by Deanne Apostolou
October 2021
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The Magic of Bach Flowers
Bach Flowers, what are they? How are they magical?
Dr Edward Bach was a doctor turned homoeopath, born in 1886 in
Birmingham, UK, who believed that all sickness comes from an
imbalance on a deeper level. “There is no true healing unless there is a
change in outlook, inner happiness & peace of mind” Dr Edward Bach,
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With this concept in mind, Dr Bach developed a simple system of 38 different flower essences that work on a vibrational level, rather than on a biochemic or nutritional level. We are very much aware in this current time that stress can have a very negative, physical effect on our body. I believe the Bach Flower Remedies (BFR) have a very special and magical effect on us, whether we believe in their magic or not, and I use them all the time, for my patients, myself and my family.
One of my very first experiences of the power of BFR was in my first year of study for Herbal Medicine – let’s just say it was a very long time ago 😊. Somebody ran into my car on my way home from work one night, and my legs wouldn’t stop shaking. Luckily, I had some Rescue Remedy in my bag and I took a dose. It settled the shakes immediately, but they started again about fifteen minutes later. I took another dose and my legs stopped shaking, this time the effect lasted about half an hour. They started shaking again and I took yet another dose, which lasted long enough to allow me to safely drive home. I was truly impressed with how much the remedy calmed me down to think clearly and get home safely.
Rescue Remedy is a blend of 5 different BFR that Dr Bach developed to do exactly as the name implies – rescue you! Here’s a brief overview of the 5 remedies in Rescue Remedy:
Clematis helps you to remain focused
Cherry Plum helps you to stop panicking, or being anxious
Impatiens helps you to remain calm
Rock Rose helps to calm down extreme terror
Star of Bethlehem is for shock.
Rescue Remedy is available in different forms such as pastilles (lollies), liquid essence, or as a spray. You can even buy it from your local supermarket, although I strongly believe it is better if it is diluted in a herbal medicine base which enhances it’s calming effect.
BFRs can be used for people of all ages, from babies through to the elderly, as well as pets and plants. You can dab a drop or two on the feet or wrist of a baby or an elderly person, or on the back of the neck of your pet or even dilute it in water for your plants. They are made from the vibrational energy of plants, they are a very safe, simple and effective method of treating the myriad of emotional responses we have to circumstances going on around us. A practitioner who uses BFRs will be able to prescribe the flower essences that are best suited to you for the emotional state that you are experiencing at the time of talking to them. Each remedy has certain ‘key words’ that are indicative of their use. We listen carefully to the words you use when talking to us. As an example, words such as, I’m overwhelmed - Elm, I’m exhausted - Olive, I can’t take this anymore – Gorse. BFRs help to change your attitude to your circumstances. Of course, we can do this ourselves if we can catch our negative, deprecating self-talk, but BFR just help to give you that little something extra when taking them regularly.
Choosing a favourite remedy is like choosing a favourite child, so I won’t call these my favourites, but instead they are some of the remedies that I use most often 😊:
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Elm: for the person who is overwhelmed; who is trying to do too much; trying to please everyone; over commits themselves; takes on too much responsibility. Elm can help you to delegate and teach you that other people can be just as efficient when given a chance to prove themselves.
Red Chestnut: this one is especially important at the moment – for the sensitive person who takes on the feelings and anxieties of everyone around them; for the person who cries for the whole world; hypersensitivity – both physically and emotionally. Red Chestnut helps you to understand the pain of those around you, but not actually take it on as your own. Helps you to step back far enough to practically helps others.
Gentian: for grief and loss (of a person, a job, a way of life), depression, pessimism, someone who has suffered too many disappointments and discouragement. Gentian helps you to grieve but not to wallow in your situation; helps you to face life’s challenges with a positive outlook.
White Chestnut: this remedy is great for those who can’t turn their mind off, their mind is on a merry-go-round and they often can’t sleep because they can’t switch it off; inability to concentrate because thoughts are spinning round and round in their head. White Chestnut helps you to quiet the mind chatter, a quiet mind is a clear mind.
Olive: mental and physical exhaustion/fatigue; can not get themselves motivated to get up and get going; tears of exhaustion; complete burn out. Olive helps to restore vitality and energy.
Gorse: when everything is dark and gloomy around them; hopelessness, despair, and despondency. Gorse helps to turn the light on at the end of the tunnel, helps them to see a way out of their despair.
Aspen: is for the ‘what ifs’ – what if this happens, what if that happens; irrational fear; they are apprehensive and fearful about everything, they can have anxiety over certain things, or about everything; they often feel the physical effects of anxiety as well – butterflies in the stomach, shaking, palpitation, sweating, headache. Aspen helps to put things back into perspective; “release the fear and do it anyway”; it can stop letting fear get in your way of doing and achieving.
Image from: Nelsons Homeopathic Pharmacy
Gosh, if you’re like me, you’re probably thinking you need every remedy! I think that’s normal! But that’s exactly why it’s a great idea to ask someone to prescribe remedies for you. Your practitioner can create a mix of herbs and BFRs, or just BFRs depending on your personal situation.
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I love my Bach Flower Remedies, I take them everyday, there’s always something going on….