Flower Remedies
Flower essences are the blossoms of plants prepared from a sun infusion in a bowl of water, further diluted, then preserved with brandy. These preparations embody the distinct imprint, or energetic pattern, of each flower species.
Each flower has the potential to help by treating a specific negative emotional state.
The man who developed the Bach Flower Remedies, Dr. Edward Bach “studied medicine at the University College Hospital, London, and was a House Surgeon there. He worked in general practice, having a set of consulting rooms in Harley Street, and as a bacteriologist and later a pathologist he worked on vaccines and a set of homoeopathic nosodes still known as the seven Bach nosodes.
Despite the success of his work with orthodox medicine he felt dissatisfied with the way doctors were expected to concentrate on diseases and ignore the people who were suffering them. He was inspired by his work with homoeopathy but wanted to find remedies that would be purer and less reliant on the products of disease. So in 1930 he gave up his lucrative Harley Street practice and left London, determined to devote the rest of his life to the new system of medicine that he was sure could be found in nature.
Just as he had abandoned his old home, office and work, so now he abandoned the scientific methods he had used up until now. Instead he chose to rely on his natural gifts as a healer, and use his intuition to guide him. One by one he found the remedies he wanted, each aimed at a particular mental state or emotion. His life followed a seasonal pattern: the spring and summer spent looking for and preparing the remedies, the winter spent giving help and advice to all who came looking for them. He found that when he treated the personalities and feelings of his patients their unhappiness and physical distress would be alleviated as the natural healing potential in their bodies was unblocked and allowed to work once more.
In 1934 Dr Bach moved to Mount Vernon in Oxfordshire. In the lanes and fields round about he found the remaining remedies that he needed to complete the series. He would suffer the emotional state that he needed to cure and then try various plants and flowers until he found the one single plant that could help him. In this way, through great personal suffering and sacrifice, he completed his life’s work.
Dr Bach passed away peacefully on the evening of November 27th, 1936. He was only 50 years old, but he had left behind him several lifetime’s experience and effort, and a system of medicine that is now used all over the world.”
I use the flower remedies from Bach Flowers as well as the North American flower essences from Fes Flowers. Most often the remedies are made in combinations of three to five flower essences to assist with the emotional state or cause of anxiety a person is having during a specific period. They work at a similar vibrational level as homeopathy, meaning some energetic resonance is felt and affected to bring a person to better balance.
One of the most well known Bach Flower remedies is called Rescue Remedy. It is a combination of Cherry Plum, Clematis, Impatiens, Rock Rose and Star of Bethlehem which together help one deal with any emergency or stressful event. This remedy has helped me with nerves before exams in medical school, with grief during the loss of my first husband, and with anxiety giving presentations! Children and animals are very sensitive to the effects of flower remedies as they are often more open to energetic influences. They have fewer ego defenses to judge and less intellectual challenge as to how things work. For example, one night my beloved dog, Cubbsy, an 8 pound poodle, had a seizure. His poor little body was wracked with spasms and his eyes were rolled back in his head. It went on for some time and did not look good as blood started coming from his mouth. I ran downstairs and looked in my cupboard for supplements or something that might help. The Rescue Remedy bottle caught my eye so I poured it over my hands and ran back upstairs. Cubbsy was still seizing. I began stroking the remedy over his poor little head and within 5 seconds the seizure stopped. He was taken to the vet that night but by the time we arrived, he was back to normal. I am convinced the remedy helped him out of the seizure and contributed to his good recovery.
Flower essence remedies are taken as drops under the tongue three times per day or as needed. If sensitive to the small amount of alcohol they contain, they can be used topically over the wrist or dropped into boiling water to evaporate the alcohol. Flower remedies are not addictive or dangerous and can easily be taken in conjunction with other types of treatments. They are especially helpful for treating mental and emotional problems and are suitable and safe for all ages including children, pregnant women, and animals.
During these times of change and uncertainty emotional and spiritual support is important to keep our perspective on what we want, not what we fear! Flower remedies are a nice adjunct to our self care. I would be happy to formulate a personalized remedy for you.