Sharon Hubbs-Kreft, Herbalist - Amazing Grace Herbals LLC

With the warmer weather upon us and as we grab for the sun block, I am frequently asked what is the best routine I do to keep my skin happy and healthy? There are lots of things especially in our diets to keep our glow about us but if you want to keep your skin looking great try starting a simple cleansing routine every day or night to topically help while you work on the internal side of skin.

I will blog more about "skin internals" at a later time but thought I would share a really quick skin care routine to get you going for the summer months.

20-Minute Skin Care Routine

 

1.       Cleanse face with gentle cleanser to suit skin type, using a cotton ball or a washcloth.

2.       Steam face with head over bowl of steaming hot water for 2 minutes.

3.       Apply a moisturizing, purifying face mask composed on French green clay.

4.       Bathe or shower with a few drops of relaxing essential oil or invigorating oil in the water. You may also put herbal tea bags like my Puffy Eye Tea, or cucumber or potato slices over your eyes to remove the bagginess around the eyes. I like to put the cucumbers in the freezer for a few minutes to really help with deep opening of the capillaries. Relax totally for 10 minutes.

5.       Pat body dry with thick warm towels. Apply a natural body lotion like cocoa butter all over while skin is still moist. Take special care of feet, knees, elbows, and neck. If you prefer using oils on your skin try coconut, jojoba or almond.

6.       Remove mask with warm water and spray or splash face with mineral water.

7.       Apply an eye-soothing gel or aloe vera (fresh if possible) if you are going out or night eye cream (if you are going to bed) around eyes and on lids.

8.       Apply moisturizer to face if going out, or your favorite night cream/oil if not. My favorite for either day or night use is Camocare light moisturizer.

9.       Apply a natural hand cream and a nail cream around cuticles. I use cocoa butter as a lotion and use Vitamin E oil or almond oil on my cuticles.

Breathe deep, relax and enjoy the aura of your skin, it is the largest organ and needs some forgotten pamerping too!

Peaceful Blessings!

Hello all  . ..  just letting everyone know that the first batch of my Grandmom's Queen of Hungary's Water is back in stock!!!

Here is a link - http://www.localharvest.org/grandmoms-queen-of-hungarys-water-C4528

Peaceful Blessings !

We all try to use as many fresh herbs as possible but what happens when you are left with a small amount and not enough to make your favorite dish? Or how about when you use almost every leaf off the stem but have not even a handful left and you know if you leave it in the fridge it may die or shrivel up in the veggie drawer? Very easy, make herbal ice cubes!

Fill an empty ice cube tray with whatever leftover herbs you have whether it be for cooking, baking, salads or whatever you are using them for. Top off the tray with either water or vegetable broth. I like using the vegetable broth on all culinary and aromatic herbs that you would use for sauces, saute's, soups and baked dishes. I use water when I am freezing herbs like Mint for example which can easily be added to a fresh glass of sun tea.

Once the cubes have frozen, remove them from the tray and store is a resealable food storage bag and be sure to label the bag. Once the herbs freeze, they tend to look alike and you won't know exactly what are using unless you slightly defrost it.

All herbs can be frozen in this way; this is such a special treat in the winter months when you are craving for some fresh cilantro to add to your broth, basil to add to your sauce or just a pinch of sage for your butternut squash soup!  I have also froze many mints as well as lemon balm, lemon verbena, dill, caraway leaf, fennel leaf, sage (I use organic chicken broth to freeze), salad burnet (I use water to freeze and then add it to a homemade ranch dressing recipe), scented geranuims (great for baking, use water to freeze), pineapple sage (fabulous in iced tea, use water to freeze), chives . . . well, now that I think about it, I have frozen in cubes almost every single herb I grow  . . . and that's lot's and lot's and lot's!!!

Enjoy harvesting and happy preserving!

Peaceful Blessings!

I made my last batch of flower sugar last week when my lilacs were in final bloom. I love "lilac sugar", it has such a unique flavor and can really add a twist to some common dishes and drinks. I espcailly like to add it to Green tea or Jasmine flower tea.

You can make all types of flower sugars with edible flowers like violets, lilacs and roses; just make sure the flowers are orgaincally grown with no chance of them being misted with any type of insectide.

