"Every single person has a life to live, a work to do, a glorious personality, a wonderful individuality"
Dr Edward Bach
DR EDWARD BACH, A BACTERIOLOGIST AND PATHOLOGIST WORKING IN WALES IN THE 1930s WAS THE FIRST PERSON TO PREPARE FLOWER ESSENCES.
Dr Bach became convinced that human illnesses were often symptoms of basic imbalances in the personality and the emotional life. He believed that flowers had the power to ease mental stress. Initially he prepared a dozen flower essences and named them the "Twelve Healers". These were followed by a further 26 remedies, making a total of 38.
Each essence is said to help dissipate a particular unpleasant emotion, such as worry, fear or anxiety. Bach prepared the remedies in liquid form so they would be easy to blend to create personalized treatments. [1]
Made from the blossoms of plants and trees, flower essences are prepared in water and preserved in alcohol. They are used for their possible impact on the mind and spirit, to reverse negative mental states and re-balance the emotions. Their gentle action - there are no known adverse effects - make them an ideal complement to other treatments. [1]
They are not meant to replace professional healthcare or therapy. They are rather intended to help the individual deal with underlying emotional problems. [1] Studies have found that Bach remedies are safe. Some have a small amount of alcohol, so check the label if you want to avoid it. [2]
How to use Bach flower remedies
Approach a trained Bach flower therapist. Alternatively, take the time to think about how you feel and match your feelings to the essences. Consider investing in a reference book which gives full details about each remedy. A few drops of the Bach flower remedy within pure water may be taken, the dosage measured according to the instructions given with the purchased remedy Checking with your general practitioner when planning to take Bach flower remedies is a sound guideline.
Rescue remedy
Many have found the flower essence "Rescue remedy" helpful, particularly in situations where a shock has been experienced or severe anxiety undergone. A typical composition of rescue remedy is the aqueous infusion with regard to Cherry Plum, Clematis, Impatiens, Rock Rose and Star of Bethlehem, as well as a small amount of alcohol.
This blend of floral essences chosen by Dr Edward Bach was based on the following precepts:
Rock Rose for fearlessness
Impatiens for patience
Clematis for focus
Star of Bethlehem for comfort
Cherry Plum for composure [3]
The Twelve Healers
The flower essences known as the Twelve Healers originally used by Dr Bach are:
Essence and Principal symptoms
Agrimony - Concealed anxiety
Centaury - Excessive desire to please, lack of assertiveness
Cerato - Doubting your judgment and decision-making
Chicory - Excessive interference in the concerns of others
Clematis - Absent-mindedness, dreaminess
Gentian - Despondency
Impatiens - mpatience
Mimulus - Shyness, anxiety, everyday fears
Rock Rose - Terror
Scleranthus - Indecision, mood swings
Vervain - Extremes of energy and enthusiasm
Water violet - Excessive self-sufficiency, aloofness [4]
The thirty-eight essences
The Bach Flower remedies thus use the gentle power of nature to help us re-balance our thoughts and emotions.
The following is a simplified guide. For full details, visit the link at [5].
