Sarah's Health Notes: Flower essences - First Aid for Advent
I love Christmas and the lead-up: planning presents, our Christmas Eve family and friends supper party after carols in the beautiful chapel of nearby Forde Abbey, ghost-writing our mad cockapoo Cassie’s Christmas letter – crunching through the countryside to visit friends. But … (a small ‘but’) – there is A Lot To Do.
I’ve been a decades-long devotee of flower remedies (for people and animals) so I turned to Saskia Marjoram, founder of Saskia’s Flower Essences for suggestions on what to keep handy for this potentially stressful time.
Saskia is based in Wincanton so a neighbour-ish and a bit of a legend in the South West. She came to making flower remedies in 2003 via a career as a gardener for 30 years, and florist to the then Prince of Wales for many years. ‘My friend and long time business partner Christian Felce and I discovered how incredibly effective and simple it is to make flower essences. I am continually fascinated by how plants and humans interact and the wisdom they have to share.’
If you’re new to flower essences, just one thing first: they are not essential oils, fab as those are. (And they are unscented, except for one mist below.) Flower energies are said to contain the unique vibrational energy of the plant they come from. According to Saskia, those different flower energies ‘remind your own personal energy how to be, helping unlearn old patterns, bringing awareness to problems (and solutions) and rebalancing your whole being.’ But you don’t have to know how they work for them to work…
There’s a section on the website on Using Essences so I won’t go into that; lots of other useful stuff too so do have a browse.
Here are Saskia’s recommendations:
Living Life Lightly/£12 for 30ml. This is the one Saskia takes daily – and my favourite – to counteract the darkness around us, both the leaden grey of winter, people with problems and the sadness of world and perhaps personal events. ‘It is designed to bring in the light, to lift you up, to bring you back to a place where there is joy in the little things, to feel playful and full of love for those around you and for life in general.’
Breathe Deep, Seek Peace/£12 for 30ml: Take this after a long tiring day to stop worrying, relax and unwind. It was awarded Best Better Sleep Product by The Beauty Shortlist Awards. ‘To gently but effectively change long standing patterns caused by stress, over-working and a hectic modern lifestyle this essence can be taken twice daily for several weeks. For less entrenched patterns use as and when needed.’
The Night Before Christmas Magic Drops/£3.95 for 5ml. One for overexcited children on Christmas eve, the flower essences are preserved in calming lemon balm hydrosol (made by Saskia) rather than the usual alcohol – so if a little one glugs the whole lot it won’t matter. ‘The essences we have added are the same as those in our Easy Sleep Mist and come in a tiny 5ml bottle, which will fit easily into a small pocket or hand until the magic works.’
Sexy and Gorgeous/£12 for 30ml: For when you want to sparkle, says Saskia. Take this award-winning blend before you go out or spend time with someone special. ‘For feeling confident, attractive and sure of your inner beauty. For long standing issues of low self-worth, body image issues and lacking in self confidence this essence can be taken twice daily for several weeks or just occasionally when you are in need of an extra lift.’
My Personal Space Mist/£12 for 30ml. If you’re fretting about family tension over the holiday, spritz this award winning spray around the room. This one is scented, with pure rosewater distilled by Saskia from Somerset grown roses. You can also mist it directly on your face to refresh and revive your skin. ‘Great for times in life when you need to be protected from other people’s energy and what they are thinking. Also, it is ideal for people who are bullied, people working in offices or living communally, coping with being in crowded places, long-haul flights, buses, trains and for anyone with weak boundaries.’
And the new arrivals: Men’s Essence Blends
Men taking flower essences, surely not… I can promise you they do. My super strong nephew is happy to, I know doctors who take them themselves and recommend them like Somerset GP Dr Andrew Tresidder. Saskia is the mother of sons and produced three blends to support men, boys and the masculine aspect in modern day life. However, she emphasises that they are not gender-specific and will benefit anyone who feels drawn to them.
The blends are Strong and Capable, Calm and Gentle, and Purpose and Drive/each £12 for 30ml.