My 2 year old daughter was so excited to make the flower sugar with me this year that I had to share this simple recipe. Children love to interact in the kitchen and especially with this project they can really get involved wihtout getting too messy or without ingesting too many goodies!!

Flower Scented Sugar Recipe

2 cups granulated sugar (I use organic sugar in the raw)                           1 cup violet, rose or lilac petals, gently crushed to release aroma

Combine the sugar and petals in a glass container (washed spaghetti jars work great for this), shake well as to evenly distribute the petals. Cover the jar and let it sit at room temperature for about a week; don't leave it near the stove where it could warm it up and increase melting. After a week or so, sift the sugar to remove the flower pieces (I actually leave the flower pieces in if I am using a dusting of sugar for a cake or brad topping - people are amazed that they are eating flowers!). Enjoy the delicious scent and store the sugar in the same glass jar. You can substitute the flower sugar for any plain sugar in any recipe for cookies (sugar cookies are very yummy), breads, plain cakes (angel food cakes are tasty too), jams/jellies or syrups.

This can get addicting and you will be so sad when you use the last of your flower scented sugar that you will want to rush the year by to make more.

Flower Garnish

I like to be creative and when most people see flowers on a plate they will not touch them at all, so how do you get your friends to try something new? Easy, fool them into thinking the flower is a sugar garnish!!! Violets work best for this  . . . pick fresh organic violets, use a small craft brush and lightly coat the petals with egg white and dip into crystal sugar. You can shake off the extra so it doesn't look caked on. Heat your oven to about 250F and bake petals for about 8-10 minutes or until you see the leaves start to wilt. Ovens and temperatures vary so it may be a little trial and error until you get the timing perfect for your oven. Garnish as you like!

A family friend always did this in the spring and it was so magical to see the flowers coated with sugar - they looked like tiny dew drops on the petals, I use to call them fairy tears when I was a child and still do today!!!

Happy harvesting your petals and happy cooking!

Peaceful Blessings!

How does one garden by the Moon? Farmers have done it for centuries and many of our ancestors only followed the planting and harvesting patterns despite newer technologies. The lunar phase controls the amount of moisture in the soil. This moisture is at its peak at the time of the new and the full moon. The sun and moon are lined up with earth. Just as the moon pulls the tides in the oceans, it also pulls upon the subtle bodies of water, causing moisture to rise in the earth, which encourages germination and growth. Tests have proven that seeds will absorb the most water at the time of the full moon.

You can also plant and harvest by the zodiac signs as well. This can be a little more complicated as not every calendar will show you when you might be in a barren or fruitful sign. I will blog about this another day as this can be tricky if you don't have a good calendar handy.

There are 4 basic phases that you need to watch for when gardening by the Moon: New, First Quarter, Full and Last Quarter.     

You will want to sow, transplant, bud and graft plants during New Moon through Full Moon. This is easy to remember plant when there is no moon through when it is bright and shining in the sky. At the new moon, the lunar gravity pulls water up, and causes the seeds to swell and burst. This factor, coupled with the increasing moonlight creates balanced root and leaf growth.

When your calendar shows New Moon, plant above ground crops with outside seeds, examples are lettuce, spinach, celery, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and grain crops. and flowering annuals.

Once the Moon quakes with its First Quarter through the Full Moon phase you can plant above ground crops with inside seeds. In this quarter the gravitational pull is less, but the moonlight is strong, creating strong leaf growth. It is generally a good time for planting, especially two days before the full moon. Examples of these plants are beans, melons, peas, peppers, squash, and tomatoes. Mow lawns in the first or second quarter to increase growth.

On the last day of the Full Moon through the Last Quarter plant root crops like beets, carrots, onions, potatoes, and peanuts, bulbs, biennials and perennials for active root growth. After the full moon, as the moon wanes, the energy is drawing down. The gravitation pull is high, creating more moisture in the soil, but the moonlight is decreasing, putting energy into the roots.

From the last day of the Last Quarter through the New Moon do not plant at all. There is decreased gravitational pull and moonlight, and it is considered a resting period. This is also the best time to cultivate, harvest, transplant and prune. Mow lawns in the third or fourth quarter to retard growth.

