Treating Anger with Plant Medicine
Anger, also known as wrath or rage, is an intense emotional state involving a strong uncomfortable and non-cooperative response to a perceived provocation, hurt or threat.
Fear ultimately breeds anger out of the innate human instinct for self-defense. When someone feels threatened, they may initially fear the possible validity of the issued threat and subsequent harm which could follow. However, in many scenarios, anger may follow or even override fear.
You may notice the following (non-exhaustive list) emotional symptoms before, during, or after an episode of anger:
irritability.
frustration.
anxiety.
rage.
stress.
feeling overwhelmed.
guilt.
Allopathic Antidepressants are commonly prescribed for anger issues. These drugs do not specifically target anger within the body, but they do have a calming effect that can support control of rage and negative emotion. Taking them addresses the symptoms of anger and not the cause.
Using plant medicine can help heal the emotional trauma that acts as the catalyst for the manifestations of anger, which essentially plucks the root cause out of the energy body, therefore increasing movement of stagnant energy.
Here are some suggestions of how you can support yourself using plant medicine with the various emotions manifested from anger.
Vexation / Worry - a blend of equal parts Wild orange or Tangerine & Sandalwood in the diffuser. Essential oils that come from bark, resin, roots, herbs, and grasses are all grounding and mood stabilising oils. In aromatherapy, inhaling the aroma of sandalwood oil or absorbing it through the skin transmits messages to parts of the brain involved in controlling emotions, known as the limbic system. These messages affect both an emotional and physiological response. (By way of example, the reduction of stress typically translates to a reduction in blood pressure.)
Frustration - Geranium over the heart space (diluted to 25%). Geranium essential oil is diverse in its emotional benefits because it helps restore confidence, release anger, and manage overwhelming emotions. It is recommended for people who were deeply hurt in the past, trapped in a large heart wound like grief or bad breakups, and those struggling to express their emotions.
More on the subtle practise of stimulating heart energy with geranium here
(No) Thyme for bitterness - Thyme essential oil is a powerful cleaner for the emotions and is able to address the toxic emotions of rage, anger, and hate. Next time you're mad and tempted to take your anger out on someone or something, reach for the Thyme instead. Melt your anger and stress away, you'll feel better almost instantly. (Thyme oil shouldn't be swallowed near or used undiluted on your skin). When a client comes in and they are stressed out, I typically apply a couple drops to a carrier oil and massage it into their neck and shoulders. Just a few drops of that same blend on the chest or neck with some deep breathing practices will help you relax and calm your mind. Because thyme is quite strong, I usually blend it with Bergamot, Grapefruit and Lavender.
intolerance is manifested as outbursts of irritability. Beech flower remedy helps to encourage tolerance and understanding, and as this happens so the irritability also fades. 4 few drops in a litre of water sipped throughout the day should do the trick.
In emotional plant therapy, we have a term called ‘peeling the onion’. This means that we Start addressing the surface emotions and allowing the remedies to work and reveal what, if anything, lies underneath. The person taking the remedies is on a journey, and takes time to learn from each layer until the heart of the story is revealed.
Intolerance is what I call a residual emotion or a layered emotion. Working through this first, will undoubtedly lead to another emotion, of which you can address when and if needed.
For expressions of rage, you could blend Holly & Cherry Plum. The flower of kindness and relaxation respectively.
According to the Bach Centre, when used as a flower essence, impatiens is “the remedy for impatience and the frustration and irritability that often go with it.” Impatience can be a temporary state of mind; like when you're waiting in a long line for your morning latte. Anyone can get into this state of mind, but there are also genuine Impatiens types, who live life at a rush and hate being held back by more methodical people.
In some of Bach’s remedy descriptions – he included personality traits
For example he described Rock Rose as a crisis remedy that could apply to anybody – a classic mood remedy.
There is no fixed list of type remedies in the final system, and the “type remedies” are simply those that could be interpreted as defining a personality / characteristic rather than a passing mood.
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