The AVMC offers Bach Flower Treatment for animals (dogs, cats, horses, ponies and other species)
Table of Contents
Veterinary Bach Flowers and Flower Essences
Care and Administration of Bach Flower Remedies
History
This is a system of medicine, founded and developed by Dr Edward Bach. His last home, in Sotwell, Oxon (not far from the AVMC), is now kept in his memory.
Bach was instrumental in developing the ‘bowel nosodes’, at the Royal London Homeopathic Hospital. He was driven, in 1930, to give up this work and to explore the world of flowers as healers. He selected plants with the help of his highly developed intuitive abilities. These remedies are now among the 38 remedies that are called, collectively, the Bach Flowers (however, somewhat confusingly, they are not all made from flowers!).
The remedies are prepared in several different ways, one of which is distillation in sunlight. Like homeopathic medicines, they are extremely dilute and must be classed as ‘energy medicine’.
Practical Application
The remedies are used on the basis of emotions, demeanour and mood of the patient, treating even organic disease via the route of the mind and emotions. No physical indications are listed for the remedies. Animals respond well, since they too have psychological imbalance as part of their diseases.
The remedies are gentle and effective, giving no side effects and being well-suited to the intuitive nature of animals. The only real difficulty is in determining the relevant emotion or mental state of the patient. The remedies are fully compatible with homeopathic treatments, provided that they are properly integrated.
A small selection of the available remedies is listed here, with brief indications:
- Agrimony – suffers behind a ‘brave face'
- Chicory – possessiveness
- Gentian – despondent
- Impatiens – impatience
- Mimulus – shyness
- Scleranthus – indecision
- Walnut – sensitivity to change
- Rescue remedy – a combination remedy given for shock, panic, distress
Full list of Bach remedies: Agrimony, Aspen, Beech, Centaury, Cerato, Cherry Plum, Chestnut Bud, Chicory, Clematis, Crab Apple, Elm, Gentian, Gorse, Heather, Holly, Honeysuckle, Hornbeam, Impatiens, Larch, Mimulus, Mustard, Oak, Olive, Pine, Red Chestnut, Rock Rose, Rock Water, Scleranthus, Star of Bethlehem, Sweet Chestnut, Vervain, Vine, Walnut, Water Violet, White Chestnut, Wild Oat, Wild Rose, Willow, Rescue Remedy.
Other Flower Remedies (Flower Essences)
Other cultures have their own Flower Remedies. There are indigenous remedies from Australia, South Africa, Canada and the USA. They are used in a broadly similar fashion.
Integration: Bach Flower treatment or remedies can be used alongside homeopathy, herbal medicine, acupuncture, chiropractic, nutritional therapy and other natural therapies, if properly integrated.
N.B.: Although we specialize in alternative therapies, seeking alternatives to conventional drug therapy wherever possible, in our quest for natural stimuli to the body's innate healing capability, we do not shun conventional therapy, per se, considering its worth in each case. No truly holistic vet can ignore the existence of conventional drugs which, while quite unable to cure chronic disease, on rare occasions may be the only way to control distressing or painful symptoms. It is noteworthy how much the body can achieve without drugs, however. Our holistic and integrated service is offered in support of animal patients, ‘owners' and carers and the veterinary profession. We are always willing to assist vets in the UK and worldwide in providing integrated care for their patients, providing the natural therapy component of a treatment program.
The Law
The Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 restricts the treatment of animals (other than your own) with Bach flowers, by anyone other than a fully qualified vet. The AVMC cannot therefore support unregulated use of Bach Flowers or other Flower Essences in animals, however it is disguised. The ‘permission' of a vet is not sufficient, despite the information given out by some web sites.
Care and Administration of Bach Flower Remedies
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FAQ Bach Flowers
Homeopathy – Herbs – Acupuncture – Chiropractic – Holistic Medicine – Natural Feeding
