Bach Flower Remedies

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Bach Flower Remedies

Bach flower remedies were developed by Dr Edward Bach in the 1930s.

Agrimony
...is the remedy for people who keep their troubles hidden under a mask of pleasure and happiness. The archetypal Agrimony person would be the sad clown, suffering anguish inside by still the life and soul of the party. Their friends are often the last to know that anything is wrong in the Agrimony person's life.
Sometimes Agrimony people turn to drink or drugs to help them maintain a mask of happiness, and they tend not to like being alone since they find it harder to keep the mask up when they are forced into their own company. Instead they will seek out friends, parties and bright lights. Only at night when they are alone with their thoughts will the mental torture they have repressed so successfully come back to haunt them.
Agrimony is given to help Agrimony people to accept and come to terms with the darker side of life and their own personalities, so that they can become more rounded human beings. They will not lose their sense of humour, but they will laugh at their troubles to dispel them, rather than laughing to hide them. As a mood remedy, Agrimony helps anyone who is trying not to face a trouble and using jokes and witticisms and smiles to avoid a painful reality.

Aspin
...is the remedy for any fear where the cause of the fear cannot be named. At one end of the spectrum the Aspen fear can be no more than a sense of foreboding, an uneasy anxiety that something unpleasant or frightening is going to happen. At the other it can be a real terror, with physical symptoms such as the hair standing on end. At this extreme Rock Rose could also be helpful.
Sometimes people think of Aspen as a night-time fear, as causeless emotions seem to be uncanny. And of course if you were lying awake in a dark room scared of something but not knowing what it was, then Aspen would be the remedy to take. But in fact Dr Bach said that for fear of the dark itself Mimulus would be the appropriate remedy to take, since the cause of the fear (the dark) can be named. And nameless Aspen fears are just as likely to occur in full sunlight as on a dark night.

Beech
...was described by Dr Bach as the remedy for people who 'feel the need to see more good and beauty in all that surrounds them.' Beech people - or people in a Beech state - are intolerant of people who are not just like them. They lack compassion and understanding of the different circumstances and different paths that other people are given, and fail to see that others too are working towards perfection but in different ways.
Sometimes Beech intolerance is manifested as outbursts of irritability: the remedy helps to encourage tolerance and understanding, and as this happens so the irritability also fades.

Centaury
...is for people who find it difficult to say 'no' to other people. They are kind, gentle souls and like to be of help to others. But sometimes other more ruthless people will take advantage of this, and instead of willing service the Centaury ends up the slave of another's wishes.
The Centaury remedy does not harden the Centaury personality. Instead it supports the development of courage and self-determination so that Centaury people are better able to draw the line and make space where they can be themselves free of the desires and commands of others.

Creato
...is the remedy for people who lack faith in their own judgment. Faced with the need to make a decision they are not like the Scleranthus people who hesitate and cannot make up their minds, because they can come to a decision without too much trouble. But having done so the doubts creep in and they are no longer sure if what they have decided is right. They then go around asking for the opinions and advice of others. They end up hopelessly confused or doing something that they know in their hearts is not right for them.
Cerato is the remedy to give people in this state more faith in their judgment so that they can listen to their inner voices and trust their intuition.

Cherry Plum
...is one of the remedies that Dr Bach grouped together under the heading of 'Fear'. The Cherry Plum fear is very specific: it is the fear that one is going to lose control of oneself and do something dreadful, which can include injuring others and suicide. Cherry Plum is also the remedy for the loss of control when it has in fact already taken place, and because because of the frantic fear and dread associated with loss of control. (Think of the fear of a small child in a screaming, irrational rage.) Fears of going mad and of acting irrationally are Cherry Plum fears.
Cherry Plum is one of the ingredients of Rescue Remedy.

Chestnut bud
...is for people who fail to learn the lessons of life. They may repeat the same mistakes over and over - for example, taking a succession of identical office jobs and being surprised to find each one unfulfilling. In other cases, they see others making a mistake and the results that arise, but then fail to apply this lesson to their own lives and go right ahead and make the same mistake themselves.
Dr Bach said that it was good to move on and leave the past behind, but people in the Chestnut Bud state are almost doing this too readily. They give so little thought to the past that they fail to learn its lessons and so are doomed to repeat their failures. Chestnut Bud is the remedy to help them learn from the past and then move on to genuinely new experiences.

