Floweressences

Bach Flower Remedies are the original form of Flower Essence Therapy, which Edward Bach, a medical doctor, originated.

Flower essence therapy is a form of alternative medicine which uses diluted sun infusions of thirty eight different flowers. Flower buds are exposed to the sun for several hours in a bowl of spring water. This creates the mother tincture, which is then diluted to form the stock bottles sold commonly in stores. Each remedy is used alone or in conjunction with other remedies. Each flower is believed by advocates to impart specific qualities to the remedy. They are typically specially prepared by a naturopath or other healer for each patient to meet his/her individual needs. These remedies are used primarily for emotional and spiritual conditions, including but not limited to depression, anxiety, insomnia and stress.

The best-known Bach flower remedy is Rescue Remedy, a pre-blended combination of Rock rose, Impatiens, Clematis, Star of Bethlehem and Cherry Plum remedies. Rescue Remedy is so-called because the ingredients are believed to relieve acute stress, anxiety, and panic attacks, especially in emergencies. Rescue Remedy is taken as needed, and is available either in a small spray-bottle, in a glass bottle with an eye-dropper, or as a 'rescue cream' to be rubbed onto the skin. Drops are generally taken under the tongue.

Rescue Remedy and other Bach flower remedies are used on household pets and domestic animals, and have been reported to be effective in calming them and improving problem behaviours. No controlled studies support these claims. Some people claim that they are also useful for the treatment of diseased plants.

Bach Flower Remedies contain no artificial preservatives or additives. Unpreserved, the tinctures are perishable, therefore they are mixed with a grape-alcohol or other alcohol carrier (usually brandy or cognac mixed with water) as a preservative.

Makers of "flower remedies" all over the world have created thousands of additional remedies based on the original principles invented by Edward Bach. The term "flower essences" is also commonly used these days, especially when referring to the non-Bach flower essences being made. Along with the sun-bowl method of preparation pioneered by Bach, a few other techniques have been developed which have been found effective, including some non-cutting methods. Currently over 400 small (i.e., one or two people) to medium (i.e., up to fifteen or so employees) flower essence makers are active around the world, from Alaska to Australia, Brazil and India. In Britain alone over sixty different makers are registered with the British Association of Flower Essence Producers (BAFEP). Bach's work has inspired a tremendous area of research worldwide. Some makers are producing other "vibrational essences," using more diverse sources such as minerals/gemstones, nonflowering plants, sea life, mushrooms, cacti, metals, intuitive methods, and natural environments.


List of Bach flower remedies
The Dr. Edward Bach Centre in the United Kingdom presents this list of the thirty eight remedies discovered by Dr Bach and directed at a specific characteristic or emotional state.

Agrimony – mental torture behind a cheerful face 
Aspen – fear of unknown things 
Beech – intolerance 
Centaury – inability to say 'no' 
Cerato – lack of trust in one's own decisions 
Cherry Plum – fear of the mind giving way 
Chestnut Bud – failure to learn from mistakes 
Chicory – selfish, possessive love 
Clematis – dreaming of the future without working in the present 
Crab Apple – cleansing remedy, also for self-hatred 
Elm – overwhelmed by responsibility 
Gentian – discouragement after a setback 
Gorse – hopelessness and despair 
Heather – self-centredness and self-concern 
Holly – hatred, envy and jealousy 
Honeysuckle – living in the past 
Hornbeam – procrastination, tiredness at the thought of doing something 
Impatiens – impatience 
Larch – lack of confidence and self-steem 
Mimulus – fear of known things 
Mustard – deep gloom for no reason 
Oak – the plodder who keeps going past the point of exhaustion 
Olive – exhaustion following mental or physical effort 
Pine – guilt 
Red Chestnut – over-concern for the welfare of loved ones 
Rock Rose – terror and fright 
Rock Water – self-denial, rigidity and self-repression 
Scleranthus – inability to choose between alternatives 
Star of Bethlehem – shock 
Sweet Chestnut – Extreme mental anguish, when everything has been tried and there is no light left 
Vervain – over-enthusiasm 
Vine – dominance and inflexibility 
Walnut – protection from change and unwanted influences 
Water Violet – pride and aloofness 
White Chestnut – unwanted thoughts and mental arguments 
Wild Oat – uncertainty over one's direction in life 
Wild Rose – drifting, resignation, apathy 
Willow – self-pity and resentment