As of today, May 19 we are between the last quarter and the New Moon. The offical date of the New Moon will be Sunday, May 24.

Happy planting and harvesting; if you don't quite make the cycle this time, there is always next month!!!

Peaceful Blessings!

I was flipping through a great book called Detox for Women by Natalia Rose, a great nutritionist and found this wonderful salad recipe to help detox the system. It is very, very tasty!!! This salad can be made anytime as it is full of vitamins and minerals to give the body an extra boost. It is also great because leafy greens are diuretic in nature and can help expel added water weight and cabbage is phenomenal at helping to rid the system of yeast. Greens also help to bring balance to the system by adjusting pH, they also help eliminate any toxins that may be present and are loaded with vitamins that we tend to lack through the winter months. This salad is the perfect beginning to spring and is handy to keep and prepare through the winter to be sure you are getting a good amount of vitamins in your system when your body battles the frigid temps.

If you can find organic or naturally grown veggies and greens that would be great and especially now the markets will be opening and there wil be lots to choose from.

Detox Salad Recipe

1/4 cup red cabbage, shredded or finely chopped - 1/2 cup yellow bell pepper, chopped - 1/2 cup carrots, shredded - 1/2 cup alfalfa sprouts - 1 cup mesclun greens or baby lettuce - 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice - Stevia to taste - 1 teaspoon fresh garlic, diced

** If you are counting carbs or are on a low sugar diet you can eliminate the carrots and replace with spinach and also eliminate the Stevia and replace with lime juice or apple cider vinegar - this is my suggestion and not listed by the author *** 

The author suggests to arrange the greens on a plate and arrange the carrots, cabbage, peppers and sprouts in four circular piles along the top of the plate like a rainbow - I like it all jumbled up but you can make it as you choose. Then, mix the lemon juice, stevia and garlic together and drizzle on top.

In case you can't find pure Stevia, I do offer here in my Local Harvest store - here's a link - http://www.localharvest.org/just-stevia-C10641

If you are thinking of trying my Liver Detox Tea or Kidney Cleanse Tea - this salad would be a prefect compliment. I enclose other recipes with these blends too but this salad is a great addition to any meal or detox diet.

Peaceful Blessings and Happy Cleansing!!

After having a long discussion with a friend who wanted to pull every last little root of Mugwort from her yard because she was so frustrated with it's regrowth and noxious habits, I decided to educate everyone on its wonderful properties. Here is information I have gathered through the years from my Materia Medica on the wonderful herb Mugwort. To many, this herb is a pretty annoying weed but  . . if you read on, you may not want to be so hasty to pull it and disregard it.

I will caution, if you have it growing wild in high amounts, you may want to wear a dusk mask if you decide to mow it down. I say this because Mugwort can be used to induce dreams and I have heard many, many, many (and I say this over again because it is true!!!) stories of people cutting it down and then suffering from outrageous and even frightening nightmares and dreams.

Hope you enjoy the info I have collected, some of which has also been passed down to me from my Grandmother and her ancestors. I love this herb, it has such a history and is loaded with folklore!!

Mugwort - AKA: Artemisa, Carline Thistle, Chiu Ts'Ao, Ai ye or Hao-shu, Common Mugwort, Douglas Mugwort, Felon herb, Sailor’s tobacco, Wormwood, Cronewort, St. John’s Plant, Wild Chrysanthemum, Cingulum Sancti Johannis, Moxa, Armoise, Chrysanthemum Weed, Muggons, Naughty Man , Old Man , Old Uncle Henry,  Artemis Herb

