Flower Essence Articles: The Healing Protection of Flower Essences for Children

Many children in our world today face a stressful and emotionally challenged life due to an accelerated, fast-paced environment. The purity of their spirit, still connected to threads of golden light above them, is tempered by their exposure to strong images through the media. Today’s child meets an array of complex circumstances that were ordinarily reserved for mature adults capable of assimilating issues such as divorce, sophisticated technology, unsettled domestic problems, body image awareness, sexual images and violence. With footprints barely planted upon life’s terrain, our children are burdened with fear, doubt, confusion, and a host of maladies that threaten our world.

More and more children diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and other psychological ailments are unsettled by a lifestyle too harsh and unpredictable to digest. In response, modern society doses them with dangerous drugs and sedatives, treating the outer layers of their behaviors and symptoms, while ignoring the cause of their internal conflict and wounding. The child is left hostage to a host of side effects and is often robbed of true creativity and expression. (One should never disregard the need for medical intervention when severe symptoms indicate an inability to function or sleep, severe numbing of the emotions, and depression.) In far too many cases, we are most eager to prescribe pills and “quick fix” solutions to an array of disorders that can be helped and often cured by a change in environmental influences, vibrational remedies, acupuncture, massage, and proper nutrition.

Indications of stress in family and social life are bedwetting, nail biting, hair chewing, rocking back and forth, and a need for constant attention and activity. (This trait is also found in children who possess a highly charged nervous system and electromagnetic field. Early detection of the child’s true constitution can be found in the astrological profile and can prove to be very helpful in understanding the true needs of the child). Acute symptoms of stress are indicated by violent behaviors such as hitting and screaming, and a lack of social awareness within the school environment, with peers, and within the family structure. Without judgement or blame, in this article I address these issues as a means to awaken us to the greater needs of our children – the foundation of our future generation.

What can be done to stabilize our youth within the “pressure cooker” of today’s busy world? How do our children observe our every day behaviors and habits? In a world of chaos and uncertainty, where will our children find peace? Most importantly, what can we do to soften the harsh realities of their busy life and provide assurance and protection against the all too “adult” world they live in? As parents and guardians it is our responsibility to examine our life choices and the core foundation of our values. How do we use our resources?

We may not have all the answers. We can, however, open our minds and hearts so that we may seek greater wisdom regarding the unique destinies our children hold. I am certain our children of today have chosen to be born during this period of change and chaos in order to bring forward a new consciousness. Inventing new ways to foster their genius and individuality lights the lamps of their souls and allows us to bridge the gap between our own learning curve as parents and the brilliant potentials our children offer to the world.

This article is designed to offer practical solutions to our children’s needs by means of flower essence therapy. Flower essences enable us to administer balance and overall health to children and aid us in addressing the wide range of complex issues they face each day. Flower essence therapy involves the application of flower essences in the context of an overall program of health enhancement, either in a professional practice or home care. Although the word “therapy” is translated from the Greek root theripia, meaning “to cure and treat a disease,” it also holds a broader context meaning “service.” The word therapeuein means “to take care of.” It is in this sense of service and care that we speak of flower essence therapy. It is a way to nurture, foster, and sustain health with the loving forces of nature, administered with care and wise human attention.

Flower essences match the vibration of the soul as a means to balance the physical body with the highly accelerated vibration of the “devic”, or soul body. Ultimately, a flower essence - an oral remedy - will harmonize the auric field as a means of strengthening the true character of the individual. Flower essences harmonize the mind/body relationship, allowing for a holistic approach to a greater life energy and health. It would be wise for anyone interested in the further study of flower essences to research and study the system of energy fields and the etheric body as it relates to the emotional, physical, spiritual, and mental bodies of the human being. In broad terminology, we might describe flower essences as a kind of “soul healing”, a medical choice sadly ignored by most medical establishments. New modalities of healing come to the collective’s attention when the broader population is witnessing decay in the old foundation of health, family life, and stability. In regard to our children and our attempt to help them flourish, flower essences are an important addition to a comprehensive healing program.

Flower Essences: The Healing Power of Flowers

As a self-employed businesswoman I maintain a hectic schedule that entails travel, deadlines, and commitments. Like many women, I burn the candle at both ends. Therefore my children, like most good intentioned offspring, have been, and are willing, to go along with my wild ride. Like most kids, they absorb and accept the environment from which they are raised. Kids are troopers. We must, however, find ways to minimize the stress hazards and emotional strain of their everyday life.

