What can Bach flower remedies do for you?
and how to use them
Hi! This is Marie from Naturally Yours, a newsletter for people seeking simple natural paths to holistic health and emotional balance.
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Worldwide renown
Since their discovery nearly 100 years ago by Dr. Edward Bach, the popularity of Bach flowers has never ceased to grow.
Today, Bach flowers have gained worldwide renown. They are available in no less than 70 countries, and approximately 10 million Bach flowers and Rescue Remedy bottles are sold each year by the Nelsons group - which distributes the Bach Original Flower Remedies brand - alone.
The amount of registered Bach flower practitioners is steadily increasing, and we now count more than 2,600 accross the globe.
As we can see, Bach flowers are truly valued, and the number of their users hasn’t finished expanding!
It is very likely that you have heard of it at least once, and you will probably recognize at first glance the famous Rescue Remedy bottle.
But what exactly are Bach flowers? What can they do for you? And how do you use them?
Harmonizing emotions
Bach flowers are natural remedies meant to help us balance and harmonize our emotional states.
They can support us in dealing with all sorts of emotions: anxiety, guilt, lack of confidence or self-esteem, fear, anger, loneliness, uncertainty, sadness, grief... They help us transform our negative attitudes and behaviors, and free ourselves from the patterns that prevent us from being truly fulfilled, happy and at peace.
They will provide us with invaluable support in all situations where we feel destabilized, distraught or emotionally off-balance.
We can therefore turn to them to:
accompany periods of change: pregnancy and post-partum, the arrival of a new family member, starting school, career change, retirement, moving house...
get through major upheavals and difficult periods: illness, separation, burnout, redundancy, bereavement, shock following an accident...
help resolve relational difficulties: in the couple, within the family, at work, at school...
prepare for an important event: exams, job interviews, wedding...
promote our personal and spiritual development.
It’s all about balance
How exactly do Bach flower remedies work? The key word here is ‘balance’!
Every emotion, every character trait, every attitude can, depending on how and the context in which it is expressed, constitute a quality or correspond to what we commonly call a flaw.
Generosity and devotion towards others are remarkable... as long as it isn’t at our own expense. For, by constantly putting the needs of others before our own, we will inevitably end up missing out on our own aspirations.
Fear invites us to be cautious. It is therefore a useful messenger. The problem arises only when, despite taking adequate precautions, fear simply prevents us from daring, from trying, and from fully realizing ourselves.
An authoritarian or even domineering attitude is generally not well received and can be a source of conflict. But being capable of leadership in an emergency situation is extremely useful.
These examples show us the balanced and unbalanced poles of Centaury, Mimulus and Vine – three of the Bach flowers.
The lesson that the Flowers teach us here is that, behind every negative attitude, there is a quality waiting to be revealed. It is just a matter of finding the balance!
And that's what the remedies will help us do.
A path to your true self
When we take Bach flower remedies, our goal isn’t to 'erase' our flaws. What we want is to develop the opposite qualities. Our negative attitudes will then automatically fade and disappear.
And to achieve this, the Flowers won’t bring us anything that we don’t already possess. They will simply help us reconnect with the qualities that are already within us! As a result, once we will be back to a state of balance, we will no longer need the remedies.
It is important to note that, while the Flowers are invaluable in supporting our evolution as individuals, the idea is not to change our personality.
If you're afraid of driving, Mimulus will help you find the courage to overcome your fear, but it won't make you an intrepid rally driver with a wave of a magic wand. And if you tend to be a solitary person, Water Violet will help you open up and connect with others, but it won't turn you into a hypersociable extrovert.
We are often given the impression today that, in order to fulfill ourselves, we should become “this” or “that”, and ultimately fit into a supposedly ideal model.
That’s not what Bach flowers are about!
“The task is to find out who we really are, be that person and find the richness inherent in our lives”, Stefan Ball.
Bach flowers will not change you into a new person; they will offer you a path to your true self. It is there that you will find real joy and profound serenity.
How to use the Bach flower remedies?
The Bach system consists of 38 Flowers (plus the Rescue Remedy), each one corresponding to a specific emotion.
