of happily married friends.

Everyone has felt jealousy at some time or another in their lives, and it is truly debilitating. It casts a dark shadow over everything you do and say and sucks the joy right out of living.

Holly is the Bach Flower Remedy to free you of this crippling emotion.

Once in a positive Holly state, you will be able to take pleasure in other people’s achievements, possessions, and joys, even if you don’t have everything in life that you want. You’ll live in a state of inner harmony, free of the turmoil that comes with jealousy.

Come to Flower Bach to read more about Holly and its connection to the loving feelings that will free you from the pain of jealousy.

If you think your "down" feelings at the holiday season may be a combination of jealousy and other emotions, do visit FeelBach! and take the questionnaire. it will help you to identify the Bach Flower Essences that will help get you back on track - so you can greet the new year with happiness and hope.

Thursday, December 02, 2010

Preserve the Past, While Enjoying the Present


The holiday season is upon us, and along with it, sadness for far too many people. We all experience a bit of nostalgia, but for some, it becomes the focus of their lives, preventing joy in the present.

Those who have lost loved ones and are now alone find this season to be the toughest time of year – when they see other people gathering with families, laughing and making memories.

And even for some whose families are all still living, the nostalgia is painful. We miss those years when our children were small and we could make the world wonderful for them with just a decorated cookie or a Christmas stocking.

We miss the huge gatherings, the noise, and the confusion. Quiet holidays feel somehow lacking.

The feelings are all too real, and they can lead to a deep depression if not recognized and dealt with.

Honeysuckle is the Bach Flower Remedy to help get through these days.

Treatment with Honeysuckle allows a person to move forward into enjoying things of the present. In a positive Honesuckle state, individuals are able to recall the past with fondness, keep what they’ve learned from it, and yet expect more good things from the present.

If you’re “stuck” in the past, wishing for events and people who cannot come into your present experience, visit FeelBach! and begin treatment with Honesuckle now so that you can enjoy this holiday season.

Monday, November 29, 2010

Using Feel5ive as a First Aid Remedy


We always think of Bach Flower Essences as an internal remedy, but they are far more. As the books on floral acupuncture point out, various remedies applied to the proper points on the body can be very beneficial.

Feel5ive
is the remedy used to relieve stress - even when that stress is physical rather than emotional.

This formula can aid in healing of burns, sprains, stings, bumps or blows. Simply make a compress using about 6 drops to a pint of water.

It can be applied directly from the stock bottle to the lips, gums, temples, back of the neck, and behind the ear of a patient who is unconscious. If a conscious person is suffering from shock, add 4 drops to a cup of water and have the patient sip the water every 15, 30, or 60 minutes until the shocked feeling lets up.

Physical shock can send the emotional balance reeling, even when the shock is minor. So be prepared with a bottle of Feel5ive both in the house and in your car's first aid kit.

Monday, November 22, 2010

Use Bach Flowers to relieve Day-to-day Stresses


You don't need to be suffering from a chronic imbalance to benefit from Bach Flower Essences.

As you know if you use Feel5ive to relieve high stress situations, using Bach Remedies for short-term situations can make your days more pleasant. Not only that, it can help prevent you from falling into a chronic state that you don't desire.

For instance, if you yell at your child and feel guilt, that feeling can build until you feel like a horrible parent. Using Pine to relieve the guilt and Impatiens to relieve the impatience that caused the yelling can work effectively to prevent a chronic state from occurring.

At the same time, you can use Bach Flower Remedies ahead of time when you know you're going into a situation where you can predict your emotional state. For instance, taking a few drops of Larch before going to a job interview can help you maintain the confidence that will get you the job.

Study the Flower Essences at www.bachflower.org and think about the situations that temporarily derail your life. Then stock up on the ones you need and take them any time you begin to fall into that negative state.

Staying in emotional balance will mean a happier life for you and all who love you.

Monday, November 15, 2010

Can Bach Flowers Help Your Financial Picture?


Can something as simple as Bach Flower Essences help you get back on track financially?

Probably.

One of the problems people face when they get into the kind of financial bind that our recent economic turmoil causes is that they give up hope. And without hope, the efforts you make are far less effective.

If you go on a job interview believing that you won't get the job, you probably won't. But if you go with a feeling of hope and expectation, you probably will.

Henry Ford said it a long time ago: "Whether you think you can or you think you can't, you're right."

Having hope - having an expectation that you can create a better outcome - is therefore one of the keys to success. It raises your sights, puts a confident smile on your face, and draws people to you who can help. It prevents you from giving up in the face of challenges.

Lack of hope is often seen in people with serious illness, but in today's economy, is even more often seen in people who have been unemployed for months, have lost their homes, or are deep in debt.

Since loss of hope is often a combination of imbalances, and since it is so widespread today, Feel Bach has created a formula called Get Hope Back.

Whether lack of hope is a chronic condition, or whether it is a reaction to the economic crisis, Get Hope Back will help you re-balance your energies and get back on track.

Then you'll not only be able to recognize the steps you need to take to heal your financial picture, you'll know that taking those steps will benefit you.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

How to Use Bach Flower Essences


This question comes around every now and then, because some people think there must be a better, faster way to bring about change with Bach Flower Remedies.

The truth is, Bach Flower Essences work in harmony with your body - bringing about changes just as fast as they are supposed to. Formulas such as Feel5ive work almost instantly to relieve the stress of the moment. But if you've spent years in a chronic state of doubt about your abilities, it might take a little while for the flower essence Larch to bring you back into balance.

You should take 2-4 drops of your flower essence or your formula about 4 times per day. You can take it as drops directly under the tongue, or put it in a glass of water to drink.

What you should NOT do is decide to inject flower essences. This will not speed the action, and in fact could be detrimental. Injections are invasive and totally alien to the way Bach Flower Remedies work.

One thing you need never worry about with Bach Flower Essences is the possibility of overdose or the possibility of adverse reactions when taking prescription drugs. No such occurrences have ever been reported. Bach Flowers are safe for infants, the elderly, pregnant ladies, those with serious diseases, and of course - your pets.

To learn more about Bach Flower Essences, visit us at www.FeelBach.com and read the History of Bach Flowers.

Saturday, November 06, 2010

Mother Nature Needs a Dose of Bach Flowers


That's a silly statement, since Bach Flower Essences are of nature, but just the same...

Since nature can't seem to decide if it's winter or spring, perhaps treatment with the Bach Flower Remedy Scleranthus would be in order.

After freezing nights killed the temperature-sensitive flowers and vegetables in the garden, we got a shift back to warm weather. It's been so nice out that the Lilacs have started to bud out - and that shouldn't happen for another 6 months or so. Winter is yet to come.

Scleranthus is the Bach Flower Essence that treats indecision. It's for those who are chronically jumping back and forth, unable to make major decisions in their life as well as small ones.

People in this chronic state annoy and upset their friends and family quite often. They'll agree to a course of action one day, only to come back the next and try to get out of going forward with it. Even decisions about which movie to see or where to eat dinner turn into major problems.

Scleranthus personalities also have a variety of physical ailments - all opposite to one another. They suffer from hot flashes, then they suffer from not being able to get warm. They may also exhibit the classic symptoms of manic-depression. They're happy and enthusiastic one day, and completely apathetic the next.

For some this is a chronic state. But it can also be caused by life events that throw the physical body or emotional state out of balance.

Interestingly, once Scleranthus personalities get into balance through the use of Bach Flower Essences, they become confident decision makers and their presence is soothing to others.

Visit Flower Bach to learn more about Scleranthus and other Bach Flower Essences.

Saturday, October 23, 2010

If you're sensitive to alcohol


This week a question came up about the alcohol in Bach Flower Essences.

If you read the site, you’ll see that the flower essences on the Feel Bach! site are preserved in spring water and Brandy. While other flower essence distributors use grape alcohol, we use the same formula that Dr. Bach perfected all those years ago.