My two older daughters have successfully survived their busy childhood, and now, in early adulthood, attest to the healing power of flowers. Flower essences were our elixir through loss, anger, adolescence, teen emotions and growing up “self-worth stuff” - they helped the girls traverse their perilous journey through a hectic childhood with few scars. My youngest daughter, now ten years old, is currently a flower essence enthusiast, being drawn to their healing properties at a very innocent, yet intuitive level. Flower essences help us to balance between a successful personal life and the demands of child rearing.

The remainder of this article consists of a description of flower essences that typically address the issues of stress, grief, fear, and self worth. In a separate article I will offer a listing of flowers that will assist parents, teachers, and guardians. Flower essence therapy is a family affair. For information about my Power of Flower Healing Essences, other reputable sources, purchase information, personal consultations, and educational resources, please visit www.ishalerner.com or contact Isha Lerner at isha@ishalerner.com)

Flower Essences for Stress

Elm: For children who feel overwhelmed and unable to cope well with the high demands of schoolwork, tasks, or busy lifestyle. Life becomes so burdened that the child cannot focus on or accomplish a defined goal.

Impatiens: For children who are unable to flow with the rhythm of the lifestyle around them. They feel irritable, edgy, and out of harmony with others. They may be exhausted, frustrated, and show signs of erratic behavior. Impatiens will help the child learn to flow with the pace of life around them with ease and grace.

Lavender: Similar to the oil and its use in aromatherapy, Lavender eases stress and tension. This remedy is for highly refined children who are sensitive to the environment and are in need of a balance between the physical needs of the body and soul awareness. This is a good remedy for children with headaches and overall body tension. Taken as a combination with Dandelion and Chamomile, Lavender serves as a tonic for tight and clenching muscles in the jaw area, or for back and shoulder tension. This blend may help a child who cannot sleep well.

Cherry Plum: This remedy is for extreme cases when the child seems out of control and his or her life is tending toward a complete meltdown or breakdown. They normally exhibit fears and express extraordinary concerns about their safety and well being. This is one of the five flowers in the Rescue Remedy blend. Use Rescue Remedy for severe stress, shock, and trauma.

Star of Bethlehem: This flower is needed when the child has experienced trauma. It will soothe the mind and auric field and soften the harsh blow of life’s hard knocks.

Bluebell: This remedy is for panic attacks and high anxiety. It allows the child to express clearly, breathe, and calm the center of the body’s channel known as the ‘solar plexus’ located beneath the heart and the rib cage and above the navel.

Flower Essences for Grief

Bleeding Heart: This is a beautiful remedy that addresses deep loss, the death of a loved one, and separation anxiety and fear. The tender flower, in the shape of a heart, is a teardrop of nature. It lends a pinkish aura to the heart chakra and opens the channels of love, healing the ache of a broken heart. When administering this essence to my clients, I often leave them with this piece of wisdom found in the original fairy tale, Beauty and the Beast: “A Broken Heart is an Open Heart.”

Fuchsia: This remedy is one of my favorites for children and adults alike. It assists us in releasing grief that may be emotionally suppressed in the body. This deep sadness or trauma may cause one to numb the true expression of emotion and may inhibit the child’s ability to successfully create or engage in art, music, or dance.

Onion: This is a tremendous remedy for emotional clearing. It assists the child in releasing and surrendering to the waters of the soul and cleanses the debris of emotion that may be buried deeply in the past. It has the ability to eliminate past life traumas, as well. This is a very effective remedy for release work.

Purple Crocus: This is a precious remedy for children who need to contact and heal unresolved grief that has been buried and stored within the memory of the body. The purple vibration offers a ‘crown of glory’ to the ailing soul, allowing the heart to be filled, once again, with joy and innocence.

Flower Essences for Fear

Mimulus: This flower essence eases the fear of every day encounters and ‘known’ fears. A child who is fearful of water, dogs, or other known outside forces found in everyday life is eased by the use of this remedy. Mimulus can be very helpful to ease the fear of the dark or other well established fears that surface in early childhood and adolescence.

