By: Linnea Smith
Are you an Empath? Herbs and Flower Essences to Support Your Journey
Are you the type of person that can feel the energy of other people, animals, or even plants? Have you always been sensitive to the “energy in the room?” Do you take on other people’s emotions when you’re around them? Do strangers naturally start telling you all about their lives as if they’ve known you forever? Have you even just pondered the thought of being an “empath?” This brief article is aimed at those who would like some clarification on what exactly an empath is, some traits they carry, and the use of a few herbs and flower essences that can help you along your path in life as a human with energetic sensitivities.
One could say there are many different definitions of an empath, depending on who you talk to. The dictionary definition of an Empath is “one who experiences the emotions of others: a person who has empathy for others.” According to WebMD, “an empath is an individual who feels more empathy than an average human. Empaths are exceptionally sensitive to the emotions and frame of mind of nearby individuals. Empathy is a natural state that enables a person to build an emotional connection through cognition with other individuals. However, the instinctive ability to understand other people’s moods goes beyond being empathetic. The typical empath personality allows an individual to accurately discern people’s emotional states just by looking at them and taking appropriate action.”
As an empath myself, I identify as an individual who can easily read other people’s energies, is generally taking on caretaking roles of others and constantly working on setting boundaries so they are not to be overwhelmed with other people’s energies. There is a broad range of felt senses in those who identify as “empaths” that you can understand by speaking with other Empaths.
Some traits that empaths may carry:
• Easily emotionally drained
• Recharges by self-isolating and chooses self-isolation more frequently
• Can struggle with setting boundaries
• Avoids conflict in situations or likes to be the peacekeeper
• Increased sensitivity to criticism
• Put others’ needs before your own and people-pleasing
You can imagine with this set of traits how exhausting it can be to feel like an empath. That is why caring for yourself first is KEY to living a life that is not constantly taxing your energy. Since it is easier to take on other’s energies, or energy that is not your own, and be affected by how people handle their own lives, it is important to identify what self-care you need in your daily life to support you in being a human in this world interacting with other humans.
Important daily rituals for Empaths:
• Grounding. Releasing energy so it doesn’t overwhelm or overtake your energy field.
• Get out in nature! Reset by releasing energy from your body outside in your favorite spots in nature.
• Practice self-compassion. Empaths can be hard on themselves. Give yourself the love that you so effortlessly give others.
• Boundaries. Boundaries. Boundaries. You’re good at standing up for the underdog, but don’t forget to stand up for yourself and what you need for yourself.
Along with your daily practices, it’s also important to support yourself with the help of some herbal allies and flower essences. These allies bring ease, peace, and comfort to your whole body, especially to your nervous system.
• Milky Oats– Great to use as a daily tincture or tea. The tincture holds more nervine properties than the more nutritive oat straw you would use for tea. Taken daily, and for the long term, Milky Oats has proved itself as a worthy ally that soothes your nervous system and is a subtle mood elevator.
• Skullcap is a gentle nervine and trophorestorative that is very effective at easing nervous debilitation. It relaxes and lessens patterns of sympathetic stress. It can help reduce any anxiety that may present itself.
• Pink Yarrow Flower Essence– it helps you hold your boundaries when interacting with others. It helps teach you about the definition of true compassion and how it comes from the heart when it is most in touch with its spiritual strength.
• Chaparral Flower Essence– Think of Chaparral as your best friend who easily helps you clean up from a giant celebration. The small bits of confetti (or leftover energy from someone else that’s a little stuck in your space) are easily swept up with the help of Chaparral. It brings your clearest awareness into focus and calms a chaotic life force.
This is a very small list of some of the daily things you can add to your ritual for yourself as an empath. But most importantly, it’s a friendly reminder to always listen to your body and intuition. You know what is best for yourself, you just have to be willing to listen. I will have more in-depth information on this subject in the class I am teaching in person and online on April 16th at The Colorado School of Clinical Herbalism.
Written by: Linnea Smith
Student of Clinical Herbalism and Flower Essence Practitioner at The Colorado School of Clinical Herbalism in Lafayette, CO.
Trained Intuitive from Psychic Horizons Center in Boulder, CO.
Resources:
https://www.webmd.com/balance/what-is-an-empath
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/empath
The Essential Guide to Western Botanical Medicine by Christa Sinadinos
Flower Essence Repertory by Patricia Kaminski and Richard Katz