Chicory
...people are full of love and care for their families and friends. But they expect to receive back all the love they give, with interest, and feel slighted and unnecessarily hurt if they don't get what they expect. Also, their great love can lead them to hold onto their loved ones and try to keep them dependent and close to hand. This can stifle the development of other personalities, or simply drive them away.
When someone falls into this negative Chicory state the remedy is used to bring out the positive side of the Chicory person: love given unconditionally and in freedom.

Clematis
...is for people whose minds drift away from the present into fantasies of the future, or into alternative versions of the present. Often their dreams are of great future success, creative endeavour and achievement, but the danger for people in this state is that their dreams will remain fantasies because the Clematis person is not sufficiently anchored in reality to make them happen.
The remedy helps to bring these people back to earth and back to themselves so that they can build castles in life instead of in the air.
Sometimes the Clematis state is confused with the Honeysuckle state, but in fact the two are quite different. In the Honeysuckle state the person is living in nostalgic fantasies of the past or reliving old regrets; but the Clematis person's thoughts drift away to imagined futures.
Clematis is one of the ingredients in Rescue Remedy, where it is used to help the fuzzy, light-headed feeling that can come at times of emergency.

Crab Apple
...is known as the cleansing remedy, and as such is the added 'sixth ingredient' in Rescue Cream. Its main use is to help people who feel that they have something unclean or poisonous about them, or who dislike some aspect of their appearance or personality.
Sometimes there might be very real things wrong with someone in this state, but they will disregard the big problems and concentrate obsessively on the one thing that they have fixed on. This is why Crab Apple is sometimes given to people to cleanse obsessive, repetitive behaviour such as hand-washing, re-checking that appliances are unplugged, and so on.

Elm
...is the remedy for people suffering a temporary loss of self-confidence due to the overwhelming amount of responsibility they have taken on. Genuine Elm types are people who are successful and carrying out work that they believe in, but at times feel the weight of the charge on them and become depressed and concerned that they will not be able to go on.
The remedy helps to dispel these feelings so that the Elm person can resume his or her life without thought of failure.
The Elm state can be usefully contrasted with the Larch state: whereas people in the former take up challenges willingly and then only later, and only occasionally, doubt their abilities, Larch people are convinced they are going to fail right from the start, and so they tend not to try things in the first place.

Gentian
...is the remedy for the relatively mild downheartedness and despondency that follows when something has gone wrong. As soon as things start to go right again this kind of despondency tends to lift by itself, but the remedy can be used to lift it the sooner so that the person is better able to make things go right, instead of just hoping they will do so.
Gentian is often confused with Gorse, but in fact they can be told apart quite easily. People in a Gorse state have decided to give up and so feel completely without hope. They have pitched their tents and refuse to be encouraged, and even if they are persuaded to try to find a way out they will do so grudgingly, assuring everyone that there is no use even trying. People in a Gentian state are discouraged: but they will soon pick up again when things start to go right.

Gorse
...is the remedy for people who have given up belief that there is any hope for them. It is a far stronger kind of downheartedness than the Gentian state, because Gorse people almost wilfully refuse to be encouraged, so certain are they that their case is hopeless. If ill, they may think of themselves as incurable, or say that they inherited this or that from their families so that nothing can be done for them.
Gorse is however classed by Dr Bach as a remedy for uncertainty, and not as a remedy for despair like for example Sweet Chestnut. This demonstrates that the main problem with Gorse people is a loss of certainty: if they can be persuaded to see things in a different light their faith in their lives would be renewed and they could go forward with a surer step. This is what the Gorse remedy helps to achieve.

Heather
...is for people who are obsessed with themselves, but who do not like to be alone. Dr Bach called them 'buttonholers' because they do anything to keep people with them, all the time talking at exhaustive length about their problems and illnesses, great and small, until people begin actively to avoid them. Thus the thing Heather people fear - loneliness - is brought about because of their own behaviour.
The remedy is given to help Heather people see their own concerns in the context of other people's. Having suffered themselves from the need to talk, they become good listeners and great supports for others. As a result people seek them out for their compassion rather than avoiding them because of their self-centredness.

