Australian Bush Flower Essences and Homeopathy for Anxiety: Back-to-School Natural Remedies

Back-to-school anxiety is universal - homeschool and traditional school settings bring anticipation and struggle to families everywhere, whether it's elementary, high school, or college

Anticipation and anxiety during the school year are something I know well, having navigated 12 years of school this far with my two boys, and now I am sending my 18-year-old off to his first year of university. When my children were younger and school was more fun than work, the anxiety and overwhelm weren't as noticeable - I probably had more of these feelings when they were in elementary school than they did. Managing the homework, school events, and milestones for children with neurodiversity was challenging, and all of the school events triggered social anxiety in me. When I was a child, we didn't have names for such things, and children were told not to worry and calm down. Luckily, our understanding of social-emotional language has grown since my childhood, and we can now allow our children to express their anticipation and fears, as well as our own.

The older my children were, the less fun school was, and anxiety was front and center a few weeks into the school year when looking at the many papers and projects coming due. The older they got, the more I started to dread what lay ahead - whereas in the past, summer couldn't end soon enough, now fall was looking too close for comfort. Now I am grateful to have a natural toolbox at home, including homeopathy and flower essences. It's not always perfect, and we still experience big feelings, but they balance out much more smoothly than in my early years of parenting.

If you've found this blog, I assume you're already using homeopathy safely at home with your family and know how to find the best match for whoever you're helping. These remedy overviews are only keynotes and do not include the whole picture. When in doubt, book an appointment with a professional homeopath. Start small and see what works for your family - both homeopathy for occasional anxiety and flower essences are safe, gentle ways to support your family's wellness. This information is not intended to diagnose or treat serious mental health conditions.

Homeopathic Remedies for Anxiety and School Overwhelm. When You Need Help Fast - common remedies found in your homeopathy kit or at your local health food store

Quick-acting remedies for immediate relief

These remedies may be similar to the way you or your child expresses their anxiety and overwhelm during the school year.

• Aconite - Very fearful, distressed, and restless, panic attacks, feeling of not being able to breathe, or scared they might die. They might be more fearful the night before school.

• Pulsatilla - Weepy, whiny, clingy, needing hugs, separation anxiety, and feeling lonely and maybe shy at school. Good for moms, too, who feel weepy, clingy, and anxious during PMS.

• Chamomilla - Comes home and is angry, crying, demanding, might be red-faced about the school day, and nothing you say or give them helps them feel better. This remedy is often recommended for babies during teething; however, it can also be very helpful for older children.

• Argentum Nitricum - Anticipating events, worrier before doing anything new, such as going back to a new school year, fear of being late, fear of failure, panicked, restless, impulsive, might have diarrhea from anticipation. They generally love sugary foods.

• Gelsemium Sempervirens - Have fear and worrying that is paralyzing, they feel shaky and weak. Their eyes may look heavy, and they want to be alone. They may have frequent urination or diarrhea.

• Staphysagria - Anxiety from peer pressure and bullying, strict teachers, being humiliated, mistreated, suppresses the feelings, and is a good student and friend.

For Teens and Adults

These two remedies can be very helpful in times of anxiety and stress during the school year. They are inimical remedies, which means they should not be taken together. So choose between the two.

• Nux Vomica - Excellent for teens and adults who are overachievers, workaholics, and use stimulants such as coffee or energy drinks to drive them or indulge in too many cocktails(for the adults). They can get headaches, stomach cramps, and constipation

• Ignatia - Anxiety with sleeplessness and worry that one will never be able to sleep. The person is moody, sensitive, brooding, contrary, dramatic, and ruminating on worries. This remedy is excellent for teens who are worried about school and for parents who are concerned about their children. It has lifted many spirits during the school year.

Tissue Salts

These are typically stocked at natural food stores and can be a helpful addition to supporting you or your child during a stressful school year.

• Calc Phos Tissue Salt 6x - For the grumpy child, worse after mental strain, who has headaches and stomach aches before or after school.

• Kali Phos Tissue Salt 6x - overworked feeling mind and nerves. Calming for the nervous system (consider - finding the blend with calc phos, kali phos, nat phos, and mag phos).

Whole Person - Constitutional Remedies for Ongoing Support

The following remedies are deep-acting and may require professional homeopathic guidance for repeated use. Suppose you recognize yourself or your child in these remedies. In that case, they can help shift bigger patterns than a passing anxiety about the school year.

• Baryta Carb - Very shy, afraid of strangers, insecure children who may feel homesick at school. They may be slower to meet milestones and process information more slowly than their peers.

• Calc Carb - Has difficulty coping with change in routine, is independent, and doesn't like to be rushed, may seem slow but is actually being thorough, dislikes being singled out or laughed at.

• Lycopodium - Low self-confidence, feels inadequate, anticipation about new things, tests, and performances, but does well. They can seem dictatorial and full of bravado, but that is covering up internal anxiety. Their digestion may manifest as excessive gas and bloating.

• Natrum Muriaticum - Quiet, private, sensitive children and teens who may express their anxiety in irritability and resentment. They generally love salty foods such as chips

• Phosphorus - Social individuals who are sensitive to emotions and events. They can quickly react with fear and anxiety to hearing about scary events and sad stories. They don't like to be alone, and unlike Nat Mur, they can be reassured by comfort. They love fizzy drinks.

