If ever a healing gift from nature were right under our noses, it is the
gift of the plant life on this planet. Walk on them, weed them, pick
them as you like, but know what jewels lie beneath your feet.
Quick history lesson
In the early 1900's, Edward Bach was a British physician and
immunologist who believed that illness was not merely "the dysfunction
of the human machine" but an effect of disharmony between mind and body.
Symptoms of illness were the external expression of negative emotional
states. And so he began his search for soul remedies that would ease or
relieve emotional states such as grief, resentment, fear,
dissatisfaction…
In his quest for these remedies, Bach would go to the countryside,
pick a single flower petal, and place it on his tongue. He had been
gifted with clear intuition and extreme sensitivity such that he was
able to feel the effect in his body. And so began years of research that
revealed the healing and balancing properties of flowers and their
influence on human emotions.
Bach correlated mental and emotional states to 38 different wild
flowers and blossoms. He then created his famous Bach Flower Essences by using a sun infusion method to transfer the essence of the flower into a water medium.
The role of flower essences
Bach Flower Essences are not drugs, fragrances, essential oils,
homeopathy, or herbs, but they can be used in conjunction with any therapy. In the quest for wholeness, illness is a wake-up call from our soul, demanding self-discovery and sensitivity to the world around us.
Illness requires that we change our inner attitudes, beliefs, and
perceptions. Flower essences, like true friends, gently challenge us to greater self-awareness and change.
Putting flower essences to use
When considering a flower essence combination, you do not want to put all of life's issues into one bottle! Could they possibly all fit?
Instead, choose the one emotional issue that is most in your face.
Combine those flowers that relate to that one issue. Experience shows that the fewer essences in a combination, the more immediate the results. Aim for no more than 5 essences per combo, but of course no rule is rigid.
Here are two examples of helpful, flower essence combinations. If
one of these formulas sounds like "just what you need," you could either purchase and combine the appropriate essences yourself, or ask Thymely Solutions to prepare the desired combo bottle for you! This is a service few people know about. To make a combination dosage bottle, fill a one-ounce dropper bottle * full with pure water. Add 15 drops of brandy
to preserve the mixture, plus 4 drops of each of the appropriate mother
essences.
1. Grief - When considering any emotional "picture", there are going to
be specific issues unique to each circumstance. Star of Bethlehem calms
and soothes the shock of death or tragedy. Borage renews the heart with
courage. Fuschia and Golden Ear Drops contact the repressed emotions and
the held back tears. Dandelion is exceptional for the grief that feels
achy and stuck in the physical body. Honeysuckle assists one in letting
go of the past and embrace the here and now. Wild Rose aids those
withdrawn and numbed by grief. And, finally, Sagebrush is for the
sage-like acceptance of any kind of loss.
2. Indecision - Ever have indecision? For some it is experienced when a
once-in-a-lifetime choice must be made. For others, indecision occupies
their everyday. Scleranthus is for fluctuating between two
possibilities, the "back and forth" deliberation. Tansy for
procrastination, delaying decisions. Wild Oat for wavering about one's
life purpose and vocation, lacking direction. Larch for indecision due
to lack of self-confidence. Cerato for the person needing constant
advise from others and Mullein to assist in finding one's own inner
guidance.
3. Interesting Times - Let's face it, life has its moments. If one
flower essence combination could just be poured into the city water
system, wouldn't you want it to be this one by Fox Mountain? It is
particularly effective when all that is safe and familiar begins to
dissolve. A must for transitions.
An awesome reference
Flower Essence Repertory, a Comprehensive Guide to North American and
English Flower Essences for Emotional and Spiritual Well-being. This
book is essential for the understanding of energetic healing medicine.
You will reach for this book for many years to come. In fact, you may
never need another book on flower essences!