Bach Flower Remedies   Catherine O’Driscoll Dr Edward Bach wrote his book, 'Heal Thyself' in 1931. He was a remarkable and deeply spiritual man who believed that physical illnesses were merely messages from our bodies, urging us to turn and follow the wisdom of our Higher Selves. There are 38 Flower Remedies, developed by Dr Bach with the aim of raising our vibrations so that we can hear our Spiritual Selves and fulfil our life purposes. He wrote of the Remedies, "They are able, like beautiful music or any glorious uplifting thing which gives us inspiration, to raise our very natures, and bring us nearer to our souls, and by that very act to bring us peace and relieve our sufferings." The Bach Flower Remedies were developed for use in humans - but they also work very well for animals. They can be given directly to the animal or, in certain circumstances, it can be more helpful to give the remedy to the owner. This requires some self knowledge and insight, but is well worth the effort when you see the positive transformation in your dog. For example, if your dog is timid and fearful, is he mirroring your own timid and fearful behaviour, or are you perhaps being over-domineering with him? If so, Dr Bach can help you to transform your relationship into a loving partnership. And what better than a beautiful Flower Remedy to help a puppy to overcome the traumatic loss of his mother and litter mates, or to help the nervous young pup become a confident, cheerful and peaceful friend? The puppy or adult dog who dislikes being alone can be greatly helped by a few drops of Agrimony in his water. This has the power to turn a restless young pup into a cheerful, carefree and peace-loving companion. If your pup is a little worrier, following you around to make sure you're all right, then Bach's Red Chestnut can put his mind at peace. A timid puppy who rolls on his back and subserviently shows his tummy to passing dogs can become much more confident if you add Centaury to his water bowl. A highly strung or hyperactive dog can, when given Vervain, become calm, wise and tolerant, with an ability to relax. If your dog is a rescue, he may have been through some traumatic times in the past. Often this reflects in behaviour. The aggressive, angry, possessive dog can be greatly helped to behave by the addition of Holly in his water bowl, and the depressed and homesick rescue, pining for his previous owners, will greatly benefit from Honeysuckle. If the dog has suffered long under adverse conditions, if his vitality has been sapped and he tires easily, Olive can restore peace of mind, vitality and interest in life. The powerful dog who bullies and dominates those weaker than himself can become a loving and wise Alpha dog if Vine is added to his water, and the sensitive dog he bullies, if given Walnut, will be less inclined to let the bully upset him. Hornbeams gives strength to the dog who has been through surgery, or who feels weary in mind and body, giving him courage to face the future. Larch is for the dog who has no self-confidence, or who is reluctant to take part in obedience trials or shine in the show ring. Larch gives a boost to self-esteem. We all know dogs who are frightened of thunder or fireworks, or who don't like men, or who jump and scurry back to 'mummy' if there is a sudden noise. These dogs can, with the addition of Mimulus, develop a quiet courage and enjoy life much more without those irrational fears. If the dog becomes fixated on something that happened - for example, he heard a loud bang outside and now refuses to go into the garden, then White Chestnut can help him get the distressing event out of his mind and carry on with life. If there's terror in the air - for example, he's been attacked by another dog or closely missed being run over - Rock Rose will help to restore strength. If he's had a shock or bad fright, Star of Bethlehem will neutralise the effect and provide comfort. Dr Bach's Rescue Remedy is carried in pockets and handbags around the world - an invaluable remedy used for first aid, emergencies and stress. This is a composite of five Flower Remedies, and can be dropped on the tongue if you or your dog have had a shock of any kind, received sudden bad news, been in an accident, or if there has been a family upset. You can use up to seven Flower Remedies at a time, so if you're not sure why your dog is frightened, timid or bad tempered, you can combine several to achieve results. Although the Bach Flower Remedies are not primarily designed to help with physical ailments, they often do. We all know what happens when we get ourselves in a state. Overwhelmed by pressures and worries, knots develop in our stomachs or in our shoulders, our eczema gets worse, our asthma comes on . . . if we can relieve the emotional tensions, the physical symptoms often disappear. Bach Flower Remedies can be taken by people and animals of all ages. There's no danger of an overdose or side effects, and should you choose the wrong remedy, no harm will ensue. They are not influenced by any other medicines being taken, neither do they interfere with other medication. There are many books available on the Bach Flower Remedies. These can be obtained from any healthshop, as can the Remedies themselves. General information, details of audio and video cassettes, a full book list, and information about study courses can be obtained from The Dr Edward Bach Centre, Mount Vernon, Sotwell, Wallingford, Oxon OX10 OPZ, England.