Holly
...is often thought of as the remedy for anger - but this isn't necessarily the case. Where Holly is for anger, it will be because the anger is based specifically on hatred, suspicion, envy or jealousy. But in other cases other remedies would be needed, such as Impatiens when anger is due to impatience, Vervain where it is caused by a sense of injustice, or Chicory where the angry person feels snubbed and hurt by ingratitude in others.
Holly is for very negative, aggressive feelings directed at others. The basic problem is an absence of love, and the remedy works to encourage generosity of spirit and openness towards others.

Honeysuckle
...is for people who live in the past instead of the present. They feel that their best days are behind them and that there is little to look forward to, and as a consequence they prefer to dwell on past happinesses (or past misfortunes). At a more minor key, homesickness and nostalgia are also Honeysuckle states.
The remedy helps the person in this state to learn from the past without needing to relive it, so that the person can progress on into the present and take joy from today and tomorrow.

Hornbeam
...is used against feelings of exhaustion and tiredness that come before an effort has been made. The person in this state feels that he or she is too tired to cope with the demands of the day. It's easier to stay in bed or put off making a start - but if an effort can be made to get started the weariness will fade, a sign that unlike the Olive state this is a mental rather than a physical weariness.

Impatiens
...is, as its name suggests, the remedy against impatience and against frustration and irritability caused by impatience. Anyone can get into this state of mind, but there are also genuine Impatiens types, who live life at a rush and hate being held back by more methodical people. To avoid this irritation they try if possible to work alone: the Impatiens boss is the one who sends staff home early so she can get the job finished quicker!
The remedy helps these people be less hasty and more relaxed and patient with others. It is also an ingredient in the composite Rescue Remedy, where it is used to help calm agitated thoughts and feelings.

Larch
...is the remedy for people who feel that they are not as good as others and that they are bound to fail. They lack confidence in their ability to succeed and so often do not even bother trying. (Elm people, where it is the desire to take on too much that causes the temporary doubt.)
The remedy helps people in this state to go ahead regardless of thoughts of success and failure. More able to take risks and be involved in life, they get more out of living.

Mimulus
...is the remedy for known fears. In other words whenever you are frightened of something or you are anxious about something, and you can say what that something is, then Mimulus is the remedy to take. Mimulus fears are everyday fears - fear of public speaking, of the dark, of aggressive dogs, or of illness or pain.
Phobias such as the fear of spiders or of birds are also Mimulus fears, since the cause of the fear can be named. Where the phobia is very great so that the sight of a spider for example causes sheer terror, then Rock Rose might be given as well as or instead of Mimulus. And where the fear is diffuse and there is general anxiety and apprehension without a specific named cause then Aspen is the remedy to consider.
Mimulus is used as a type remedy for people who tend to be nervous, timid and shy generally. Sometimes people of this type may blush easily or stammer, and they will usually avoid social occasions and any event where they will be in the limelight. Mimulus is the remedy to encourage the quiet courage and strength that lies hidden in such people, so that they can face the everyday trials of life with steadfastness.

Mustard
...is the remedy for deep gloom and depression that descends for no apparent reason out of a clear blue sky. People in this state often list all the reasons they have to feel happy and contented, but still everything looks black and hopeless to them.
The remedy helps to dispel the clouds so that the person can once again find joy and peace in life.

Oak
...is the remedy for strong, steady people who never give up under adversity. Instead they plod on with determination, and never consider resting until they are past the point of exhaustion. Because they are so steady they often have many people relying on them, and their sense of duty is strong, so that they can feel frustrated and unhappy if illness or exhaustion get in the way of discharging duties.
So much is positive about the Oak person, but the negative side is the stubborn refusal to rest or sit back when the need for rest is obvious to all around. The remedy is used to help the Oak remain strong in adversity and not crack under the strain, while at the same time a different wisdom is learned, so that the person in this state can learn when not to strive.

Olive
...is the remedy for tiredness and exhaustion after an effort of some kind, such as hard physical or mental labour, or the long struggle against illness. It can be usefully contrasted with Hornbeam, which is the remedy for tiredness felt even before an effort has been made.
The remedy is given to restore feelings of strength and the faith needed to continue.