The amount of brandy compared to the spring water is miniscule – 1 to 360 – or less than three tenths of one percent.

But still, although there is not enough alcohol to do harm to infants, the ill, or the elderly, you can taste the brandy in this formula.

So if you’re sensitive to alcohol, or if you’re buying for someone who is, go to http://feelbach.com/qto.asp to build a personal formula. Then, in the last step, write “alcohol-free” in the comment area.

If you own the set of Bach Flower essences and are making a formula for someone, use only 2 drops of each essence in the 20 or 30 ml bottle, and fill with spring water – omitting the brandy entirely.

Without the preservative, you'll need new formula more often, but if alcohol sensitivity is a real problem, it will be worth it.

Thursday, October 14, 2010

If You Don't Believe Life is Good - Gentian Can Change Your Mind


Years ago I had a family member who was an eternal pessimist. Nothing was good. Nothing was fun. She was so depressing to talk with that I would probably have avoided her altogether were it not for a sense of duty. Everyone else was already avoiding her, and that left me.

The doctors called it depression and gave her pills. When she took them she was some better, but definitely not cheerful. And then she’d get tired of taking them and stop. Once when I was taking her to an appointment she opened the car window and threw them all out along the highway.

They even sent her to a psychotherapist – which only added fuel to her fire. If anything, she was even more convinced that life was terrible after visits with him.

But I kept trying. One night I took her to play Bingo at the VFW hall, and she won! She went up to collect her money and came back smiling. But then I made a mistake – I said “Wasn’t that fun?”

She immediately shut down and went back to being pessimistic. It appeared to be a conscious choice – it seemed that her only pleasure came from being chronically unhappy and trying to make sure that everyone else was too.

Had I known about Bach Flower Essences back then I probably would have insisted that she start taking Gentian.

Gentian is the Bach Flower Remedy that brings a return to faith – in God and the Higher Self, and in the meaning of life. It’s the state that a skeptical personality falls into when they lose touch with their higher selves, and Bach Flowers help lift them out of that state.

Some people seem to have been born this way, but usually this negative Gentian state comes as the result of circumstances. It might be illness, or unemployment, or the loss of a loved one. Children who are unhappy in school often fall into this state, as do elderly people who are forced to move to a care facility.

The Bach Flower Essence Gentian won’t change a skeptic into an optimist, but it will allow him or her to see that a positive outcome is possible – and it will allow them to once again enjoy the company of friends and family.

Thursday, October 07, 2010

Is Glen Beck a Vervain Personality?


If you’ve heard Glen Beck speak, or read much about him, you know that he will do whatever it takes to get his message across.

He has said that there’s nothing anyone can do to him that will stop him. He’s been at the bottom of the barrel before and isn’t afraid to go there again. He even ignores threats on his life.

These are the traits of the Vervain personality.

Glen shares them with other revolutionaries – people so dedicated to their cause that they do things like tying themselves to trees or laying down in front of bulldozers to save the forests.

They care not that some turn against them, labeling them as fanatics and kooks.

And this is well and good as long as they remain in a positive Vervain state. But in the negative state, this action is self-destructive.

They can push themselves so hard that they go without sleep and without proper nutrition - so that their bodies suffer from their dedication to the cause.

In the negative state the Vervain personality cannot begin to consider a different point of view, but once restored to the positive state, he can. And, in the positive state he is much more effective at inspiring others and gaining support for his mission.

Although there are those who disagree with Glen Beck and his methods of communication, judging from the size of his following, I’d have to believe that he is operating in the positive Vervain state.

If you're dedicated to a cause and feel yourself ignoring your own health in pursuit of righting a wrong or correcting an injustice, you too may be a Vervain personality, and you may be in the negative state. If so, visit FeelBach! and let Bach Flower Essences put you back in balance.

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Bach Flower Essences and Addiction


Recently a friend told me that her daughter was once again entering an alcohol rehabilitation facility. She hoped that this time the insurance would pay for her to stay long enough to be "cured."

My friend leans more toward mainstream medical treatment than natural remedies, but knowing that Bach Flower Essences could help her daughter, I suggested it. She said "Maybe later, after she feels better."

I don't push my beliefs on people, so I didn't push the issue, but oh how I wished she had said "Let's try it!" If she had Rock Rose or Walnut while she was undergoing treatment her chances of success would be so much better.

If you think about addiction, you know that it is not just a physical ailment. It's emotional as well - and that's why so many smart practitioners use Bach Flower Essences in conjunction with other treatment.

We don't know the cause of addiction, but we do know that any destructive behavior is a sign that our energies are out of balance. We've somehow lost touch with our higher selves. Each of the Bach Flower Essences works to rebalance those energies and put us back in touch with who we were meant to be.

If energies aren't put back in balance, the patient has a high possibility of failure, because the "rehab" isn't complete. I find this sad, because Flower Essences are both inexpensive and easy to use.

Which essences aid in treating addiction? Walnut and Rock Rose.

Walnut is the Bach Flower Essence that helps in dealing with and embracing change - and what could be a bigger change than stopping a daily habit?

Rock Rose helps us overcome fear - and we all know that letting go of habits and routine is fearful. Even while destructive, a habit is like a security blanket we can pull around us when outside forces threaten.

This discussion makes me think of a man I once knew. He said he had spent a month in rehab, and all he could think of the whole time he was there was getting out and finding a bar. If he'd had Bach Flower Essences from FeelBach, perhaps instead he would have been thinking about all the fun he'd missed before, and how much his family was going to enjoy seeing him sober.

Friday, September 24, 2010

When the Law of Attraction is Working Against You...


The Law of Attraction is so simple - and yet so difficult for many to understand.

After a lifetime of noticing that which you don't have - and even feeling jealous of others who do have what you wish for, it can feel almost impossible to create the state of mind that's necessary to attract good things.

This is especially true for the Willow personality - and absolutely impossible for anyone in a negative Willow state.

We've all been there temporarily at one time or another - when self pity has gained the upper hand. Fortunately, most of us can shake ourselves out of it fairly soon, especially when we recognize the state and reach for Bach Flower Essences to get our energies back in balance.

A person in a negative Willow state cannot.

In fact, if not treated, he can sink farther and farther into that self-pity, until the Willow state becomes chronic. By then he has no compassion or consideration for anyone outside of himself. The injustices in his life take center stage - and of course he feels like all of his misfortunes are someone else's fault.

It can be difficult to live with such a person, and it may be even more difficult to talk with them about treatment for this negative state. That's why many simply walk away rather than continue trying to help.

If you find yourself unable to harness the Law of Attraction to attract what you want, or if you are simply spending too much time feeling jealous or resentful, you're not enjoying life as you should. So get the Bach Flower Essence, Willow, and get back in balance.

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

The "Grasshopper" Personality


When I was growing up we had an old family friend named Jim.

Jim was a very social guy, and would make the rounds of all his friends, picking up tidbits of news here and dropping them off there. It was sometimes interesting, but sometimes frustrating.

He'd start to tell a story, then switch midway and start talking about something else entirely. It was hard to follow who or what he was talking about. And then, you could be carrying on a conversation but walk into the kitchen to get more coffee and find him gone when you returned! He seldom said goodbye...he'd just wander off.

In those days I'd never heard of Bach Flower Essences, but now I know that he had a Scleranthus personality and was operating in its negative state.

Jim's behavior is how this personality is most often seen in men. In women, it is usually evident by the inability to make a decision.

Scleranthus women can drive everyone to distraction by asking for opinions, changing their minds after hearing each new opinion, then switching back again... endlessly. They miss opportunities because they simply can't decide to take action in one direction or another.

The Scleranthus Bach Flower Essence can get these personalities back in balance - so they can not only carry on a good conversation, but make wise decisions.

I wish I'd known about it back when Jim was around. But then, I guess he was happy with his odd ways. It just frustrated the rest of us!

