Botanical Medicine for Body, Mind, and Soul
Botanical Medicine (also called herbal or plant medicine and phytotherapy) is another widely accepted tool in integrative medicine. It has existed for thousands of years on every continent as a traditional art and science.
My education in botanical medicine includes advanced training in integrative and functional medicine, plant medicine training with Chantal Cabrera, essential oil training with Dr. Josh Axe, Bach Flower therapy certification, and training with FES (California) and Bach formulas with Donna Cunningham, LSW, among many others.
While you may be familiar with commonly used herbs, I offer professional assistance in their proper selection and use. For example, some botanical medicines are not advised for specific conditions or may be incompatible with your medications. I also recommend consulting with your medical providers about your use of botanicals. However, one form of plant medicine, flower essence therapy, is entirely safe and compatible with all other therapies. Essential Oils Therapy (aromatherapy) is also safe if used properly.
Medicinal Uses of Plant Medicine
Botanical (plant) medicine uses plants’ roots, stems, leaves, bark, seeds, flowers, fruits, and other parts of plants to improve health and prevent and treat disease. Some parts are used for pain relief, while others may be antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, or provide antioxidants.
Herbal tinctures, teas, infusions, decoctions, extracts, pills, powders, and more have various applications. I offer support and guidance regarding their use in your situation.
Essential oils are a widely used botanical product. They are made by steaming or pressing the various parts of plants to capture the compounds that produce fragrance. Aromatherapy is the practice of using essential oils therapeutically. Essential oils work primarily on the mind and body.
In contrast, flower essences are predominantly derived from the vibrational aspects of the plant’s flowers and directly affect the mind and soul (psyche).
Flower Essence Therapy: Botanical Medicine for Healing the Psyche
Flower essence therapy is a safe, gentle, and effective integrative medicine modality. It is a form of botanical medicine that affects the psyche directly in subtle yet powerful ways. These remedies are liquid plant extracts that address emotional well-being, soul development, and mind-body health issues. As a profound yet subtle therapy, flower essences deepen and shorten any therapeutic process.
Furthermore, they are effective for babies, children, adults, plants, and animals. When you experience or witness this, you will know that the world-renowned flower remedies I recommend are not merely placebos, as some quantitative research studies suggest. When researching the effects of subtle-energy therapies such as prayer, meditation, homeopathy, and flower essence therapy, it is best to use qualitative or empirical evidence. The FES and Bach company’s qualitative research has been achieved primarily via professional observational studies for decades. See below for information on their increasing popularity around the world.
If you are skeptical about their usefulness, observe their effects on your children or pets. They will not be using affirmations like adults do to augment their efficacy. When you undoubtedly see positive results, you will have more confidence when using them yourself.
Here is a recent research study showing the positive effects of Bach Flower Remedies for ADHD in children. Click this link for information on FES research studies.
Global Use of Flower Essence Therapy
Flower essence therapy is recognized and used globally. If you are unfamiliar with flower essences, here is a research article validating the effectiveness of the famous Bach flower remedies for stress management and other clinical uses.
Rescue Remedy, the famous Bach formula for stress, anxiety, and panic, is the most popular flower essence formula worldwide. A comparable well-known formula is Five Flower Formula. It is derived from the same five English herbs as Rescue Remedy. Healing Herbs produces it and distributes it through Flower Essence Services(FES).
These formulas are used worldwide in emergencies, disasters, clinics, and health practices. They are also effective in any stressful situation. I often suggest using Rescue Remedy or the Five-Flower Formula initially to help alleviate past or current traumatic stress. They are also tremendously helpful in reducing anxiety and panic symptoms.
For more information, please get in touch with me below. Thanks!
Applications of Botanical Medicine
We are now in the process of revising the past century’s biochemical concept, under which all major life processes are chemical in nature, to one that proposes that such processes are electromagnetic in nature. —Robert O. Becker, MD.
Botanical medicine encompasses many applications. Based on your priorities and needs, I may suggest professional research-based herbal (botanical) formulations, nutraceuticals (professional nutritional formulas that may combine herbs with nutrients), or flower remedies. Since there are so many options that you may find confusing, please schedule a consultation for support and to find the most beneficial options for your specific needs.
Flower essence and essential oils are flower remedies that help clear mental, emotional, and spiritual imbalances that can lead to physical disturbances. These also help alleviate the emotional suffering accompanying illness and its aftermath by addressing the underlying conflicts and tensions that predispose a person to disease. However, flower remedies are not cures for any specific condition. Instead, they are chosen based on mental and emotional issues rather than detailed physical ailments.
Additionally, essential oils and flower essences can be used alone or with other integrative health therapies. Because flower essences primarily work on the psyche or soul, they are compatible with medications, herbs, and other modalities. However, they alone are not a substitute for medical care. Since they can surface emotions as part of the healing crisis, it is beneficial to have professional guidance. For more information, see the links at the bottom of this page. To reach me, see below. Thanks.
Adding flower remedies to your self-care is often a missing key to obtaining a full recovery.
Botanical Medicine Summary and Resources
According to your needs and preferences, you may benefit from my guidance in selecting and using professional botanical products of various kinds. For example, as a complement to therapy, I may suggest some of the Bach Flower or California flower essences. Several are beneficial for various forms of depression, anxiety, fatigue, and other psycho-spiritual states.
Working with a professional like me will help discern which botanicals, if any, suit you. If you choose to work with flower remedies, they are compatible with medications, herbal products, and any other mode of treatment. For more information, see this research article on the validity of using flower essences for depression. As a reminder, it is essential to consider the many other contributing factors to your health concerns and address them simultaneously as appropriate, including physical medicine approaches. See the resources below and the Bach Flower Personality Test for more information. Thanks.
Also, check out: Resources, Health Information,
and my Blogs, Plant Therapies, and