The teen and tween years are ones of great growth and change, and this one day course looks at issues specific to children aged 8 to 18.

Today’s youth are dealing with social and cultural pressures that were not present even 10 years ago. Learn how to support your teens and tweens through these important developmental years with Australian Bush Flower Essences, so they can grow into the very best version of themselves that they can be.

The main topics covered will be:

• Supporting development of identity, and fostering self esteem
• School, studying and enhancing learning skills
• Communication and listening
• Fostering co-operation. Minimising resistance
• Boundaries and taking responsibility
• Choices, decision making, learning from mistakes
• Motivation, finding life purpose
• Electronics, mobile phones and social networking
• Healthy body image and healthy eating
• Divorce. Blended families and sole parent families
• The role of the peer group and peer pressure. Bullying
• Emotional upsets and turmoil
• Drugs
• Emotional issues relating to puberty and menarche
• Relationships
• Sexuality
• Common problems
• Open forum and question time

Specific Bush Essence remedies will be discussed within each of these themes and the day is structured so that you can leave confident and confident to give the essences to your teenagers and your tweens.

No prior knowledge of Australian Bush Flower Essences or how to use them is necessary to do this course.

Course dates and booking information is available here.

Testimonials

• “This workshop is one every parent needs to do” JA, NSW, Piano Teacher
• “I learnt more about myself than I realised was necessary about this topic. Pleasantly surprised! Love the Essences” NM, NSW, Retail
• “ A small handbook on parenting …..for the masses” SC, NSW, Child care worker
• “ I found the workshop informative and well presented by Linn. The whole range of bush flowers products are truly inspirational and I will be looking forward to using them for many different situations in my everyday life” JB, NSW, Actor and Energy Healer
• “It answered lots of questions in my mind” CS, practitioner
• “Wonderful, I have never been so switched on. Every word was food for my mind, body and family. Felt I had the tools to better understand my children. Left feeling on top of the world” GC, NSW, mother / admin
• “So much gathered information you rarely get the chance to be exposed to” SC, NSW, Bowen and ABFE teacher
• “It is so lovely to be able to use the flower essences to help in our everyday life” GF, NSW, Teacher / Kinesioligist

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GEMINI May 22 – June 21

The symbol for Gemini is The Twins, alluding to the dextrous, multi-tasking, adaptable nature of those born under this sign. Perhaps the best way to understand this attribute would be to ponder that the ruling metal for Gemini is Mercury. For those of you old enough to have been given the metal Mercury to explore during school science classes, you will know that it is liquid at room temperature, skates rapidly across any surface – “like quicksilver”- and has a tendency to split into many fragments which then take quite an amount of effort chase down and reintegrate. Likewise, Geminis think fast, move fast, and can get more things done in a day than any other sign (even Aries). Out of balance though, they can become split, unfocused, scattered and frazzled.

Out of Balance Gemini Energy

Stressed, burnt out, lacking discernment, impatient, changeable, easily bored, fickle, gossipy, sarcastic, superficial, bends the truth, can’t switch off mentally

Balanced Gemini Energy

Adaptable, witty, charming, sociable, agile, intelligent, curious, persuasive, industrious, multi-talented, communicative, playful

Gemini is ruled by Mercury, the God of Communication in ancient Roman mythology. Twice a year this planet goes retrograde, meaning it appears to be moving backwards in the sky due to its relative motion to Earth’s. This lasts for about 3 weeks each time and is a renowned time for delays, misunderstandings, missed calls, packages going astray, travel delays, getting lost, things breaking and contracts falling over. Good advice is to know when this is happening and make plans to minimise the disruption as much as possible by staying close to home and not buying or signing anything. On the up side, it is a good time to dedicate to anything starting with “re” – repair, redo, reorganise, revisit… For the inevitable frustration as things unravel, take some Black-Eyed Susan, remind yourself you are in the right place at the right time (even if it doesn’t seem like it), and give thanks to Mercury for normally keeping things running so smoothly. If this is difficult, try some Pink Flannel Flower.

It is one of the key roles of the Geminis of this world to circulate information – to communicate. Their gift is to be able to talk to just about anyone about anything, and they are both interested and interesting as conversationalists. There is a great deal of charm and often a razor sharp wit. They therefore can make careers in sales, marketing, customer service and within the mainstream media.

Analysing the information they hear and read is not a natural strong point, and the need to do so is often learned the hard way, with discernment being one of the major spiritual lessons for this sign. Angelsword helps enormously with this. Any problems with communication for Gemini natives are going to have a significant impact, and Bush Fuchsia would be appropriate.