Description: life cycle - perennial, reproducing by seed (rare in north) and rhizomes stems - upright, tall, become woody in late season leaves - alternate, deeply cut, lobes with sharp points, upper surface smooth (sometimes slightly hairy), undersides appear fuzzy or velvety, white to gray hairs flowers - heads of greenish-yellow disk (tubulate) florets; leafy panicles above. Sepals are absent, sometimes replaced by a structure of hairs and scales called a pappus. Small dry fruit develops below the pappus containing a single seed that is dispersed by wind or animals. Each head consists of several to many small flowers attached to a disk shaped, conical, or concave receptacle. For identification and classification, the flowers are considered either disk flowers (those with a tubular structure and found in the center disk) or ray flowers (with a flat, petal like corolla distributed around the margins). other - chrysanthemum scent when bruised or crushed. Common Mugwort has leaves lying upon the ground, very much divided, or cut deeply in about the brims, somewhat like Wormwood, but much larger, of a dark green color on the upper side, and very hoary white underneath. The stalks rise to be four or five feet high, having on it such like leaves as those below, but somewhat smaller, branching forth very much towards the top, whereon are set very small, pale, yellowish flowers like buttons, which fall away, and after them come small seeds, enclosed in round heads. The root is long and hard, with many small fibers growing from it, whereby it takes strong hold on the ground; but both stalks and leaves do lie down every year, and the root shoots anew in the spring. The whole plant is of a reasonable scent, and is more easily propagated by the slips than the seed. Perennial herb native to Africa, temperate Asia, and Europe, widely naturalized in most parts of the world. Found growing on hedge banks and waysides, uncultivated and waste land. Cultivation - Mugwort prefers slightly alkaline, well-drained loamy soil, in a sunny position. Blooming is from July to October. Mugwort is closely related to Common Wormwood (Absinthe). Often grown in Moon gardens.

Uses: Mugwort leaves are edible, young leaves are boiled as a pot herb or used in salad, they aid in digestion although said to have a bitter taste. An infusion of the leaves and flowering tops is used in the treatment of all matters connected to the digestive system, it increases stomach acid and bile production, eases gas and bloating, improving digestion, the absorption of nutrients and strengthening the entire digestive system. It is used in alternative medicine to expel intestinal worms, nervous and spasmodic affections, asthma, sterility, functional bleeding of the uterus and menstrual complaints, and diseases of the brain. As a gargle for sore throat, a wash for sores and a poultice for infections, tumors and to stop bleeding. The leaves have an antibacterial action, inhibiting the growth of Staphococcus aureus, Bacillus typhi, B. dysenteriae, streptococci, E. coli, B. subtilis, and pseudomonas. A weak tea made from the infused plant is a good all-purpose insecticide. The fresh or the dried plant repels insects. Also used to induce dreams and is used as a sleep aid. The infused oil can be used as a massage oil to increase circulation. Apply compresses of Mugwort Oil to areas of the body which are blue in color or cold to the touch, such as varicose veins where the flow of blood is restricted or stagnant. Helpful for bringing 'summer forces' during the winter-time, or for winter-like conditions of the body: cold hands and feet, and hardening or stiffening conditions like rheumatism. Helpful for those who need to balance a predominance of 'moon' qualities (such as emotional and psychic sensitivity) with solar clarity and embodied physical warmth. Recommended by many midwives during labor and delivery, and for facilitating lactation. It has a mild nervine action in aiding depression and easing tension, insomnia and nervousness. Mugwort is also used to bring on delayed or suppressed menstrual cycle and may help to regulate menstrual cycles. The leaves can also be rubbed on the skin as an antidote to Poison Oak. In a clinical trial, crushed fresh mugwort leaves applied to the skin were shown to be effective in eradicating warts. A traditional Chinese herbal therapy of burning moxa sticks or cones containing Mugwort over inflamed and affected acupuncture points of the body. It stimulates the blood and energy of the affected areas and removed prior to the skin burning. Knowledge of acupuncture points is recommended. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association reported on the successful use of moxibustion in reversing breech birth positions. The study found that 75% of 130 fetuses had reversed their position after moxibustion treatment of the mother. The technique is said to stimulate the acupuncture point known as BL67, located near the toenail of the fifth toe, stimulating circulation and energy flow and resulting in an increase in fetal movements.

Actions: antibacterial, anthelmintic, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antispasmodic, carminative, cholagogue, diaphoretic, digestive, diuretic, emmenagogue, expectorant, haemostatic, nervine, purgative, stimulant, stomachic, and tonic, cleansing toxins from the blood Cautions: Should not be used by pregnant women since it can cause a miscarriage. Excessive doses can lead to symptoms of poisoning, but nothing is to be feared from normal use.

