The most famous and available of all the flower essences were those developed by a Harley Street doctor, Dr Edward Bach, in the 1930′s.
The remedies are all prepared from the flowers of wild plants, bushes or trees. They are completely harmless and are prescribed according to the sufferer’s state of mind rather than addressed directly to the physical complaint. It is well known that long periods of stress, such as fear, worry or guilt will deplete our personal vitality, making us feel out of sorts and unable to get things done. Physical symptoms range from chronic fatigue, memory loss, weak muscles, insomnia, anxiety attacks etc, to name just a few. Under these conditions the body loses its resistance to disease, the immune system is weakened and therefore becomes prey to infection and many forms of illness; whether it is a cold, rheumatism , digestive disorders or more serious conditions. Therefore it is the patient as an individual who needs treating rather than the disease.
“Final and complete healing will come from within, from the soul itself, which…..radiates harmony throughout the personality when allowed to do so”
Dr Edward Bach.
In Dr Bach’s own book ‘The Twelve Healers and Other Remedies’ he describes 38 different remedies, one for each of the most common negative states of mind or moods. He divided these into seven categories under the following headings: Fear, uncertainty, insufficient interest in present circumstance, loneliness, oversensitivity to influences and ideas, despondency and despair, and over-care for the welfare of others.
Under the heading Fear there are five different remedies to reflect the different types of fear that we can experience.
For example: Terror; fear of a known cause, fear of an unknown cause, fear of the mind losing control, and fear of other people.
The remedy for extreme terror or fear (ROCK ROSE) is given when the accident or illness is so severe there seems to be little hope of recovery. The nature of the condition or the name of the disease makes no difference. If terror is present then Rock Rose is the remedy that the patient (also his family and friends who are around him/her) requires. The Bach remedies are gentle and do not cause unpleasant reactions of any kind and are therefore absolutely safe for anyone to use.
Other remedies used at the clinic include Bailey Flower essences: Arthur Bailey bought his first box of Bach Remedies in 1966 from Nora Weeks at Mount Vernon, (Dr Bach ‘s home and now the Bach Foundation). After a period of working with them he went on to discover another five by dowsing the wild plants in his garden, and then using Dr Bach’s sun method to produce them. He then went on to develop his own essences, over a period of time; later realising his essences helped different states of mind, rather than the emotional states indicated by the Bach remedies.
The 58 Bailey Essences are primarily concerned with personal growth; their main emphasis is on helping to integrate mind, body and spirit. They help to bring about much needed changes in our life. They act as catalysts for this change, and are concerned about bringing us up to date rather than dwelling on past difficulties.
The Australian Bush Flower remedies were developed in Australia by Ian White, a homeopath and fifth generation medical herbalist. Because Ian is also trained homeopath and kinesiologist, he is able to look at the causes of illness through the physical symptoms.
Old Man Banksia is an extract which has a huge impact on relieving fatigue and lethargy together with well known symptoms of depression; however it is also used for balancing the thyroid.
Peach flowered tea tree is renowned for its ability to balance insulin and therefore blood sugar levels. It can be helpful in menopause but also in cases of adolescent obesity. It is also useful when the patient is suffering from severe mood swings, and can sometimes be combined with she-oak to help with PMT or post natural depression.
In Ian white’s words:
“Illness, disease and emotional problems are only indicators that we have strayed off our individual path. The essences can assist us to work through and resolve our problems and imbalances.”
How does it work?
For the ancient herbalist; an understanding of the healing properties of plants was based on the Doctrine of Signatures, whereby some peculiarity of the plant, such as its shape, growth, colour, scent or taste indicated its healing properties. For example, eyebright, a blue flower with a yellow centre as its names suggests can help tired eyes and conjunctivitis.
Skullcap has the shape of a human skull and is used to deal with headaches and insomnia. Nettles are good for poor circulation and Willow bark (the natural source of aspirin) was used to ease rheumatism which becomes worse in damp weather; the tree grows in damp places. Flowers used to treat jaundice such as agrimony, dandelion and celandine are yellow in colour.
A few drops of the essence blended with water can be taken as drops over a period of two to three weeks and can be of huge support to patients in their healing and growth processes, releasing old patterns and bringing a greater sense of ease within any situation.
What is it good for?
Their uses cover a range of mental and emotional states. People can use flower remedies effectively whenever they feel that they are not coping very well, or if they have lost their zest for life. When a person feels more balanced, then often the physical symptoms of pain or insomnia for example, clear. As indicated above, these remedies can also be used if we feel abandoned, guilty, alone or simply lacking in motivation and confidence.
The skill of the practitioner lies in identifying which remedies will be most effective at any given time to ease the patients distress.
What happens during a treatment?
The consultations are held in privacy in our comfortable treatment rooms. The practitioner will discuss your case history and medical details with you. There will be plenty of time to talk about your issues.
The practitioner will ask questions about your feelings as well as the events, in order to understand which remedies will be most effective, taking into consideration, your personality, the environment or current situation and the symptoms you may be experiencing. According to the severity of the situation, it may be necessary to see a client weekly or fortnightly to monitor their progress at first.
In some cases this won’t be necessary as one composite remedy may be sufficient to offer support through a challenge like taking an exam. Clients have a choice of buying remedies for themselves or having a personal remedy made up for them to be collected at the clinic.
There are no contra indications for flower essences and they can be taken with safety in conjunction with allopathic or conventional medication. They can also be used if the patient is having other forms of alternative treatment such as massage or chiropractic, and indeed, complement such treatments very well.
Additional Information
Remedies are available for purchase as single remedies, or in blends. They can be ordered through consultation, or repeat prescription orders can be made directly through your therapist, or through the clinic. Orders can be posted to you (at an extra postage cost), or collected from the clinic at 34 Exchange Street, Norwich.
How may it affect you after treatment?
There are no physical side effects to be considered; sometimes you can feel emotional, anxious or a bit angry for the first day or two as feelings come to the surface to release, and pass.
The majority of people feel the benefits in a very short time; feeling calmer, more focussed and self-confident. Bad dreams stop and in many cases after some treatment people make significant and positive changes in their lives. Sometimes the shift is subtle, like opening themselves to new experiences or forgiving someone who has hurt them.
What are the 10 most commonly treated conditions?
- a. Anxiety attacks
- b. Insomnia
- c. Shyness, self-consciousness (fear of other people)
- d. Guilt, leading to a sense of despondency
- e. Fears about exams, driving tests , new jobs
- f. Loneliness, feelings of isolation. Abandonment or rejection. Adapting to new school or job.
- g. Mothers and babies. Flower remedies are particularly useful for young children
- and to mothers who are tired out by looking after a new born.
- h. . PMT
- i. Menopause and related symptoms
- j. Body image, bad hair day, feeling uncomfortable in one’s own body.
