"In the last six to eight months I have been afflicted with a rather severe case of arthritis in my hands which is at times excruciatingly painful.  Eileen made up a flower essence for pain which she has me take periodically until the pain is gone.  Usually I only have to take two doses within about 15 minutes and I am painfree.  It has worked beautifully for me and it is natural and safe."  Catherine Green, retired secretary - St. Louis
 
 

"I used flower essences during my preparations for my M.A. (Master's degree) Comprehensive Exams.  Their use helped me to stay focused on my studies, sharpened my mind, and helped me think creatively before and during the exams.  The use of the essences also helped me cope with the stress of these final hurdles to finishing my degree work."  Christine Cunningham, M.A., candidate for ordination (United Methodist Church) - Illinois
 
 

"I've worked with flower essences for years.  Since working with Eileen, I feel doubly blessed to have access to so many different ones, as well as Eileen's passion and dedication which give her deep insights into the selection of appropriate essences.  Though, at first, the essences she selected for me seemed to take me in a direction directly opposite of my stated goals, I can now see how and why that was essential.  The interpretations of the essences themselves and our discussion added to my own insights about my process.  My life is now heading in a more fulfilling direction than I would ever have imagined a year ago.  Thank you to Eileen and the beautiful essence devas!"  K.M., spiritual healer - St. Louis
 
 

"Thank you so much for empowering me to become a little more of who God intended me to be.  When I arrived at your doorstep two years ago, I was frightened, anxious, and didn't like who I was very much.  As we worked with the flower essences I discovered that the fear and anxiety began to lessen.  It was very helpful to repeat my goal statement four times a day as I took the essences.  I also appreciated the reflection questions.  They helped me to see the little changes that were taking place.  I have found that growth happens in baby steps and the reflection questions forced me to acknowledge these baby steps.  There are still times when I am anxious and fearful, but because I have learned to like who I am I can work through those times.  I now am okay in my skin.  Thank you for taking the time and energy to help me find my inner core and accept me defects and all."  Sister Carol, SCC, educator (primary grades through high school) - St. Louis
 
 

"I would like to give my background, which made me the least likely candidate to use flower essence therapy.  My father, a medical doctor (allopathic) in India, where I was born, had no use for any alternative therapy.  I grew up hearing from the most important authority in my life-my father-about alternative therapies as "voodoo medicine" and their practitioners as taking advantage of the ignorance of people.

In  February, 2000 I had a minor stroke.   None of my faculties were damaged but I experienced weakness in my muscles.  A few months after the stroke, I developed severe pain in my right shoulder.  This pain slowly kept increasing, and, within a few months, whenever I drove the car, it got aggravated.  The doctor told me that it was due to the weakness in the shoulder. Within one and one half years, this pain made me almost disabled.  Even minor movement became a problem.  Not only could I not put dishes in the dishwasher, but even folding my clothes, sorting clothes, bills, even flipping the page of a book or newspaper became a problem.

The only thing that gave me relief was a heating pad.  Even in the middle of the night I had to get up to heat my water bottle when the pain would start.  I thought this would be a cross I would have to bear for the rest of my life.

In the latter half of 2002, upon my insistence, the doctor ordered an MRI of the shoulder, and I was told that there was a tear in my rotator cuff as well as osteoarthritis.  Since then I saw an orthopedic surgeon specializing in shoulder problems and I was given an option of surgery to alleviate the pain.

This is the time when I opted for some alternative therapy.  First I went to an acupuncture specialist.  In the beginning, it helped, but the pain kept coming back.   After four months I stopped it.  I resigned myself again to living with pain.  I met Eileen Hutcheson in a reading group.  When she saw that I was in constant pain she suggested to me that I try flower essence therapy.  After suggesting this several times over a period of months, I decided to take a chance.  We began in March, 2003.  Eileen prepared special drops to take orally and cream for the shoulder.

By July, 2003, I was painfree.  Now not only do I drive, but I cook, clean the kitchen, and feel like someone gave me an arm back.  All the activities I could not do before, I do now every day.  And I have no pain.

I would have never believed that the essences of flowers could be  effective for anything.  My desperation forced me to try it, and that experience made me an open-minded  person for the medical venues that are not mainstream."

Mridula Durbin, Ph.D., retired anthropology and linguistics professor - St. Louis
 

First photo:  The Blanketflower is helpful for low vitality, depression and sadness (Living Essences definition).  Taken at Arizona Desert Museum, Tucson, Arizona, USA.

Second photo: Prince's Plume, Zion National Park, Utah, USA.

Third photo:  Buckthorn Cactus, Saguaro National Park, Tucson, Arizona, USA.

Fourth photo:  The Coral Bean helps realign one's will, focus, and concentration, and helps one own one's own power (Desert Alchemy definition).  Taken at Arizona Desert Museum, Tucson, Arizona, USA.

Fifth photo: The Arizona Thistle helps one make and honor one's own boundaries without guilt while remaining connected to people and one's own spiritual source (Desert Alchemy definition).  Taken at Zion National Park, Utah, USA.

Sixth photo: Probably hemerocallis fulva (a variety of day lilies) growing on the lands of the Trappist Monastery of Gethsemani, Kentucky, which is where the photo was taken and the essence was made.