Folklore: In Native American folklore Mugwort was also a Witchcraft medicine, rubbed the leaves on ones body to keep ghosts away or wearing a necklace to prevent dreaming of the dead. In the Middle Ages a crown made from its sprays was worn on St. John's Eve to gain security from evil possession. Mugwort derived its common name from being used to flavor drinks like beer before the introduction of hops. The Name Artemisia is from the Goddess Artemis (1st century AD) who inspired the plants genus name. In the Middle Ages, there were many superstitions connected with Mugwort. It was rumored to preserve the traveler from fatigue, sunstroke and evil spirits. It was believed that John the Baptist wore a girdle of Mugwort in the wilderness for protection. Mugwort oil can be used as anointing oil for its connection to Artemis and the lunar cycles. Anglo-Saxon tribes believed that the aromatic mugwort was one of the nine sacred herbs given to the world by the god Woden. Mugwort is considered a magical herb, with special properties to protect road-weary travelers against exhaustion. The Romans planted mugwort by roadsides where it would be available to passersby to put in their shoes to relieve aching feet.

Magical: Mugwort is a versatile sacred herb. It can be used for spiritual cleansing, protection, healing, and consecration, and it can aid dream work, trance, and intuitive development. Associated with the Full Moon and with the Summer Solstice since ancient times, Mugwort also is suitable for rituals year round. It can be used as a ritual tool in many ways. A garland crown, or ritual head wreath, can be easily fashioned from one or more freshly cut Mugwort stalks. Dried wreaths hung on or above doorways, are wonderful house blessing charms. Make a smudge stick from thoroughly dried sprigs of Mugwort leaves. Wave the burning smudge stick back and forth to move the smoke around to consecrate the ritual place and participants. Fresh or dried leaves, flowers, and sprigs of Mugwort can be used as an offering in personal and group rituals. Leave Mugwort offerings at a shrine, place on the ground, or cast into a sacred fire. Use dried, sturdy, mature stalks that are at least 1/4 inch thick to make a scared wand. Dip the Mugwort aspersing wand into a chalice or bowl of ritual water, and then flick water droplets onto the place, ritual objects, or participants for consecration. Dried Mugwort stalks can be burned in combination with Oak and other sacred woods in ceremonial fires. Dried Mugwort leaves and flowers also are good additives to sacred fires. Make a Mugwort sachet or pillow, smell its fragrance as you do an affirmation to bless sleep, guide dreaming, and aid dream recall and interpretation upon awaking. For use in scrying, place some Mugwort potion in a dark colored ritual bow and meditatively gaze into it in subdued light. In addition, Mugwort also can be used as a sacred flavoring in ritual brews and foods. At the culmination of a home blessing rite, hang a fresh Mugwort sprig above the main door into your home for protection and good fortune. Hang a Mugwort sprig or wreath above your bed to bless sleep and dreaming. Fill an amulet bag with Mugwort, energize it, and wear it around your neck for healing, spiritual growth, and intuition. Put a pouch of Mugwort in the glove compartment of your vehicle or hang a Mugwort amulet bag from your rear view mirror to bless your travels. In addition, Mugwort can be combined with other ingredients in making amulets and charms for a variety of purposes. Grow Mugwort in a ritual garden. Create a year round ceremonial circle with a Mugwort hedge. Grow Mugwort next to your home to bless and protect it. Meditate and commune with living Mugwort for relaxation, healing, and inspiration. Place Mugwort in the shoes to gain strength during long walks or runs. For this purpose pick Mugwort before sunrise, saying: Tollam te artemesia, ne lassus sim in via. Mugwort is also burned with sandalwood or wormwood during scrying rituals, and a Mugwort infusion is drunk (sweetened with honey) before divination.The infusion is also used to wash crystal balls and magic mirrors, and Mugwort leaves are placed around then base of the ball (or beneath it) to aid in psychic workings. According to ancient tradition, when carrying Mugwort you cannot be harmed by poison, wild beasts or sunstroke. In a building, Mugwort prevents 'dark elves' and 'evil things' from entering, and branches of Mugwort are used in Japan by the Ainus to exorcise spirit's of disease who are thought to hate the odor. In China, it is hung over the doors to keep evil spirits from buildings.Mugwort is also carried to increase lust and fertility, to prevent backache, and to cure disease and madness. Placed next to the bed it aids in achieving astral projection. GENDER : Feminine. PLANET : Venus. ELEMENT : Earth. DEITIES : Morrigan , Artemis, Áine POWERS : Strength, Psychic Powers, Protection, Prophetic Dreams, Healing ,Astral Projection

Peaceful Blessings and please think twice before ridding your garden of Mugwort!!!   :)

I hope you enjoyed Part 1 about using and administering Flower Essences.

