The Bach Flower Guide: Harnessing the Power of the 38 Bach Flowers for Strong Health and a Healthy Mind – Including A-to-Z Symptom Index & Application for Animals E-Book

Elisa Feenders

• Herausgeber: Edition Lunerion
• Kategorie: Ratgeber
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2025

Beschreibung

Bach Flowers: Using the Natural Power of 38 Selected Flowers for Emotional Balance, Physical Harmony, and Overall Well-being Do you believe that the key to everything you need for a good life lies in nature? You're not alone! This belief forms the basis of the gentle method of Bach Flower Therapy, and this guide will show you how to easily incorporate it into your everyday life. True illness arises from a conflict between a person's soul and their actual life path, and ultimately, only the person affected can heal themselves. Based on this assumption, Dr. Edward Bach developed his now-famous Bach Flower Therapy. The good news is: you can get support in the form of the energetic information of specific flowers. Diluted according to homeopathic principles, the essences of 38 flowers help with 38 types of mood disturbances, the root cause of discomfort and complaints. In this book, you'll learn how it works, what mechanisms are at play, and how the power of flowers can be used in various ways. With easy-to-understand explanations, detailed information about each flower, methods of use, and application options, you'll become familiar with these special remedies and find out how to use Bach Flowers in everyday life. Medical background? Not required! This book provides all the essential information on dosage, use, selection of remedies, and symptom determination in an easy-to-understand manner. Basic Bach Flower Course: Learn the effects, basic principles, emotional groups, and flower knowledge – become familiar with the basics in no time. Easy Application: Discover which methods are available for selecting the right flowers, and learn everything about application forms, dosage, and therapy duration. Practical Everyday Use: Emotional balance, physical well-being, mental clarity – learn how Bach Flowers can help with various issues such as stress, sleep disorders, digestive problems, anxiety, and many other complaints. Thinking Further: With effect-enhancing affirmations, applications for animals and children, and information on obstacles like initial aggravation, you'll get the most out of Bach Flower Therapy. This book is your expert guide through the fascinating world of Bach Flower Therapy and shows you what can be achieved with the power of flowers. The A-Z symptom reference guide makes it easier for you to select the right flowers and prepares you for practical daily use. So what are you waiting for? Click on "Buy Now with 1-Click" and use the natural plant power for yourself, your family, and all those you care about!

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Edition 2024

Contents

I The Power of Flowers1

Introduction to the world of Bach flowers1

The origins of Bach flower therapy2

Basic principles of Bach flowers6

II The 38 Bach flowers at a glance13

The production of flower essences13

The 7 emotional groups of Bach flower therapy16

The 38 Bach flowers in detail26

III The basics of use106

Choosing the right Bach flowers106

Dosage, frequency, and duration of use117

IV Bach flowers in practice121

Bach flowers for emotional balance121

Bach flowers for physical well-being124

Bach flowers and the psyche128

Bach flowers and mental clarity131

V Areas of application for Bach flowers in everyday life133

Bach flowers at work133

Class clown and fidgety child: Bach flowers for Children137

VI Challenges and their solutions141

Dealing with individual reactions to Bach flowers141

Adjusting the Bach flower mixtures as needed142

Tips for overcoming possible obstacles during use144

VII Bach flowers and animal healing146

The use of Bach flowers for animals146

The role of the animal owner157

Help pets with Bach flowers159

Specific areas of application162

VIII Bach flowers and affirmations from168

The power of affirmations168

Affirmations for each Bach flower170

IX Symptoms from A–Z: The index for reference179

A: From dissociation to autoaggressive disorders179

B: from pancreatic problems to burnout181

C: Choleric attacks182

D: From vegetating to weak stamina182

E: From selfishness to eating disorders183

F: From fanaticism to fear184

G: From gallbladder problems to brooding184

H: From throat problems to hypochondria185

I: From self-centeredness to isolation186

J: From whining to itching186

K: From surrender to short-term memory187

L: From paralysis to listlessness188

M: From hunger for power to despondency189

N: From neck problems to nostalgia190

O: From fainting to osteoporosis190

P: From panic to phobias191

R: From restlessness to agitation191

S: From shame to addiction problems192

T: From daydreaming to tyranny194

U: From hyperactivity to poor judgment194

V: From exhaustion to pretense196

W: From fickleness to anger197

Z: From timidity to doubt197

Sources and further reading198

I The Power of Flowers

Introduction to the world of Bach flowers

During our lifetime on Earth, each of us goes through a complex process of self-observation and self-discovery. We learn new things, expand our abilities, and overcome challenges. The experiences we have range from subtle to complex, because we can learn from a raindrop falling on the surface of the water and dissolving into the vastness of the ocean, as well as from a serious interpersonal conflict that pushes us to our apparent limits. Either way, life is full of surprises and crises that are worth overcoming, because we can learn a lot about ourselves in the process. Again and again, we are inspired and motivated to surpass ourselves and develop our full potential. The insights we gain from this are what make personal growth possible in the first place.

