Anne E. West, RN BSN 

 Seven years ago Elizabeth was undergoing a great deal of emotional stress. A healer handed her a bottle of "Rescue Remedy" a flower essence formula, and said to take it throughout the day and it will help to balance her emotions. After a few days she noticed she wasn’t feeling as overwhelmed as she had been. In two weeks her emotional state was much calmer and the anxieties she was experiencing had lessened substantially. Elizabeth couldn’t believe what was happening, it didn’t seem possible that the vibrational essence of a flower was helping her to feel more peaceful and comfortable. Was it the placebo effect? or did the flower essence help to balance her emotional and/or physical body?

More and more people are taking flower essences. What are flower essences? and how do they help balance the emotional/physical body?

History

Flower essences have been used as far back as the aboriginal cultures and even by Paracelsus the 16th century physician/herbalist (Bier, 1998). More recently, during the 1930’s, an English physician Dr. Edward Bach, has been the pioneer in the rediscovery of Flower essence therapy. Initially he began to work with homeopathy in treating various physical ailments such as rheumatic disorders and arthritis. Then he began to shift his attention and practice to the vibrational effects of flowers and plants on the emotional body. He had a strong philosophy on the effects of the emotions upon the physical body; believing that emotions such as fear, hatred and depression create ill health in the physical body. He found that in using the subtle vibrational energies of flowers, one can help to realign dysfunctional emotions to a place of harmony and balance. (Gerber, 1996) "By correcting these emotional factors, patients would be assisted in increasing their physical and mental vitality and thus be aided in resolving any physical disease" (Ibid., p.245). Bach was truly a pioneer in mind body medicine.

Essence vs. Perfume

Flower essences are not based on scents, such as perfumes or aromatherapy. They are founded on the theory of subtle energy and vibration. An essence contains the subtle energy properties of a flower or plant rather than the extraction of the physical properties or scent of a plant as used in an herbal tincture or aromatherapy. Flowers are placed in a bowl of water and sit in the sun for a certain amount of time. The vibrational aspects of a flower are infused into the solution of water. This solution is highly diluted, minimizing the physiologic properties of the plant. When one orally ingests this solution, they are taking in the energetic patterns of the plant rather than the physical properties of a plant. These energy patterns thereby influence the subtle energy fields of the human body and ultimately affect the emotional, mental and physical well-being of a person. (Kaminski & Katz, 1996, p.3)

Vibrational Medicine and Subtle Energy

Gerber (1996), categorizes Flower essences as Vibrational Medicine. Vibrational medicine examines the relationship of subtle energy modalities on the physical body. He defines vibration as, frequency moving at different speeds. The faster the rate of vibration, the higher the frequency and the less likely we will see it with the naked eye. Although it is not seen as physical matter, it is still nonetheless a subtle form of matter. This is what is termed subtle energy or subtle matter. For example, Kaminski & Katz (1996), compare this to the effects of listening to a moving piece of music. In hearing the music, there is a profound effect within the soul, which creates a feeling that influences our physical state (relaxation). The music is not a chemical substance that affects the body, rather it is a vibration that moves us from within and then has an effect physically or emotionally. In this process of awakening, a reconnection to the divine is felt from within. It is this remembrance that moves and stirs our feelings and ultimately affects the physical/emotional body. This phenomenon is known as resonance, when two vibrations match one another the vibration or sound is enhanced. Kaminski & Katz (1996) use this example to demonstrate the vibrational effects of Flower Essences, " . . . the specific structure and shape of the life forces conveyed by each flower essence resonate with, and awaken, particular qualities within the human soul" (p.3).

Resonance and Innate Wisdom

The idea of awakening qualities within the human soul is a very interesting concept. The power of healing is directed from the inside out rather than the outside in. Although one is ingesting the essence from the external, it is the energy patterns that resonate with the soul rather than against the soul. The blueprint of the flower touches our own pattern of health, thereby resonating with one another and reawakening balance and harmony.

There are hundreds and hundreds of different flower essences; each one acknowledging a different aspect of healing. For example, "Rescue Remedy" or "Five-Flower Formula" are combinations of different essences that will help in stressful or anxiety provoking situations. The essence of the flower "Wild Rose" is for imbalance with losing hope, not being motivated and chronic illnesses. It helps to bring balance and positive qualities such as will to live and experiencing the joy in life. (kaminski & katz, 1996) Another example is Dandelion, it is used for someone who is tense, overworks and has difficulty in relaxing. Its’ positive qualities are: dynamic, effortless energy; lively activity balanced with inner ease. (Ibid.) There are essences for many imbalances as well as areas that need strengthening these include: laziness, anger, insecurity, confidence, sadness, grief, love and the list goes on and on.

Holistic Medicine

The philosophy of holistic medicine is to acknowledge the person as a whole. Mind, emotion, body and spirit are not separate from one another, they work together to form a whole person. When the physical body is the only aspect that is addressed in healing, it is impossible for one to attain balance if other areas are dysfunctional. Flower essences can help to fill the gap between the physical and subtle energy bodies. They can be used in conjunction with any modality such as counseling, massage, medical treatments, surgery, grief counseling, addiction clinics, ultimately any environment or modality that focuses on health and wellness. Of course it is important to note that they are not a replacement for medical attention. For example, if a person has severe suicidal tendencies, a flower essence is not an appropriate form of treatment and this person may need medication from their doctor. However, they can be very powerful adjuncts in healing. As medicine shifts towards more holistic treatments, it is about bringing different health disciplines together to complement each other, and create resonance of health within the individual. Flower essences also promote the innate healing ability of the individual. They work with the person, not on the person. This perception is very different from traditional medicine, it not only empowers the individual, it also reinforces the belief that healing starts from within.  

References

Bier, D. (1998, Spring). The wide world of vibrational essences. Massage & Bodywork, pp. 131-136.

Gerber, R. (1996). Vibrational medicine (2nd ed.). Santa Fe: Bear & Company.

Kaminski, P., & Katz, R. (1996). Flower essence repertory: A comprehensive guide to north american and english flower essences for emotional and spiritual well-being (5th ed.). Nevada City: Flower Essence Society

Links to Other Sites

www.flowersociety.org/

www.essences.com/

www.bachcentre.com/