What are Bach flower remedies?
Bach flower remedies were developed in the 1930s by British physician Dr Edward Bach, who believed that emotional balance was an important part of overall wellbeing.
He identified 38 individual remedies, each traditionally associated with a particular emotional state or pattern of behaviour.
Some relate to fear or uncertainty, others to loneliness, discouragement, exhaustion or feeling overwhelmed.
For example, Mimulus is associated with fears we can identify, White Chestnut with unwanted recurring thoughts, and Elm with feeling overwhelmed by responsibilities.
Traditionally, Bach flower remedies are prepared from flowers, trees and plants, with Rock Water being the exception. They are usually taken as highly diluted liquid preparations, selected according to the person’s emotional circumstances.
The central idea is that emotional wellbeing is individual. Two people may be experiencing similar circumstances but responding to them in very different ways.
Within Dr Bach’s philosophy, every remedy is associated with both a negative emotional state and its corresponding positive quality. For example, Mimulus is associated with moving from fear towards courage, Larch from self-doubt towards confidence, and Impatiens from frustration towards patience. The intention is not simply to remove an unwanted feeling, but to encourage a more balanced emotional response.