This is a process we call "life" and no one can escape it. No one is in a position to control the experiences they go through and which allow them to grow. But what they can influence is how they deal with these experiences. Whether they face a particular situation with resentment, fear, and resistance will produce a different result than if they approach it with openness, acceptance, and peace. But this is not always easy. When your partner yells at you or your boss criticizes your work in front of your colleagues, it is by no means child's play to keep a cool head by remaining calm and confident. Imagine if you could support yourself in precisely those difficult moments when you feel thrown off balance. Imagine being able to ask nature for strength and support in times of crisis and finding a way to deal with problems more constructively and develop yourself better in life.

This is where Bach flowers come in. In one way or another, every personality experiences its own unique challenges, whether in the form of inner conflicts or physical illnesses. Even if we cannot avoid this, we do have the opportunity to use the power of plants to support ourselves in difficult times. Bach flowers comprise a total of 38 essences made from specific flowers that are said to have specific properties. These properties were discovered by the English physician Dr. Edward Bach, who gave his name to the Bach flower remedies ( ). He recognized that the healing powers transferred to the user through the concentrated flower essences have a balancing and soothing effect on the human soul.

Flowers can truly be described as the crowning glory of nature. Nature surpasses itself every time a new bud opens to the world and reveals the full extent of its beauty. Hardly any eye can resist their bright colors—their grace is as beguiling as their scent, which triggers a whole fireworks display of sensations in every living being that is allowed to enjoy them. The flower magnetically attracts the observer, who wants to bury themselves deep in the center of this feast for the eyes and take a deep, full breath to absorb the bouquet of fragrances. Flowers express the beauty and perfection of nature in an impressive way; each one is a work of art in itself, whose attraction lies in its uniqueness and transience. According to Dr. Edward Bach, they are not only beautiful to look at, but also possess an equally impressive power that everyone—including you—can use for themselves and their lives. But what exactly does Bach flower therapy involve? How did it come about and how does it work? Let's take a journey together into the fascinating world of Bach flowers and explore what lies behind this unique therapy, which combines the impressive beauty of flowers with a healing aspect.

"Don't let the simplicity of the method deter you from using it, because the more you research, the more you will discover the simplicity of all creation."

- Dr. Edward Bach -

The origins of Bach flower therapy

The knowledge of the power of nature has always been preserved within each of us

The healing power of nature is not a new concept that was born with modern civilization. No, because knowledge of the importance of plants is deeply rooted in all living beings that call the earth their home. Even in the days when our earliest ancestors gathered around a fire to keep warm and still devoted themselves to gathering and hunting for food in nature, they noticed how injured animals intuitively went to places where certain herbs grew that accelerated their healing. Ancient traditions from cultures around the world tell us how specific plants were administered as fresh gifts, infusions, oils, or essences to produce a desired effect in the body.

Herbal medicine was already being practiced by great figures such as Hippocrates and Hildegard von Bingen. Humanity still benefits today from their complex knowledge, which has survived from ancient times and the Middle Ages to the present day.

Homeopathy: inspiration for the later development of Bach flower therapy

While some practitioners of herbal medicine prepared certain parts of plants, such as roots, stems, leaves, or flowers, and prescribed them to patients for oral intake or external application, the founder of homeopathy, Samuel Hahnemann, went one step further in the 18th century and achieved impressive results with his patients even after diluting the tinctures of certain plants so extremely that hardly any atoms of the original plant could be detected – we are talking here about a dilution of up to 1 to 1 quintillion – a number with 30 zeros. The so-called globules actually contain only a barely measurable amount of the "ingredients" of the respective plants. These small, white globules are merely the carrier substance for homeopathic active ingredients, as they consist of simple cane sugar that has been moistened with certain highly diluted homeopathic substances. Samuel Hahnemann thus demonstrated that the energetic information of the remedy transferred to the globules alone can have healing effects on the living organism, even if no ingredients are detectable or measurable.

