Are you searching for a gentle way to restore your mental, physical, and emotional health? Flower essences are one of the most subtle yet powerful holistic therapies for unlocking emotional blocks and restoring balance in the body, mind, and spirit.
Flower essences are liquid extracts that hold the vibrational energy of flowers. When taken internally or applied topically, they can help you access deeper levels of healing. Their mode of action does not depend on molecular or pharmacological mechanisms but on the frequencies transmitted from the flowers themselves. They work by helping you recognize patterns in your life that aren’t serving you—like fear, doubt, and anxiety—and provide an opportunity for transformation and growth.
The History of Flower Essences
Flower essences were discovered by Dr. Edward Bach, a British physician in the 1930s. He understood the mind-body connection and believed in the body’s innate, self-healing mechanisms (1). While serving injured soldiers, he observed the effects that stress and trauma had on patient recovery - those who were more hopeful seemed to recover more fully. He developed the belief that if he could heal the patient of their negative emotional state, the body would no longer be inhibited by emotional stress and would be more free to heal itself.
I was told he observed that patient’s reactions to receiving flowers varied by the type of flower that was brought them. Think about it…how do roses make you feel, versus lilies, or jasmine? This got Dr. Bach thinking more deeply about the vibratory influence of plants on our physical and mental health, and namely our emotions. He spent years developing and testing his flower remedies on patients. There are many case histories published of his successful treatment of physical illness with the corresponding remedy for the emotional state (2).
How Flower Essences Work
Flower remedies may certainly help those who wish to improve their physical health, lowering stress levels, which is a large cause of inflammation and pain. But the ultimate aim of this system is to generate happiness and peace of mind, which when present, can awaken the body’s own healing processes to unfold.
Some clinical studies have seemingly debunked the benefits of flower essence therapy, while others have demonstrated their benefits in clinical settings (3, 4). Critics have attributed the perceived benefits of flower essences to the placebo effect, and believe that “the basic principles of Bach’s theory are settled on ungrounded, deeply intuitive hypotheses, belong to magical thinking, and do promote philosophical approaches that weaken patients-consumers, particularly with regard to sectarian trends (5).”
They work on similar principles to homeopathy, as the life-force and vibrational signature of the plant is imprinted within a water-based matrix. This is achieved through sun-steeping the flowers in water for a period of time. The water is then collected, strained and potentised through dilution methods. Flower essences work by the principle of resonance within the subtle human energy field, which impacts one’s physical and emotional health.
Flower remedies encourage the positive aspects of our personalities, rather than suppress the negative ones. For example, the remedy Aspen is used for anxiety and fear. When we take Aspen, it works, not by fighting against these strong negative emotions, but by cultivating within us the energies of courage and sense of adventure that balance anxiety and fear, and they diminish.
One reason I believe studies struggle to show consistent benefits, is that flower essences work on a very individualized level; people vary with regard to the type of essence needed to achieve any given benefit, as well as how to use it and for how long, etc.
The most common benefits include reducing stress, improving focus and concentration, increasing self-confidence, boosting emotional resilience, enhancing communication skills, and promoting relaxation. They can help with physical ailments such as headaches and muscle tension as well as mental health issues like depression or anxiety. The benefits of flower essences vary widely depending on the type of essence and how it is used.
How to Use Flower Essences
When it comes to tapping into our inner power for transformation and healing, flower essences can be a profound tool. They are easy to use —all you need is a few drops under your tongue or on your skin. To choose the right flower essence at any given time, all you need is to listen to your intuition.
Depending on the degree of imbalance, some flower essences may have an immediate effect, and other times you may feel a slower unfolding of the effects over the course of days, or weeks. Anything that does not match the vibration of the chosen flowers simply dissipates, and if wrong flower is chosen you will not feel any change. I also highly recommend using complementary activities to my clients such as journaling, meditating, using affirmations or free writing whilst taking flower essences to reveal and document insights that may occur.
So if you're looking for an alternative way to heal your body and mind while connecting more deeply with nature's energy – give flower essences a try.
For more questions about flower essence therapy or to order your own custom essence or blend, click the button below.
Sara Schaefer, PhD is a scientific researcher, and holistic health advocate and practitioner, and founder of www.rootsofwellness.us
References
1) Barnard J. Bach E. (1931). The Twelve Healers. Republished in: The collected writings of Edward Bach. Bath: Ashgrove Press. 1998.
2) The work of Dr Edward Bach. An introduction and guide to the 38 flower remedies. London: Wigmore Pub Ltd. 1995
3) Howard J. Do Bach flower remedies have a role to play in pain control? A critical analysis investigating therapeutic value beyond the placebo effect, and the potential of Bach flower remedies as a psychological method of pain relief. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2007 Aug;13(3):174-83.
4) Fusco SFB, Pancieri AP, Amancio SCP, Fusco DR, Padovani CR, Minicucci MF, Spiri WC, Braga EM. Efficacy of Flower Therapy for Anxiety in Overweight or Obese Adults: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial. J Altern Complement Med. 2021 May;27(5):416-422.
5) Monvoisin R. Bach flower remedies: a critic of the pseudoscientific, pseudomedicinal concepts and philosophical postures inducted by Dr Bach theory. Ann Pharm Fr. 2010;63(6):416–28.