Flower Essences – Gentle Energetic Medicine for emotional, mental and physical dis-ease.

​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.  
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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.

“Disease of the body itself is nothing but the result of the disharmony between soul and mind. Remove the disharmony, and we regain harmony between soul and mind, and the body is once more perfect in all its parts.” - Dr Edward Bach

“They [the Bach Remedies] cure not by attacking disease but by flooding our bodies with beautiful vibrations of our higher nature in the presence of which disease melts as snow in the sunshine” - Dr Edward Bach

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. 
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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.

It is said that the flowers of our homeland have the deepest effect and I had the opportunity to visit New Zealand with my Mum in 2014.  As that is where she grew up I organized a Flower Essence consultation with a practitioner over there.  It was a lovely session and Mum reported great results from her personalised First Light Blend.

I have many happy clients that have found relief of symptoms and an increased sense of wellbeing after completing their treatment.  Continuing with Flower Essence therapy can address deeper issues and your unique constitutional Flower Essence helper can be discovered that will assist you in times of need and in maintaining daily balance and harmony.
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Whether or not Flower Essences work just due to the ‘Placebo Effect’ is really irrelevant when such a safe and potentially profound healing tool can improve our emotional and physical wellbeing.  The simplicity and harmlessness of Flower Essences gives them a place in the realm of Natural Health Care.  Remembering that they are an Energetic Medicine like Usui Reiki and thus a different kind of therapeutic. 
 
I have the full range of Bach remedies in my clinic and would love to hear your story with compassion and to prepare your gentle and empowering personalized Flower essence. 
​Namaste - Shairin.

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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.