For many essence customers, one of the biggest challenges can be choosing which essence to try for a given health problem or to further their personal growth. For those who are new to essences or are seeking help with more serious or longstanding health problems, I always recommend a comprehensive one-on-one consultation as the best way to get started. With a consultation, you get the benefit of an objective and experienced healer to guide you toward the right combination of essences and other herbal remedies for your unique needs, as well as ongoing followups to keep you on the right track as your healing journey progresses.

But whether you are looking to get the most out of a consultation or prefer to choose your own essences, one easy guide to getting started is to learn about the different essence families that are available to you. Respected doctor Rajan Sankaran classifies homeopathic remedies into three main “kingdoms”: the plant kingdom, the mineral kingdom, and the animal kingdom. When choosing an essence, it can be helpful to understand which of these three kingdoms your constitution will benefit most from.

The plant kingdom tends to be the first choice for those who are more emotional and sensitive to changes in their surrounding environment; who are more oriented toward creativity and whose moods and sense of wellbeing are more easily changeable. Such a person may be drawn toward and benefit most from remedies that are made from plants, such as flowers, roots, leaves, and so on.

Mineral essences, meanwhile, such as those made from stones and fossils, tend to benefit those who are more even-keel in their temperament. For these personalities, changes in mood may happen more slowly and steadily, and their orientation in their vocabulary, lifestyle, and outlook tends to be more about structure, security, safety, and order. When their health fails, they will be more likely to describe their state using words that connote a structure, such as falling down, disintegrating, having weak foundation, missing a roof, breaking down, or lacking a key component.

The third kingdom, the animal kingdom, tends to benefit those who are more animated, more physical, and more oriented toward survival, with a constant awareness of competition. There is more of a “fight or flight” theme for these personalities, and they can also be harder to diagnose.

These general guidelines apply not only to choosing remedies for deep emotional and physical healing, but even to treating something as simple as a common cold. There are some people who will heal more quickly with the help of mineral supplements, such as colloidal silver and zinc, while others will find greater healing from a plant remedy such as a belladonna homeopathic or an elderberry syrup. Those who are drawn to animal kingdom remedies may find their healing is best supported by spending time with animals or out in nature.

Of course, we are all complex, multifaceted beings, and we may also respond better to different types of essences at different moments in time. This is why so many of our essence blends contain a combination of essences from different kingdoms, allowing them to address an issue from multiple angles at once. To find the best fit for your own needs, pay attention to which kingdom you’re most drawn to at the current moment in time, or reach out to schedule a consultation with me and have a totally customized essence blend created just for you.