Here are a list of Bach's Flower Essences and their primary uses:

AGRIMONY ~ denial, "stuffing" emotions, inappropriate communication, allergies, physical irritants

ASPEN ~ vague fears, sense of impending doom, fearful (to be left alone)

BEECH ~ intolerance, allergies

BLEEDING HEART - grief - when pups/kittens leave the mom for new homes for stress and emotional pain

CELERY - restores balance to the immune system when it is stressed or overworked, and during long-term viral or bacterial infections

CENTAURY ~ meek, "doormat", picked on by other animals, submissive to siblings

CERATO ~ inattentive, easily distracted

CHAMOMILE ~ calming the emotions, soothing irritable and fractious animals, teething and animal that tends to be restless and cranky.

CHERRY PLUM ~ loss of control

CHESTNUT BUD ~ to learn a lesson the first time or break habits

CHICORY ~ possessive, clingy, manipulative, separation anxiety

CLEMATIS ~ consciousness, focus; post-op

CRAB APPLE ~ cleansing; infections, toxins, cuts

ELM ~ easily overwhelmed or frazzled

GARLIC - this helps to repel fleas, and does not have any of the other effects of garlic, including the odor

GENTIAN ~ to see "light at the end of the tunnel", restore hope; long illness rehabilitation, good for pet’s with varying cancers

GORSE ~ hopelessness, giving up; cancer, critical injury or surgery

HEATHER ~ needy child, very clingy, talkative

HOLLY ~ anger, jealousy, need for love; abandoned, abused

HORNBEAM ~ mental weariness

HONEYSUCKLE ~ grief, homesickness, depleted energy rescue/shelter animals (forget past, face future)

IMPATIENS ~ impatience, irritability, nervous energy; pain

LARCH ~ lack of self-confidence

MIMULUS ~ timidity, specific fears; illness that does not respond to treatment, fearful (people other animals) fear of travel in car, wounds that do not heal due to anxiety

MUSTARD ~ depression, gloom, mood swings

OAK~ chronic exhaustion, overworked but keeps struggling; loss of control

OLIVE ~ physical exhaustion from long strain

PINE ~ perfectionist, guilt, feeling rejected: abuse, fearful (animals cringe)

PINK YARROW ~ helps protect animals from negative emotional energy, such as during a divorce, or stressful family situation, or when another animal or person is sick or draining their energy reserves.

RED CHESTNUT ~ worries about others

ROCK ROSE ~ terror, panic

ROCK WATER ~ inflexible, stiff; arthritis

SCLERANTHUS ~ imbalance; neurological problems, travel sickness

STAR OF BETHLEHEM ~ mental, physical or emotional trauma; need for comfort; any stray or animal from shelter, shock

SWEET CHESTNUT ~ at wits' end, despairing, rescue animals who have been subject to severe abuse

TOMATO ~ also helps the body in throwing off infection or disease.

VERVAIN ~ fanatic, hyperactive, over-enthusiastic, jumpy

VINE ~ control, domination

WALNUT ~ transition, protection, over-sensitive to environment, before introducing new animals

WATER VIOLET ~ grief, loner, reclusive, arrogant; to bring joy; for most Cats

WHITE CHESTNUT ~ repetitive thoughts

WILD OAT ~ bored, anxiety, feeling un-useful, helps pet to relax and calm down

WILD ROSE ~ apathy, passive resignation; to "be here now"

WILLOW ~ resentment, anger toward owner

RESCUE REMEDY ~ the 5-flower combination for any acute trauma or stress. Considered as a single remedy in combinations, The five remedies are Star of Bethlehem for trauma and numbness, Clematis for being grounded and to prevent passing out, Rock Rose for panic, Impatiens for tension and irritability and Cherry Plum to prevent losing control. Basically four drops of the stock bottle are added to a one ounce glass dropper bottle of spring water and shaken up. It is best to make this up immediately before use as the mixture will not keep too long. Three or four drops of the mixture can be given into the mouth or onto the gums every five minutes until a response is seen. Rescue Remedy can also be given in the water during any time of stress and in this case it is best to use ten drops every time the water is changed.