• Sulphur - They aren't stressed out, but you are because their room might be messy, their clothes dirty, and even though they are very bright and philosophical, they seem lazy, checked out, and self-absorbed.

Australian Bush Flower Essences for Anxiety and the School Year

Australian Bush flower essence blends are helpful in our family and for my clients. You can choose flower essences individually; however, these synergistic blends are easy to use and usually have the flower essences I would have chosen to begin with. Flower essences do not interfere with homeopathy and can be used twice daily or as needed. They have proved to be powerful support on their own or as additional support.

For Children or Adults Who Want to Avoid Alcohol:

• Australian Bush Flower Essences are in water and brandy, so if you do not want the alcohol for you or your child, you can put the drops in a tablespoon of boiling water, then let it cool. Alternatively, you can put the drops in a water bottle, which will dilute the taste and can offer continued support.

Australian Bush Flower Essence Powerful Blends

• Emergency Essence - Brings balance to a child or adult who feels anxiety and fear before or after school. It can bring feelings of calm and courage. The blend includes Fringed Violet and Angelsword essences, which are two of my favorites for supporting sensitive and empathetic individuals who may become overwhelmed in groups or stressful situations.

• Focus - The name tells it all - this blend has flower essences for anxiety chosen to support cognition, organization, problem solving, and focus (another bush flower blend to consider is Adol)

• Calm and Clear - Helps feel grounded and clear-headed before a stressful situation, such as school or performance. It can help adults relax and unwind. With grounding and clear thought, we can make choices that will help our families and ourselves

My Story with Homeopathy and School Stress

Looking back at when my children were little, homeopathy for anxiety would have been invaluable during those stressful mornings for all of us. We didn't use homeopathy wholeheartedly until my children were 8 and 10 years old. As soon as we started, the sleeplessness from worry and daily anxiety feelings for all of us were much better. We still support ourselves with remedies because, let's face it, every month there is a new event changing our world or the way we do things, which brings anxiety, overwhelm, and stress. Stability in the world feels like a thing of the past lately, and remedies can ground us in the present, which in turn helps our emotional and physical well-being.

Using These Remedies for Your Family

Examples By Age Group

Any remedy can be beneficial for people of any age if it aligns with how someone expresses their feelings and experiences life, so consider all remedies when choosing a remedy.

• Elementary kids: Consider homeopathy for anxiety, such as Pulsatilla for separation anxiety, or consider if Calc Phos tissue salt seems like your child if they come home with tummy aches and headaches. Discover flower essences for anxiety, including Emergency Essence, for daily support.

• High schoolers: Consider Nux Vomica for the high-performing teen who drinks too much coffee or energy drinks and is irritable, or Ignatia for the teen who is moody, sensitive, and dramatic about their feelings. Consider flower essences for blends like Focus when writing papers and Calm and Clear.

• College students: College-age students are leaving home, so all feelings can come up for the whole family during the transition. Aconite may be appropriate for big feelings of panic and fear, or Argentum Nitricum for anticipation with impulsiveness and argumentativeness.

• Parents: Homeopathy for anxiety remedies like Ignatia for worry and sleeplessness or Nux vomica for overdoing stimulants and feeling short-tempered.

School Time Tips

• Watch your child's specific emotional patterns to pick the correct homeopathic remedy for occasional anxiety.

• Observe your child's mood immediately, a few hours after taking the remedy, or the following day, to decide if it has helped.

• Consider trying these remedies a few days before school starts, exam time, performances, or sporting events

• Use flower essences for balancing emotions along with homeopathic remedies

• Parents: Don't forget your own back-to-school stress relief with remedies and flower essences.

Wishing you a peaceful transition into this coming school year!

About the Author: Zoe Jones is a professional certified homeopath, flower essence practitioner, and holistic health coach who works with families to help them reach their wellness goals naturally through personalized support and gentle healing approaches. Ready to include homeopathy and flower essences in your wellness journey? Contact Zoe at Leap of Health Homeopathy LLC today to schedule a consultation.

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DISCLAIMER: The content of this blog from Leap of Health Homeopathy, LLC and Zoe Jones, is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content should not replace professional medical consultation, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or before making changes to your diet, exercise routine, or health regimen. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of information you have read in this material.

Sources and Further Reading

• https://ausflowers.com.au/en-us?srsltid=AfmBOoqwE37IiZ9frvowYDcbDtkATYB5vKuIqCH_BjuSy2KKWqCCHtE4

• https://homeopathycenter.org/getting-started-with-homeopathy/

• https://homeopathycenter.org/condition/anxiety-or-fear-humans/

• Castro, M., 1996. Homeopathic Guide to Stress: Safe and Effective Natural Ways to Alleviate Physical and Emotional Stress. Great Britain: Macmillan Publishers Ltd.

•  Master, F., 2006. Clinical Observations of Children Remedies. India: B. Jain Publishers.

• Murphy, R., 2006. Nature's Materia Medica 1,400 Homeopathic and Herbal Remedies. 3rd Edition. Blacksburg: Lotus Health Institute.