(The following article was provided by the Big Island Weekly.)

Use the healing power of the Big Island's flowers
By Diane Koerner
Wednesday, August 5, 2009 11:47 AM HST
Having a hard time letting go of past mistakes? Want to move forward and get what you really want? Help may be available from the subtle healing energy of papaya or banana blossoms contained in bottles of Big Island Flower Essences.

Knowing that a flower can change your mood and bring you into the present moment, ancient Hawaiians were said to have sniffed dew of certain island flowers in the morning to enhance emotional balance, according to Melia Goodenow of Hawaiian Rainforest Naturals. Today, you can experience the healing power of Big Island Flower Essences and how they can harmonize your life by trying a few drops of their soothing remedies.

Hawaiian Rainforest Naturals is located at the edge of the 'Ohi'a-Lehua rainforest in Orchidland Estates, where they hand-gather the wild flowers for their essences. Goodenow's mother and co-founder of Hawaiian Rainforest Naturals, Joy Johnson, studied the ancient healing practices with Kahuna La'au Lapa'au Papa Henry Awae and Morrnah Simeona in Hawaii, as well with other indigenous peoples from around the world.

Although flowers have been used for healing for many centuries, flower essences in their modern form were first developed in the 1930s in Britain by Dr. Edward Bach, using English wildflowers. Flower remedies are now used worldwide for their therapeutic benefits, part of the emerging field of subtle energy medicine.

But why not try locally-grown remedies for imbalanced emotions here in Hawaii? Using her intuitive skills and connection to nature, Johnson has chosen nine Hawaiian flowers and developed a process to add their subtle healing energy into the Big Island Flower Essences.

"Flower essences bring you into the present moment, where you can release the past and make new choices," explains Goodenow about their subtle effect. "They can help you feel refreshed and renewed in your whole self -- spirit, mind and body."

Combinations of lehua, wild azalea and wild bamboo orchid form a flower essence called "Natural Bliss." Taking this remedy can "help you feel very uplifted, feel lighthearted, and see the beauty of life," says Goodenow. The "Stress Relief Formula" contains the essence of wild lehua, wild kinehe and wild yellow ginger, and promises to move you into a state of relaxation. The Wild Yellow Ginger Flower Essence, used alone, is called "Relax," and is a good remedy to add to massage oils and lotions because it helps to relax tight muscles as well as mental tension.

How do you choose which flower essence is right for you? The first step is to decide which emotional issues are most important for your health and growth. Then you select the essence or essences which corresponds with these issues. Each bottle of Hawaii Rainforest Naturals Flower Essences has an indication and directions printed on the label.

Goodenow says you can also use a pendulum or muscle testing to see which remedy might be best for you at the present time. Whichever one you choose, Goodenow explains that they "work deeper than just the physical level. They help you find out why you're stressed and give you mental clarity to get to the root of the problem."

Hawaiian Rainforest Naturals also makes a variety of body care treatments which, along with the Flower Essences, are sold in 13 retail stores and used in spas here on the Big Island, and can also be purchased on their Web site. For more information, call 982-5989 or go to: http://www.hawaiianrainforestnaturals.com.