Say it with Flowers

As a hypochondriac, neurotic, and a dilettante of non-western medicine, I've been a big fan of Bach Rescue Remedy(TM) for awhile now. It even does the trick on my neurotic and dilettantish cat. But until today, I had yet to understand fully the amazing power of flowers, as represented by the complete range of Bach Flower Remedies(TM). They're better than EST. I sure wish you'd known about this in 1980, Mom.

And had I known in 1980 that there is a cheap and non-lethal prescription for extreme mental anguish, when everything has been tried and there is no light left, I would probably be a happily married, Volvo-driving mother of two with a high salary and a daily Xtreme-Pilates routine.

Is there a prescription for that?

An index of Bach Flower Rememdies and their indications:
1. Agrimony – mental torture behind a cheerful face
2. Aspen – fear of unknown things
3. Beech – intolerance
4. Centaury – inability to say 'no'
5. Cerato – lack of trust in one's own decisions
6. Cherry Plum – fear of the mind giving way
7. Chestnut Bud (made with horse chestnut buds) – failure to learn from mistakes
8. Chicory – selfish, possessive love
9. Clematis – dreaming of the future without working in the present
10. Crab Apple – cleansing remedy, also for self-hatred
11. Elm – overwhelmed by responsibility
12. Gentian – discouragement after a setback
13. Gorse – hopelessness and despair
14. Heather – self-centeredness and self-concern
15. Holly – hatred, envy and jealousy
16. Honeysuckle – living in the past
17. Hornbeam – procrastination, tiredness at the thought of doing something
18. Impatiens – impatience
19. Larch – lack of confidence and self-esteem
20. Mimulus – fear of known things
21. Mustard – deep gloom for no reason
22. Oak – the plodder who keeps going past the point of exhaustion
23. Olive – exhaustion following mental or physical effort
24. Pine – guilt
25. Red Chestnut – over-concern for the welfare of loved ones
26. Rock Rose – terror and fright
27. Rock Water – self-denial, rigidity and self-repression
28. Scleranthus – inability to choose between alternatives
29. Star of Bethlehem – shock
30. Sweet Chestnut – Extreme mental anguish, when everything has been tried and there is no light left
31. Vervain – over-enthusiasm
32. Vine – dominance and inflexibility
34. Water Violet – pride and aloofness
35. White Chestnut – unwanted thoughts and mental arguments
36. Wild Oat – uncertainty over one's direction in life
37. Wild Rose – drifting, resignation, apathy
38. Willow – self-pity and resentment