Pine
... is for people who blame themselves for something they feel they have done in the past, some neglect of a parent, some fault in themselves, something they have left undone, and for those who reproach themselves that, even though they may have been successful in their work, they should have done better. They are never, as Dr Bach writes in "The Twelve Healers", content with their own efforts or the results. They also at times tend to claim responsibility for the mistakes made by others.
They are perfectionists and set themselves high standards, and this may cause them to over-work and strain to do better, and when the strain becomes too much for the physical body, they blame themselves for the ensuing illness as they feel they are failing in their duty to others, to their work and the family responsibilities. This guilt-complex takes so much of the joy out of their lives and they become despondent and begin to despair. They can often feel so guilty about some minor matter that these thoughts fill their minds and they are always asking for forgiveness.
Dr Bach said that this feeling of guilt and self-reproach was a waste of time, for the faults of the past are but experiences to teach us not to make the same mistakes again. A lesson once learnt will guide us happily through any same experience in the future. The positive aspect of Pine is seen in those who acknowledge their faults but do not waste time dwelling on them, having learnt from them to avoid repetition. They are those who are willing to take responsibility and bear the burdens of others if it will truly help them, but having the wisdom to know this is not always the best way of helping. They have great powers of perseverance and are humble about these gifts.

Red Chestnut
...is for people who feel fear for the well-being of others: the husband afraid when his wife goes out alone after dark, the mother fretting over what may happen to her child at school. Red Chestnut fears are natural, normal concerns magnified to the point where they may have a negative effect on the person who is the object of concern, destroying confidence and undermining self-belief.
The remedy helps people in this state to send out calm, unworried thoughts to their loved ones, so that instead of making everyone anxious they are rocks of strength on whom others lean..

Rock Rose
...is the remedy against terror, and as such is an important ingredient in Rescue Remedy. The Rock Rose state may start out as a Mimulus, Aspen or Red Chestnut state, but it is further along the path from any of these, being a panicky, terrorstruck fear that makes conscious thought and decision next to impossible.
The remedy provides calm and courage. The self is forgotten and strength reappears.

Rock Water
...is the remedy for people who take self-repression and self-denial to extremes. They are very wrapped up in themselves, seeking always to perfect themselves in some way and setting themselves targets and being very unkind to themselves if they fail to live according to their own rules. If they seek to influence others it is not directly but by example only.
The Rock Water remedy does not stop people from having high ideals or from trying to meet them. But it does help ease the excesses of the Rock Water personality, so that people like this can show more flexibility when it is necessary, and are not so hard on themselves.

Scleranthus
...is the remedy for people who find it difficult to make up their minds which option of two or more they ought to choose. The Scleranthus indecision commonly affects the small decisions of life as much as the big ones: 'should I marry Joe or Peter?' and 'should I buy a red notebook or a blue one?' are both Scleranthus states.
Sometimes the chronic uncertainty of the Scleranthus person manifests itself in other ways. There may be mood swings and even motion sickness: although these symptoms are not in themselves infallible guides to Scleranthus, but only signs that this is a remedy to consider. In any case, the remedy is given to help the person to act more decisively and know his or her own mind.

Star of Bethlehem
...is one of the remedies in the Rescue Remedy. It is the remedy for the after-effects of any shock, such as unexpected bad news or an unexpected and unwelcome event. And it can be used just as well for the effects of a shock received many years ago, even very early in childhood.
This is also the remedy for the sense of emptiness and loss that sometimes occurs when a loved one dies or moves away, since this too can be a great shock to the system. Star of Bethlehem is the comforting remedy to give in such circumstances.

Sweet Chestnut
...is the remedy for people who have reached the limits of their endurance, who have explored all avenues but see no way out of their difficulties, and who feel that there is nothing left for them but annihilation and emptiness. Whereas people in a Gorse state have fallen into a state of hopelessness when there are actually possible solutions all around, the person in a Sweet Chestnut state is genuinely at the end of the line: theirs is appalling, final despair.
The remedy helps people in this extreme state to remain masters of their lives and renew their hope and strength. And sometimes a way out may open even at this stage of life.