Thursday, September 09, 2010

Separation Anciety - a common Insecurity in Canines

A few days ago a friend who fosters rescue dogs called to ask me what she could do about a dog with separation anxiety.

This dog has settled into her household nicely, but it goes into panic mode when it can't find any of the resident humans.

Dog trainers will tell you that one important step is to be very casual about leaving and coming back. Don't make a big deal about telling the dog you won't be gone long or telling it to behave while you're away. And don't make a fuss over it when you get back.

That's good advice to show the dog that it's no big deal. But when a panicked dog is clawing holes in your doors and walls to try to get to you, you need a little more help.

I knew a dog once who, when locked in a room for safety while his person left for an hour, completely destroyed the bottom 2 feet of a hollow core door... Seriously, the bottom of the door was no longer there.

So the problem is not trivial.

If you are caring for a dog like this, use FeelBach's "Home Alone" remedy.

Begin giving it to the dog 3 or 4 times a day - and then, of course, do as the trainers suggest. Leave for only a few minutes at a time at first to reassure the dog that yes, you WILL be coming back. Never call attention to the fact that you're leaving or returning.

Then gradually be gone for longer periods until that poor frightened pup realizes that he or she has not been abandoned forever.

Wednesday, September 01, 2010

How Do You Help People Who Don't Already Know About Bach Flower Essences?


This last week I was faced with a situation in which I was very tempted to slip into my "evangelist" role and start talking about Bach Flower Remedies. I resisted, because the person who needs help is a new client and I didn't feel it was my place...

But the more I think about it, the more I wish I had told him that White Chestnut could help him get through his current situation. He had confided that his oldest child had just gone off to college and his sense of loss had brought back old feelings of loss. He was going over and over losing his sister and then his parents. He said "Those thoughts are like a butterfly, flying round and round in my head."

So, what do you think? I don't really know this man, and our relationship isn't of a personal nature. Yet - he did confide personal information.

Should I have used that opening to tell him about Bach Flower Essences?

What would YOU have done?

What do you do when the person in need is a relative or friend?

So many people are "stuck" in thinking that doctors and pharmaceuticals are the only answer to their problems... I hesitate to jump in with any but my closest friends, my husband, and my kids.

But maybe, since Bach Flower Essences can change lives for the better, we have a duty to share the information?

I would love to hear your thoughts on this...

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Update on Floral Acupuncture Book


The book, Floral Acupuncture, finally arrived a couple of days ago, so thought I’d give you an update. One thing I can say about ordering from Amazon – it sure takes a while for the order to arrive. But… it’s still better than driving from one bookstore to another in search of something.

The first pages of this book are a bit technical…explaining the progressive stages of healing with flower essences, then going into the ability of water to record a substance and the nature of meridians and acupuncture points.

I thought perhaps the whole thing would be “over my head” – especially when it got into the Five-element theory of acupuncture. I was afraid I might need a few courses in order to understand what I was reading. These first chapters would probably make perfect sense to an acupuncturist or a Bach Flower Essences practitioner.

But then… it got to the acupuncture points to use for each of the 38 Bach Flower Essences. This part I can understand easily. Each essence is introduced with a paragraph or two about what the essence is used for and the description of the flower and the plant.

After that it explains why the essence is used on a particular meridian, and each explanation is accompanied by a photograph showing the proper application point.

The next thing – and perhaps this is in the book and I haven’t gotten there yet – is to determine how the different Bach Flower essences work to heal physical ailments. According to this book, people have been cured of some serious diseases – just by using Bach Flower Essences to re-balance their energies and bring their bodies into harmony.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Guilt Will Get You Every Time... Unless You Use Bach Flower Essences


You’ve probably heard it said many times: “Women are born with a guilt complex.”

Although we aren’t actually born with it, it seems like we are constantly feeling guilty – sometimes for a real reason, but more often over things we do that are of no consequence, and sometimes over things other people do that we somehow think we should have prevented. Shoot, sometimes we go on a guilt trip over something the dog does!

But then there are those other people… the ones who strive to make you feel guilty, so that no matter what you do, it’s not enough.

You know some of them. They’re the moms who insist that you don’t love them unless you, your spouse, and the kids spend every holiday with them. Never mind that your spouse also has a mom.

They’re the siblings who guilt you into spending every week-end babysitting their kids, even though you haven’t had a get-away yourself in months.

Those people are suffering from a negative Chicory state. The truth is, they feel unloved and unwanted, and they’re trying to feel better by forcing you to give them attention. Of course you’ll never be able to do enough, because they aren’t able to love themselves and they really feel unworthy of your love – no matter how much you give.

You can’t force anyone else to get help, but if you find yourself slipping into this kind of state, treat the condition with the Bach Flower Essence Chicory.

And meanwhile, if you’re the one who is always feeling guilty, the Bach Flower Remedy for you is Pine.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Using Bach Flower Essences Externally

We generally think of Bach Flower Remedies as something we take internally to help re-balance our energies.

However, these healing essences can also be used externally. Hornbeam, for instance, can help soothe tired eyes when used as a compress. It can also help relieve varicose veins.

Lately, I’ve been reading about Bach Flower Essences used like acupuncture. Instead of needles, practitioners simply apply a few drops of the flower essence to the correct point on a meridian. Then the patient rests for about 45 minutes.

According to the testimonials I’ve read, relief can come quickly. For instance, a teacher who was mentally exhausted from a conflict with another teacher used Hornbeam to regain her cheerful outlook and enthusiasm.

Another reader said she was having trouble with thoughts going round and round… so used White Chestnut on acupressure points for several days and re-patterned her thought process.

Yet another reader reported that this method of using Centaury helped her to set boundaries in her life – and stop being a “yes-person.” She used Centaury when faced with a specific situation.

Since I’m a fan of acupuncture, I’m going to send for the book: Floral Acupuncture – Applying the Flower Essences of Dr. Bach to Acupuncture Sites.

According to the advertisement, this book gives instructions for lay-people to apply the Bach Flower Essences to the correct meridians.

I’ll report back after I’ve read the book.

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Breaking the Negative Thought-Loop With Bach Flower Remedies


Somewhere there may reside a person who has never fallen into a negative White Chestnut state. But if there is, I haven’t met them.

This is the state that occurs when your actions or ideas have come under attack – or even when your personality traits have received a negative review. If the attack came from someone whose opinion you valued, you’re especially vulnerable.

Sometimes it’s an attack you launch on yourself… so it comes from the person whose opinion you value most of all! Think of a job interview or a conversation with a client when you know you said the wrong thing. Think of a time when you said something insensitive to a friend or family member and wished you could snatch those words back just as soon as you said them.

In the negative White Chestnut state you dwell on the hurtful words that were said to you, or you criticize your own words and actions, wishing you had said something different – or that you had stayed silent. You re-run the damaging conversation over and over in a continuous loop – feeling over and over again the pain of the attack.

You can’t let it go, and it even interferes with sleep.

Then your brain adds another element to the loop: “Why didn’t I say this?” “Why didn’t I say that?” It just goes on and on.

Fortunately, for most of us the state does fade away after a day or two. But for some it becomes chronic. At this point, the sufferer wants nothing more than to escape from his or her own thoughts.

Children are especially vulnerable to this state, because they are often not allowed to speak up in their own defense. They’d love to say “You were wrong,” to a parent or authority figure, but they know that would get them in big trouble. So they stuff it inside, where it grows in importance and pain.

Parents whose children begin to withdraw and avoid social interaction are well advised to find out if the child has suffered from a verbal attack that is causing a “negative thought loop.”

Remember, sometimes kids are afraid to tell – especially if it’s a parent who has done the damage.

The outward sign of a White Chestnut imbalance is, not surprisingly, facial tension. But then it becomes accompanied by chronic frontal headaches.

Treatment with the Bach Flower Remedy White Chestnut allows the mind to settle down and release the impulse to replay negative conversations. It lets the mind discriminate between thoughts that are helpful and those that are not. In essence, it allows the individual to once again connect with and accept guidance from his or her Higher Self.

