Bach Flower
Remedies
The idea and methods of using plants to heal emotional imbalances have existed in many cultures and traditions throughout history. The modern technique of making flower essences was first created in the 1930s by an English physician Edward Bach.
Dr. Bach had a successful medical practice, doing research of vaccines and later becoming interested in homeopathy. However, he became dissatisfied with the way medicine had all of its focus on the disease, ignoring the person living inside the body. “The main reason for the failure of modern medical science is that it is dealing with results and not causes,” he later wrote in Heal Thyself, An explanation of the real cause and cure of disease. Looking for a more holistic approach to medicine, he turned to nature and, in particular plants and especially flowers, being the highest expression of the plant. He abandoned his medical practice and research and their reductionist methods and used intuition to gain insight into the healing power of plants. Of course, using plants as medicine was nothing new, but what was revolutionary in Dr. Bach’s approach was his focus on mental states and emotions instead of physical symptoms. After years of research, one by one, he collected 38 flower remedies and created a new healing system which he considered complete. His enthusiasm about his discovery was obvious: “This system of treatment is the most perfect which has been given to mankind within living memory,” he wrote in the Introduction to The Twelve Healers and Other Remedies, first published in 1933.
Dr. Bach was determined to keep his healing method simple and accessible to everyone, “free from science, free from theories, for everything in Nature is simple”. Indeed, he burned most of his research notes literally in a bonfire, with the intention that they do not mislead anyone, and left concise instructions on the use of his system in just two short books, The Twelve Healers and Heal Thyself.
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A list of Dr. Bach’s remedies
Patterns of Imbalance
The tendency to hide inner mental suffering behind a cheerful face; denial and avoidance of anything painful; conflict avoidance
Positive Qualities
Emotional honesty (including with one’s self); genuine inner peace
Fear and anxiety with no known cause; fear of the unknown
Trust and confidence in meeting the unknown
Excessive focus on imperfections in other people and circumstances and overlooking the positive
Seeing the good within each person or situation
Finding it hard to say “no”; giving up one’s own needs to please others
Serving others out of compassion while staying true to oneself
Insecurity; not trusting one’s own judgement and seeking confirmation from others
Inner certainty, intuition
Fear of losing control and behaving irrationally
Composure coming from the surrender to the wisdom of life
Not learning from experience and repeating the same mistakes
Ability to learn life lessons; wisdom derived from life experiences and observations
Being overbearing, possessive and controlling over the loved ones
Giving love freely and without expectations; respecting others’ boundaries
Living in an idealized future instead of the present moment; escaping reality
Awake, focused presence; feeling grounded
Feeling unclean inside or out; excessive focus on trivialities; exaggerated need for order
Acceptance of self; embracing imperfections
A crisis of confidence caused by being overwhelmed with responsibilities
Confidence to succeed; ability to accept help
Feeling discouraged after a setback; a sense of failure; a weak will
Perseverance; faith
Feeling hopeless and pessimistic about the future
Hope and optimism
Loneliness manifesting in being overly talkative, needy and self-absorbed
Emotional self-sufficiency; compassion
Negative feelings towards others, such as jealousy, envy and hatred
An open heart; love, unity, compassion and gratitude; generosity
Living in, or being affected by, the past; homesickness
Being fully in the present; acceptance of current life conditions
Feelings of fatigue or weariness at just the thought of doing something
Dynamic involvement in life’s tasks; steady flow of energy
Inner tension and irritation caused by being impatient when things or people do not move as quickly as desired
Ability to flow harmoniously and patiently with the life’s natural rhythms and the pace of others
Lack of confidence, self-doubt and poor self-esteem preventing from trying new things and speaking up
Self-confidence; self-expression; ability to take risks
Everyday (identified) fears; shyness and nervousness
Courage and confidence to face life’s challenges
Depression, gloom or despair which have no clear correlation with life events; moodiness
Emotional equilibrium
Being strong and dutiful, but ignoring one’s own limits and needs, which often leads to burn out
Balanced, flexible strength; accepting limits
Mental and physical exhaustion after a period of strain or physical illness
Rejuvenated life force and energy; ability to rest
Feeling of guilt and the tendency to blame ourselves for everything; self-criticism
Self-acceptance and self-forgiveness; ability to move forward despite past regrets
Worry, anxiety or over-concern about others
Compassionate and trusting regard for welfare of others; respect for another’s autonomy
Gripping terror or panic; being in a survival mode
Courage, peace and mental clarity when facing adversity
Being mentally rigid and too hard on one’s self
Flexibility, spontaneity; being in touch with the flow of one’s feelings
Indecision; inability to choose between alternatives; constantly changing moods and opinions
Inner balance and resolve; decisiveness
Shock, grief or trauma - either recent or unhealed from the past
Consolation and comfort
Deepest despair; extreme anguish; the “dark night of the soul”
Faith in life and self; seeing crisis as opportunity for transformation
Excessive enthusiasm in a cause; fanaticism; great intensity and tension, leading to nervous exhaustion
Moderation; tolerance; wise use of energy
Being opinionated, domineering, and forcing one’s will on others
Authentic, compassionate leadership; selfless service
Stressful life transitions; difficulty adapting to change; being overly-influenced by social expectations or values preventing inner change
Freedom from limiting influences; moving on and adapting to change; inner strength to follow one’s path
Being private and self-reliant, to the point of appearing distant and aloof
Easy social connections; ability to share one’s gifts with others
Obsessive, worrying, unwanted thoughts; restless, agitated mind often leading to insomnia
Uncluttered mind; inner peace; balance between feeling and thinking
Uncertainty and confusion about one’s direction in life
Recognizing and following one’s calling; finding purpose and meaning in work
Resignation and apathy; lack of vitality
Will to live; enthusiasm; vitality
Self-pity and resentment; blaming others and seeing oneself as a victim
Acceptance, forgiveness and taking responsibility for one’s life
You can read further descriptions of each remedy, including in Dr. Bach’s own words, at bachcentre.com
Rescue Remedy
Rescue Remedy (also known as Five Flower Formula) is an emergency, stress-relief and first aid remedy. The only combination remedy created by Dr. Bach, it is a synergetic mix of five of the Bach remedies: Star of Bethlehem, Clematis, Rock Rose, Cherry Plum and Impatiens. It is often referred to as the 39th remedy and is used to help in all kinds of crisis situations and emergencies, big and small. It is one of the most popular natural stress-relief remedies in the world, and for a good reason. It counteracts a universal reaction pattern in response to stress: shock (Star of Bethlehem), denial and disconnection from reality (Clematis), overreacting nerves leading to terror and panic (Rock Rose), fear of losing control, evidenced in tension or trembling (Cherry Plum), and agitation and need to act immediately (Impatiens). In the modern world, a situation doesn’t have to be life-threatening in order to be stressful. Below are some examples of situations in which Rescue Remedy is known to be helpful:
When you are extremely disturbed, such as after a heated argument or difficult conversation with your boss
When you are startled or frightened, such as nearly avoiding a car accident
After being in or witnessing an accident
When facing a difficult situation, such as an exam, a job interview, a performance or public speech
Upon hearing bad news
In any situation that’s frightening for you, such as a visit to the dentist or airplane flight
If having a panic attack (in conjunction with any medication and professional support you would seek otherwise)
Being upset by brutality on TV (especially for children)
Rescue Remedy cannot take the place of an emergency medical treatment if that is needed, but will help by making you most receptive to it by bringing emotional and physical relaxation.
Put four drops of Rescue Remedy in a glass of water and sip before, during and/or after a stressful situation until calm is restored.