Flower essences are dilute extracts of
various types of flowers and plants that are used to treat animals
and people. They are similar to homeopathic remedies in that they
are diluted and potentized to make them more effective than just
using the original flower as a herbal extract. The person who first
developed the original flower remedies was Dr. Edward Bach, a famous
English physician. He developed the Bach Flower Remedies when he was
working as a homeopathic practitioner and devoted the last years of
his life to researching and developing his remedies, from 1930
onwards. He wanted to find a simpler form of treatment that would
not require anything to be destroyed or altered.
flower essence repertory
Dr. Bach believed that diseases of the body
come about as a result of imbalances or negativity at the level of
the soul, and by correcting the problem here healing would result
and the body would heal on all levels. The flower remedies act to
balance inharmonies in the emotional and spiritual body, and bring
about a gentle healing by bringing the body back in balance with
itself. They act almost a catalysts to cause healing. There were
originally thirty eight Bach Flower Remedies that at that time Dr.
Bach felt would correct all imbalances that were possible. There are
remedies such as Holly which he found would heal the state of anger,
and open the heart, and remedies that deal with a variety of other
emotions from lack of confidence to over enthusiasm and impatience.
Animals respond just as well to Bach Flower
remedies as people, and seem to have similar emotional imbalances
that can be corrected with the appropriate remedy. The flowers are
gathered from nature when they are just at the point of perfection
and it is important that the flowers are free from any toxins and
preservatives. The remedies are made by leaving the flower out in
the sun and the extracted essence is then diluted in water and
preserved with alcohol to make a mother tincture. The resulting
remedy is then diluted in spring water to make a solution that can
be taken by an animal or a person.
Subsequent to Bach's work other Flower
Essence Societies have been formed and remedies have been developed
that are appropriate to that particular area, or the times we are
living in. The most important of these are the California Flower
Essences that are developed from native American plants in the
Sierra Nevada foothills in California. The Flower Essence Society
has developed an extensive research program and been very important
in helping people understand and use Flower Remedies as a healing
tool.