Vervain
...people are perfectionists with a keen sense of justice and extreme mental energy that they willingly throw behind those causes that they believe in. Their enthusiasm can be infectious, and they feel a strong need to persuade others to their own point of view.
At an extreme Vervain people can become fanatics, unable to listen to alternative points of view, and they may put themselves under a great deal of stress because they find it so hard to switch off and relax. The remedy is given to help people in this state to pull back from time to time so that body and mind and be restored. It encourages the wisdom to enjoy life and the passage of time instead of always feeling the need to be active.

Vine
...is for people who know their own minds and think they know what is best for others. They are mentally strong and enjoy the exercise of power, but in their negative states this can lead them to dominate others by force alone. Tyrannical fathers and overbearing bosses are typical negative Vines, in that they will expect absolute obedience from others and will not be overly concerned with winning hearts and minds as long as their orders are followed. In this respect they are very different from Vervain people, who will attempt to convert others to their way of thinking: Vines are content with the simple imposition of discipline.
In their positive aspect Vine people make wise, gentle and loving guides who can inspire and lead others without resorting to force. The remedy is given to encourage this positive side of the Vine nature.

Walnut
...is the remedy to help to protect against outside influences in general, and against the effects of change in particular.
Walnut types are people who are fulfilling their purpose in life but who under the influence of the opinions, theories or beliefs of others, or of external circumstances in general, may be led to doubt their path. They are not like Cerato people, who actively seek out the opinions of others, but instead may be affected almost despite themselves.
As a remedy against the effects of change, Walnut is useful at all the transitions of life, from being born to teething to going to school to puberty to marriage to childbearing to retirement and beyond. It helps to break links with the past so that the person can move forward with confidence and without undue suffering.

Water Violet
...is the remedy for those talented, capable people whose independence and self-reliance can make them seem to be proud and disdainful of others. True Water Violet people are quiet and dignified and prefer their own company or that of a few close friends, but where their natural reserve has built a barrier between them and others they may actually become lonely and be unable to make contact with others. When this happens the remedy can help to bring them back into balance so that they can be more involved with humanity.

White Chestnut
...is the remedy for unwanted thoughts, worries and mental arguments, which intrude into the mind and stop people from concentrating on things that they should be doing. White Chestnut thoughts are repetitive and go nowhere, simply circling round and round in the head like a stuck gramophone record.
The remedy is used to help people control their thoughts again so that they can deal calmly and rationally with any underlying problems that might be causing the trouble.

Wild Oat
...is the remedy for people who feel that they want to do something worthwhile with their lives but do not know in which direction they should move. So instead they drift from occupation to occupation, but without finding their true path, which leads in turn to feelings of frustration and consequent depression.
This state of indecision is not like the Scleranthus one, because in the case of Scleranthus the path itself isn't in doubt, but rather the different ways of following it: the different options are known. Wild Oat people do not know what their options are because their goals are not defined.
The remedy helps people to find their true role, putting them back in touch with their own basic purpose in life so that the way ahead seems obvious.

Wild Rose
...is for people who have accepted all that life throws at them and have given up the struggle for fulfilment. Instead they have resigned themselves to the way things are, to the extent where they don't even complain or seem particularly unhappy. Instead they shrug their shoulders - there's no point complaining or trying to change - and seem happy just to drift through life.
The remedy is given to reawaken interest in life. The positive Wild Rose person will still be a happy-go-lucky type, but instead of apathy will feel a sense of purpose that will bring increased happiness and enjoyment.

Willow
...is for people who feel resentful and bitter about the way their lives have gone. They begrudge others their successes and happiness, and are reluctant to admit when their own lives go well, preferring to concentrate on what is going wrong. Willow people are grumblers, and when ill make bad patients because they are never satisfied with what is done for them.
Willow can be compared to Holly in that it too is a negative state directed towards others. But where Holly burns with hatred and suspicion, Willow smoulders with resentment and self-pity.
The remedy is given to encourage the rebirth of optimism and faith, and to help the person in the negative Willow state to be more generous in praise of others and also more aware of how his own negative thinking can attract the very ill-fortune that he blames on others.

