Flower Essences for DIY Hand Sanitizer (and COVID-19 Stress)
For decades I have found flower essences to be of so much value. I have seen how they have helped me to release stress and find a deeper level of emotional well-being. I have seen this as well not only in friends and family who use these natural elixirs but also with clients for whom I have done flower essence consultations and made recommendations on which ones to use.
That is one of the reasons that I included them in my book Planetary Apothecary: An Astrological Approach to Health and Wellness and have even written about those beneficial for sleep and dreams in my book The Complete Book of Dreams that will be out in September. I speak about them when I teach AstroSalons and classes on sleep and dreams as well as in my writing, including my monthly astrowellness column for AstroStyle.
The other day when I was making some homemade hand sanitizer spray with alcohol, water and essential oils of thyme, rosemary and lavender (it’s quite difficult to find any in stores around Seattle or online owing to the coronavirus/COVID-19), I thought how beneficial it could be to put flower essences into my blend. After all, the virus epidemic has catalyzed a sea of stress and a flurry of feelings to arise within all of us, myself included. I have found that after using these flower essences as part of this spray that I have been a bit more calm and centered, finding equipoise more accessible. (Meditation and going for walks in the park have also been really helpful—as they always are :-) )
After telling a friend about this, he suggested that I share this information with others, as it may be beneficial. I agreed, and voila…this article you’re reading. What follows are the flower essences that I used in my blend as well as the ways in which you can use flower essences, in addition to putting in your DIY hand sanitizer. (You can find some background on what flower essences are in the first few paragraphs of my article Stellar Elixirs.).
Mimulus
This flower essence is beneficial for when you can identify the source of fear or anxiety that you’re experiencing. In the case of my current use, the virus and what is unfolding because of it, which is something that is quite identifiable. Mimulus is said to bolster the courage within to face life’s challenges.
Aspen
This flower essence is suited for when you find yourself with feelings of disquietude and yet the source is more diffuse and can’t be pinned down like with Mimulus. It’s helpful for vague anxiety which can’t be clearly defined/named that may be inspired by the fear of the unknown (which seems to be quite amplified right now). It’s said to inspire trust and confidence to help work through hidden fears.
Yarrow
Yarrow flower essence is thought to help create an energetic shield of protection and is helpful for people who are sensitive to their environment. If being with others feels like it depletes your energy, perhaps because you are picking up on their feelings/fears, consider experimenting with this flower essence.
Crab Apple
Of course, during this time, it’s important to focus upon hygiene both in our personal space as well as in our homes/offices, cleaning in ways that are thought to help kill the virus and therefore reduce risk of infection. Yet, for those who find that they are edging on being psychologically obsessive and worried/stressed about purity beyond normal limits, even as they engage in good hygiene practices, Crab Apple flower essence may be helpful.
Angelica
I love this flower essence and use it a lot, adding it to most formulas that I create. Reflective of its name, it has you feel like you are being protected by angels and connected to a sport of spiritual guidance.
The Range of Flower Essences
There are more than these five that may be beneficial but given the flurry of information out there right now, I thought to keep the list rather concise, just focusing on the flower essences I used in my current formula. I will write more about flower essences as time unfolds.
Also please note that flower essences provide an array of benefits to our well-being, not limited to the way in which we may find ourselves with worries during this specific collective time. Should you be interested in finding ones that would help you to further discover a place of ease in your life, we can explore this in a Stellar Guidance Session or a mini consultation focused solely upon discovering flower essences that may be beneficial for you. Write me for more details. (Please note I am currently not selling flower essence blends, but can guide you through how to make them yourselves, as I do below.)
How to Use
Flower essences can be used either orally or topically. If you want to use them orally, the recommended dosage is usually two to four drops of each essence four times a day. While some people like to take them right from the bottle, they can also be added to a glass of water.
A more cost-effective way to use the flower essences is to put the drops in a one-ounce dropper bottle filled with filtered water, from which the recommended amount can be taken. Counterintuitively, diluting a flower essence in water will not dilute its potency.
Note that many contain brandy and so if you are alcohol sensitive or giving it to someone who is, you can either look for ones made with a glycerine base or use them topically.
To use them topically, you apply a few drops of flower essences directly to the skin, either on the pulse points or specific acupressure points. Some people like to add them to a bath.
Another convenient way of using them to is to add the flower essences to a mister bottle filled with water. You can then spritz yourself and your environment several times a day. I like to add essential oils to mine.
As noted earlier, adding flower essences to hand sanitizer (whether in spray form or the gel form) is another way to use them, as I have done. In my blend I added four drops of each to my one-ounce mixture.
You can find flower essences in holistic pharmacies, natural food stores, online resources, and through practitioners who work with this system of healing.
Remember, as always, if I can ever be of service to you, don’t hesitate to reach out.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is not intended as health advice nor as a substitute for consulting with your physician or health-care provider.