Digression: The life of Samuel Hahnemann

Christian Friedrich Samuel Hahnemann was born on April 10, 1755, in Meissen. He showed a talent for languages, chemistry, and technology from an early age, and at the age of 15, he received a scholarship to attend the St. Afra's School for Nobility in his hometown. His great dream was to study medicine, but he had to get creative to finance his studies, as his family was considered impoverished. At the age of 20, he was able to fulfill his wish by receiving another scholarship to study medicine in Leipzig. During these years, the theoretical knowledge he acquired was not enough for him, so he transferred to the University of Vienna, where he was able to gain practical experience in medicine. He was allowed to accompany the primary physician and medical director of a hospital during examinations and was thus able to look over the shoulder of an experienced physician, Dr. Johann Friedrich von Recklitz. Recklitz then got him a job as a private tutor, librarian, and personal physician. After Samuel Hahnemann successfully completed his doctorate in 1779, he established a medical practice in Hettstedt, while also expanding his knowledge through training in practical pharmacy in Dessau. There he met his future wife, with whom he had 11 children.

In order to secure the livelihood of his growing family, Samuel Hahnemann worked as a chemist, translator, and writer in addition to his medical practice, which enabled him to gain more and more knowledge in the fields of chemistry, medicine, and psychotherapy. The information he gained prompted him to start a self-experiment: The malaria-like symptoms he experienced after taking a certain herbal ingredient, cinchona bark, led him to realize that healing remedies cause the same symptoms in healthy people that doctors seek to cure in sick people. This marked the birth of homeopathy.

The more research the German physician undertook in this direction in the coming years, the less he could identify with conventional medicine. He came to the conclusion that it ignored the body's self-healing powers, even weakened the body, and often exacerbated symptoms.

After establishing his law of similars in 1796 and publishing his knowledge on homeopathy in his work "Organon of Rational Medicine" in 1810, he opened a very successful practice in 1828, which was run entirely in accordance with his views. After moving to Paris, where he established another extremely successful practice, he also treated several prominent personalities there. Samuel Hahnemann finally died in Paris on July 2, 1843, at the age of 88, leaving behind his valuable knowledge of classical homeopathy.

Homeopathy is an alternative treatment method that works in a particularly gentle way due to the strong dilution of the remedies. It is based on the so-called principle of similarity, which states that substances that would cause symptoms in healthy people can be used in high dilutions to heal patients suffering from those symptoms. The founder of homeopathy summed this up as follows:

"Like cures like."

- Samuel Hahnemann -

Homeopathic potencies serve to stimulate specific responses in the body, activating its self-healing powers and thus restoring the natural holistic balance within the individual. The term "potency" derives from the manufacture of homeopathic remedies. The process of potentization describes the procedure in which the mother tincture is triturated with milk sugar or diluted with alcohol in several steps, thereby enhancing the effect of the original medicinal substance according to homeopathic teaching—it is "potentized." There are different potencies, which are designated by "C," "D," "LM," and "Q" as well as numbers. These specifications provide information about how often the substance has been diluted and potentized. For example, "D" stands for "decimal," which means that the homeopathic remedy has been diluted with alcohol in a ratio of 1 to 10. The number after the letter indicates how many potencies were applied after each dilution step. In a D200 potency, for example, the original substance was potentiated 200 times, making it more intense than a D12 potency, for example.

Finally, it was Dr. Edward Bach who, in 1928, had his first experiences with flower essences, which later developed into a form of therapy that is still used today.

The life of Dr. Edward Bach and the discovery of Bach flowers

Edward Bach was born on September 24, 1886, in England near the city of Birmingham to a family of Welsh descent. After completing his schooling, he initially worked as an apprentice in his parents' family business, a brass foundry, where he was already able to recognize the first connections between his colleagues' physical complaints and their emotional conflicts. From an early age, Edward Bach felt a desire to help others who were unable to help themselves with their health problems. This was ultimately the decisive factor in his decision to study medicine in Birmingham and London in 1906, which he successfully completed with a doctorate. His first job as a doctor was as head of the accident ward at University College Hospital in London. He also assisted in the bacteriological and immunological department, which enabled him to establish further connections between certain bacteria and diseases. He recognized that certain bacteria were present in excess in the intestinal flora of patients suffering from illness. His desire was to develop vaccines from seven special strains of bacteria, which he pursued with great passion.

In 1917, Dr. Edward Bach suffered a severe blow. He was diagnosed with a malignant spleen tumor and given only three months to live. However, his desire to complete his medical research made the impossible possible, and the Englishman actually managed to overcome the disease.