If you want to enjoy their benefits, it is essential to select the right Flowers. To do this, simply observe yourself and choose the remedy or remedies that match what you are feeling right now.
If you are not yet familiar with the Flowers, you can consult the Bach Center’s quick reference guide, refer to a book (I will recommend a few at the end of this article), or get advice from a shop assistant or a friend. It is, of course, also possible to make an appointment with a registered practitioner.
Preparing a personalized mix
You can take one flower at a time, or prepare a personalized mix.
To do this, you will need to select a maximum of 7 different remedies and add 2 drops of each of your chosen Bach flowers to a sterilized 30 ml dropper bottle. Then, fill the remainder of the bottle with spring water.
Stored in the fridge, your personal blend can last between two and three weeks. For a longer preservation, you can add 1 teaspoon of spirit, apple cider vinegar or vegetable glycerin (that’s what I usually do).
How to take your Flowers?
Take 2 drops from a single flower’s stock bottle (i.e., the bottles you purchase, for instance, at a pharmacy) or 4 drops from a personalized mix, 4 times a day:
either directly into the mouth (be careful to avoid any contact of the dropper with your tongue or mouth, as the contents of the bottle could be contaminated by bacteria and would no longer be fit for consumption);
in a glass of water;
or place the day's 8 or 16 drops in a 1-liter bottle and drink little by little throughout the day.
You can also apply the flowers locally, for example on a compress, or add them to a bath (10-15 drops for a full-sized bath).
How long should you take the remedies?
If you are using the remedies to cope with a temporary mood or emotion (for example, you feel stressed before taking your driving test), simply take them as long as you feel you need.
If you prepare a mix bottle to harmonize a longstanding condition or a deep-rooted issue (as chronic stress), it is recommended that you take your Flowers for at least three weeks.
Sometimes, other emotions, of which you were not previously aware, might emerge. If this happens, simply prepare a new mix and continue the process until you reach and heal the real root of the issue.
Are there precautions to consider?
Bach flowers are perfectly and completely safe. They can therefore be used by everyone, including babies, pregnant women, the elderly, and even animals and plants.
They are non-toxic. They pose no risk of side-effect, interaction or overdose. And they are compatible with all types of medical or complementary treatments.
And if, by mistake, you select the wrong Flower, the worst that can happen is nothing at all – if there is nothing to harmonize, the Flower simply won't have any effect.
What about the alcohol?
To ensure their preservation, Bach flowers stock bottles contain alcohol, but the amount we consume when taking the remedies is minimal (after all, we are only talking about 8 drops a day). And the quantity in a mix bottle is truly infinitesimal.
This said, if this concerns you, you can take your Flowers in a hot drink to evaporate the alcohol. Alternatively, you can purchase alcohol-free Bach flower remedies from certain brands.
Note that people who suffer or have suffered from alcoholism will have to exercise caution.
Where to buy Bach flower remedies?
You can buy your Bach flower remedies at pharmacies, in some natural food stores or online. There are several high-quality brands available, such as Bach Original Flower Remedies, Healing Herbs and Deva.
But you could also prepare them yourself (I will explain you how to do it in detail in a future article). It’s a particularly beautiful experience!
Some books to get started
Here are some books I highly recommend if you want to start exploring the world of Bach flowers.
Principles of Bach Flower Remedies by Stefan Ball (former director of the Bach Center) – my all-time favorite introduction to the Flowers and to Bach’s system and philosophy.
The Twelve Healers and Other Remedies by Edward Bach – the 38 flowers presented to you by Edward Bach himself.
Heal Thyself. An Explanation of the real Cause and Cure of Disease, by Edward Bach - about Dr. Bach's philosophy and his views on illness.
And if you're looking to dive deeper, any book by Judy Ramsell Howard or Stefan Ball will be a great choice!
What about you? Did you know about Bach flowers? Have you already used them? In which context? How did they help you? What has been your experience?
I would love to hear all about it!
I hope you enjoyed this article and found it useful! If you did, please let me know by tapping the 💚 button or by sharing it with a friend!
Thank you!
We have used Bach Flower remedies within the family for many years, a variety of remedies for a variety of issues. Olive has been a favourite when appropriate. Flower Remedies are so subtly powerful that you don’t realise until they have already helped.