What Are Flower Essences?
Developed by English physician Edward Bach in the 1930s, flower essences are infusions made from diluted flowers that are used to address issues related to emotional wellbeing, soul development and mind-body health. The process to create flower essences is called sun steeping, which is basically the placing of freshly picked flowers in a bowl of water and leaving it exposed to the sun for a couple of hours. Once the vibrational imprint of the flowers has been infused into the water, a minuscule amount of brandy is added to it for preservation.
Unlike herbal remedies or essential oils, flower essences do not contain any physical substance extracted from the plants, only its healing vibration. Flower essences act as a catalyst for change at a deep emotional level. The use of flower essences can help the person connect on a spiritual level.
How Do Flower Essences Work?
Negative emotions and thoughts, and even physical conditions, can be treated by choosing a flower essence that suits the patient's temperament and their current state of mind. The energetic imprint of a flower is not applied directly to a physical complaint but used to alleviate feelings of anxiety and worry, which are found to be the primary causes of illness. Flower essences work on a vibrational level, allowing the life force to flow freely and restore harmony and balance the mind and body.
Flower essences may be used alone or in conjunction with other infusions, and each solution is said to impart specific qualities. These natural remedies are usually taken orally but may also be used externally. People would consult a qualified naturopath, nutritionist or herbalist for a flower-essence therapy.
What Are the Benefits of Flower Essences?
The energetic imprint of a flower can alleviate a wide range of mental and emotional problems, magically shifting negative thoughts and feelings into positive ones. This process supports creativity and confidence, joy and mental clarity. There have also been numerous reports about the efficacy of flower-essence therapy in forging healthier relationships, promoting kindness and forgiveness, and cultivating a deeper connection with one's higher self. Moreover, flower essences were found to be useful for various conditions, including:
- Anxiety and depression
- Stress
- Low self-esteem
- Fears and phobias
- Self-sabotaging behaviour
- Trauma
What Are Bach Flower Essences?
Bach believed that illness originates from the patient's mood and temperament and identified the seven categories of negative states of mind, which are as follows:
- Apprehension
- Uncertainty and indecision
- Loneliness
- Insufficient interest in present circumstances
- Over sensitiveness to ideas and Influence
- Despondency and despair
- Over care for the welfare of others
To address these, he prepared 38 flower remedies, which later came to be known as Bach Flower Remedies. The list of flowers below is said to be extremely therapeutic for negative thoughts and emotions:
- Agrimony
- Aspen
- Beech
- Centaury
- Cerato
- Cherry Plum
- Chestnut Bud
- Chicory
- Clematis
- Crab Apple
- Elm
- Gentian
- Gorse
- Heather
- Holly
- Honeysuckle
- Hornbeam
- Impatiens
- Larch
- Mimulus
- Mustard
- Oak
- Olive
- Pine
- Red Chestnut
- Rock Rose
- Rock Water
- Scleranthus
- Star of Bethlehem
- Sweet Chestnut
- Vervain
- Vine
- Walnut
- Water Violett
- White Chestnut
- Wild Oat
- Wild Rose
- Willow
After Bach's works spread throughout the world, hundreds of different remedies were produced to help people deal with the issues of the modern world. Herbalist Ian White developed the Australian Bush Flower Essences which can help address various issues in life, including communication problems, learning disabilities, creativity, self-esteem, sexuality, abundance, and spirituality, to name a few.
What Can You Expect From Flower Essences?
Just like other natural therapies, flower essences do not produce results overnight. It works on the root of the problem instead of providing temporary relief, so it could take a month before the client feels and sees its profound effects. During their initial consultation with a qualified health practitioner, the client will be asked about their emotional issues. Then, the practitioner will educate them on the flowers they are to use.
The practitioner will give the client a bottle of flower essences which they have to take for one month. After this period, the practitioner checks in with the client to see their progress. While some people would see positive results after just two weeks, this is not the case for everybody.
A consultation can take anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour, depending on the issue that the client presents. Some practitioners offer their consultations for flower essences online, which happen to be beneficial for many people, especially those who prefer to receive treatment at home or live in remote areas.
Is Flower Essences Safe?
A flower-essences therapy is completely safe and can be used by anyone. It doesn't pose any side effects since the solution only contains the vibrational energy of the flowers, not their physical parts. Even when used alongside other therapies or conventional medications, flower essences won't produce negative drug interactions.