After regaining his health, Dr. Edward Bach worked at the Homoeopathic Hospital in London, where he became familiar with the views of Samuel Hahnemann, the founder of homeopathy, which would shape him for the rest of his life. Here he found confirmation of his own ideas and visions. In London, he also had the opportunity to pursue further research into his vaccines. Influenced by homeopathic medicine, Dr. Edward Bach began to potentiate his bacterial strains, i.e., to dilute them greatly. The doctor succeeded in transforming the seven vaccines from bacterial strains of the human intestine into homeopathic substances called Bach nosodes. In homeopathy, nosodes refer to potencies such as the degenerate bacterial strains identified by Dr. Edward Bach, which are used to treat diseases according to the principle of similarity. In simple terms, the British doctor extracted the pathological bacteria from the intestines of sick people and, in accordance with the homeopathic concept, transformed them into a medicine through strong dilution. He assigned each of his seven nosodes to specific mood states of his patients, as he recognized that their mental states were closely related to their illnesses.

A few years later, Dr. Edward Bach opened a laboratory and practice in London, where his research became increasingly concrete. He focused more and more on improving his vaccines, which did not yet fully satisfy him, because his goal was to replace the Bach nosodes, which consisted of human intestinal bacteria, with plant substances, which he considered to be purer remedies. He also increasingly integrated the observation of the psyche in relation to human diseases and began to publish his findings.

In order to devote himself entirely to his discoveries, the doctor finally decided to sell his practice again and embarked on a journey through England and Wales. What he was looking for were plants suitable for his project. This search was to bear fruit, because between 1930 and 1933, Dr. Edward Bach identified the first 19 plants for his remedies, which he prepared using his own manufacturing process, known as the sun method. We will take a closer look at the details of how Bach flower essences are produced in a later chapter.

Numerous patients of the British doctor benefited from his innovative remedies, which he described in his book entitled "Heal Thyself" (from ). Despite serious difficulties with the medical association due to the dissemination of his knowledge among medical laypeople and his collaboration with them, Dr. Edward Bach was able to avoid being struck off the medical register.

He remained fascinated by the development of his plant essences, which is why he moved to the village of Sotwell, closer to most of the plants he had found. Here he discovered the last 19 of his 38 essences and developed a new production method: the boiling method. In fact, in 1936, Dr. Edward Bach reached the point where he considered his work on Bach flowers to be complete. Now it was time to reveal his findings and research to the world through lecture tours. On November 27 of that same year, the British physician finally found peace and died of heart failure. However, his teachings lived on and have enriched many lives around the world ever since. The official Bach Centre still exists today in Sotwell as the official home of Bach flower therapy.

Basic principles of Bach flowers

Today, Bach flower therapy is an alternative therapy system for treating emotional imbalances and behavioral patterns. It is based on 38 different substances called Bach flowers, which were compiled by the founder, Dr. Edward Bach, himself in the 20th century.

As already mentioned, Bach flower remedies work purely through the transfer of information and not through specific active ingredients or medicinal substances – they act on an energetic level. Dr. Edward Bach believed that it was not the disease that needed to be cured, but the patient themselves, as he saw an imbalance in a person's soul as the cause of their mental and physical complaints. This mental disorder manifests itself as a consequence of misunderstandings in the psyche, for example, when you believe that you have to do everything on your own or that you are unable to make decisions. These beliefs give rise to negative and destructive thought and behavior patterns, such as doubts or fears, which seem to obscure access to the true self. The self-healing powers of the soul, which include courage, certainty, and decisiveness, are hindered, and we gradually lose touch with our innate intuitive knowledge. Taking Bach flower remedies is therefore intended to restore and strengthen the mental and energetic balance by clearing up mental misunderstandings and helping the patient find their way back to themselves through self-awareness. Even though modern science is not yet able to measure this level of effectiveness, countless testimonials speak for themselves, as clearly demonstrated in Regine Pitscheneder's 2016 pilot study entitled "Placebo-controlled field study on the effect of Bach flowers on anxiety disorders." This study showed that test subjects with anxiety disorders and depression who received Bach flowers showed significant improvements after taking them, while the control group, which only took placebo drops, showed no reduction in anxiety and depression. These impressive results were independent of the gender, age, or educational level of the test subjects. Nevertheless, it is important to note that Bach flower therapy is still not scientifically or medically recognized today.

The philosophy of Bach flower therapy: Dr. Edward Bach's views on health and illness

The founder of Bach flower therapy saw the fulfillment of a soul's mission as the central task of human life. For Dr. Edward Bach, health always came when a person acted in accordance with the intentions of their own soul and thus pursued their life goal. In his opinion, illness is a clear sign that the affected person is living in a state of detachment from their inner intuition, i.e., the instructions of their soul, in their thoughts, words, and actions, which can lead to physical or psychological disorders. Bach flowers have the task of restoring harmony so that the affected person can reconnect with their soul and their life's mission.

