Bach Flower Remedies
Cherry Plum

Prunus cerasifera

Cherry plum is one of a large family of small flowering trees that includes many of the ornamental blossoms of the spring garden. Cherry plum grows 6-8m high though often it is trimmed for hedging when it suckers easily. The tree grows ragged with a rounded head, and it is generally without thorns. The leaves are oval (2-3cm), toothed and glossy green, appearing after the flowers. The flowers are stalked, pure white, five-petalled (20mm across), with numerous prominent stamens. The fruit, which only sets occasionally, is the color of ripe tomatoes. This is the first white blossom of the year. It comes out before the Damson or Sloe (P. spinosa) with which it might be confused-Sloe has smaller flowers, it is definitely spiked with thorns and has a black (Blackthorn) bark rather than the dull brown of Cherry plum.

Flowering Period

Cherry plum flowers in late February to early April.

Preparation

Cherry plum is prepared by the boiling method. A fine day is particularly important. Twigs of flowers are picked about 15 cm long so as to fit the saucepan.

Uses

Fear of insanity; loss of mental control.

Although extreme, the Cherry Plum state is one most people will have experienced to some extent -the feeling that you are going crazy. It may be the result of anything from the children getting under your feet to complete paranoia. Basically, it is an overwhelming sense of losing your grip on a situation so that you become frightened that you will snap and do something irrational or inappropriate, perhaps with disastrous consequences.

Animals, like people, may suffer from an isolated Cherry Plum state, but it is more likely that it will be linked to or be a by-product of something else. For example, a cat who cleans obsessively to the point of self-mutilation would need Crab Apple for the overriding desire for cleanliness and the obsessive behavior, and Cherry Plum because of the loss of control associated with self-injury. Similarly, any animal suffering with an irritating condition or infection may lose its self-control until the irritation is eased, and violently scratch itself in a desperate attempt to find relief.

Comments