Bach Flowers

Dr. Edward Bach, M.B., B.S., M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P, D.P.H. was a Physician and Homeopath, who spent his life searching for the purest methods of healing.

He believed, as many doctors do today, that attitude of mind plays a vital role in maintaining health and recovering from illness. When he died in 1936 he had developed a complete system of 38 flower remedies; each prepared from the flowers of wild plants, trees or bushes. They work by treating the individual rather than the disease or its symptoms.

Today, these safe, gentle remedies are used worldwide by private individuals, medical and complementary health practitioners, psychotherapists, counselors, dentists, vets, and healers. Over the years the Bach Centre at Mount Vernon in Oxfordshire has received thousands of testimonials from patients and practitioners vouching for their effectiveness.

The purpose of the remedies is to support the patient’s fight against illness by addressing the emotional factors like depression; anxiety and trauma that are thought to impede physical healing. They can also be used preventively, at times of anxiety and stress, and are particularly helpful for the many people who feel generally tired and unwell without a specific medical diagnosis.

The remedies may be taken on their own or in conjunction with medical or other treatments; they will not conflict with any medication. The remedies are completely safe, have no unwanted side effects and are non-addictive. They are gentle in action and can safely be taken by people of all ages from newborn babies to elderly people. They are also beneficial for animals and plants.

It is important to note that they are not included as a substitute for medical treatment; should symptoms persist, you are advised to consult your medical practitioner.

Dr. Bach discovered 38 remedies, each for a specific emotional and mental state, plus a combination of five of the remedies designed for difficult and demanding situations, which he called Rescue Remedy.

37 of the 38 are based on single wild flowers and tree blossoms. The exception, Rock Water, is made from the water of a natural spring with healing properties.

These flower remedies, like other forms of natural medicine, take effect by treating the individual, not the disease or the symptoms of the disease. They work specifically on the emotional condition of the person concerned. Thus two people with the same complaint, e.g. arthritis, may benefit from quite different remedies. One may be resigned to the illness, while the other may be impatient with it, so different remedies will be appropriate in each case.

The effect of taking the remedies is not to suppress negative attitudes but to transform them into positive ones, stimulating one’s own potential for self-healing and freeing the physical system to engage fully in fighting disease and stress.

People do not have to be physically ill to benefit from the remedies. Many of us go through times of difficulty and fatigue when negativity creeps in; at these times the remedies are invaluable in restoring the balance before physical symptom appear.

No more than any other medicines. The remedies are very effective with both animals and babies, as well as in helping skeptical people who try them as a last resort. Plants also benefit from the remedies; gardeners find that giving Rescue Remedy on re-potting, for example, helps the plants to flourish after being moved.

Dr. Bach’s philosophy was at once simple and profound, based on the innate perfection and spiritual nature of human beings. Disease is ‘entirely the result of conflict between our spiritual and mortal selves.’ Health and happiness result from being in harmony with our own nature, and doing the word for which we are individually suited.
As he wrote:
“It means doing the housekeeping, painting, farming, acting, or serving our fellow men in shops and houses. And this work, whatever it may be, if we love it above all else, is… the work we have to do in this world, and in which alone we can be our true selves.
Disease is the re-action to interferences. This is temporary failure and unhappiness and this occurs when we allow others to interfere with our purpose in life and implant in our minds doubt, or fear, or indifference.”
Dr. Bach divided the 38 remedies into seven groups, representing fundamental conflicts, which prevent us from being true to ourselves:

• Fear
• Uncertainty
• Insufficient interest in present circumstances
• Loneliness
• Over-sensitivity to influences and ideas
• Despondency or despair
• Over-care for the welfare of others

Within each group, the remedies each cover a specific nature of the difficulty concerned. For example, fear may take the form of terror, (requiring Rock Rose), definably, everyday fears (Mimulus), fear of losing one’s mind (Cherry Plum), inexplicable fears (Aspen), or fears for other people (Red Chestnut).

Just as Dr. Bach identified the seven areas of conflict which interfere with our health, so he defined the stages in the healing of disease,… Peace, Hope, Joy, Faith, Certainty, Wisdom, Love.

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