Habanero Pepper, I am Totally Present
by David Dalton
Excerpted from the NEHA Journal, Winter 2001 edition
 

Habanero Pepper is one of the hottest peppers in the world. It is used herbally as a purgative for parasites and in many dishes requiring a zesty flavor. At one time, (in 1989) I read in the Wall Street Journal that this pepper, native to the Yucatan, was 100 times hotter than a Jalapeno Pepper.  Later that year I found a seed source and grew some in my vegetable garden along with five other varieties of pepper.

In the late summer of 1990, when all the hot peppers had matured, we collected some, and began sampling. We had varieties from all over the world, and were interested in taste and firepoer. When we got to the Habenero Pepper, no one dared to try it, so we asked Michael (Mikey) who lived next to the garden if he would join us. Seeing the macho nature of our endeavor, he volunteered to try the Habanero. After all, the rest of us were wimps. At first bite, Michael lost his breath from the rush of heat. Someone ran for water as his face lit up like a flasing red light. After a few long seconds, he caught his breath, so gratefully that he didn't afterward seem to care about the fire in his mouth, his belly, the sweat that poured off him or the bout he had the next day with flaming feces. Although no one that year touched the pepper for culinary purposes, I excitedly made the flower essence, and have been researching it since then. It is now one of the most prominent members of the Medicinal Herb Flower Essence Kit. Its main use has been to deepen the penetration of soul force into the physical.

Soul force begins its descent into the physical from conception and birth. As we pass from childhood, through adolescence to adulthood, soul energy occupies more and more of the physical. This begins in infancy with the lower chakras and proceeds upward until adolescence when all energy centers are active. When this happens in a healthy and natural way, mental development proceeds normally and all organs stay healthy. Trauma at any time in childhood causes an interruption in the descent of these soul energies. Energies of pain and hurt can instead take hold in the physical and block the flow of higher vibrating soul energy. This is especially damaging in early childhood when, if the trauma is repressed and unattended into adulthood, then physical symptoms can manifest, especially in areas of the body related to the lower chakras: the legs, lower back, poor circulation, intestines, kidneys and pelvic area. It is also common that at the same time there can be a "lack of presence," a spaciness, a difficulty with left-brain thinking, or learning problems. It is as if the soul, because of the trauma, hesitates or delays incarnating, which, consequently retards development.

Habanero Pepper catalyses movement of repressed energies related to early trauma to the surface, creating more room for the circulation of soul energies. For this reason Habanero Pepper is an excellent remedy to accompany psychotherapy with early trauma survivors.

It is a helpful essence with vertigo, disorientation, clumsiness, some forms of dizziness, lethargy and depression. It provides stability and balance to "wandering souls," as its main action is both deepening the penetration of life force into the lower chakras and at the same time bringing soul energies closer to the body. The result of this combined action is the healing of imbalances in the lower parts of the body, a period of emotional processing and physical cleansing, and a healing of several forms of lack of mental clarity.

Very often those needing Habanero pepper will have a strong reaction to holding the bottle of essence. A spontaneous feeling of repulsion can indicate that the person is not yet ready for this essence. Indications for readiness to use this essence include a strong support system of friends and professionals and an ability to process deep and painful feelings.

Children or adults who had any kind of complication, difficulty or trauma in the birthing process and who develop difficulties such as forgetfulness, absent mindedness or inability to focus, will benefit from Habanero Pepper flower essence. In this case the essence should be given first at higher potency preparations (for instance a dosage bottle with only one or two drops of the stock or concentrate) taken at frequent intervals (such as 5-7 times per day). Later, the preparation should be regulated to more drops of the concentrate (for instance a dosage bottle with only one or two drops of the stock or concentrate) taken at frequent intervals (such as 5-7 times per day). Later, the preparation should be regulated to more drops of the concentrate (for instance 7-10) given at less frequent intervals.

Use this essence for rescued dogs to change reflex behavior which were very likely acquired from previous abusive owners. In these cases, a certain type of voice tone, or behavior - picking up a stick, for instance - may cause the animal to cower or become aggressive. Habanero Pepper, along with certain types of "deprogramming" training will help the reflex to dissipate. In some cases when an animal has difficulty in learning new behavior because of lack of attention, this essence will prove helpful.

Habanero Pepper proved helpful to a young boy who came for flower essence treatment in 1995. He was feeling very "unmotivated" about school and some aspects of his family situation. In my first session with him, he constantly leaned his head against the wall behind him and complained about being tired. When he tried a single dose of the Habanero Pepper flower essence, his head immediately lifted, along with his spirits. He found himself smiling and feeling a little embarrassed because he didn't understand why. Although he would frequently forget to take the essence, he maintained that it helped him feel "more awake", but sometimes sadder

We found a way to help him remember to take the essence and at the end of the term we happily found that his grades in his two poorest subjects had improved one full letter grade. For the sadness, I recommended a few sessions with a psychotherapist, skilled at processing old anger and grief. Two terms later he made a first honor roll and has since continued to exhibit a model Habenero Pepper recovery.