One of the practices in learning to use the Law of Attraction to your advantage is to “think a better thought.” White Chestnut aids in that practice by allowing you to release the negative and replace it with something better.

To see an overview of all Bach Flower Essences and their benefits, visit FeelBach!
Then come to www.bachflower.org for a more detailed explanation of each.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

If You're Plagued by Indecision...


Do you suffer when you have to make a decision – because you don’t trust your own judgment and you don’t know which of your friends or relatives has given you the right answer?

If so, you’re in a negative Cerato state.

This negative state occurs when you’ve lost belief in your higher self. It causes you to mistrust your inner voice and seek guidance from others, sometimes to your detriment.

It also causes friends and family to become annoyed with you. How many times does anyone want to tell someone else that they should wear the white shirt or the blue shirt, or that they should choose this movie or that one?

Worse, most of us really don't want to be responsible for telling people what to decide about major life changes. But the negative Cerato personality will persist in asking - and asking again.

The interesting part of this is that you probably do know the right answer to your question or solution to your problem. You just don’t trust that it’s right. So, you ask opinions of everyone. Naturally, those opinions will differ, so you’re left with a new decision – whose advice should you take?

Once back in a positive Cerato state, your inner voice grows stronger. So instead of agonizing over every decision, you’ll have an air of quiet certainty. What a relief!

Doctor Bach classified Cerato as one of the “Twelve Healers” in his collection of 38 flower essences. These twelve he described as key to transforming root personality imbalances, which he believed were associated with physical illness as well as mental and emotional distress.

If you're suffering from indecision, order your bottle of Cerato from Feel Bach today... so you can start trusting your higher self once again.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

The Person Who Won't be Pleased

Have you ever had to live or work around a person who criticized every thing you did or said? It isn't very pleasant, is it? But that person probably isn't pleasing himself or herself either.

In fact, he may very much long for harmony and connection with others, but is stuck in a negative Beech state.

People who have long been criticized or suppressed often develop this personality as a shield against being hurt. They develop an "I'll show you that I'm better than you" attitude. When the state is allowed to continue, the person mentally elevates himself to a position of superiority over others - and feels that he has every right to criticize even the smallest word or gesture.

Over time, the negative Beech personality loses touch with his or her own feelings and is completely unable to understand other people's feelings - or care about how their criticism and ranting hurts others.

Fortunately, a person who recognizes the problem and desires to change can be helped with Bach Flower Essences. The Beech flower remedy will help them reconnect with their higher selves and return to a state of joy, cheerfulness, and tolerance for others.

To read more about Beech and the other Bach flower remedies, visit www.bachflower.org.

Monday, July 05, 2010

Eating Disorder Tied to Fear


We all know people who use food as a comfort during stressful times – and people who simply quit eating during those times. And people who suffer from anorexia are no doubt suffering from low self-esteem and feelings of being unacceptable if they carry any fat cells at all. Of course, in their case it often progresses to something way beyond that, so that they actually look at their skeletal bodies in a mirror and see a fat person.

Now there’s a new eating disorder. Until recently, this disorder was rare and was included under the catch-all label of “Ednos,” which signified unrecognized disorders. But by 1997 there were so many sufferers that it was given its own name: orthorexia nervosa.

It is, simply, a fixation on righteous eating.

Sufferers, in an attempt to eat only pure foods, limit their food choices to a point that malnutrition ensues. These people are generally over 30 years of age and well-educated, so they spend some time researching and choosing the foods they will and will not eat.

A very valid concern with the quality of supermarket foods becomes an obsession, and
Orthorexics develop their own rigid rules around eating. They commonly refuse to touch sugar, salt, caffeine, alcohol, wheat, gluten, yeast, soya, corn and dairy foods. Then they eliminate any foods that have come into contact with pesticides, herbicides or contain artificial additives.

I can sympathize with the basis of the disorder, because the more I read about the various pesticides, fertilizers, growth hormones, etc. that are added to our foods the more I buy organic. And there are some foods, such as overly processed "ready to eat" meals, that I never buy.

But in Orthorexics, fear has become the dominant emotion with regard to food. They're afraid to eat so many things, and have eliminated so many foods that they can no longer consume a healthy, balanced diet.

Their habits become just as destructive as if they ate nothing but fast foods.

One Bach Flower Essence that could help these people is Mimulus. This is the Bach Remedy for the personality that fears real life. Their fears are grounded in the fact that something bad could happen, even though it has not happened.

You might recognize a Mimulus personality by their frequency of illness and the length of time it takes them to recover. Their focus on taking care of themselves, and the attention they give to their illnesses usually delays recovery.

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Allowing yourself to be well

When "The Secret" came out the idea that was promoted was that manifesting good things into your life was a secret that had been hidden from us.

But if you think about it, and think about all the Law of Attraction books and information we have today - and then read about Dr. Edward Bach - you'll see that these ideas aren't so new, or so secret. It's just that more of us are now ready to listen, and to be willing to take personal steps toward our own wellness.

While the Law of Attraction says that you can be well by aligning your vibrations with wellness, Dr. Bach believed that disease could not be eradicated except by spiritual and mental effort.

He was, in fact, disdainful of modern medical science because it dealt with results instead of causes. Dr. Bach's mission was to cure the cause of disease.

His research was personal. He was expected to die of cancer in 1917 - and the fact that he lived until 1936 speaks volumes for his success.

I shudder to think what he would have to say about the pharmaceuticals being advertised each day on television - he'd probably label them poison!

I think we all owe it to ourselves to live in the most favorable mental and emotional state possible. Thankfully, Bach Flower Essences can help us do that.

The first step is recognizing the emotions and thoughts that are blocking our well-being, and the second is to bring them into harmony.

So if you aren't living in joy and contentment, read the descriptions of the states that can be altered with Bach Flowers. Then think about yourself and the states that you'd like to alter in your life.

And then... order your personal remedy and aim your sights for emotional, mental, and physical well-being.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Is ADHD a Physical or Emotional Problem?

With so much written about ADD and ADHD, it's hard to decide.

We know that some children react adversely to sugars and other foods. And my own belief is that the chemicals used for preservatives and flavor enhancements in pre-packaged prepared foods have a negative effect on all of us. How many people do you know who can't eat food with MSG?

But is food the only reason why there seems to be an epidemic of ADHD?

Is there also a tie-in with the way children are raised? Does it have to do with not getting outside to run and play - and help with the work? Does it have to do with children not having any work beyond their schoolwork? Does it have to do with the over-stimulation of television and video games? Does it have to do with both mom and dad needing to work outside the home, so they're both tired and stressed at the end of the day?

As with all things, the answer probably lies in a combination of things, but it's safe to assume that emotions play a large part in the ADHD epidemic.

If that were not so, Bach Flower Remedies wouldn't have the positive effect that they do have.

And they do have a positive effect. Feel Bach's Attention Deficit blend has helped both children and adults settle down and concentrate.

And it's not just for those who have been diagnosed.

The Attention Deficit blend is also helpful when life's events suddenly become overwhelming - so that your mind flits from one thing to another, preventing you from focusing long enough to get anything accomplished.

I think we've all been in that state once or twice - when there are just so many things going on around us, and so many tasks we need to perform, and so many people wanting our attention that we just "short out."

That's the time to reach for the Attention Deficit blend and find relief.

Tuesday, June 08, 2010

Bach Flower Essences and Broken Tomato Plants


I have to admit it, I'm a little overboard about tomato plants. And this year, I started plants indoors WAY too soon.

The result - they grew way too tall before the weather got warm enough to take them outside. And, although I had some wonderful tomato cages to place over them, I waited too long to do it.

So... I damaged a lot of plants. They break pretty easily.

The day I chose to move everything outside was a busy one, and while I was working I didn't think about putting any of the broken pieces in water. But a couple of hours later I did think about it - wondering if some of those broken stems would take root.

