What is Bach Flower Remedies?

Developed by Edward Bach in the early 1900s, Bach Flower Remedies is a system of 38 flower essences used in conjunction with herbs, homeopathy, and medications that seeks to correct emotional imbalances by working on the subtle body instead of the physical body. The pattern in the subtle energy fields of the living plant influences the subtle energy fields of the human being. Rescue Remedy and other Bach Flower Remedies can also be used on household pets and domestic animals to improve problem behaviour.

How does it work?

A Bach flower practitioner will encourage the client to talk about the issues and problems which they are currently facing in their life. The practitioner assesses the whole individual, focusing on the disposition or negative emotions of the person, such as fear, impatience, or over-concern. An essence or combination of essences is then chosen to facilitate change and they are administered orally.

The Bach Flower Remedies

There are thirty-eight original Bach remedies plus the well known Rescue Remedy TM which is a combination of 5 Bach remedies, each prescribed for certain mental and emotional problems. They form a complete system with which practitioners treat every variety of human emotional imbalances. There are many other flower remedies that have been created all around the world to create additional remedies based on the original principles invented by Bach. These are most commonly referred to as Flower Essences.

The Dr. Edward Bach Centre, which is the Centre founded by Dr Bach to promote and preserve his work, presents this list of the thirty eight remedies discovered by Dr Bach and directed at a specific characteristic or emotional state.

1. Agrimony for mental torture behind a cheerful face
2. Aspen for fear of unknown things
3. Beech for intolerance
4. Centaury for inability to say 'no'
5. Cerato for lack of trust in one's own decisions
6. Cherry Plum for fear of the mind giving way
7. Chestnut Bud (made with horse chestnut buds) for failure to learn from mistakes
8. Chicory for selfish, possessive love
9. Clematis for dreaming of the future without working in the present
10. Crab Apple for cleansing remedy, also for self-hatred
11. Elm for overwhelmed by responsibility
12. Gentian for discouragement after a setback
13. Gorse for hopelessness and despair
14. Heather for self-centeredness and self-concern
15. Holly for hatred, envy and jealousy
16. Honeysuckle for living in the past
17. Hornbeam for procrastination, tiredness at the thought of doing something
18. Impatiens for impatience
19. Larch for lack of confidence and self-esteem
20. Mimulus for fear of known things
21. Mustard for deep gloom for no reason
22. Oak for the plodder who keeps going past the point of exhaustion
23. Olive for exhaustion following mental or physical effort
24. Pine for guilt
25. Red Chestnut (a type of horse chestnut)for over-concern for the welfare of loved ones
26. Rock Rose for terror and fright
27. Rock Water for self-denial, rigidity and self-repression
28. Scleranthus for inability to choose between alternatives
29. Star of Bethlehem for shock
30. Sweet Chestnut for Extreme mental anguish, when everything has been tried and there is no light left
31. Vervain for over-enthusiasm
32. Vine for dominance and inflexibility
33. Walnut for protection from change and unwanted influences
34. Water Violet for pride and aloofness
35. White Chestnut (made with horse chestnut blossoms) for unwanted thoughts and mental arguments
36. Wild Oat for uncertainty over one's direction in life
37. Wild Rose for drifting, resignation, apathy
38. Willow for self-pity and resentment

Source: Various

You may also be interested in Aromatherapy Oil, Body Harmony, or an Emotional Therapist.