Rescue Remedy, combined with the homeopathic remedy Aconite makes a wonderful calming essence that can be used on wild animals, and for rehabilitation, as mentioned above it works well on any kind of stress or fear situation and definitely helps with survival rate in these situations. A few drops of the combined essence on the gums or even onto the ear of the rescued animal will calm them down and make them easier to handle. It can even be sprayed onto the skin or ears with a spray bottle and will still have a beneficial effect. A dropper of the combination can be put in the daily water for rescued animals to help them withstand the stress of captivity, and make them more manageable.

Mix and match the essences, they work wonderfully and can really help a anxious or frustrated pet  . .  or human too!!!  :)

Peaceful Blessings!

I love working with the various flower essences and make many myself. I use all different types including Australian, Alaskan, Light Heart and Indigo to name a few. I am going to blog about Bach's essences as these are the essences most commonly found in the US and are easy to obtain from most health food or new age stores.

The Essences are wonderful and in part one I will discuss how they work and how to adminitser, in part two I will list the essences with explanaitions of what they are used to treat.

Sometimes it can be trial and error with the essences until you can find the exact one that you body needs and will utilize. The essences are safe for use on anyone including babies and animals. I was raised using the essences and have become quite fond of their healing energies. I am a good standing member of the Flower Essence Society and use essences in many specialized remedies especially for pets with emotional and behavioral concerns.

Flower essence therapy works on a similar mechanism as homeopathy. Parts of the flower are diluted and then potentised to become effective. The flower essences are found in liquid form. Thus, the remedies work on an energetic level, similar to homeopathy, acupuncture and Reiki. They affect the mental and emotional parts of our being. Dr. Bach felt that physical illness can be caused by emotional upset and by fixing the emotional balance the physical illness disappeared.

Flower essences work to heal physical, mental and emotional illness. All of the aforementioned illnesses affect each other in one way or another. Therefore, flower essences restore the inner balance by working on the vital force. The vital force is an inner force within the body that governs our strength and well-being. As we get sick our vital force weakens and therefore, the flower essences work on our vital force to strengthen it. The particles of the essences work in specific patterns. This means that certain essences cure certain illnesses.  Overall, flower essence are to said to release negative emotions and help heal and calm, using either internally or externally non toxic and have no side effects.I hope this information has given you an idea of another form of natural therapy for humans and animals.

The remedy can be given by mouth, which is the most effective method. Only a few drops (4-8) are necessary, and need not be swallowed, but only must contact the mucous membranes (gums, tongue, lips). Be careful not to contaminate the dropper by touching it to the animal or yourself (if this occurs, rinse the dropper in very hot water before returning it to the bottle). You can also add a dropper full to the water dish, or a few drops on wet food (there is no effect of dilution). You can add a dropper full to a spray bottle filled with spring water, and use it to spray a room, carrier, stall, blanket, bed, car, around litter boxes or plants, or other problem areas. You can even put a few drops in your hand and pat an animal on the head and around the ears with it--the head is very sensitive to energy and will absorb the flower essences in this way. In the case of chewing or excessive licking or hot spots, you might want to try applying the remedy directly to the problem spot (IF it isn't too raw, otherwise the remedy will sting); the animal will then consume it when it next licks that area. This works best in cases of acral lick dermatitis.

When conditions have occurred when infection or bacteria may be present, Flower Essences work very well with herbs and supplements such as Colloidal Silver.

Just a few drops (4 - 8) at a time are sufficient. For serious or acute conditions the remedy can be given as often as needed, even every few minutes. For most behavioral problems, you can give 3 to 4 times a day for 2 to 4 weeks. If the response is reached by that time, you may begin to decrease the dosage gradually. You may need to add a dropper full to drinking water or give once a day long-term for some problems.

Look for Part two of my Bach blog which will list the essences in detail.

If you have any questions or would like more information on the essences, please contact me and I will be happy to help - wintersaurora@yahoo.com

Peaceful Blessings!