One of our common native trees, the humble Bottlebrush, has strong healing qualities when taken as an Australian Bush Flower Essence.

On an emotional level it is very good for helping us with the process of letting go. Letting go of old outdated habits, addictions, emotions, people and things. Look around your home – are you a hoarder? If you are having difficulty releasing anything at all, try taking some Bottlebrush as a flower essence.

On a physical level, difficulty with letting go can translate into sluggish bowels. If you regularly suffer with constipation (or even from time to time), ask yourself whether there is something your are not letting go of emotionally.

The doctrine of signatures (clues to the healing qualities of a plant from its appearance and habitat) is very strong with this plant. The red colour of the flower indicates a lot of energy and the ability to stimulate movement. As the name suggests, the shape of the flower strongly resembles a bottle brush and so is perfect for cleaning the tube-like structure of the large intestine. Fortunately this doesn’t have to be in a literal sense! Taking 7 drops of the essence under your tongue twice a day for a fortnight will achieve the same result.

Faeces left sitting in the bowel too long can start to break down the mucosal lining and lead to leaky gut, where toxins begin to be reabsorbed into the body rather than being eliminated as intended. In women, an early sign that this may be happening can be the appearance of fibrocystic lumps in the breast. Many of these lumps spontaneously resolve when Bottlebrush is taken.

Another application of this essence is with breastfeeding. If a baby is having trouble attaching to the breast or with suckling in any way, Bottlebrush is of enormous help in establishing a strong suck reflex, allowing the baby to go on to successfully breastfeed.

Further, if a baby doesn’t go on the breast within 6 hours of birth, the bonding process with its mother can be disrupted. Many mothers and children who have experienced this describe a sense of distance within their relationship.

The children often do not feel as close to their mother compared to their peers. Their mothers feel they should be more connected to these children, and notice a distinct difference between the bond they share with the child they were unable to breastfeed immediately and the children they did breastfeed within six hours of birth.

Both mother and child will express their strong love for each other but also a feeling of distance. This pattern can continue into adulthood. There are many case histories on file of Bottlebrush helping to heal this mother-child bond (even many years later), bringing a sense and strength of connection and a feeling of ‘rightness’ that has previously been lacking.

Bottlebrush is also very good for helping clingy children or smothering mothers let go and relax into a more healthy dynamic. For anything to do with the mother-child relationship, Bottlebrush is the first remedy I would think of.

I often think motherhood is a constant process of slowly letting go – starting with birth when we have to let them go from our womb. Weaning is probably the next big physical letting go and can be an emotionally difficult time for mother, baby or both. The first day of school, sleepovers, school camps, leaving home, overseas, trips, marriage – Bottlebrush is wonderful for smoothing the way as mothers progressively let go of their children (and vica versa).

Bottlebrush is one of about thirty flower essences discussed in Level One of The International Workshops Series by Australian Bush Flower Essences. The major themes of this workshop include healthy digestion, a well balanced hormonal system, connecting with your creativity, dealing with major life issues, protecting yourself energetically, releasing family patterns that no longer serve you, and healing issues with your parents – all the basic things we need to function well in
life.

This workshop is taught worldwide. For details of when there will be one held near you soon click here.

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It is estimated that 90% of our subconscious patterning is set by the time we are 3 years old. Given that much of our conscious behaviour is driven by our subconscious, this gives serious pause for thought. Parents, siblings, grandparents, neighbours, friends, teachers, TV, radio, movies young children absorb information like sponges from all these sources whilst still mostly pre-verbal. This enables them to figure out how to negotiate their environment. However if your view of the world was mostly formed by the time you were three whose programs are running in the background? How much are they pulling your strings? Are these values aligned with your own values, dreams and goals as an adult?

As a parent, are you concerned about the effect of these myriad influences on your child? If you see your child taking on values not congruent with your own, or if they experience trauma would you like to have a way to assist them?

One way is through flower essences they are literally medicines for the emotions. One of the most beautiful things about them is that they are a totally safe and completely natural and sustainable. Anyone can use or prescribe them as it is impossible to do any harm with them.

Paw Paw essence can assist with any conflict between conscious thoughts and sub conscious programming.

Is your teenager bowing to peer pressure? Sturt Desert Rose (left) can assist them to stay true to their own personal integrity and values.

If lack of confidence an issue try some Five Corners

When bulying is a problem, Rough Bluebell (above) helps perpetrators gain a sense of empathy for their victims and remorse for their actions, while Southern Cross allows those being victimised to more easily stand up for themselves.

Learning and literacy problems can benefit from Bush Fuchsia

For tantrums Mountain Devil (below) works wonders, 8/10/2009 12:30:57 PM

While those who feel like they dont fit in can benefit from Tall Yellow Top

Rebirthing is form of guided meditation – a healing technique used to discover whether specific beliefs were taken on board during the birthing process or in utero. For example experienced rebirthing practitioners have documented that if a baby got stuck during the birth, they may find getting stuck becomes a pattern later in life. If they were rescued via medical intervention during the labour, they often wait to be rescued if they ‘get stuck in life. Whereas if they went on to be born naturally, they can often push through the obstacle themselves. It really is fascinating research. Our birth story is powerful, and knowing it can lead to deep insights about our life and emotional patterns. Bottlebrush can assist with healing emotional trauma that occurred during birth, help strengthen the mother-child bond and with attachment issues.

Imagine a world where your past traumas have been healed and your negative beliefs and limiting thought patterns dissolved, so that you are free to be the best person you can be. Imagine entering adulthood knowing who you are and what you want to do with your life, with good self esteem and the confidence to go out into the world and go for it. Imagine a world full of people who are healthy in mind, body, heart and spirit. I truly believe that flower essences can help make this happen, especially when I see the profound differences they have made in countless adults lives and when I meet teenagers and young adults who have been raised on essences.

I will be conducting several one day workshops on how to use Australian Bush Flower Essences to help children deal with childhood issues and for adults to help heal their own inner child.

Murwillumbah, NSW, Australia – 2nd August 2009 – Enquiries and Bookings: Isabela Keski-Frantti

e: belaflora@hotmail.com

Adelaide, SA, Australia – 28th August 2009 – Enquiries and Bookings: Gabbie Enright

e: gabbie@healthyteams.com.au

Charlotte, NC, USA – 23rd October 2009 – Enquiries and Bookings: Ed Muir e: edm@southernherb.com

A flyer for the Murwillumbah workshop can be downloaded here if you would like more information on the content of the seminar – if you want to attend one somewhere else, just ignore the date and contact detail in the flyer and use the contact information above for the workshop you are interested in attending.

My full workshop schedule is available here – just scroll through the months to see what’s on and where, and how to book.

If you are interested in hosting a workshop in Australia or North America, please contact me here.