Dr. Edward Bach identified a total of 38 potential states of the soul that can occur in humans and defined the corresponding disharmonious forms that manifest themselves when the affected person has lost touch with their soul's mission. The physician considered these character weaknesses to be the true diseases. This led to the creation of 38 pairs of human moods, which, as the British doctor discovered, are represented by certain plants. We will look at these in detail in the next chapter.

The positive and harmonious energy fields of plants resonate with the feelings associated with them in humans and can thus take effect. In other words, if a person's energy field is disturbed in certain areas, which manifests itself in negative moods, the corresponding plant species can superimpose its own harmonious energy field on that of the affected person and thus restore harmony. However, Dr. Edward Bach did not see his Bach flowers as a new form of medicine designed to "eliminate" a "problem" by suppressing the symptoms. His hope was that, in addition to taking the Bach flowers, his patients would also understand that they themselves have control over how they perceive their reality. The doctor's vision was that people would use Bach flowers as a support, but ultimately become their own healers by transforming their thought and behavior patterns in a way that would benefit their lives.

Dr. Edward Bach's vision: The doctor of the future

In his 1931 book "Heal Thyself," the founder of Bach flower therapy formulated his vision of what the doctor of tomorrow might look like.

"Thus, the doctor of the future will have two great goals: The first will be to help the patient gain knowledge about themselves..."

- Dr. Edward Bach -

With these words, the British physician expresses that he places the patient's self-awareness first. In his opinion, certain patterns of thought and behavior led to the patient developing one or more ailments. However, the ailments can only be cured if the patient can uncover which of their thoughts, feelings, and reactions caused the suffering. Dr. Edward Bach must have already recognized at that time that no medicine in the world can bring about a complete cure, especially if the root cause of the disease is not addressed. As long as a patient has not gained self-awareness of what exactly made them ill, they will not be able to recover.

Here, Dr. Edward Bach assigns an important role to the doctor of the future, whose task it will be to use his knowledge of the so-called spiritual laws to explain to patients which thoughts and actions threaten harmony and balance within them. This doctor must have a thorough understanding of human nature, as he must be able to recognize the factors in his patients that are responsible for the conflict between the person and their soul that is causing the illness. In addition, he should be able to give advice on the virtues that need to be developed so that the illness can be cured.

At this point, Dr. Edward Bach once again emphasizes the importance of personal responsibility for the healing process. He instructs the doctor of the future never to take away his patients' responsibility for themselves . This means that he must make the patient understand that his own thoughts, feelings, words, and actions have led to his current suffering. Of course, this is not about finding someone to blame, but simply making it clear that every person is the creator of their own life and must work on themselves—no therapy or medication can do this for them. They should not go to the doctor to shirk their personal responsibility by following the instructions of a medical professional and letting them treat their symptoms. Instead, they should consult the doctor of the future to help them recognize the causes of their illnesses themselves so that they can overcome them on their own.

"The second duty of the doctor will be to administer remedies [...] that restore peace and harmony to the whole personality."

- Dr. Edward Bach -

The second goal of the "doctor of the future," as Dr. Edward Bach envisions it, is to use certain forms of therapy and medicines that support the process of self-awareness and the transformation of negative reaction patterns into positive ones. On the one hand, these remedies should strengthen the physical body so that it can deal with and cope with the illness that has arisen. Only a strong physical form can endure ailments and heal on the path to self-awareness. On the other hand, the remedies administered by the doctor of the future should ensure that the mind is also taken into account: it is of significant importance that the mind can relax so that its horizons can expand and it can strive for self-awareness. If the psyche is in chaos because we are confused by too many negative thoughts and feelings, it becomes difficult to find our way back to unity with the soul. However, if certain remedies, such as Bach flower essences, help to bring a little calm, the person affected is able to understand themselves better, expand their consciousness, and thus recognize what made them ill so that they can take responsibility for remedying these factors themselves. The only task of the doctor of the future, as envisioned by Dr. Edward Bach, is to stand by the patient so that harmony and peace can finally return to their personality.

How Bach flower remedies work

When the founder of Bach flower therapy was conducting his research into Bach nosodes, in which degenerate intestinal bacteria were used to produce vaccines, he already recognized the importance of mood for the deteriorating constitution of his patients. Dr. Edward Bach believed that treating the emotional state should take priority over treating the actual illness. This prompted the British doctor to stop examining the patient's stool in order to gain insights into their physical complaints and identify the appropriate Bach nosode. Instead, he shifted his focus to psychology by identifying the typical character traits of his patients. If he then identified a particular negative state of mind, such as fear or hopelessness, he administered nosodes to counteract it, with the effect that the illness was also cured at the same time. These were the first experiences that formed the basis of what later became Bach flower therapy.

