Keep your cool with Cherry Plum

It is important to remember that the fear of losing control brings inner tension to the surface.

by Linda Crider — 

When Dr. Edward Bach created his 38-flower remedy system, he decided to combine five of the remedies into one formula designed to relieve stress and anxiety. This combination is known, worldwide, as Rescue Remedy®. One of the five remedies included in this popular and effective formula is the essence of Cherry Plum.

People who experience stress are often fearful of losing control of their emotions and saying or doing something they might regret. To alleviate those fears and restore a sense of wellbeing, Bach included Cherry Plum.

Cherry Plum may be taken on its own, just as the other essences in Rescue Remedy. However, unlike some of the other Bach remedies, it is not specific to personality type, but rather to a passing mood.

Most of us have found ourselves in the negative Cherry Plum state at one time or another — when we are pushed to our limits and think we are about to lose our temper or, in extreme cases, our sanity.

Cherry Plum is indicated for those who use phrases such as “I cannot handle this,” or “I am operating on my last nerve.” Such a state can be prompted by a day of cascading mishaps or in more severe, chronic situations, being on the verge of a mental breakdown. Individuals reaching this state often fear that they may resort to verbal outbursts or destructive behaviors, directed at themselves or others.

It is important to remember that the fear of losing control brings inner tension to the surface. For those who are usually patient and in charge of their emotions, the rising of these darker forces can be quite disconcerting.

Bach scholars Stefan Ball and Judy Howard put it succinctly: “Basically, it is an overwhelming sense of losing your grip on a situation so that you become frightened and do something irrational or inappropriate, perhaps with disastrous consequences.”

An example would be the mother whose child’s behavior tries her patience to the extent that she fears she might resort to child abuse. Cherry Plum has been used to successfully treat such emotions. This remedy may also be useful for children who have temper tantrums or bedwetting issues. Animals that groom themselves excessively, to the point of hurting themselves, may also be helped by this remedy.

As is the case with the other Bach flower remedies, taking Cherry Plum restores a sense of balance and harmony. The positive results of using this essence are a calming of the mind and the promise of sensible behavior.

Linda Crider has been a promoter and educator of botanical healing practices for 15 years. She specializes in flower essence therapy and is a Bach Foundation Registered Practitioner and founder of Blooming Vibrations, LLC. www.bloomingvibrations.com or 602-774-2382.

Reprinted from AZNetNews, Volume 30, Number 6, Dec/Jan 2012.