On a physical level, Gemini rules the nervous system, the arms, the hands and the lungs. In medical astrology these body parts are most vulnerable when a person is under load – i.e. under pressure these areas will be the most likely to be affected and experience dis-ease. To energetically support them you can use the following Essences: Nervous system -  Black- Eyed Susan and Spinifex;  Arms and hands – Bush Fuchsia and Flannel Flower; Lungs – Sturt Desert Pea.

Jacaranda is also a very important flower for Gemini, because scatteredness can be one of their greatest downfalls. If you look at the Doctrine of Signatures of the Jacaranda tree, you will see that its branches often criss cross and go off in many different directions. A person who does this in life, no matter how much energy and talent they have, will not be as effective or successful as they could be, because their efforts are fragmented and erratic. Their endeavours scatter to the four winds, like Jacaranda leaves. However one of the most beautiful aspects of the Jacaranda tree is the gorgeous purple carpet that forms as it drops its flowers; these are quite sticky and stay in a clearly defined area beneath the branches.  This is the positive healing quality of Jacaranda – to bring much needed focus and stick-ability. It is also good for those who gossip.

An out-of-balance Gemini is prone to stress, rushing and impatience. If these are chronic, this wreaks havoc with the adrenal glands and the person can be in real danger of physical burnout, so I would also rank Macrocarpa quite high on the list of Gemini flowers. To prevent it going this far in the first place, a daily dose of Calm and Clear will never go astray. The lady in a workshop who said we should invent an atomiser to mist Calm and Clear over every person who crosses the threshold of our homes, was probably living with a Gemini!

For those Geminis with a tendency to become emotionally split, Sundew is good, as are Bluebell, Crowea and Pink Mulla Mulla.

Keep an eye on the website for when the next One Day Workshop “Astrology and the Australian Bush Flower Essences” is being held near you. In it I go into each sign in more detail.

Copyright Linn Wiggins.

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Mange in dogs is caused by parasite infection from tiny (invisible to the naked eye) louse-like mites that bury benath the skin where they breed and cause intense skin irritation.

The affected area turns grey, fur is lost, the skin erupts, is wet in appearance and there is an unpleasant smell.

Common places for mange to occur include the back and the top of the neck.

Management of mange:

• Bathe your dog weekly with natural herbal shampoo – one containing natural essential oils for parasites
• Apply Yicche cream twice daily. Massage well into the entire affected area
• Groom your dog daily
• Soak all bedding, collars, leads and grooming equipment for several hours in a solution containing 2 drops of eucalytus or tea tree oil per 1 litre water. Also wash down the kennel. Do this weekly

Natural feeding also improves overall dog health and strengthens the skin, helping your dog to be more resistant to all skin vermin.

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Fungal infections are many and varied.

Fungus loves damp warm conditions, so will usually appear in parts of the body that provide this environment.

The following are all fungal infections:

• Thrush – in the genital and anal areas. Also called jock rash
• Paronychia – a fungal infection under the fingernail or toenail
• Ringworm – a fungal infection under the skin
• Athlete’s foot – also known as tinea, a fungal infection that affects the feet

An important part of any treatment is to keep the affected area dry and cool. Make sure you dry thoroughly every time the area becomes wet and, if appropriate, sprinkle with talc to help keep it dry.

FungReleaf can be applied to Ringworm, Paronychia and Athlete’s Foot.

Calendula Ointment can be applied to thrush.

From a dietary perspective, decrease sugar intake, as all fungus loves to feed on sugar, think of it as starving out a parasite rather than denying yourself sweets.

Probiotics are also recommended if you are suffering from thrush or candida.

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One of the good things about homeopathics is that they are very compact, light and portable. A homeopathic first aid kit is a must when you are travelling, camping or live remotely. It also comes in very handy in the stable or the kennel.

The homeopathic first aid kit contains homeopathic remedies that can assist in a crisis or first aid situation when  you are waiting for medical assistance or unable to immediately access it. The remedies are additional to, and enhance ,the rest of a normal first aid kit. They are not a substitute for proper medical care – please still see a qualified health practitioner as soon as possible.

Click the icon below to purchase a homeopathic first aid kit in Australia:

It contains:

Apis

Arnica

Arsenicum

Belladonna

Chamomilla

Euphrasia

Gelsemium

Ledum

Nux Vomica

Rhus Tox

You can also restock your homeopathic first aid kit with the same company by typing the name of the remedy into their search box.

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Laminitis is serious. You need to address it now. Thankfully if you treat it immediately, the devastating effects can be drastically reduced or even cured.

As a horse lover I know you want your horse to be happy, pain free and performing at their ultimate capacity.

When you have the right resources and are armed with the correct knowledge you can stop the problem from spiralling out of control and give your horse the much needed pain relief he deserves.

Founder is a complex issue, and I would like to recommend this e-book to you, written by my colleague Zoe Dodds, a long time horse owner who is also a qualified natural therapist specialising in horses.

