There is an alternative healthcare treatment that is dependable on the energies generated from the flowers of plants, shrubs and trees. This system using these energies is the Bach Flower Remedies.

The Bach Flower Remedies system of 38 remedies are made from the flowers of plants, shrubs and trees, almost all of which are found growing wild in Britain. The system was evolved by Dr Edward Bach, a physician and homeopath who in 1930 gave up his successful Harley Street practice to develop his healing work using plants. It is said that he developed great sensitivity and that by holding a plant in his hand he had such strong perception of its energy that he sensed its properties in himself.

This flower essence remedies are simply made by soaking the flower in spring water and letting them sit in the sun. There is no preservative used except brandy.

How to Prescribe

The flower remedies are prescribed according to the states of mind, moods and personality straits; it does not follow that they are not effective for physical problems, but they will affect the body through the mind.

Up to 6 or 7 remedies can be mixed together, though they may also be taken singly.

The 38 remedies cover a remarkable range of emotional states from helping someone to recover from shock or trauma to giving confidence before interviews or examinations, and even enable us to get over jet-lag more quickly!

They are completely safe for old and young, pregnant women and animals.

Plants also benefit from them – never throw away unwanted mixtures of remedies; give them to your plants, which should thrive and flourish as a result.

Preparation and Dosage

10ml dropper bottles of the remedies –known as stock bottles – are available form most chemists, herbal suppliers. For immediate use, the remedies should be taken in a small quantity of water.

If one needs these remedies over a period of time, then get a 30ml bottle from a chemist and fill it nearly to the top with still spring water.

Add 2 drops of each of the chosen remedies If you need to preserve the mixture then put a spoonful of brandy to preserve the it. ( it will last about 3 weeks without brandy, perhaps longer if you keep it in the refrigerator.)

Take 4 drops at least 4 times a day, either in a drink or directly on the tongue, taking care not to touch the dropper with your tongue or the mixture may become cloudy as a result.

When dealing with intense feelings, you can take the remedies more often: every 15-20 minutes is fine.

Combinations

Rescue Remedy in particular:

  • is the most widely known combination of Bach Remedy
  • is available already made up in stock bottles from most herbal or whole-food suppliers.
  • contains 5 different flower essences: star of Bethleham, for shock; rock rose, to help deal with panic, for tension and impatience; cherry plum, for the fear of losing control and clematis, to help focus the mind and prevent fainting.
  • possible uses are many: after physical or emotional shock, during a panic attack or near accident, or after receiving bad news. It will calm children waking with night mares. Rescue remedy is also available as an ointment known as rescue cream, which is for external use on lesions, rashes, burns etc.

Other combinations is based on individual circumstances and need you to mix then up.

Take for example if for jet-lag, try the rescue cream with the addition of walnut and scleranthus.

Keep taking mixture frequently until you are accustomed to the new time zone.

A number of remedies are helpful before tests or interviews: larch builds confidence, white chestnuts frees the mind of worrying thought, scleranthus helps with the decision-making, aspen keeps fears at bay, and impatiens may prevent you rushing.

As you become more familiar with the flower remedies, you will make up your own combinations – the complete safety of this system, even for babies and young animals, means that you can explore bits possibilities on yourself and family without risk, as long as you dilute the remedies well for younger patients.

Some people are skeptical about the power of the Bach flower remedies, but herbalists have had some remarkable results through using them.

The 38 Remedies are tabulated as follows:

1

Agrimony

for those who use a cheerful exterior to disguise their inner pain

2

Aspen

allays fears which are vague or unconscious in origin, fears of the intangible or of death.

3

Beech

encourages tolerance in those who are arrogant or critical of others

4

Centaury

for those who feel unassertive. weak-willed or imposed upon by others; this remedy helps them determine and realize what they want

5

Cerato

relates to inner certainty; helps people who doubt their own judgement and constantly seek advice.

6

Cheery Plum

provide reassurance for those who feel they may be on the verge of a breakdown, or “going out of their mind”

7

Chestnut Bud

helps people to lean by their mistakes, for those who find it hard to become wiser through experience, or who repeat old patterns

8

Chicory

enables you to let go for those who are over-possessive of loved ones

9

Clematis

aids concentration in those that are dreamy, unfocused or vague.

10

Crab apple

Known as “the cleanser”; helpful for shame, negative feelings about self, after rape or abuse. Often effective for hay fever or rhinitis

11

Elm

relates to responsibility; helpful for those who take on more than they can deal with, and become overwhelmed

12

Gentian

restores faith in the process of life. Useful for despondency or depression, when cause is known

13

Gorse

restores hope for those who have given up; despair or chronic illness may be part of the picture.

14

Heather

for those obsessed with their own problems; helps develop compassion.

15

Holly

for rage, jealousy, anger or any negative emotion; paradoxically, it also helps you contact your true feelings when you fell “cut off”.

16

Honeysuckle

for those nostalgic for the past; honeysuckle will enable letting go and embracing the present.

17

Hornbeam

restores energy when you feel temporarily unmotivated or procrastinate; often called the “Monday morning” remedy.

18

Impatiens

for impatience and irritability; people who find it hard to work in a team because of these equalities may benefit.

19

Larch

enhances self –confidence and helps you overcome feelings of inferiority or fear of failure.

20

Mimulus

helps deal with fears of known or tangible things, gives courage in the case of phobias

21

Mustard

helps reinstate optimism in people wo experience sudden depression without a known cause

22

Oak

relates to strength and endurance; for those who over-achieve or set themselves impossibly high goals

23

Olive

regenerates peace and balance after long perios of overwork or emotional exhaustion

24

Pine

helps you to forgive yourself; useful for those with an over-developed sense of guilt.

25

Red Chestnut

relates to compassion and solitude; helpful for people who are obsessive about their concern for others, to the point where they project all their own fears onto them.

26

Rock rose

reassures where there is panic, terror or sudden alarm.

27

Rock water

not actually a flower, but derived from spring water in natural locations, this remedy frees up people who keep themselves under rigid self-control or self denial.

28

Scleranthus

grounding, helps us make decisions and allays uncertainty or mood swing

29

Star of Bethlehem

reassures after shock or trauma, sudden loss or accident

30

Sweet Chestnuts-

helps release the user from a state of hopeless despair.

31

Vervain

restores balance to the person who expends energy in over –enthusiasm or fanatical beliefs; has a gentle sedative action

32

Vine

relates to qualities of authority and leadership; in the negative vine state, a person may be controlling, ruthless and power hungry.

33

Walnut

A protective remedy, helping you through periods of transition or gateways; walnut facilitates change

34

Water violet

relates to humility – indications include withdrawn behavior, deliberate isolation- the person is reserved and proud

35

White chestnut

dispels persistent unwanted thoughts, often used for insomnia

36

Wild Oat

Helps people find their true direction, purpose or career and thus fulfillment.

37

Wild Rose

Recreates motivation for those who are apathetic or resigned

38

Willow

Helps give you a sense of personal responsibility: someone in a negative willow frame of mind feels bitter, like a victim, and blames others.