Flower Essences for Grief, Trauma and Life Changes.

The recent wildfires in Los Angeles have left many families and animals facing deep loss, sudden change, and lingering stress. Whether your pet was directly affected—by evacuations, smoke, or the loss of a home—or they’re simply sensing the grief and anxiety around them, flower essences can be a powerful, gentle tool to support emotional healing and resilience.

Understanding the Emotional Lives of Animals

Animals are deeply attuned to their environments and the emotional energy of their humans. They may not understand why things have changed, but they feel the effects—disorientation, separation, sadness, or even a sense of shock. These emotional wounds can show up as changes in behavior, withdrawal, restlessness, barking or meowing more than usual, changes in appetite, or even physical symptoms like digestive upset or tension.

Just like us, our animal companions need space and support to process what they’ve been through. Flower essences offer a way to meet them on an energetic and emotional level, helping to gently restore balance.

What Are Flower Essences?

Flower essences are subtle, vibrational remedies made from the energetic imprint of flowers. Unlike essential oils, they contain no scent or plant material—they work more like homeopathy, acting on the energetic body to support emotional well-being. They’re safe, non-toxic, and can be used alongside any other treatment or modality.

Choosing Flower Essences for Grief, Trauma, and Change

Here are a few key essences I often reach for when helping animals through difficult transitions:

• Star of Bethlehem: A core remedy for shock and trauma, both recent and past. Helps soothe the nervous system and begin the healing process.

• Walnut: The classic remedy for transitions and life changes. It offers a buffer against outside influences and helps animals adjust to a new home, routine, or family structure.

• Sweet Chestnut: For animals who are grieving deeply or seem inconsolable. It helps ease despair and bring in light during dark emotional times.

• Gorse: When an animal seems to have given up or lost their spark, Gorse can reignite a sense of hope. Owners will sometimes tell me that their pet seems “depressed.” While sometimes, there can be an underlying health issue creating this change, it can also happen in pets that have recently undergone a loss, such as the loss of a home (in this case) or a loved one.

• Red Chestnut: For pets who are overly anxious about their humans or animal companions—helpful for those who become clingy or panicked when separated.

This is also a good remedy for pet owners who are very anxious about their pets! While a healthy level of connection with our animals is good and natural, if you feel that you are obsessing about your pet’s wellbeing, this may be a good remedy to add to your morning tea or coffee.

• Rescue Remedy (also known as Five Flower Formula): A wonderful blend to have on hand during times of crisis or acute stress. It helps bring immediate calm to both people and animals.

While Rescue Remedy is often marketed for stress, I find it is a wonderful “PTSD” formula as well. It should be taken for a few weeks after a known trauma for best results. I have also seen it work for traumas that happened many years ago in the past. It should be given a few times a day for a few weeks for best results.

How to Use Flower Essences with Animals

There are several gentle ways to introduce flower essences to your pet:

• In their water bowl: Add a few drops (4-5) of the essence blend to your pet’s daily water bowl. If you have multiple pets, make sure the remedy is appropriate for all of them. Animals are very intuitive! If they feel that the essences are not the right thing for them, they may stop drinking the water. This can create problems of dehydration. For this reason, it is always good to offer multiple bowls of water to allow them to choose if this is the correct remedy for them, or not.

• On their body: You can rub a few drops into the fur behind their ears, on their paw pads, or along their spine. You can dilute the flower essences in a small amount of water in order to create a larger quantity to work with.

• Directly into the mouth: If your pet allows, a few drops directly into the mouth or onto the gums can be effective. Over the years, I have heard countless stories of pets that ask for their flower essences! They seem to know it makes them feel better, and will go to the area where the flower essences are held and request their essences.

• In their environment: Flower essences can be added to a spray bottle with water and misted into the air, especially in spaces that feel tense or heavy. That being said, many pets (like humans!) don’t like being sprayed in the face, so be cautious of this.

• With food or on a treat: The most common way that we give flower essences, is to mix them in with meals. If you feel your pet is not eating as well with the flower essences in the food, then the essence may not be the correct emotional match for your pet. Alternatively, you can also put a few drops of essence on a treat and give that way.

I usually recommend giving flower essences 2–4 times a day for at least 2 weeks, observing any shifts in behavior or mood. Every animal is different—some respond quickly, while others may need time and ongoing support.

Creating a Custom Blend

Each animal processes grief and trauma differently. If your pet has experienced significant loss, disorientation, or behavioral changes, a custom flower essence blend may be more appropriate than a pre-made formula. During a consultation, we can talk through your pet’s unique emotional state and create a personalized remedy to help them feel safe, grounded, and supported.

You’re Not Alone

The fires have shaken many of us to our core. Our animal companions often carry those same emotions in silence. If you or your pets are struggling to find your footing again, know that you’re not alone. Gentle, natural tools like flower essences can help guide the way back to balance, connection, and healing.

If you’d like support in choosing the right essences or creating a custom blend, schedule a consultation with one of our veterinarians at Holistika Veterinary Clinic. We’re here to support both you and your beloved animals as you navigate this tender time.