Zoe’s book ‘Laminitis and Founder Exposed’ will teach you everything you need to know about Laminitis, specifically what it is and how to treat it in a natural, gentle way WITHOUT toxic chemicals, drugs or expensive procedures.

Prevention is always said to be better than cure and this book has information about both. It will show you everything you need to help your horse make a smooth recovery should your horse experience Laminitis. But it will also give you everything you need to know to prevent onset, so your horse does not need to experience the agony and pain of Founder.

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There are several good herbs for horses that have suffered a sprain or strain to their legs.

This often happens after heavier than normal work, or as a result of being on rough ground.

Firstly, hose down your horse’s legs with cold water to take out the inflammation.

If there is just a little fluid in the legs, apply bandages soaked in my 1stAde Solution. This is a combination of natural floral waters and flower essences. Leave the bandages on for 30 minutes, then remove. Do this once to twice daily for 3 – 7 days, or until the swelling and inflammation have gone down and the legs are no longer tender or stiff.

If your horse is stabled, you can apply dry stable bandages, for leg support, after the treatment above.

Give Inflameze – a combination of herbs and flower essences – internally.

If there is obvious bruising, also follow the regime for bruises.

If symptoms are severe or persistant, seek professional veterinary or naturopathic advice.

It is important to do all that you can to resolve sprains and strains with herbal management as soon as possible after they occur as, if left unattended, they can become the site of osteo-arthritis problems in the future.

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Greasy Heel is also known as Mud Fever and tends to occur on boggy ground or after extended periods of rain when the pasture becomes muddy and your horse has constantly wet feet.

Scabs appear around the heel and pasterns. Avoid pulling these off as it causes a lot of pain.

Instead:

• Wash down with a good natural horse shampoo, rinse well and gently pat dry
• Apply FungReleaf Cream
• Cover with plastic wrap and then bandage
• Leave 24 hours
• Remove bandage
• Wash away any scabs that come away easily
• Repeat this process daily until all the scabs are off.
• Then wash daily, pat dry gently and apply Fungraleaf, leaving unbandaged, until all the hair has grown back in.

CAUTION: Watch closely as Greasy Heel can progress into cellulitis, which is very serious, and requires urgent veterinary treatment.

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Like all herbal medicines, the sooner you start the remedy, the faster and better the result. If it was not possible to apply these healing herbs immediately after the injury, start as soon as possible – better late than never.

If you have a very old bruise or wound that still feels hard and / or a little tender even months or years later, apply calendula or comfrey cream topically at least once a day until the area feels normal once again. This may take many months, but is important to do so in order to obtain full healing.

Rosa Scarless Healer, containing comfrey, has been around for decades and is still one of the best on the market. You can buy it via the company below.



CAUTION: Do not use Comfrey on dirty wounds. Ensure there is absolutely no infection is present before using comfrey on any wound or you may end up with an absess.

Use Calendula Ointment or my Herbal Healing Cream, which is a combination of healing and antiseptic herbs in a natural base that can be used on bruises, cuts and scrapes. Switch to Comfrey when the infection risk has passed i.e. the wound looks clean, with no signs of pus or redness or heat.

Because the skin is open, use comfrey rather than Arnica if there is any bruising. Comfrey still helps to seal off broken capillaries and minimise bruising. Big knocks may still bruise slightly but they will heal much faster than expected with repeated applications of comfrey over the following days and weeks. Keep applying until the wound is completely healed.

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For approximately 2,000 years, Maca has been an important traditional food and medicinal plant in the Andes of Peru and Bolivia, where it is well-known and highly respected for is medicinal qualities. The Peruvians regard it as a highly nutritious, energy enhancing food, and as a medicine that increases strength, endurance. Ancient Inca Imperial Warriors reputably ate Maca before a battle to increase their strength and power.

Maca has been used for centuries to increase energy and fertility, and has a reputation as an aphrodisiac.

It is popular with menopausal women to prevent and treat the unpleasant symptoms of menopause, and can also be used during the child bearing years to regulate the menstrual cycle.

As with all herbs, avoid in pregnancy unless specifically recommended to you by a qualified herbalist.

Maca is a natural super food now available as a dietary supplement. It contains numerous minerals including calcium, phosphorous, zinc, magnesium and iron. Other  nutrients include Vitamins B1, B2, C, E, as well as 18 amino acids, essential fatty acids, and sterols.

Maca is beneficial for:

• Increasing energy and stamina
• An aphrodisiac for both men and women
• Improving general well being
• Menstrual problems
• Menopaual symptoms
• Supporting and nourishing the body

Click below to purchase in Australia:

If you live in the USA, click here to buy Maca

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