Bach Flower Essences

"This system of healing...shows

that is it our fears, our cares,

our anxieties...that open the path

to the invasion of illness..."

                                                  Dr. Edward Bach

History of Bach Flower Essences:

Fifty years ago, doctor and researcher Dr. Edward Bach developed "flower essence therapy", which focuses on mental and emotional factors as causes of illness, and aims to treat psychological rather than physical symptoms of an illness.  Bach believed that one's fears and anxieties opened the door to illness.  Through flower essence therapy, an individual's soul is treated first -- physical issues second.

Bach developed 38 flower essences, each with a unique role.  Like homeopathy, flower essence therapy is like peeling away the layers of an onion.  Each time an individual takes a floral remedy, another layer of the personality is exposed, sometimes requiring an additional or entirely different remedy.  Several remedies may be indicated until all layers of the psyche have been revealed and the individual feels at ease and no longer suffers from a corresponding physical illness.

It is important to note that not all psychological conditions are treatable or necessarily signs of an illness.  Instead, they may be a significant part of an individual's personality and what makes them unique. 

The following is a list of the 38 Bach Flower Essences with keyword indications:

1.  Agrimony:  mental torment behind brave front

2.  Aspen:   unknown fears, anxiety

3.  Beech:  fault-finding, intolerant

4.  Centaury:  docile, weak-willed

5.  Cerato:  lacks courage, self-doubt

6.  Cherry Plum:  fear of losing control, uncontrollable impulses, delusions

7.  Chestnut Bud:  failure to learn from past

8.  Chicory:  possessive love, self-pity/self-love

9.  Clematis:  dreamer, disinterest in present moment

10.  Crab Apple:  sense of uncleanliness, contaminated

11.  Elm:  overwhelmed by responsibilities

12.  Gentian:  discouraged, disappointed from setbacks

13.  Gorse:  hopelessness

14.  Heather:  must be center of attention, self-involvement

15.  Holly:  jealousy, anger, bitter

16.  Honeysuckle:  nostalgia, living in past, regrets

17.  Hornbeam:  lack of energy, low vitality

18.  Impatiens:  impatience

19.  Larch:  low self-esteem, expects failure

20.  Mimulus:  known fears

21.  Mustard:  sudden depression from unknown cause

22.  Oak:  responsible, but takes on more than can handle

23.  Olive:  extreme mental/physical exhaustion

24.  Pine:  perfectionism, self-blame, guilt

25.  Red Chestnut:  overconcern for well-being of others

26.  Rock Rose:  panic, terror, hysteria

27.  Rock Water:  self-denial, strict with self

28.  Scleranthus:  indecisive

29.  Star of Bethlehem:  sudden grief, shock

30.  Sweet Chestnut:  extreme mental anguish

31.  Vervain:  overenthusiastic, opinionated, overbearing

32.  Vine:  domineering, arrogant, bossy

33.  Walnut:  easily influenced by others

34.  Water Violet:  aloof, proud, avoid argument

35.  White Chestnut:  obsessive thoughts, restless mind

36.  Wild Oat:  uncertain of path in life

37.  Wild Rose:   makes no effort, low vitality

38.  Willow:  bitterness, resentment, blame others

**An additional Flower Essence known as Rescue Remedy, is useful in emergent and stressful situations.  Rescue Remedy is a combination of five Flower Essences:   Clematis, Cherry Plum, Impatiens, Rock Rose and Star of Bethlehem.