Flower essences are liquid, potentized plant preparations which convey a distinct imprint, or etheric pattern, of a specific flower. Originally developed in the 1930’s by the English physician, Dr. Edward Bach, flower essences enjoy a reputation of being highly beneficial and safe to use. They belong to a modality of potentized remedies which derive their active powers from life forces within substances. Flower essences expand our understanding of health care, recognizing a relationship between body and soul, and the interweaving of spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical aspects of wellness. They address the subtle but very important realm of the human psyche, where thoughts and feelings emanate. Just as food sustains the human body, flowers nourish the soul, enhancing emotional and psychological well-being.
The standard dosage is 4 drops, under the tongue,4 times per day. Potency is increased not by taking more drops at one time, but by increasing the frequency in emergency or acute situations. Flower essences can also be used in a misting bottle that is sprayed directly in the mouth, or the surrounding environment. Many people add them to their drinking water, juice, tea, etc. Some even add them to family members drinks to improve attitudes and wellness, hmm? Now, for several of our favorites!
Aloe Vera – Over-emphasis of will forces or creative fervor; “burned-out” or workaholic syndrome
Angel’s Trumpet – Fear of death, resistance to letting go of material life and crossing the spiritual threshold
Angelica – Feeling cut off, bereft of spiritual guidance and protection; spiritual orphan
Baby Blue Eyes – Defensiveness, insecurity, mistrust of others, lack of support from father or other men in childhood
Black Cohosh – Courage to confront rather than retreat from abusive or threatening relationships or situations
Blackberry – Inability translate goals and ideals into
concrete action or viable activities; procrastination
Borage – Heavy-heartedness or grief, lack of confidence
in facing difficult circumstances; discouraged
Calendula – argumentative, lack of receptivity in communication with others; verbal abuse
California Wild Rose – Apathy, resignation, pronounced passivity; inability to catalyze will forces through the heart
Chamomile – Easily upset, moody, and irritable, inability to release emotional tension, especially in the stomach/gut
Cosmos – Unfocused, disorganized communication; overexcited speech, overwhelmed by too many ideas
Dandelion – Tense, rigid or stiff, especially in the musculature of the body; over-striving and hard-driving
Dill – Overwhelm due to excess stimulation, hypersensitivity to environment or to out activity, sensory congestion
Echinacea – Shattered by severe trauma or abuse; physical or emotional disintegration of self identity; poor immune
Evening Primrose – Profound feeling of rejection stemming from coldness in mother or mother figures
Fawn Lily – Withdrawal, isolation, self-protection; overly delicate or mystical, lacking in inner strength to participate
Filaree – Obsessive worry and compulsion about minor events; unable to gain a wider perspective in daily life
Goldenrod – Overly influenced by group or cultural ties; inability to be true to oneself, easily susceptible to peer pressure or external social demands
Hibiscus – Inability to enjoy sexual experience; lack of warmth and vitality, often due to prior exploitation
Hound’s Tongue – Materialistic world view, weighed down or dulled by a mundane/overly analytical viewpoint
Indian Paintbrush – Low vitality and exhaustion, difficulty finding energy for creative forces to be manifest
Madia – Easily distracted, inability to concentrate, splintered activity that is unproductive
Mallow – Insecure in relationships, paralysis in reaching out to others, resulting in social barriers
Milkweed – Neediness and emotional regression, dulling the consciousness through drugs, alcohol, overeating
Mountain Pride – Vacillation and withdrawal in the face of challenge; lack of assertiveness, inability to take a stand
Nasturtium – Overly “dry” or intellectual consciousness; depletion of life-force and emotional verve from too much study
Oregon Grape – Paranoid or defensive behavior; expectation of hostility from others; antagonistic projection
Penstemon – Feelings persecuted or sorry for oneself; inability to bear life’s difficult circumstances – gives perseverance
Peppermint – Dull or sluggish, especially mental lethargy; under-active metabolism which depletes mental forces
Pink Monkeyflower – Feelings of shame, guilt or unworthiness; fear of exposure and rejection, hiding inner self
Pink Yarrow – Unbalanced sympathetic forces, overly absorbent auric field, lack of emotional clarity, merging w/ others
Pretty Face – Feeling ugly or rejected because of personal appearance; over-identified with physical appearance
Purple Monkeyflower – Fear of retribution or censure if one departs from religious conventions of family or community
Quaking Grass – Dysfunctional in group settings, inability to compromise, over-attachment to personal will in social areas
Quince – Inability to catalyze or reconcile strength and
power with affection and tenderness, dysfunctional or
inconsistent parenting or leadership behavior
Sage – Seeing life as ill-fated or undeserved, inability to perceive higher purpose and meaning in life events
Scarlet Monkeyflower – Fear or repression of intense feelings; inability to act upon issues of anger and powerlessness; need to be seen as “nice” rather than “real”
Scotch Broom – Disheartened and depressed; overcome with pessimism and despair, especially regarding one’s personal relationship to world events
Self Heal – Inability to take inner responsibility for one’s healing, lacking in spiritual motivation for wellness, overly dependent on external advice for health choices
Snap Dragon – Verbal aggression and hostility; repressed or misdirected libido; mouth and jaw tension, misplaced
Star Thistle – Fear of lack, inability to give freely and spontaneously, misery or hoarding tendencies
Sunflower – Distorted sense of self; inflation or self-effacement, low self-esteem or arrogance, poor relation to father or other supportive men early in life
Tansy – Lethargy, procrastination, inability to take straightforward action; habits which undermine real abilities/talents
Tiger Lily – Overly aggressive forces, excessive competition rather than cooperation
Trumpet Vine – Lack of vitality or soul force in expression; inability to be assertive or to speak clearly, speech impediments
Violet – Profound shyness, cool and aloof, fear of being
submerged in groups
Yarrow – Extreme vulnerability to other and to the environment; easily depleted, overly absorbent of negative influences
Yerba Santa – Constricted feelings, particularly in the heart and lungs; internalized grief and melancholy, deeply repressed
Zinnia – Over-serious and dull, lack of spontaneity or humor; overly somber self-identity; workaholic tendencies