So, I chose a few stems and put them in water. Later that night - a good 6 hours after I had swept up the broken pieces and put them into my compost bucket, I decided to see if any more pieces could be salvaged. Digging through the pile I found stems with leaves that were completely wilted and dead-looking. But I chose a few and put them in a glass.

They were still looking pretty droopy in the morning, but then I thought about the fact that Bach Flower Essences are helpful to plant life as well as people and pets. I couldn't remember which essence to use, but thought that since Feel5ive is used for stress, I'd try it. So I put a drop or two Feel5ive in each of the containers.

That was a few days ago, and now I'm thinking that in a couple more days those new "starts" will be ready to plant in soil... because they are not only perked up and looking like pretty plants, they're growing roots!

I still have cucumber and squash plants to transplant into the garden, and since those are really sensitive to transplanting, you can bet there will be Feel5ive in the watering can and they'll get a good drink as soon as they're in the ground!

Tuesday, June 01, 2010

What is the Cause of Illness?

What is the cause of illness? Is it something we cannot escape in a world filled with stresses and toxins?

Dr.Edward Bach did not believe so. He believed that the source of illness or wellness lies within us, and that health “Depends on being in harmony with our souls.” That’s why the solutions offered by modern scientific medicine are so often temporary. The symptoms have been treated, but the cause has not been removed.

Dr. Bach wrote that to treat an illness – no matter what the ailment – the doctor should look first to the outlook on life of the person in distress.

Thus, in addition to the Bach Flower Essences, Dr. Bach promoted exercise, meditation, and study. He wrote that only by creating harmony between soul and mind could we free ourselves from disease.

And what do the flower essences have to do with it? If you study each of the flowers, you’ll notice that they have specific qualities of strength or fragility. And according to Dr. Bach, each carries specific information which can amplify our inner voices and assist us in regaining harmony. Our desire for harmony works with the flower essences to create the desired wellness in mind, spirit, or body.

Interestingly, books such as “The Secret” and the “Law of Attraction” bring much the same message. Doctor Bach said we must free ourselves from the "disease complex of fear" and put ourselves in harmony with our souls. “Law of Attraction” says we must put ourselves in vibrational harmony with our higher selves, and thereby with that which we desire. We must cease staying in harmony with that which we do not want.

Our natural condition is to live in health and abundance and joy, and when we stay in harmony with ourselves, we experience that natural condition. Bach Flower Essences can help us return to that harmony.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Does Your Child Have a Monster Under the Bed?


Instead of believing your child has an over-active imagination or that he is merely trying to manipulate you, consider that he may be living in a negative Aspen state. If so, he does believe that the monster is there. He lives in a constant state of fear, and may dread going to bed at night. In addition, he may not be getting proper sleep because he fears what will happen during the night.

Instead of punishment, give him the Bach Flower Essence, Aspen.

Adults who live in this negative state are similarly fearful, although they don't focus on the monster. Instead, they experience a general anxiety that has no focus - they really don't know what they're afraid of, they're just afraid.

I wish I had known about Bach Flower Remedies when my aunt was alive, because she was a classic case. She lived with the "what if's" and couldn't relax and fully enjoy things - or watch her children enjoy things - because something bad might be right around the corner. She lived with a feeling of dread and anxiety.

Adults and children in the extreme negative state sometimes experience full-blown anxiety attacks, complete with the physical symptoms of trembling, sweating, and stomach upset.

The cause behind the negative Aspen state may be a sensitivity to higher planes of consciousness and psychic currents. In some cases it occurs as a result of trying to explore higher spheres and becoming overly "tuned in" to feelings and impressions which cannot easily be recognized and explained in "daytime consciousness."

After treatment with Aspen, sufferers can enjoy daily life without groundless fears, and can also explore those higher planes without becoming "stuck."

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Feel5ive Does it Again


What would we do without Feel5ive? I can't even imagine.

This week was one of upheaval and confusion, because our good neighbor had to go out of town for a few days and we were appointed to babysit his 2 year old dog.

This was the first time since she came to live with him as a baby that he had left her for more than 3 or 4 hours, so she was confused and upset. On top of that, our own 3 dogs and 2 cats were experiencing worries of their own. Of course they were jealous, but they were also annoyed, because this little girl can be a bit over-enthusiastic about wanting to play.

She's always been what some would label hyperactive - bouncing off the walls looking for something interesting to do.

The cats were hissing or hiding. One of my dogs was either growling or hiding while another was openly snarling and another went into a blue funk over the attention my husband was giving to our guest.

And, since I had work to do that requires quiet time for thinking, I was a little upset myself.

That was the first afternoon. Then I remembered the Feel5ive. (Sometimes I'm a little slow.)

Since then I've added a dropperful to the water dish each time I filled it, and took a few drops for myself every time things got a little too noisy.

By the time our guest went home this evening all was well. She was a calm dog, snoozing by his feet while he told us about his trip. And earlier today, she and the others had been playing happily - with no growling or snarling.

And I was fine too - all because I remembered that little brown bottle.

Once again, I give thanks that Dr Bach gave us the gift of Bach Flower Essences.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

The Negative Heather State - Hard on Friends


Last week I attended a meeting, and I think that at least 3 of the people there were suffering from the negative Heather state. But as much as they might be suffering, the people around them suffer even more.

You probably know someone who lives in the negative Heather state. They're the ones who dominate every meeting - and instead of offering constructive comments, they disrupt the discussion by constantly trying to pull the conversation back to themselves and what they do or say or think. They're also the ones who, when left alone, will get on the phone and keep calling until they find someone who will let them go on about themselves for an hour or two at a time.

It's this trait that causes otherwise friendly people to begin using the Caller I.D. on their telephones in order to avoid talking with them. A few years ago I belonged to an organization that included 3 of these personalities. I quit answering my phone because I have work to do and no amount of saying "I need to get back to work now" would get them to stop talking so I could hang up the phone. There were many times when I considered pretending that my phone had gone dead.

The sad thing is, the negative Heather person is needy. They're like small children calling "Watch me, watch me," but in their attempts to get the attention they seek they drive others away.

Once treated with Bach Flower Essences, this person finally realizes that the way to get the attention and affection they crave is to care about other people. Only then can they enjoy real friendships.

Tuesday, May 04, 2010

Wild Oat - For When it's Time to Stop Sowing the Wild Oats


Coincidences and words both fascinate me. So when I noticed that the Bach Flower Remedy Wild Oat is used to help those who are uncertain find their true path in life, I immediately thought of young folks “sowing their wild oats” before settling down.

Young people do need to do that – a little – but when it becomes a life pattern, it’s time to get help.

Wild Oat personalities are generally very intelligent – but can’t seem to make up their minds about what they want to do. Unlike the Centaury personality, they aren’t unduly influenced or manipulated by others. They just can’t decide.

And the tough part is, because they are intelligent, they have a world of opportunity before them.

When I learn about the different Bach Flower personalities the image of a person usually comes to mind. In this case it’s someone I never knew – a friend of my Mother’s who bounced from one profession to another, even posing successfully as a veterinarian before he got bored and moved on.

If you’re in a spot with a variety of opportunities before you, but can’t decide which way to turn, try Bach Flower Therapy – with Wild Oat.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Hoarding - a Result of Emotional Imbalance

I have a confession – I’m a compulsive “box saver.” Any time something arrives in a sturdy cardboard box I have to save it. My rationalization is that “Christmas is coming” and I’ll need the boxes for wrapping gifts. Or, maybe I’ll decide to sell something on eBay and I’ll need a box. Or, maybe I’ll have one of my bouts of organizing and I’ll need good boxes.

My family laughs at me about this and I annoy myself a little when I’m trying to stack my empty boxes out of the way. But I never considered it a problem until last week-end.

Then, a TV show I saw made me wonder if I was starting down a path to hoarding.