Agrimony Bach flower remedy reportedly may help to restore the ability to express one's true feelings and emotions. Those in need of Agrimony have much inner anxiety and turmoil that they cover up with a smile and a laugh when in the company of others [5]
Aspen Bach flower remedy reportedly may help those who experience apprehension for which there appears to be no logical reason [5]
Beech Bach flower remedy reportedly may help those who need to establish a more loving, lenient and flexible relationship with themselves and with those around them [5]
Centaury Bach flower remedy reportedly may help those who have a misplaced sense of service and believe they must put the needs of others before their own, overtaxing their strength in their endeavours [5]
Cerato Bach flower remedy reportedly may help those who do not have sufficient confidence in themselves to make their own decisions [5]
Cherry Plum Bach flower remedy reportedly may help those who experience irrational fear [5]
Chestnut Bud Bach flower remedy reportedly may help those who need to focus more fully on their current life experiences [5]
Chicory Bach flower remedy reportedly may help those who tend to be possessive of those they care about [5]
Clematis Bach flower remedy reportedly may help those who easily drift off into daydreams and fantasies about the future [5]
Crab Apple Bach flower remedy reportedly may aid purification on all levels [5]
Elm Bach flower remedy reportedly may help those who feel overwhelmed by responsibility [5]
Gentian Bach flower remedy reportedly may help those who are easily discouraged. Those who need this remedy are uncertain about their relationship with their Creator [5]
Gorse Bach flower remedy reportedly may help those who suffer great uncertainty in the process of life, causing them to experience feelings of hopelessness and despair [5]
Heather Bach flower remedy reportedly may help those whose inner sense of isolation and loneliness manifests as a compulsive need to talk about themselves [5]
Holly Bach flower remedy reportedly may help those troubled by thoughts of jealousy, envy, revenge, suspicion [5]
Honeysuckle Bach flower remedy reportedly may help those who are unable to let go of the past in some way [5]
Hornbeam Bach flower remedy reportedly may help those who experience a state of procrastination brought on by a state of mental weariness [5]
Impatiens Bach flower remedy reportedly may help those who feel driven by an inner sense of urgency, a feeling that they need to get things done "yesterday" [5]
Larch Bach flower remedy reportedly may help to restore confidence in one's own abilities [5]
Mimulus Bach flower remedy reportedly may help those who feel they need greater courage to face up to the everyday events of life [5]
Mustard Bach flower remedy reportedly may help those who from time to time experience deep gloom or despair that comes and goes for no reason that is obvious [5]
Oak Bach flower remedy reportedly may help to restore the qualities of strength and endurance [5]
Olive Bach flower remedy reportedly may help those who feel their reserves of energy are completely depleted and that they have nothing left to carry on with [5]
Pine Bach flower remedy reportedly may help those who blame themselves and to restore a positive sense of inner self or self worth [5]
Red Chestnut Bach flower remedy reportedly may help those who are fearful for the safety of others [5]
Rock Rose Bach flower remedy reportedly may help those who suffer from acute fear or terrifying nightmares [5]
Rock Water Bach flower remedy reportedly may help those who are hard masters towards themselves to restore the ability to become open-minded and flexible in their beliefs [5]
Scleranthus Bach flower remedy reportedly may help to restore the qualities of balance and decisiveness in the personality [5]
Star of Bethlehem Bach flower remedy reportedly may help in any situation where shock or trauma of any kind has been experienced, whether immediate or in the past [5]
Sweet Chestnut Bach flower remedy reportedly may help those who feel great anguish and to restore connection to their soul's light and love [5]
Vervain Bach flower remedy reportedly may help perfectionists who tend to overwork to restore balance [5]
Vine Bach flower remedy reportedly may help those with a tendency towards domination and need to control others to restore the principle of balanced leadership [5]
Walnut Bach flower remedy reportedly promotes adaptability, emotional flexibility and protection during times of change [5]
Water Violet Bach flower remedy reportedly may help those who often have valuable insight and wisdom to share but due to their gentle, sensitive natures find it hard to communicate this to others [5]
White Chestnut Bach flower remedy reportedly may help those who suffer from a constantly busy mind [5]
Wild Oat Bach flower remedy reportedly may help those who suffer from a state of uncertainty [5]
Wild Rose Bach flower remedy reportedly may help those who suffer from apathy and resignation to restore the qualities of enthusiasm and joy in the process of life [5]
Willow Bach flower remedy reportedly may help those who have suffered adversity or misfortune and find these difficult to accept [5]
Disclaimer: the information contained within this blog post is not meant to replace your doctor or health professional care
[1] Reader's Digest. Curing everyday ailments the natural way. 2000. The Reader's Digest Association, Southern Africa: Cape Town. ISBN:1-919750-25-8. Pages 32 to 33
[2] WebMD. What are Bach Flower Remedies? Alleged News
[3] The Rescue Story; Alleged News
[4] Reader's Digest. Curing everyday ailments the natural way. 2000. The Reader's Digest Assocation, Southern Africa: Cape Town. ISBN:1-919750-25-8. Page 33[5] The 38 Bach Flower Remedies, Alleged Newshttp://www.bach-flowers.co.uk/bach_flower_remedies.asp
With thanks to webmd.com, rescueremedy.com and bach-flowers.co.uk
