Flower remedy to the rescue

Canterbury's earthquake has left a parrot quaking in its boots, prompting a Christchurch woman to travel to New Plymouth for a cure.

New Plymouth Hardy's health shop has donated 24 bottles of Rescue Remedy to Christchurch Natural Health's Lenette Moore, who said the flower remedy works particularly well on animals and children.

"The animals have been really traumatised, especially cats. They're beside themselves. I met a lady with a pet parrot and every time there's an aftershock it just screams at the top of its lungs and uses every swear word it knows."

Mrs Moore said she went to New Plymouth with her son to get a break from the tremors and collect supplies of Rescue Remedy, which she will be handing out to schools, veterinary clinics and crisis centres.

"It's what people seem to need more than anything else. It takes the edge off the emotions associated with fear and trauma."

She said people are especially anxious about the predicted 6.1 aftershock. "It's always on the back of your mind. You never get the chance to relax or rest because the adrenaline is always in your veins."

Mrs Moore said one of the worst things about earthquakes is the total loss of control, but maintaining routines and being productive helps to create a sense of normality.

"People try to regain that sense of control in different ways, some through violence. But on the whole Cantabrians have been pulling together and the support has been incredible,"she said.

"We are starting to get so used to the aftershocks that people are taking bets in the workplace about what they are on the Richter scale. When you can make jokes about it you know you're getting on top of the fear."

Sacha Molloy is an AUT journalism student

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