I
continue to have people contact me for help with specific physical
conditions. I cannot state often enough that flower essences are
neither herbs or drugs. If you're looking for a substance that is going
to take physical effect, flower essences will be disappointing,
however, last week I had a client with a realistic perspective toward
his illness. Lets call him Jack.
Jack has just been diagnosed
with Ankylosing Spondylitis. "What's that?" you say? Ankylosing
spondylitis is a long-term disease that involves inflammation of the
joints between the spinal bones, and the joints between the spine and
pelvis. These joints become swollen and inflamed. Over time, the
affected spinal bones join together.
Jack is on medication to
control pain, and is working on an exercise program to maintain
flexibility. He's a fan of yoga, even though its a real challenge for
him. He's looking at getting into a regular physical therapy program as
well. His current job as a helicopter pilot is not doing him any
favors. Long hours of sitting and high stress are major contributors to
the progression of the disease. He's planning on getting into a line
of work that features more activity. I say all this so you can see
that he is not looking at me to "fix him". He is interested in hitting
this from all angles to improve quality of life as much as possible.
Where I come in:
Keeping
stress levels down is a huge factor in Ankylosing Spondylitis. Until
he can transition into a lower stress job, we need a work-around for
right now. He also mentioned some anxiety, and taking on some family
responsibility that really wasn't his to deal with. Since Ankylosing
Spondylitis is genetic, we also needed to do a spiritual cleansing of
his genealogical line. It's also thought to be an autoimmune disease,
which in many instances, childhood trauma can flip the switch meaning
what may have been a simple genetic predisposition before, becomes a
seed of disease for later on in life. Only 5% of the people who have
genotype for Ankylosing Spondylitis actually develop it. Your genetic
predisposition does not determine your health. Your emotional health
is the larger factor.
We worked out the following custom combo, which if you
order one,
you get a sheet like this detailing what each essence does. There's
an emphasis on mental/emotional flexibility here, as stubbornness runs
in the family as well. You'll also see me target that childhood
trauma, as well as the stress, anxiety and the tendency to take on too
much. We will probably need to revisit all this when he gets his
lifestyle a little more conducive to managing his symptoms.
Jack's Custom Combo
Verbena
loosens up rigidity in the body and mind. Softens stiff conceptual
thinking, hostility, judgement and hardened attitudes. Used internally
to relieve stress when one feels overwhelmed with a "taskmaster"
mindset, as if one has too many things to do. Can also be used to
balance the emotions and smooth out rigid, more abrasive personality
traits. Creates a detached perspective without eliminating a caring and
loving attitude.
Arnica flower essence helps
deal with emotions that get locked in the body after accidents, or
violent experiences. Arnica is the remedy of choice for dissociative
disorders, puzzling illnesses or autoimmune diseases that don't respond
to other methods of treating the physical symptoms. Arnica is also
helpful to release shock held in the body's musculature, or it can be
used as a release of old "set in" trauma whether for emotional or
physical.
Dandelion works out the knots and
stress that are held in the musculature of the body. For the
overdriving enthusiastic personality that pushes beyond their physical
capacity to carry out such intense activity. Dandelion will tune you in
to what your body needs as well as help you process through some much
needed inner quiet time. If you tend to throw yourself full-on into too
many activities, over-plan, over-schedule, Dandelion is a great
balancer for a more sustainable lifestyle.
Lemon Balm facilitates
a deep natural relaxation. It eases the velocity of the mind, helping
you slip into an alpha state more easily. Lemon balm also moves anxiety
out so that revelation can surface. Calming to fears and helps to
regulate sleep cycle. Sleep is key to restoration and healing. Lemon
Balm flower essence is a restorer after stress from modern civilization,
being around too many people and stretched too thin. There may be
anxiety over something obvious or anxiety over something lurking in the
background of the mind. Either way, Lemon Balm helps to release those,
usually through dreams.
Star of Bethlehem is the
classic trauma essence. Whether old trauma or new, it helps people
find reassurance and rapidly neutralizes any kind of trauma.
Practically all of us experience shocking events in our lives that we
are unable to cope with. A practitioner I know uses Star of Bethlehem
in every combo because "Everybody's been through something." Star of
Bethlehem reverses the "shutting down" effects of trauma and helps the
person regain the ability to cope with circumstances with mental clarity
and inner strength.
Lilac helps assorted back
problems due to emotional resistance. Helps you find a balance between
not accepting anyone's help and being overly dependent on others. If
you've taken on too much of a load, lilac helps you find a way to
release some of that.
Pussy Willow helps us
regain our balance and flexibility when there has been too much doing
and not enough being. In today's society, we tend to create high
pressure situations, trying to cram it all in at the expense of
relaxation. Too much pressure causes us to become rigid and resentful
and eventually crack, much like a willow that is no longer tapped into a
water source. The positive side of willow is creativity, flexibility,
increase in intuition, patience, kindness, grace and a proper balance of
right brain/left brain functioning. Pussy Willow helps us to find new
ways of operating, new ways to organize our days to have a balanced
lifestyle that is conducive to love, comfort, flowing in proper timing
and rest. Pussy Willow also helps us engage with our 5 senses, helping
us take in life and all it's sensual pleasures more fully.