Have you seen that show? It’s all about people who can’t let go of their “stuff” and after a few years their homes turn into huge junk piles. They can’t cook because their kitchen counter tops and tables are covered with 2 or 3 feet of “stuff” and they can’t sit on the couch because it’s covered too. In extreme cases they have little paths to navigate around the house and have to climb over piles of things just to go to bed at night.

The worst of it is that the people doing the hoarding are so ashamed that they cut themselves off from family and friends and don’t allow others to visit their homes, but they can’t seem to stop themselves. They know when they’re going to yard sales and shopping bargain stores that they don’t need any of what they’re bringing home. They know that old newspapers, empty food containers, and broken toasters belong in the trash. But they keep on acquiring and saving.

On the show, the people who are profiled have agreed to treatment from a behavioral psychologist and the filming follows their progress as they learn to part with things. Some of those people exhibit actual pain just from seeing someone else touch something in their piles. And they agonize when anything – even a 3 year old phone book – goes into a trash bag.

The more I thought about it, the more I thought about the underlying problems that would cause a person to hang on to physical objects in this way. Of course the show mentioned depression, but that’s a pretty big catch-all for a lot of emotional disturbances.

So I went to FeelBach.com and started reading about each of the Bach Flower Essences. I decided that Sweet Chestnut might be a good place to start, but since so many different situations and events could trigger a need to hang on to things, I think each person needs to study the lists.

I’ve decided that as long as I can still use my boxes and send them out into the world, I’m OK. But if you’ve started saving things for no reason that you can understand, it might be time to seek some emotional balance. Go to FeelBach.com and study the brief descriptions, then go to www.bachflower.org to read the long versions.

It simply cannot be fun to end up like those poor folks on the Hoarding show!

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

A Feel5ive Week...


This was a stressful week around here. We discovered a tumor on our dog and there was no choice but to have it removed. That meant facing the danger of him being anesthetized...

Feel5ive helped us humans get through the day while Ralphie was with the vet. We were very relieved when he came through the surgery and woke up again. And then relieved to learn that the tumor was localized - it had no little "feet" attaching it to other tissues in his body.

So we were fine - until it came time to administer the medications. He needed antibiotics to ward off infections, and they prescribed some pretty strong pain medications as well.

Much as I don't like to use those things, we fed them to him at first. After being "fooled" into eating the pills the first time, he was having none of it by the next morning. Manhandling him to get the pills in upset all of us, so we all had a little Feel5ive, then began the search for hiding places in food he would swallow without question. It's been fun.

Meanwhile, the pain pills turned our poor old pup into a zombie. And so, since I looked up the side effects and decided we needed to try to get along without them, we stopped giving them.

After about 24 hours he was in great distress and started biting at his stitches. We couldn't risk him tearing them out, so gave him a half dose of pain medication and a dose of Feel5ive, and sat with him until he fell asleep.

Now I'm sticking with the Feel5ive and one pain pill before bed. And our darling Ralphie is acting like himself again.

I've never tried to count the times that Feel5ive has helped me get through a rough situation - but I know I'm grateful to have that bottle nearby!

Thank you Dr. Bach, for making your wonderful discovery about the power of flower essences!

Monday, April 12, 2010

Jury Duty, Stress, and Bach Flowers

Have you ever been called for Jury Duty?

This is the 3rd time I've been called, so I wish they'd find some new names. Part of it is the idea that I don't feel qualified to judge someone else. In spite of what the prosecutor and the defense decide to present in court - I don't KNOW what went on. I'd hate to be responsible for harming an innocent person.

The second part is that the Courthouse is over an hour's drive from here, so being there at 8 a.m. means getting up at 6 in order to be presentable and get there on time. Not good for a night owl who likes to work until 2 a.m. and then read a while before going to sleep.

Friends tell me "Just go to bed early." I tried that, and found that my body "knows" when it's time to go to sleep - and stays awake until the proper time to sleep.

This time was especially stressful because of the wind. We've had a long spell of heavy winds and they buffet the car around so driving on the highway is real work.

Anyway... I give thanks for Feel5ive for getting me through those times without falling apart. Taking a few drops before setting out keeps me from getting stressed over the wind - and over the fear of being asked to decide another person's fate.

Luckily, this time I had to show up and sit through the movie and preliminary questions, but didn't get chosen. Hopefully the same thing will happen next week and the next. And then April will be over and I'll be off the hook.

Meanwhile, I wish Dr. Bach had found a Bach Flower Essence that would be a substitute for sleep...

Friday, April 02, 2010

Helping Small Children Cope With Fear and Anxiety

Sometimes it’s hard for an adult to understand that a baby or a toddler can experience the same fearful emotions that an adult has. After all, they’re just babies, they don’t understand the situation.

No, they don’t. And that makes it worse. Rather than being able to think through a problem from all sides and understand that it isn’t as dire as it appears, those kids are stuck with just the feelings. The emotions and the energy of a situation can lay them low, and if they’re very young, they don’t even have the language skills to talk to anyone about it. Worse, no one thinks to explain to them that things “really will be OK.”

Kids and pets are far more sensitive to energy, emotion, and feeling than are adults. And that’s why we as adults need to protect them to the best of our ability.

The first move, of course, is to try to create a life without turmoil so they have no frightening energies to pick up. But that isn’t always possible.

If someone is ill, if financial problems are plaguing the household, if there’s been a crime or an injury, adults carry it with them and the kids can pick it up.

Adults really do need to remember to talk to small children, even if they don’t think those children can understand. They need that reassurance because they already have the fear and apprehension.

And next, they need some help in getting their energies back into alignment.

That’s the beauty of Bach Flower Remedies. While they won’t work on adults without their knowledge, they do work on small children and pets.

Aspen treats unexplained anxiety – while Gentian and Mimulus treat anxiety and fear when the cause is known. Mustard treats the dark cloud of depression, while Star of Bethlehem treats the effects of trauma. (As when an infant has been in a frightening car accident.)

If you care for a child (or a pet) who appears to be suffering from fear and anxiety, visit www.bachflower.org and read about the 38 Bach Flower Remedies in the Bach Flower reference guide. Choose a formula based on the events you know have affected the child’s life, combined with the symptoms that the child is exhibiting.

The wonderful thing about Bach Flower Remedies is that if you choose incorrectly and add a flower essence to the blend that isn’t necessary, there will be no ill effects.

Bach Flower Essences are completely safe for babies, pregnant women, the elderly, those taking prescription drugs, and everyone in between. They can only help, never harm.

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Good News for Bach Flower Essences Users

The website www.bachflower.org has added a new feature! Now you can research the remedies you want and add them to your personal blend all in one place. Once you've made your choices you'll be taken back to FeelBach! to place your order.

All 38 Bach Flower Essences are listed there, along with an explanation of the conditions that each treats. You’ll see how to recognize a negative state and what to expect when you’ve achieved a positive state.

We are all supposed to be happy. And for the majority of the time, we can – as long as we stay in tune with our higher selves and keep our energies balanced.

Unfortunately, sometimes despite our best efforts, the events around us throw us out of balance.

Remember that life never stays the same. Different situations and people come and go, and they all have an effect on us. So what you need this year may be different from what you might need next year.

The important thing is to keep tabs on your feelings, and when you’re in any state you perceive as negative or imbalanced, take steps to fix it. Use the information at www.bachflower.org to choose a Bach Flower Remedy to bring your energies back into balance.

If you really aren't sure even after reading all the pages, you can still go to www.feelbach.com and use the questionnaire.

Sunday, March 21, 2010

A Message for Those Who Have Lost Their Homes

Over the past couple of years, thousands of homeowners have been subjected to foreclosure proceedings or are being forced to sell their homes through the "Short sale" process in order to get out from under crushing debt.

It's become so common that it no longer carries the stigma that it once did, but that doesn't keep the emotional pain away when you're the one it happens to.

We all know intellectually that all these foreclosures are the result of forces we could not control. And while blame and finger-pointing is rampant, we know that it was a combination of events that led to the housing crisis and the employment crisis.

