The Gentle Healing Energy of Bach Flower Remedies

I am sure you have all heard of Rescue Remedy – it’s a household name – but did you know that there are 38 more Bach remedies?  This means we can make up a blend particularly suited to your emotional or physical state.  Your own personal remedy if you like. You can get Bach Flower remedies from most naturopaths and health stores these days.

The remedies use the healing power of the vibrational energy of nature to soothe emotions and physical complaints.

British homeopath Andrew Tresider said that “The healing power of nature has been known almost since time began. Flowers and plants uplift us. Scents give pleasure, colours and forms entrance us, and the whole splendour of nature nurtures us. On a more physi­cal level, plants give us food and medi­cines.

But it is the invisible level, the level of vibrations, that is really fascinating. Science is starting to get interested in what we all know is true – the healing power of flowers. In the 16th Century Paracelsus described the healing power of dew from flowers. Everything in the world is composed of vibrations, nature (and music) use these vibrations to pro­vide harmonious patterns.”

The Bach Flower Remedies are 38 homeopathically prepared plant and flower based remedies, directed towards releasing negative moods or unhelpful emotions. Each one was created to treat a different mood or emotional block.

Rescue Remedy is a combination of the 5 Bach flowers - Cherry Plum, Clematis, Impatiens, Rock Rose and Star of Bethlehem - which has a particularly calming and stabilising effect during times of extreme, stress, shock, terror and crisis. So it is a great remedy to use after an accident, in times of bereavement, going to the dentist, for exam nerves or wedding jitters as it helps to soothe fear, panic, stress and tension. 

Each of the remedies has their own particular vibrational – emotional and physical - signature and were discovered in the 1920s and 1930s by Dr Edward Bach, an English bacteriologist, physician and pathologist. Dr Bach was a medical doctor and home­opath as well. He is known in homeopathy for the Bach Nosodes, made from bowel flora but he is best known for creating the range of Bach flower essences.

Using his knowledge of homeopathy, Dr. Edward Bach created the Bach Flower Remedies in the 1930s, after observing that morning dew contained potency healing qualities of the whole plant. His philosophy was “A healthy mind ensures a healthy body” and he sought to restore emotional equilibrium, which would, of course, in turn restore physical health.

The remedies are natural and completely safe and can be used by all the family. They are completely safe to use during pregnancy and can even be used effectively to treat animals. There are vets who use them in clinic now. They are free of any side effects and do not interact with medication.

Each remedy is associated with a basic human emotion. Take Red Chestnut for example. This remedy is helpful for those who fear for the wellbeing of others. While we all care for our loved ones, in these cases, the fear is magnified to epic proportions. Using this remedy helps us to feel more calm, and be less worried about our loved ones. So they in turn are not affected by our concern. Two of my favourite  Bach essences are Olive (for exhaustion) and Elm (for when you feel overwhelmed).

Everything has a vibrational signature unique to its origin -  whether person, animal, plant or inanimate object!   Mental, emotional, and physical diseases also have a unique vibrational signature. Bach remedies match these vibrational frequencies to correct and balance.

Dr Bach designed his system to be simple.   You simply mix the relevant remedies together to match your current mood and emotional and physical state. You then take a dose of 4 drops under the tongue 4 times a day. It is well known that emotions affect our state of health so healing on an emotional level will obviously help the physical body to be healthy. Dr Bach said that “a healthy emotional life and a balanced personality will allow your body to find its own natural state of health.”

The remedies are grouped into seven major emotional groups:  fear, loneliness, insufficient interest in present circumstances, despondency or despair, uncertainty, over-sensitivity to influences and ideas, and over-care for the welfare of others. Dr Bach categorized 38 negative states of mind under these groups, then formulated a plant or flower remedy to match and treat each of these emotional states. And these are the remedies we still use today.

Nowadays there are many flower essence systems all around the world – the First Light Flower Essences of New Zealand, Alaskan Bush Essences, Australian Bush Flower Essences. If you haven’t tried them, then give them a try.

You can find out more about Bach Flower Remedies here.

By Joanna Vinsen Loveys BNatMed HbT