Bach Flower Remedies
Aspen

Populus tremula

Aspen is a small tree (up to about 15m) being slightly built, unlike the great black poplar to which it is related. The grey catkins appear before the leaves. Other poplars have more red in the flowers although grey poplar (which may be a hybrid between white poplar and aspen) is very similar. The grey poplar (P. canescans), however, is a larger tree (30m) with a lobed leaf. Male and female aspen flowers are found on the same tree. The males are grey and have red anthers that are yellow with pollen when in full flower, some 5-10cm long. The females are smaller and green-grey. In May these cast seeds that are carried in white down that drifts in the wind like other poplars. The bark is smooth and a luminous silvery green, the twigs are slender and the winter buds are bright brown. The leaves have a flattened stalk (which induces the trembling) and are smooth and hairless with a rounded form and a scalloped edge. Other poplars have either whitish wool on the underside of the leaf (P. canescans) or an even fine-toothed leaf (P. tremuloides). It will be helpful to identify aspen in the summer: examine the leaves.

Flowering Period

Aspen flowers from February to early April.

Preparation

Aspen is prepared by the boiling method. Both male and female flowers are used. Gather them from several trees where aspens are growing in a thicket. Cut pieces 15cm or so with leaf buds and clusters of flowers.

Uses

Vague or unaccountable fears and apprehension. Fear of the unknown.

Human beings suffering this state of mind will tell you that they feel afraid, as though something is about to happen, but they cannot identify what it is that makes them feel this way. They are on tenterhooks and are jumpy as though they are living on a knife-edge, full of fearful anticipation. They are anxious but do not know why.

Animals in the Aspen state may suddenly start to whine, pant or appear agitated for no apparent reason. The fear may begin in their sleep as night terrors or they may wake up in this state. Equally it may happen at any time of the day, and there may be a ghostly, apprehensive look in the animal's eyes. But there will be no obvious trigger -nothing to which you can say: 'he gets like this whenever so-and-so happens' or 'this is how he reacts to next door's cat ever since she scratched him.' If your animal has bouts of fear for no specific reason, Aspen is likely to be the remedy he needs.

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