The promise of a refinance or a home sale before adjustable rate mortgages reset went away when home prices fell. Hard-working, loyal employees have lost their jobs through no fault of their own. New jobs are scarce because companies are afraid to hire in this unpredictable economic climate.

If you've lost your home, it's probably not your fault. But that doesn't halt your feelings.

The emotions that follow can range from guilt (I should have known better than to buy this house / agree to this loan) to anger (I didn't deserve to be laid off) to fear (what will happen to me and my family) to depression and loss of hope (there's no way out, I'm doomed)to embarrassment (what do my friends/family think of me now).

Those very understandable emotions, left to rage uncontrolled, can become debilitating. They can prevent you from being able to pick up the pieces and get on with life. They can even destroy relationships with friends and family.

And that can do much greater damage than this temporary setback.

Bach Flower Remedies can get your emotions back in balance, so you can make good decisions about your future; find new employment if that's what you need; and maintain the relationships that can be your support system during this troubling time.

Each person reacts to this situation in his or her own way, so there is no one Bach Flower Essence to recommend. Instead, go to the FeelBach! questionnaire to create a blend designed to treat the emotions that you're feeling. If you'd rather choose and create your own blend, visit www.bachflower.org and read about the 38 Bach Flower Essences. Then choose up to 6 essences to treat your specific emotions.

Either way, the sooner you start, the sooner you'll be back in control of your life, and not held back by emotional imbalance. Then you can regroup and move with confidence into a better future.

Hang in there! It WILL get better!

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Kids, Pets, and New Family Members

Are you bringing a new baby into your family soon? Or perhaps you’re adopting an older child. Maybe you’re getting married. Even bringing a new pet into your home can be upsetting for the children and pets you already have.

You may still be dealing with issues that started with getting a new puppy for Christmas.

A new family member necessarily causes a change in daily routine, and a change in where your attention is directed.

When you begin paying attention to someone new, your other family members can quite understandably feel pangs of jealousy. If they’re insecure, they may begin to fear that you’ll reject them completely and stop loving them.

That jealousy and fear can trigger feelings of anger toward the one who is taking your attention away from them. And those feelings can trigger guilt, because they’re not “supposed” to feel the way they feel.

What a load of heavy emotion!

Of course you’ve tried to prevent this. You’ve tried to prepare your children for the changes taking place and you work hard to give them extra attention while they become accustomed to the new routine. When it’s your pet who is upset you try to include them in your joy and give them extra attention as well.

But it isn’t easy to deal with strong emotion, and even while you’re joyful you yourself can become overly stressed.

Luckily, there is safe, effective help for all of you. The Bach Flower Essence blend called Feel5ive is a general-purpose anti-anxiety aid that may be all your kids and pets need to get them through this transition. And it may be all you need to keep your equilibrium and help them adjust.

However, if feelings of fear or jealousy have had time to fester and grow, they might need a Bach Flower Remedy that’s more specific to their emotional imbalance. Gentian, for instance, treats despondence, while Holly treats jealousy.

To find the perfect blend for your children, your pets, or even yourself, use the FeelBach! Questionnaires. The questions, and your answers, will guide you to the perfect blend to get your family and you back into balance. Then you can all begin to enjoy the change you’ve made in your life.

Tuesday, March 09, 2010

Take Control of Your Life With Bach Flower Remedies

A couple of months ago a friend called to ask my opinion about a change she wanted to make in her life. She dislikes her job and wanted to do something else, but it meant taking some night classes and expanding her skills.

She started the conversation by telling me how she thought that job would be much more interesting and fulfilling and I agreed that it probably would. It’s in a field that she’s always found fascinating and in fact dabbles in as a hobby.

So what’s the problem? Her brother pointed out that the starting pay was less than she’s earning now. Her cousin said that if she’d be doing something as work that she thinks is fun it will ruin the fun of her hobby. Her mother told her she really didn’t have time to take night classes. Her husband doubted her commitment to taking the classes. Another friend talked about the “security” of staying in her current job. Her sister reminded her that if she stayed where she is, she might get a promotion.

I said “Wait a minute. Why are you asking for everyone’s opinion? What do YOU want to do?”

Again, she told me how excited she was about the idea and thought it was a really good idea, but then went back to what everyone else thought about it. I told her that what everybody else thought didn’t matter, but I could tell I wasn’t getting anywhere.

Then I realized that this is a pattern. She has second-guessed her every decision for the last couple of years. She asks everyone’s opinion and generally ends up letting someone else make decisions for her. How sad.

So, instead of expressing the annoyance that was my first reaction, I talked to her about Bach Flower Essences and about re-balancing her energies. She was a little hesitant to believe that something so simple could give her control over her own decisions. But luckily she listened to me and didn’t ask 16 other people for their opinions. (Lucky – because not everyone knows of the power of Bach Flower Remedies, and some might have talked her out of trying.)

She could have begun using Cerato by itself to overcome her lack of confidence. But I guided her to the FeelBach! Questionnaire and she instead began using a custom-made blend of flower essences that also addresses some of her other imbalances.

Now instead of asking for advice about how to run her life, she’s asking for recommendations for a housekeeper to take over some of her household duties - so she can have plenty of time to attend classes and study for her new career.

Monday, March 01, 2010

Backache Can Be Caused by Emotional Distress

If you get backaches you probably attribute it to a physical problem. You've twisted wrong or lifted too much or "slept crooked." New reports are also showing that backache can be a sign of chronic constipation... another physical cause.

But I can tell you from experience that backache can also be caused by emotions.

I first learned of this years ago when a person from the long-ago past showed up and wanted to re-establish a friendship that had ended on unpleasant note. Within days of hearing from her I developed a back ache that didn't respond to pain killers, heat, liniment, or any other treatment I could think of.

It was my acupuncturist who discovered the cause, treated it, and released me from a back ache that just wouldn't go away.

In the years since, I've learned to recognize my emotional reactions to any number of situations, and I reach for Bach Flower Essences to keep myself in balance.

So last week I knew just what to do when a pain suddenly appeared between my shoulder blades.

I found a call on my answering machine and I knew that the caller wanted to ask me to do something I was not willing to do. I could do it - but I don't have time right now, and I just don't want to.

Within minutes of hearing that message, a pain appeared between my shoulder blades.

It didn't take long to realize that it was anxiety - and my reluctance to say no to someone who thought he had a perfectly reasonable request. A couple of doses of Feel5ive brought me back in balance and the pain dissolved.

Had it continued, I would have started on Centaury - the Bach Flower Remedy for those who always have a hard time saying "No" even to those with unreasonable requests.

So think about it - emotional anxiety can cause a wide variety of physical symptoms. So if you're suffering from an ache or a pain, or even an allergic reaction that doesn't seem to have a physical cause, look to your emotional state. Browse through the descriptions on the FeelBach! site, and then do more research at bachflower.org.

Your physical comfort could be just a few drops of Bach Flower Essences away!

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Is the Daily Grind Grinding You Down?

Do you get up each morning with no enthusiasm for the day ahead? Do you go about your tasks with a lack of energy or interest? Do you feel like every day is just like the one before - and you're sick of it?

It could be that the routine you’ve become comfortable with has got your energies stuck. The mental and physical are no longer interacting and stimulating each other, so an energy deficit has occurred.

We get into these ruts sometimes because we’re afraid to reach out and try something new, or because circumstances have given us no choice. When there’s an important task at hand and we have to stick with it, or when we’ve been confined by an illness, we haven’t much opportunity to add variety to our lives.

That’s OK for short periods, but when it becomes a habit,life can become more of a chore than a joy. Then the real danger is in becoming more and more depressed – and in letting your negative feelings spill over to affect the people you love.

Luckily, when you recognize yourself getting into this state, you can treat it with Bach Flower Essences and get your enthusiasm and love of life back. Hornbeam is the Bach Flower Remedy that treats the feeling of “living in a rut” and allows you to reach out to new experiences – and even to carry on the daily routine with new interest.