Rescue Remedy
...is the most famous of the remedies, but in fact is not a remedy at all, but rather a mix of five different remedies (Cherry Plum, Clematis, Impatiens, Rock Rose and Star of Bethlehem) which together help deal with any emergency or stressful event. Taking a driving test, exam nerves, speaking in public, after an accident or an argument - there are countless uses for Rescue Remedy.
In an emergency Rescue Remedy can be taken neat from the bottle, four drops at a time, and as frequently as required. Otherwise put four drops in a glass of water and take frequent sips until the emotions have calmed.

Seven Main Groups:

Dr Bach arranged all problematic emotional states of mind into seven main groups with corresponding flowers for each one. To supplement the treatment of emotional problems different 'helper flowers' can be used to make up the correct mixture for the individual, according to the character and emotional condition.

1. Fear (Aspen, Cherry Plum, Mimulus, Red Chestnut, Rock Rose)

• Panic - Rock Rose takes care of presence of mind
  
• Fear of known things - Mimulus inspires courage
  
• Fears of unknown origin - Aspen deals with vague fear
  
• Fear or over concern for others - Red Chestnut promotes independence

2. Uncertainty (Cerato, Gentian, Gorse, Hornbeam, Scleranthus, Wild Oat)

• Weakness of judgement - Cerato promotes intuition
  
• Inner conflict - Scleranthus gives strength in making decisions
  
• Pessimism - Gentian strengthens confidence
  
• Despair - Gorse gives hope
  
• Mental lethargy - Hornbeam provides impetus
  
• Disorientation - Wild Oat brings determination

3. Insufficient interest in the present (Clematis, Chestnut Bud, Honeysuckle, Mustard, Olive, White Chestnut, Wild Rose)

• Mental escapism - Clematis restores a sense of reality
  
• Idealisation of the past - Honeysuckle promotes an awareness of the present
  
• Resignation - Wild Rose strengthens a zest for life
  
• Unwanted thoughts - White Chestnut provides inner balance
  
• Sadness, depression - Mustard gives "inner light"
  
• Failure to learn from mistakes in the past - Chestnut Bud promotes the ability to learn

4. Loneliness (Heather, Impatients, Water Violet)

• Isolation - Water Violet promotes the ability to form relationships
  
• Impatience, hectic pace - Impatiens strengthens patience
  
• Self-centredness - Heather provides empathy

5. Over sensitivity (Agrimony, Centaury, Holly, Walnut)

• Obsession with harmony - Agrimony promotes the ability to deal with conflict
  
• Weakness of will - Centaury gives will-power
  
• Easily influenced by others - Walnut provides adaptability
  
• Jealousy, hatred - Holly opens the heart

6. Despondency and despair (Crab Apple, Elm, Larch, Pine, Star of Bethlehem, Sweet Chestnut, Willow)

• Lack of self-confidence - Larch promotes feelings of self worth
  
• Self-reproach, guilt - Pine regulates self-respect
  
• Stress - Elm gives inner confidence
  
• Utter despair - Sweet Chestnut provides relief
  
• Trauma - Star of Bethlehem comforts the soul
  
• Resentment - Willow gives a sense of responsibility for the self
  
• False feelings of duty - Oak helps to provide a more appropriate sense of perseverance
  
• Susceptibility to infection - Crab Apple helps to promote order and cleanliness

7. Excessive care for the welfare of others (Beech, Chicory, Rock Water, Vervain, Vine)

• Selfishly possessive - Chicory offers love without condition
  
• Over-exuberance - Vervain promotes an ability to show enthusiam
  
• Strong-Willed - Vine promotes authority within
  
• Obsessive criticism, intolerance - Beech strengthens tolerance
  
• Severity toward self, inner tension - Rock Water helps with flexibility

Footnote: The above information came from Bach Flower Remedies for your Horse by Marion Brehmer

[.Rissa.]

That's really neat. I have never used them. I would probably have to order them online, I don't ever recall seeing them in stores around here. I will tell you right now which one both me and Bo would need, Impatiens. As we both need to work on our patience. Neither one of us has any. He hates to stand still when I am trying to mount, he thinks I can jump on and go within one second, and I think he needs to pick up his feet for me and let me hold it as long as I want.

But, I think it brings us closer together, as we learn from each other and our experiences.

But it mindboggles me how they were developed in the 1930's. There wasn't really great technology then. People were dying from pneumonia. and he came up with all this?

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I know!!

Most pharmacies stock rescue remedy