Flower Essences for Emotional Healing

Flower essences, also known as flower remedies, are herbal infusions or decoctions made from the flowering part of a plant. Unlike essential oils or herbal tinctures, flower essences capture the vibrational imprint or energy pattern of the flower rather than its physical substance. They are a form of energy medicine that is based on the belief that the energetic or vibrational qualities of a flower can have a positive impact on the human energy system.

One of the most well-known systems of flower essences is the Bach flower remedies, which were developed by Dr. Edward Bach in the 1930s. Dr. Bach believed that physical illness and emotional imbalances were closely connected, and by addressing the emotional and mental aspects, one could promote healing on a holistic level.

Here's a general overview of how flower essences are typically prepared and how they are believed to work:

1. Preparation: Flower essences are made by infusing flowers in spring water, either by the sun method or the boiling method. In the sun method, flowers are placed in a bowl of water and left in the sun for several hours to allow the energy of the flowers to transfer to the water. In the boiling method, the flowers are boiled, and the steam is collected and condensed into water. The resulting liquid is then mixed with a preservative, usually brandy, to create the mother tincture.

2. Dilution: The mother tincture is further diluted to create the stock bottle, which is the form in which most people use flower essences. This dilution is typically done by adding a few drops of the mother tincture to a larger bottle of water and alcohol.

3. Application: Flower essences are usually taken orally by placing a few drops under the tongue or adding them to a glass of water. They can also be applied topically or added to bathwater.

4. Energetic Healing: Flower essences are believed to work on an energetic or vibrational level, influencing the subtle energy systems of the body, such as the chakras or meridians. The idea is that by introducing the energetic pattern of a particular flower, the balance and harmony of the individual's energy system can be restored.

5. Addressing Emotional and Mental Patterns: Flower essences are often used to address emotional and mental patterns, such as fear, anxiety, stress, or lack of confidence. Each flower essence is associated with specific qualities or emotions, and choosing the right essence is based on the individual's emotional state.

There are several different places that create flower essences and are very effective. For me personally, my fav and go-to is Bach Flower Essences. (They do not have an affiliate program but I am recommending them as I have tried multiple companies and this one is by far the best that has worked for me). I will always give my honest experiences and tell you what has actually worked for me. 

Here is a list of the different remedies in a nutshell.

Agrimony – mental torture behind a cheerful face 

Aspen – fear of unknown things 

Beech – intolerance 

Centaury – the inability to say ‘no’ 

Cerato – lack of trust in one’s own decisions 

Cherry Plum – fear of the mind giving way 

Chestnut Bud – failure to learn from mistakes 

Chicory – selfish, possessive love 

Clematis – dreaming of the future without working in the present 

Crab Apple – the cleansing remedy, also for not liking something about ourselves 

Elm – overwhelmed by responsibility 

Gentian – discouragement after a setback 

Gorse – hopelessness and despair  

Heather – talkative self-concern and being self-centered 

Holly – hatred, envy and jealousy 

Honeysuckle – living in the past 

Hornbeam – tiredness at the thought of doing something 

Impatiens – impatience 

Larch – lack of confidence 

Mimulus – fear of known things 

Mustard – deep gloom for no reason 

Oak – the plodder who keeps going past the point of exhaustion 

Olive – exhaustion following mental or physical effort 

Pine – guilt 

Red Chestnut – over-concern for the welfare of loved ones 

Rock Rose – terror and fright 

Rock Water – self-denial, rigidity and self-repression

Scleranthus – inability to choose between alternatives

Star of Bethlehem – shock

Sweet Chestnut – extreme mental anguish, when everything has been tried and there is no light left

Vervain – over-enthusiasm

Vine – dominance and inflexibility

Walnut – protection from change and unwanted influences

Water Violet – quiet self-reliance leading to isolation

White Chestnut – unwanted thoughts and mental arguments

Wild Oat – uncertainty over one’s direction in life

Wild Rose – drifting, resignation, apathy

Willow – self-pity and resentment

It's important to note that the efficacy of flower essences is often considered subjective and varies from person to person. Some people report significant positive changes, while others may not experience noticeable effects. Flower essences are generally considered safe and can be used alongside other forms of treatment. However, if you have serious physical or mental health concerns, it's advisable to consult with a healthcare professional. 

My experience 

Now that you have the basic information down, let me tell you about my own experience. As an "HSP" (highly sensitive person) who has also been suffering with PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder), most days for a long time, I really struggled. Whether it be with my negative thought pattern which was on autopilot, or my hypervigilance looking for any way everyone around me was going to hurt me.. I was in constant survival mode. I did not know any other way to be after going through everything I had gone through, it's not like it was a fun conscious choice I made. But also at the same time, looking back, I did not realize what shape I was really in, how badly I was really hurting. When it's your "way of living" and are used to it, and even though you know you are suffering, you still cannot see the trees through the forest. At least that is how it was for me. 

 In one of my therapy sessions, my therapist had recommended flower essences. I had stopped at the store on my way home at Sprouts Natural Grocers and found Bach Flower Remedies. I was pleased to find the entire list that shows all of the essences available as well as the symptoms each one helps. With the state I was in, I wanted one of each. But considering I could not afford to do that, I chose one. 

My biggest challenge at the time was my negative thinking, overthinking, and just too much going on in my mind. 

I decided on White Chestnut, which is used to promote a calm mind. I put two drops in a water bottle and took a sip. I kid you not, I could feel it working instantly. I remember I was going to an acting class that night and when I got there, situations that normally stressed me out, suddenly did not stress me. In fact, I really did not care much. I felt as if I was in the moment and everything in my mind that was negative washed away. This lasted for about 3 days and then faded and then I was back to my old negative self. But I was a believer in flower essences after that. If you continuously use these they will naturally change that part of you that you are wanting to improve. 

I had experimented with a few since, but I have to say my two favorites are Mimulus and Star of Bethlehem. 

Mimulus is used to help control yourself when you feel like you can basically lose it. After suffering years and years of trauma, I had some anger inside of me that would come out sometimes in certain arguments, and I did not like it. I am learning now looking back a lot of it was probably my PTSD as well as being triggered and not being treated right. Nonetheless, it was not fun to feel that way. This one time I could feel my anger starting to come up from inside of my body and I grabbed this little bottle of Mimulus flower essences, and I put two drops directly under my tongue. I felt it starting to work, but after a few minutes I put two more. And two more and I could feel it fizzing away. No joke. I used for the next few days as these things kept coming up and as needed... and I can honestly say, since then, to this day, I have not had those feelings of anger, nor have I used the essences in a very long time. That is heaven in a bottle.

My other favorite is Star of Bethlehem which was made to help neutralize grief. I had just recently had trauma happen, (for the first time in many years), which was surprising to me that I was still so familiar with the feeling in my body, but was also how I knew it was trauma. I just so happened to have this flower essence in my drawer in my bathroom as I have accumulated about a dozen over the years but this had never been opened. I remembered it and pulled it out of the drawer and put it in my purse, I used that every single day for about a month and that was the only thing that helped calm me down. I honestly feel like it saved me. I went from feeling the magnetic pulling inside of me to feeling peace and that everything was ok. I have not needed to take any more and have not had the traumatic feelings coming back.

So in a nutshell, this stuff worked really well for me and the effects have been lasting.