If depression has already begun to creep in, the addition of Gentian is advisable. Among other things, Gentian helps to overcome both depression and that “I don’t want to do this” state of mind.

Spring and summer are on the way, and you deserve to look forward to them with joy... So visit FeelBach! today and get the Bach Flower Essences you need to put your energies back in order.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Help for the Cheerful Worrier

Do you know someone who is always busy, always helping, always volunteering, and going to meetings and entertaining - and always putting on a cheerful face, even when their eyes tell you that they may not feel so cheerful inside?

That person may be someone for whom you have high regard – someone you’d like to become better acquainted with – but their reserve keeps everyone at arm’s length. But don’t feel hurt, because it’s not just you they aren’t getting acquainted with. They also aren’t getting acquainted with themselves.

They engage in all that activity because they don’t want to be alone with their own thoughts and feelings. Their worries and fears are always right there, under the surface, so they stay busy and occupied to avoid confronting them. If they got too close to you, conversation might lead to confidences, and that would not be comfortable for them.

Sadly, because these folks can’t confront their feelings, they often turn to alcohol or drugs as a means of escape.

These are people who are in the negative Agrimony state – and they may have been living in this imbalance since childhood. Often this state is a result of a child learning early on that he or she must not show distress for fear of punishment.

Thankfully, treatment with the Bach Flower Essence Agrimony can relieve the inner tensions and anxieties that keep people in this stressful state. It allows them to face their inner conflicts and even be free to discuss their problems with others who can help alleviate their fears.

Agrimony is the Bach Flower Essence that relieves inner tensions, anxieties, and other hidden emotions. It provides relief for individuals who have suffered for years, and for those who have suddenly found themselves in a situation in where they don’t feel free to let their feelings show.

To learn more about Agrimony and other Bach Flower Remedies, visit The Bach Flower Reference Guide.

Then come back to FeelBach! to order the remedy that's right for you.

Monday, February 08, 2010

ADHD - Does it Control Your Life?

If you have a child who is suffering from ADHD, you may be at your wit's end trying to help him or her live a happy life.

Not only do you face challenges at home, but teachers may be calling with behavior complaints. And your child can't help it!

Thousands of children today are taking prescription drugs to control this hyperactive behavior, and that's scary. No one knows what the long term effects of those drugs may be. If you're concerned about your child's long-term health, you're probably trying to get at the root cause and stop it, so that you can get him or her off those dangerous drugs.

One thing to consider is diet. Not just the sugars that are generally blamed for hyperactive behavior, but the possibility of allergies.

Most people think of an allergy as something that causes sneezing, but the effects can actually be as varied as the allergens themselves. One gentleman I know suffered from aching knees until his acupuncturist discovered that the cause was the orange juice he'd been drinking in quantity to help cure a head cold. He wasn't allergic to oranges, but he was allergic to the pesticide residue found in the orange juice.

Your child (or you, if you're having problems) may be allergic to something in your home, or something he's eating. Remember that unless they're 100% organic, fruits and vegetables have fertilizer and pesticide residues... and pre-packaged foods are loaded with chemicals.

If my child suffered from ADHD, one of the first places I'd look for help is an acupuncturist who has studied the NAET technique and can pinpoint an allergy.

But there's something else that could be causing the trouble - and that's an imbalance in energies. Some past event may have had a bigger impact than you realized at the time, and it may have triggered an imbalance that is now showing itself as ADHD.

You can address that issue with Feel Bach's Attention Deficit Blend.

Bach Flower Essences are all-natural and have no adverse side-effects. They can also be used in conjunction with prescription medications without fear of drug interactions. And at only $7.95 per bottle, it poses no risk to your bank account, either.

Attention Deficit can also help both children and adults when current circumstances have thrown them into a state of confusion. If you're having trouble focusing and concentrating, even if you don't know why, order a bottle for yourself.

We all have enough challenges to face... being unable to focus is one we don't need.

Monday, February 01, 2010

Does a Love Relationship Elude You?

As we near Valentine's Day, do you feel alone and unloved - and wish that you had a special someone with whom to share the occasion? Do you wish that just once your mailbox would hold a foil lined envelope holding a card that professes undying love and devotion? Do you dream of a candlelight dinner for two that never happens?

Perhaps if you re-balance the energies that are now holding you back, you can allow the love you seek to come into your life.

As hard as it is to accept, sometimes it's our own attitudes and behaviors that prevent us from having the relationships we long for.

Love is one of those relationships.

Perhaps you're critical of others and unconsciously push them away. Or perhaps you're so unsure of yourself that you simply can't reach out, or can't believe and accept it when someone reaches out to you.

Feel Bach! has the Bach Flower Essences blend that will help you re-balance your energies and rid yourself of those limiting emotions and behaviors.

It's called Love & Relationship - and the fact that Feel Bach! has it ready in a shelf blend should tell you something. You are most definitely not alone in your yearning for love.

The Love & Relationship blend will let you recognize your own worth and relate to others in a loving and accepting manner.

And if you get started with it right away - it might even happen in time for Valentine's Day...

Monday, January 25, 2010

Do You Shut Out Those Who Would Be Friends?

Did you know that some of the most capable people in the world are also among the saddest? They're the kind, compassionate people trapped in a negative Water Violet state.

If you're one of them, you'll recognize yourself, I'm sure.

This person is capable, calm in a crisis, and on hand to give help and advice when asked. Otherwise he minds his own business.

People depend on her to help solve their problems, but the energy drain is severe - causing physical problems due to continual tension in her body.

As a leader, he's valued for being calm, but he really isn't a good boss because he feels other people's problems so acutely that he can't make tough decisions if he thinks anyone will feel hurt.

He does feel hurt himself, however. He expects that since his requests are fair and he treats people well, they should follow and cooperate without prodding. When they don't, he doesn't reprimand, he simply shuts them out.

If you're a Water Violet personality, you won't ask others for help. Even when ill you prefer to be left alone to handle things yourself.

The good news is that you don't have to go on suffering this way. After treatment with the Water Violet Bach Flower essence, you'll be able to connect with others again. You'll still be independent; you'll still mind your own business and expect others to mind theirs; but you'll no longer be isolated from friendships.

Read about Water Violet and the other 37 Bach Flower Essences, then visit Feel Bach! to order your own personal blend.

Your New Year will be much happier as a result!

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Staying Happy When the Kids Go Off to College


Maybe your son or daughter went off to college in the fall, or maybe they're beginning their college career mid-year.

Either way, the extra time you probably spent together over the holidays makes it even harder to face their absence now. If you're missing them so much that it interferes with your own enjoyment of life, it's time to do something about it!

The cure for rebalancing your emotions and ridding yourself of those blues, or that “lost” feeling depends upon the reason why their leaving has put you out of sorts.

Perhaps you just aren’t comfortable with change of any kind. You like the same predictable routine, with the same people in your life every day. If so, you certainly aren’t alone. Especially when life is pleasant, we all have a tendency to want to keep things just the way they are.

Unfortunately, life and growth mean change, and change always creates stress – even when it’s a happy and much-anticipated change.

Walnut is the Bach Flower Essence that will help you move forward. Dr. Bach called The Walnut Flower Remedy the “breaker of spells” because of its ability to untie our bonds with the past.

Perhaps it’s fear for your child that prevents you from enjoying this new step forward in their lives. Maybe for you “out of sight” means “out of my protection.” This state is a huge anxiety producer, and the sooner you can shake it, the better you’ll be both mentally and physically.

Red Chestnut is the Bach Flower Remedy that can free you from this anxious state.

Follow the flower essence links above to read more about each, the visit Feel Bach! to order a blend made just for you.

At this exciting time in your child’s life, he or she needs you as a supporter and a cheerleader – not as a parent sinking into depression because of his or her absence.