Do you have a canine terrorist on your hands? A jumper, barker, whiner, manipulator, control freak, aggressor, picky eater, or a dog that’s been traumatised?
No one knows quite how Dr Bach’s flower remedies work. There are, as
yet, no answers in science for the healing that takes place. All we know
is that the results are often miraculous...a real case of flower power.
For 75 years, the Bach Flower Remedies have confounded conventional
medicine. Diluted essences of wildflowers distilled by the sun, the
remedies were greeted, in some quarters, with disbelief and scorn when
they were first made available to the public just before the Second
World War.
The flower remedies were developed by Dr Edward Bach, a Harley Street
consultant, bacteriologist and homeopath. At the height of his career he
moved to the Welsh countryside to devote himself to the full time study
of the healing potential of wild flowers. After years of research he
identified the 38 flowering plants which make up the original Bach
Remedy repertoire.
Dr Bach's approach to healing works through the personality of the
patient to shift attitudes which are a block to well-being. And it has
been found that ‘the patient’ may be human, animal or vegetable. Animals
and plants respond as well, if not better than humans, to the healing
powers of the flower essences, probably because they are non-analytical,
and non-judgemental. And as Dr Bach himself said, “wild animals of the
fields don't ask why eating certain plants make them well."
Try to see the whole dog and his personality in the context of his environment. For example, if your dog jumps and is overexcited when visitors arrive, or barks crazily at the gate for no apparent reason, don’t just label him hyperactive or naughty. Jumping can be a form of nervousness or aggression, and barking can be caused by anxiety and a feeling of too much responsibility.
Try to feel the problem intuitively. Think about the possible root of the problem. Go back over your dog’s history. For example, was he a rescue dog, or has he recently lost a companion? Has his routine changed in the last few months – a new baby or a big work project usually means less attention for the pets. Have you moved house or are you exposing him to different stimuli?
Try one remedy for several days; if it doesn’t work, your diagnosis may be wrong. Try again with a different remedy or combine two or three remedies if they feel right.
They are easy to give to dogs - just lift the dewlaps and dribble a few drops straight onto the gums or tongue. For dogs that object, put the drops in the palm of your hand and rub them on his nose – he’ll lick the drops off. Do the same for cats, sprinkling the drops on the paws and face or stroke your damp palms over the coat; he’ll clean them off within a few minutes.
Here’s a guide to a few of the remedies...
Chestnut Bud
Chestnut Bud helps break bad habits such as chewing, jumping or chasing and difficult cases that seem untrainable. This also helps with retention and speeds learning and can be helpful with housetraining too.
Centaury
This remedy is used for animals that are overprotective and desperately want to please, and for ‘doormats’ that get pushed around by other animals.
Centaury also helps relieve trauma after an accident or when fighting illness.
Cerato
Cerato is for the inattentive, easily distracted dogs. Use it before training or showing as it helps him ‘hear his master’s voice’.
Beech
This therapy is for intolerance. It helps deal with picky eaters that are intolerant of various foods, whiners, dogs that are intolerant of children or other animals, new girl/boyfriends and for vindictive marking or spraying.
It can also be used for physical intolerances such as grass and other allergies.
Star of Bethlehem
For comfort and alleviating all kinds of trauma, such as emotional loss (of a human or animal in the home), heat or cold trauma and injuries use Star of Bethlehem.
It can also be used on animals that have to be left alone at home or in kennels, or have to stay at the vet when their owners must leave. It helps with feelings of abandonment.
Holly
Holly helps treat animals that display signs of anger, jealousy and an excessive need for love. It also helps with animals that have been abandoned or abused.
Rock Rose
To alleviate terror and panic after trauma and help abused animals overcome their fear use Rock Rose. It also helps service dogs in any dangerous duties that require them to be courageous.
Agrimony
For torment such as a wound he wants to lick constantly or a skin irritation that makes him chew or lick himself until he’s raw apply a few drops of Agrimony. You can also use it to treat tick and flea bites, skin rashes, allergies and restless pacing.
Cherry Plum
Cherry Plum deals with highly-strung, destructive, vicious or anxious animals. It helps the animal regain control in stressful situations and assists in obsessive tail-chasing and chewing.
Walnut
This remedy helps animals in transition – before moving to a new home or introducing new animals or for sensitive animals that become nervy and needy at the slightest change in their environment.
Rescue Remedy
Rescue Remedy is probably the best known of all the Bach remedies and nobody should be without it.
It contains Rock Rose, Cherry Plum, Clematis, Impatiens and Star of Bethlehem.
Rescue Remedy helps stabilise the emotions in any emergency situation or conditions of shock and extreme stress. - Elaine Hurford
Source :: Natural Remedies for Problematic Pets