Bach flower essences cannot be described as substances or medicines, because the chemical active ingredient is hardly present due to the way they are produced. The assertion that these tiny droplets with a practically undetectable active ingredient cannot cure ailments should be reconsidered, at the latest when one considers the enormous effects of nuclear power. Here, too, the smallest quantities are sufficient to cause almost unbelievable consequences. With Bach flowers, however, it is not the substance itself that achieves the positive effect, but its inherent energy.

The effect of Bach flowers on humans is therefore achieved solely on a subtle level, which also has the positive effect that no side effects can occur, although so-called initial worsening of symptoms may be possible. We will discuss this phenomenon in more detail later. Subtlety describes those things with a low density that are not visible to the human eye. This contrasts with gross materiality, which we deal with every day: it encompasses everything we can see and measure because it has a high density and can therefore be experienced by the body's senses, such as the human body, animals, plants, a chair, or a lamp. These things have a frequency that is within the measuring range of our technical devices. At the subtle level, however, the vibration is higher and therefore neither visible nor measurable for the majority of people. The human soul is also of a subtle nature.

Bach flowers are not medicines that treat symptoms by triggering a biochemical reaction in the body. It makes little sense to use them as conventional medicine for illnesses, whether physical or mental. Please note that Bach flowers cannot replace necessary medical diagnosis and treatment. Since the vibrations of the flowers act on a subtle level, they primarily address the subtle part of the human being. They are able to influence the mood, which is a great ability because, according to the founder of this therapy, this can either promote or cure illnesses. We already know this from psychosomatics, which strives for a holistic view of ailments.

This teaching states that thoughts, feelings, unresolved conflicts, and traumas can also manifest themselves on a physical level through illness because the psyche is closely intertwined with the body.

The essences taken have a positive effect on the patient's state of mind by raising their vibration. This works because positive feelings such as joy, optimism, and love vibrate at a higher frequency than anger, frustration, or fear, for example. A person influenced by the higher frequency of Bach flowers will automatically adjust their mood to the associated positivity. It is as if the patient is listening to beautiful sounds and words or looking at wonderful pictures that are able to lift their mood. Dr. Edward Bach believed that a person who is in a positive mood is closer to their own soul and thus to their soul's purpose than someone who is experiencing suffering and pain. Peace and harmony can therefore only be achieved when the patient is flooded with the higher vibrations of the Bach flower essences – then no illness can take hold in the body. An energetically balanced person whose body, mind, and soul are in harmony has no room for illness.

The essences appeal to the user's higher self and stimulate their subconscious to change their attitudes and behaviors for the better. The existing positive emotional potential is strengthened to balance out the negative potential and thus restore equilibrium. Bach flowers never have a coercive or invasive effect on the human psyche, as they merely inspire greater self-confidence, harmony, and balance. They support the personal inner growth of an individual—but this must be initiated by the individual themselves.

The principles of Bach flower therapy summarized at a glance

Bach flower therapy treats the person, not their illness.

Illnesses and their symptoms are not taken into account.

Character weaknesses are the real illnesses.

Suffering and pain always arise when there is a conflict between a person's personality and their soul.

These conflicts are the result of not fulfilling the soul's purpose.

The conflicts are expressed through negative moods.

Negative moods can influence the state of health and cause various illnesses.

Each of Dr. Edward Bach's 38 moods is assigned a Bach flower.

The language of a person's soul is expressed through their intuition, preferences, desires, and aversions.

Bach flower therapy offers a holistic approach for the mind and body and aims to remind a person's personality of its soul's purpose and thus perfect it.

II The 38 Bach flowers at a glance

The production of flower essences

During his research, British physician Dr. Edward Bach realized that the flowers are the part of a plant that possesses the most life force. In contrast, the roots, stems, seeds, and tubers have less value, which is why he decided to develop his essences from the flowers of certain plants.

During his lifetime, the British physician collected the flowers he needed to produce the essences himself – with the exception of olive and grapevine – using his highly developed intuition. He used materials exclusively from wild plants that thrived in the vicinity of his home in England. Incidentally, the "genuine" Bach flowers available in stores today are still collected wild in England, in keeping with the spirit of their discoverer, because cultivating them would reduce their healing powers.

