How To Use Pine (Flower Remedy) for Emotional Relief
Flower remedies are a type of natural remedy rooted in balancing emotional states with the use of flower dilutions, in a similar fashion as the micro-dosing of homeopathy. Originally developed in the 1920’s by Dr. Edward Bach, a British physician, there are now additional powerful regional preparations such as the Australian Bush Flower Essences. It’s believed that different flowers have affinities for different emotions, and help to restore equilibrium in cases of, for instance, worry, fear or anxiety. While you can make your own, typically single essence or blends are available to be purchased commercially.
Pine (Pinus sylvestris, red f./yellow m.) is one of Bach’s original 38 essences.
It nurtures the positive states of self-acceptance, self-forgiveness, and the release of excessive guilt and misery. It’s an especially perfect flower remedy to consider for those in a ‘Pine state’ around the winter holiday season and New Year perspectives!
“Pine should be considered for those who blame themselves. Even when successful they think that they could have done better, and are never content with their efforts or the results. They are hard-working and suffer much from the faults they attach to themselves. Sometimes if there is any mistake it is due to another, but they will claim responsibility even for that.”
While “objective acknowledgement of one’s faults is an important soul virtue,” in it’s extreme it can lead to being stuck in self-blame.
Pine addresses the imbalanced pattern of unwarranted self-critism, and the inability to accept oneself. Sometimes the person needing Pine feels such guilt for things done or undone, even when circumstances are completely outside their control, that they end up saying ‘sorry’ excessively.
This guilt at a level that is disproportionate to the actual events is sometimes based on childhood events, where the child internalized blame for family system dysfunctions. You might also think of Pine when a child in your care is so stricken that they assume responsibility for other’s mistakes.
In a positive balanced Pine state, we learn to release and forgive ourselves rather than hold on.
This leads to surrendering our emotional paralysis and self-depreciation, so that we move forward in healthy ways while putting right that which can be made good. Pine brings the positive balance of healthy contentment, and of being at peace with a healthy self-esteem as well.
Flower remedies are a highly dilute preparation, and are safe for use with children, pregnant and lactating mothers. Dosing directions are on the bottles. Just as our emotional states are highly personal and individualized, no one flower remedy is ‘for everyone.’ The Pine state of mind is a particular one of self-blame and self-criticism. Using the Pine flower remedy often brings a welcome and energizing relief.