Bach: Flower Essences for Everyone
By Donna McLaughlin Schwender
Bach Flower Essence’s Rescue Remedy was my first encounter with the concept of flower therapy and the use of a flower essence to aid in good health. Since that day, my home is never without some form of Rescue Remedy whether it’s the liquid flower essence or the spray or cream version of this popular Bach remedy.
It always amazes me when I encounter a person who’s never heard about Bach remedy products. I’ve used them for so long and for so many reasons that I forget that not everyone has had the pleasure of being introduced to a flower essence. Allow me to do that for you now by giving you a little information about this extremely natural and safe approach that’s often described as a form of alternative medicine.
Of course, I should begin with a brief introduction about Bach Flower Essence’s approach to healing. Dr. Edward Bach was deeply involved with the practice of homeopathy during the 1920’s and 1930’s. For those of you who are unfamiliar with homeopathy, in its basic element it’s the process of using “like to treat like.” An example of this would be using a diluted concentration of a poison ivy formula to treat an itch-related problem.
I know - it sounds strange at first, but there’s more to it than I can possibly convey to you in this brief article. Search for homeopathy in any search engine and you’ll be surprised at the volumes of information that you find. Such would also be the case for searches pertaining to flower essence and/or Bach remedy information. I wouldn’t be honest however if I didn’t mention that both homeopathy and flower essence therapy have their share of non-believers, just as other forms of alternative medicine do such as the ever-increasingly popular treatments of acupuncture, reflexology, and reiki.
Flower essences, which were first developed by Dr. Bach and that are considered by many to be homeopathic preparations, are created by extracting the “essence” of the plant material by heating it in natural water either via the heat of the sun or by boiling the mixture. These essences are then diluted further by being mixed with a base liquid such as brandy that acts as a preservative. One chooses a Bach remedy to aid in bringing harmony and balance into their system based on their emotional state not their physical condition. The diluted Bach remedy is then taken by drops placed under the tongue, mixed in one’s water bottle, etc. As previously mentioned, cream and spray-forms of Rescue Remedy are also available.
I should mention that Rescue Remedy, which is most often used during periods of stress or in times of emergency, is a mixture of “Star of Bethlehem for shock, Rock Rose for terror and panic, Cherry Plum for lack of self-control, Impatiens for agitation, and Clematis to counteract faintness and bemusement.” There are thirty-eight other individual Bach essence products to choose from; they include such essences as Beech for people who are critical and Pine for people who are always apologizing.
Visit www.bachfloweressences.co.uk to gain a better understanding about Bach Flower Essence’s major contributions to the world of flower therapy. Here you’ll find valuable information about the Bach International Education Programme which provides online courses and listings for local classes, downloadable Bach flower brochures about such topics as the use of flower essences for animals and during pregnancy and childbirth, and there’s even a Bach remedy chooser to help you create a flower essence mixture for your specific needs.
I personally can say that Rescue Remedy has come to my rescue on numerous occasions. It was the first thing we gave to my 69-year-old mother while she waited for an ambulance to rush her to the hospital because of a fractured thighbone; she was out of the hospital within three weeks. When my 22-year-old horse experienced his first case of deadly colic, within five minutes of administering Rescue Remedy he was out of danger and before the veterinarian arrived forty-five minutes later, he was back to his old self again.
While there are numerous flower essences available by just as many manufactures, you owe it to yourself and to your loved ones around you to always have a bottle of Bach Flower Essence’s most potent and most popular flower essence on hand. While referred to as “Yoga in a Bottle” and “Calm on Call” on Bach Flower Essence’s web site, I think of Rescue Remedy as an absolute medical miracle.
Bach Flower Remedies and FES FlowerEssences - A Resource Guide for emotional healing and personal empowerment using these homeopathic formulations.
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