Dr. Edward Bach used pure water as the carrier substance for the life energy he wanted to extract from this plant component, namely the flowers. In the two different production methods that we will look at in more detail in this chapter, the subtle vibrations of the flowers are transferred to the carrier substance. Since the substance is then highly diluted, similar to the process used in homeopathy, the entire essence becomes even more subtle and can thus have an even greater effect on the higher self and soul of the user. This process ensures that the Bach flower essences do not work as matter, i.e., in a coarse material form, but rather exert their powers on a subtle level.

The sun method

Something that has an equally impressive power is the sun. It breathes life into everything on earth, because without the sun, neither plants nor animals could exist. Using this energy to produce the essences is therefore probably the method that produces a special quality. Let's take a closer look at it.

The sun method is a method of producing Bach flower essences in which the soul information of the plants can be extracted from their physical form. It is always used when the flower in question is delicate and blooms during months with particularly strong sunlight. In late spring and summer, the sun is at its strongest, making this the ideal time to produce Bach flower essences using the sun method.

On a sunny day without clouds, the respective flowers are harvested in the morning from as many different plants of the same genus as possible. Even if it is not always easy to find such a perfect day when both important factors coincide, namely cloudless, sunny weather and fully mature flowers, it is nevertheless essential to pay attention to these subtleties. Only when the bud has fully opened – shortly before it wilts and falls off – and is thus literally in full bloom, does it possess the most healing power.

When picking the flowers, care must be taken to ensure that these plant parts do not come into contact with the human body, as they would otherwise be "contaminated" with the soul signature of the person picking them. Therefore, a leaf can be placed between the thumb and index finger to ensure that the flowers remain completely pure while they are carefully plucked from the plant.

Then, without delay, fill a glass bowl with clean spring or stream water and add as many flowers as possible until it is filled to the brim and the surface of the water is completely covered by the plant parts. The less time that elapses between picking and preparation, the less energy is lost. Do not stir or press the flowers under water – simply place them on top of the water. Leave the bowl in direct sunlight for approximately 3 to 7 hours. The first signs of wilting flowers should then appear. This is evident when the petals look soggy or have lost their color. Small bubbles will also form in the water over time. These symptoms indicate that the essence of the flowers has now been transferred to the water and the process is complete. The mixture is then filtered through a sterile cloth or paper filter until no plant parts remain, and the water is poured into dark bottles, which are filled with the same amount of alcohol, for example brandy, to create a 1:1 mixture. This produces the so-called "mother tincture," or mother essence, which can be stored indefinitely thanks to the alcohol.

If you want to prepare this mother essence for use, it must first be diluted further. To do this, add one drop of the mother tincture to 240 drops of brandy in a bottle and mix well by shaking vigorously.

The cooking method

The sun method is a perfect production method that creates extremely powerful flower essences through the power of the sun. Unfortunately, not all essences can be produced using this method, as certain plant species bloom at times when the sun's energy is insufficient. This is the case in March and April, for example. For this reason, Dr. Edward Bach developed the so-called cooking method, which does not use the energy of the sun, but instead the power of fire.

The production methods are not particularly different, as they only differ in the form of energy that binds the soul information of the flowers to the water: either through the sun's rays or the heat source during cooking. The fully mature flowers are therefore collected in the same way, on a sunny, cloudless day, taking special care when picking them to avoid skin contact.

Pure spring or stream water is then poured into a pot and covered generously with the flowers. Boiling causes the information to be released from the flowers into the water. The flowers remain in the gently simmering water until they have wilted and all vibrations have been clearly transferred to the water. This usually takes about 30 minutes.

The water is then strained and poured into bottles, which are filled with alcohol as described in the section on the sun method. The mother essence obtained in this way is then diluted again in a ratio of one drop to 240 drops of brandy.

These two methods are as simple as they are ingenious: the process of making flower essences is thoroughly harmonious and natural, as little energy is lost because the time between picking the flowers and making the essence is very short. In addition, all four elements of nature are involved: the plant needs earth and air for the flowers to ripen. With the help of fire, or the sun, the soul information of the plant can be extracted from the flower and then transferred to the carrier substance, water. This creates a perfect mixture with highly vibrational healing powers.

The 7 emotional groups of Bach flower therapy

Before we look at the individual Bach flowers in detail, let's first take a look at the seven emotional groups in Bach flower therapy.

Dr. Edward Bach divided the 38 Bach flowers into seven individual groups to make it easier to select them. These emotional groups provide a rough overview of the effects of the essences and are particularly helpful when you have to decide which of several Bach flowers is best suited to you. Nevertheless, this division into seven emotional states no longer fully reflects the individual essences, as the development of Bach flower therapy has revealed more and more specific mood characteristics that would require a more complex classification. For this reason, some experts today do not take the seven emotional groups into account and simply arrange the Bach flowers alphabetically according to their English names. Nevertheless, the seven emotional categories provide a good overview of the individual themes of the essences and can therefore be very useful for users.

