Edward bach Edward Bach was born in Moseley near Birmingham in 1886 and trained as a Medical Doctor in London. After working for several years in the field of bacteriology in chronic disease, he soon recognised that there were clear personality types linked to the numerous patterns of ill health in evidence irrespective of the symptoms being presented by the patient.

His work moved forward from focusing on vaccine therapy to homeopathic principles and he believed that it was emotional imbalance that was the precursor of physical illness. Believing that there was an answer to these problems available to everyone, Bach was eventually drawn to the medicinal qualities of flowers, which through his convictions and hard work, led to the Flower Essences in use today. He felt that emotional imbalance could be harmonized by using these flower essences, which were powerful, very safe, readily available and inexpensive.

Bach saw people in a different way to conventional doctors and felt that more attention should be paid to the way the person looked and presented themselves when looking for a cure for whatever ill they were suffering. In other words the psychological state of the patient was paramount in treating the true cause of the condition rather than just the symptoms.

About the remedies

At first Dr Bach felt that there were twelve flower remedies needed to help the twelve main character types he had identified, and these twelve flowers worked on the negative to transform it to the positive. These flowers are Impatiens, Mimulus, Clematis, Agrimony, Chicory, Vervain, Centaury, Cerato, Scleranthus, Water Violet, Gentian and Rock Rose.

These are known as the twelve healers. Originally, Dr Bach believed that these would be sufficient. He soon realised that more were needed and his search resumed and to his armoury he added the Seven Helpers, these being Gorse, Oak, Heather, Rock Water, Vine, Olive and Wild Oat.

It was not long after these were added that Bach realised that more were needed. His own health at this time was failing and he found another nineteen essences to aid his own recovery and make up the thirty- eight remedies that we use today.

Using the Remedies

Dr Bach was insistent that his remedies could be used by anyone, would be inexpensive to buy and totally safe. The plants he used are all readily available and could be picked by anyone wanting to make up their own remedies.

The Flower Essences work at a vibrational level, which means that the smallest drop is as effective as a whole bottle. They can be used directly into the mouth, in a drink, on food, in cooking, in a room spray or even in the bath water or mixed into a cream to be rubbed onto the skin. They can be used on animals, plants and people of all ages from birth to extreme old age and being very gentle, they do not induce a healing crisis.

The most famous of the Flower Essences is the Five Flower or Rescue Remedy, which can be used whenever help is needed. It contains Clematis, Impatiens, Rock Rose, Cherry Plum and Star of Bethlehem. It is mixed with organic brandy, and diluted with Spring Water. It can be used in cases of emotional turmoil, when afraid, anxious, angry or even after an accident. It can be administered in any of the ways described above as appropriate.

Choosing the remedy

The characteristics of the plants can be matched with the characteristics of the person that needs the remedy.

There is both a negative and a positive side to the remedies and it is important to remember that although the descriptions sometimes sound unkind, look at the positive to see the true value of the flower concerned. There are those people who are lovely first thing in the morning but seem to change when the afternoon comes along. There are flowers such as Chicory that exhibit the same traits.

Holly shows the thorns, the light and darkness of a jealous person and anger in its red berries. There are also beautiful little white flowers, perfect and healing showing the positive side of Holly, the unconditional love that comes with devotion.

There is no wrong choice, some will be better than others but all are helpful in the healing process. Experiment and learn about the flowers themselves and soon you will understand how easy it is to benefit from Bach Flower Remedies.