Bach Flower Remedies
The Bach Flower Remedies are dilutions of flower material developed by Edward Bach an English physician in the 1930s. The remedies help deal with emotional problems such as anxiety, stress, fatigue, insomnia, shyness and low self-esteem and bring back peace and happiness, so that the body is free to heal itself.
The Bach Flower Remedies are 100% safe and natural and work in conjunction with herbs, homeopathy and other medications. They are safe for everyone, including children, pregnant women, pets, elderly and even plants.
The Bach Flower remedies gently restore the balance between mind and body. It provides the body a change to potentiate its own natural healing by allowing the life force to manifest freely again. They achieve this by casting out negative emotions such as fear, worry, hatred and indecision which interfere with the equilibrium of the being as a whole. Moods or state of mind not only retard convalescence and hinder recovery of health but are also primary causes of illness.
The remedies contain a very small amount of flower material in a 50:50 solution of water and brandy. Because the remedies are extremely diluted they do not have a characteristic scent or taste of the plant. These remedies contain ‘energetic’ nature of the flower and that this can be transmitted to the user.
The Bach Flower Therapy has reportedly been used by various celebrities like Princess Diana, Jennifer Aniston, Cate Blanchett, Salma Hayek, Martha Stewart and Hugh Grant, who use the remedies to ease stress, deal with stage fright and long flights, and to promote overall good health.
There are 38 original Bach Flower Remedies, also called the Flower Essences or Bach Remedies. List of Bach Flower Remedies and Their uses
- Aspen — for fear and anxiety of an unknown origin
- Agrimony — for inner suffering and anguish hidden by a smiling or brave face
- Beech — for a critical attitude and for intolerance of shortcomings in others. The remedy helps us to become tolerant and understanding.
- Centaury — for those who do not know how to say ‘No’
- Cerato — for those who are not confident in their assessment or decision
- Cherry Plum — for loss of self-control and for fear they could hurt themselves or others.
- Chestnut Bud — unable to learn from past experiences and mistake. The remedy helps you to understand and remember where you have been repeatedly going wrong.
- Chicory — for those who like to be appreciated by the family for their efforts and may feel hurt if they don’t. The remedy may help them to be less possessive, controlling and manipulative.
- Clematis — for day dreamers who are disinterested in the present. The remedy revives their interest in the present.
- Crab Apple — for those who fear infection and are dissatisfied with their appearance. They may be obsessed with order and cleanliness. It’s a cleansing remedy.
- Elm — for an acute crisis of confidence; when overwhelmed by additional duties or responsibility.
- Gentian — for discouragement and despondency after failure.
- Gorse — for hopelessness and pessimism
- Heather — for people obsessed with themselves, chatterboxes, self-centered.
- Holly — for anger and spite caused by hatred, jealousy and suspicion.
- Honeysuckle — for those who live in the past, nostalgia, homesickness.
- Impatiens — for impatience and irritation.
- Larch — for lack of self-confidence and inferiority complex
- Mimulus — for every day, common fears and anxieties, when a person knows what they are afraid of; also for shyness and timidity.
- Mustard — for sudden depression and dark moods, with no apparent reason.
- Oak — for those who are plodders- optimistic, strong and struggling to overcome the limits of their strength.
- Olive — for physical & mental exhaustion after exertion or after a long day.
- Pine — for self-blame & guilt.
- Red Chestnut — for anxiety, fear and worry for the safety and wellbeing of a loved one.
- Rock Rose — for terror and extreme fear. May help in panic attacks.
- Rock Water — for excessive self-control and self-discipline.
- Scleranthus — for the inability to choose between 2 options. For indecision.
- Star of Bethlehem — for shock, grief or trauma.
- Sweet Chestnut — for ‘a broken heart’, anguish, despair, when there is no way out.
- Vervain — for over enthusiasm.
- Vine — for dominant people who tend to rule others with an ‘iron fist’
- Walnut —to help adapt to change and to protect oneself from outside influences.
- Water Violet — for withdrawn, on interfering, self-sufficient people who may seem proud.
- White Chestnut — for unwanted repetitive thoughts
- Wild Oat —to help decide when one is clueless about his/her career options.
- Wild Rose — for apathy and resignation
- Willow — for bitterness, blaming others, resentment, envy and self-pity
- 5 Flower Remedy/ Rescue Remedy — Emergency Formula for acute stress
The remedies come as a liquid, preserved in brandy. To take them, dilute two drops of each remedy into a 30ml dropper bottle and top up with mineral water. From this mixed bottle take four drops at a time, at least four times a day. Alternatively put the two drops into a glass of water, and sip from that at intervals.
Treatment may consist of a single remedy or a customized blend of up to seven remedies.
The Bach Flower remedies are 100% safe. Normally there is no problem with taking Bach Remedies alongside other medicines. The active ingredient in a flower remedy is energy from the plant, not a physical substance, so it will not interfere with the physical action of the other medicine. Nor will the other medicine stop The Bach Flower Remedy from working.