Bach flowers for those who suffer from anxiety

This emotional group aims to make the user feel carefree. The Bach flowers in this group are well suited for treating anxiety, as they convey feelings of security, trust, peace, and courage, among other things.

No

Bach flower

German Name

Emotional state

Effect

2

Aspen

Aspen

Tendency to nervousness, negative premonitions, anxiety fantasies, and worrying; unknown fears

Sensitivity, trust, security, and realistic sensitivity

6

Cherry plum

Cherry plum

Fear of losing control, fear of losing self-control

Balance and inner relaxation, self-control

20

Mimulus

Spotted monkey flower

Fear of specific situations, fear and shyness

Bravery, confidence, and courage

25

Red Chestnut

Red chestnut

Excessive fear, worry, and pity for other people

Trust in other people and inner peace, independence

26

Rock Rose

Yellow sunflower

Sudden feelings of fear, panic, and loss of control in certain exceptional situations

Prudence, grace, courage, calmness, and strength

Bach flowers for those who are insecure

The following Bach flowers are ideal for people who suffer from insecurity, as they give the user a feeling of self-confidence and self-esteem by promoting hope, cheerfulness, clarity, and trust in their own intuition.

No

Bach flower

German Name

Emotional state

Effect

5

Cerato

Leadwort

Distrust of oneself, dependence on others and need for external validation

Improved judgment, confidence in one's own wisdom and intuition

12

Gentian

Autumn gentian

Discouragement, disappointment, and frustration when faced with failure

Faith, confidence, and healthy optimism

13

Gorse

Gorse

Uncertainty and pessimism, often resulting in giving up too soon; hopelessness

Hope and confidence

17

Hornbeam

Hornbeam

Indecision and listlessness with a tendency to get stuck and run away; mental fatigue

Enthusiasm, strength, liveliness, and vitality

28

Scleranthus

Annual knotweed

Feeling torn between options, unable to make a decision, and being fickle and indecisive

Clarity in decision-making, decisiveness

36

Wild Oat

Woody

, restless search for the right path in life, aimlessness

Fulfillment, self-discovery, and meaning in life, self-realization

Bach flowers for those who are too caught up in the past or future

This emotional group is aimed at people who tend to lose sight of the present because they live too much in the past or future. The Bach flowers that can be assigned to this group help them to anchor themselves back in the here and now by promoting, among other things, a sense of reality, coping with past experiences, and finding peace of mind.

No

Bach flower

German Name

Emotional state

Effect

7

Chestnut Bud

Chestnut bud

Lack of interest in current circumstances with a tendency to repeat the same mistakes due to learning difficulties and lack of concentration

Ability to develop and learn, insight, wisdom

9

Clematis

White clematis

, escapism, lack of interest in the here and now, listlessness and weariness

Sense of reality, grounding, and awareness of the present

16

Honeysuckle

Honeysuckle

Tendency to live in the past; homesickness, weariness

Coping with the past, progress and transformation

21

Mustard

Wild mustard

Darkness, feeling sad, troubled, and depressed for no apparent reason

Cheerfulness, happiness, zest for life

23

Olive

Olive

Feeling exhausted and tired after physical and mental exertion

Vitality, strength, and vigor

35

White Chestnut

White chestnut

Being overwhelmed by your own thoughts because you cannot switch off, having obsessive thoughts; mental hyperactivity: your thoughts keep going round and round in circles; feeling like you are on a merry-go-round with no control

Mental calm, clarity

37

Wild Rose

Dog rose

Resignation, lack of initiative, apathy, indifference, listlessness, and not wanting to deal with unpleasant things

Activity and zest for life

Bach flowers for those who suffer from loneliness

The Bach flowers in this category focus on feelings of loneliness. By promoting feelings such as empathy, serenity, and sociability, they help users feel comfortable in the company of others.

No

Bach flower

German Name

Emotional state

Effect

14

Heather

Scottish heather

Tendency toward self-centeredness because one is preoccupied with oneself, wants to be the center of attention, cannot be alone, and craves recognition

Altruism, empathy, and selflessness

18

Impatiens

Glandular impatiens

Impatience, inner restlessness, haste and the resulting irritability and hecticness

Slowing down, patience, and serenity

34

Water Violet

Marsh water feather

Tendency to be a loner, reserved, arrogant, aloof, and false pride

Approachability, connectedness, sociability, and friendliness