​Lavender finds its place in various medicinal applications such as steeping as tea (drink no more than 2 cups per day), bathing/hydrotherapy, aromatherapy, and topical use for burns, minor skin abrasions, respiratory ailments, and muscular aches and pains.

Seeing a sunrise, a flower or bird the sky clouds a smiling face all give us a momentary lift of joy contentment and happiness that is free and health promoting in a very holistic way. 

In the same manner the sights sounds and placement of items in our home whether organisational, decorative or the art of feng shui all affect our daily routines moods and physical wellbeing.  

This is what is referred to as Energy in Holistic Medicine.   

Seemingly minor or subtle things have an effect in our lives. 

A regular nuisance in our lives has a detrimental effect on our mood and vision of the world. 

Things like furniture that we injure ourselves on regularly a tap that drips an inhospitable co-worker or a space that is too dark or too bright all irritate our senses and cause friction in our body and mind. 

The alternative is modifying these intrusions to alleviate stress to our system and there is a possibility of using this same mechanism to promote peace calm happiness and even joy in our daily lives.  Fixing a dripping tap or rearranging furniture is changing the 'energy' of a space and our relationship to it. 

Introducing a plant, painting or decorative object that we like gives us a pleasance in the atmosphere of our homes and ourselves.  It is this that the art of energy healing enhances. 

Energy healing ranges from interior design and home maintenance to relaxation and the minor differences experienced from different natural shapes, colours, textures, sights and sounds.​ 

​Flower essences are the vibrational imprint of a flower’s energetic properties in water, preserved with a touch of brandy, apple cider vinegar or refrigeration. 

To achieve this imprint, a flower is picked and placed directly into pure water and bathed in sunlight for several hours to infuse the water with its essence.  It is then strained and bottled as the ‘Mother Essence’.   Smaller treatment bottles are created by adding drops of the Mother Essence to more pure water and ‘fixed’ (preserved) as above.  
​
Flower essences are diluted substances because we are dealing here with the ‘subtle body’ [we shall explore terminology and energetic fields in future articles], which requires just a subtle dose of vibrational nudging.

​The first Flower Essence system, the Bach Remedies, was developed by Dr Edward Bach in England.  Although based on Homeopathic principles the Bach remedies are made from Flowers and do not use toxic substances in their creation.   You can read about his life’s work here at The Bach Centre. 

There are also the Australian Bush Flower Essences developed by Ian White and a comprehensive system of New Zealand native flora healers in the First Light Essences.

The well-known Bach Rescue Remedy can be used in any situation.  It is the only combination essence that Dr Bach chose to create as he believed that everyone needs their own remedy mix to suit their situation.
 
Rescue Remedy contains the following Flowers that alleviate the associated feelings which are experienced in body and mind.
 
Star of Bethlehem       shock
Rock Rose                      panic
Clematis                         ungrounded
Cherry plum                  fear of losing control
Impatiens                      impatience
 
In a personal flower essence consult these or others of the 38 remedies can be used to specifically address your currently individual needs.
 
An example of the healing properties of Flower Essences from the Bach set is:

Aspen which is a remedy for;
fear of the unknown; vague anxiety and apprehension; hidden fears and nightmares. 

The positive outcomes listed for treatment with Aspen Remedy are that it: 
Quiets and subdues the astral body in order for the spiritual ego to gain the trust, confidence and strength it needs to meet the unknown.
Helps one to draw inner strength from the spiritual world.
Allows the conscious mind to receive and process more information resulting in a balanced use of soul forces.
Helps one develop personal boundaries.

For someone that experiences anxiety attacks, this essence may be of great benefit. 
​
I have trained in both Bach Remedies and Australian Bush Flower Essences and have had the pleasure of creating individual treatments for my clients from the 38 Bach remedies that I keep in the clinic and recommend Australian Bush Flower Essences often.

As a naturopath Flower Essences are a common therapeutic tool and are prepared within your Naturopathic Health Care consultation.  The conversation allows discussion of your experiences and unique needs that allow selection of one to four remedies that specifically suit your current emotional and physical needs.  Holistically treating the causes and contributing factors as well as alleviating symptoms and trully listening to you are the benefits of Naturopathy.

The flower essence is taken upon the moment of waking and just before sleeping to access the subconscious state and brain wave pattern between activity and rest.  The remedy mix is taken in this way for a period of two weeks to gently clear old energy patterns and activate, balance and repair vibrational/energetic balance within the whole body.  The drops may be taken in water or directly under the tongue and for some situations such as the use of the Bach Rescue Remedy are taken whenever required.

There is a deeper exploration of sublte body, energetic medicine, 'placebo effect' and the holistic understanding in modern medicine here please share your thoughts on Flower Essences or any of these interesting avenues by leaving a comment.