Aspen: Children who are faced with perilous life conditions such as the illness of a parent or sibling, or who are diagnosed with a life threatening ailment are greatly eased and soothed by this remedy. Aspen address the unknown. When a child is uncertain of any given outcome, this is the remedy of choice.

Larch: This is a tremendous remedy when our children lose confidence in themselves. It addresses fear of failure and lack of trust in others. It is useful for the child who carries fearful anticipation of others’ judgement and criticism. Larch expands the expression of the ego in those who have lost touch with Self-Identity.

Holly: This is a wonderful remedy for children who fear they will not receive adequate attention and love, especially in the event of the arrival of a new sibling in the family. This flower essence eases jealousy and competition among peers and family members. Offer Holly to children who seem to be overly concerned that others will receive more love and attention. This essence is very helpful for pets as well.

Garlic: This is a very good essence to offer the child with stage fright and nervous tension. The constitution may be weak, exhausted, and devitalized. Garlic restores the inner resources that feed the immune system, allowing the child to restore and utilize a healthy balance of adrenaline.

Flower Essences for Self Worth

Buttercup: This flower goes on my list for almost every malady facing a child’s well being. The yellow silky flower offers a radiant inner light to the child, allowing them to experience the true worth of their soul. It enhances the experience of self-love, which, in turn, allows for greater harmony with friends and family. One of the sweetest remedies I know!

Baby Blue Eyes: This lovely remedy supports the foundation of trust and support that a child may need strengthened, and helps a child feel at home in the world. This is a great remedy combined with Shooting Star (to help one connect with their own mission on earth) and Buttercup. It also assists in healing and strengthening the father/child relationship.

Wild Iris: I cannot imagine a more beautiful remedy for the child who wishes to illumine the creative potentials within. This flower is the ‘paintbrush of the soul’ and revives the passions of the heart. A choice remedy for the creative child. I have created a magical blend called “Radiant Self” which many of my clients are raving about. It is a combination of Wild Iris, Shooting Star and Indian Paintbrush. It is truly lovely for all ages! You may order a bottle of it through my website at ishalerner.com

Sunflower: The radiant king/queen of the flower world, this proud flower opens the door of the soul to true and balanced leadership. Offer this remedy to the child who is actively engaged in school affairs and social activities. It crowns the personality with fair and mighty self-confidence, coupled with a nurturing concern for others’ well being. A worthy flower essence for the older sibling.

Pretty Face: Children have become increasingly aware of their appearance and imperfections. This lovely remedy, made of an unusually marked and flecked flower, offers a newfound self-acceptance within the heart of the child. A wonderful remedy for a child who must adjust to a birthmark, a scar, or other aspects of physical sensitivity that lend awkwardness to a child’s self image. A very good essence for children who feel separate from the “in crowd” due to a lack of self-worth and self-image issues.

(The complete list of flower essences for self-worth is extensive. Watch for a future article in which I will address the issue of eating disorders for children.)

My greatest hope in sharing information about the healing power of flower essence therapy is that it may offer sound and practical options toward the pursuit of healing the internal conflicts and emotional needs of our children. Our journey with flower essences is a quest for wholeness, founded on the recognition that illness is a wake-up call from our soul, demanding self-discovery and emotional balance. Flowers serve as a bridge, or rainbow, between the spiritual forces of the individual and the healing grace of the natural world. Flower essence remedies are true allies of the soul, offering protection against self-defeat, illness, and apathy. Edward Bach, founder of the Bach Flower Remedies in the early 1900’s states:

“There are great qualities in which all of humanity perfect. These are the traits and qualities of the great masters:
Love, Sympathy, Peace, Steadfastness, Strength, Understanding, Tolerance, Wisdom, Forgiveness, Courage and Joy.

In perfecting these qualities in ourselves we raise the whole world a step nearer to its final unthinkable glorious goal. As there are these qualities, these steps to perfection, so there are hindrances, or interferences, which serve to strengthen us in our determination to stand firm.

These are the real causes of disease:
Restraint, Fear, Restlessness, Indecision, Indifference, Weakness, Doubt, Over-Enthusiasm, Ignorance, Impatience, Terror, and Grief

There are seven beautiful stages in the healing of disease, these are:
Peace Hope Joy Faith Certainty Wisdom and Love”

Edward Bach