Flower Essences

[Ravenari]

What Are Flower Essences?

Put simply, flower essences, are infusions of particular types of flowers in water, that are then preserved in a solution that usually involves brandy, or sometimes types of vinegar. Flower essences work in a similar way to homeopathics, they involve a minute amount of ‘actual’ flower essence per droplet, so that the energy is more likely to preserved. The idea is that the more of a physical plant you have, the more it will treat physical symptoms, but the more of an energy you preserve, the better you will be able to treat mental and emotional and spiritual disorders. They are not to be confused with essential oils, or herbal tinctures.

They are based on the theoretical idea that a healthy mind and a healthy spirit will in turn create a healthy body.

Who invented them?

It is commonly thought that they were invented by Dr. Edward Bach. It is true he invented the most well-known flower essences that we know about today. But flower essences have been used and developed by the Nyoongah Aborigines of Australia for thousands of years, and to date they have the oldest tradition of using the energy of flowers for healing. Other Pacific and Australasian Indigenous cultures have also found to have used flower essences in their spiritual practice for many hundreds of years. These days, many people develop their own flower, gem and even animal and mythological animal essences.

How many different types are there?

How long is a piece of string? Many different organisations alternatively genuinely create flower essences, or ‘cash in’ on the vulnerability of people and simply sell brandy or apple cider vinegar. It’s good to look at legitimate brands like Bach Flower Remedies, Living Essences of Australia and Desert Alchemy, to name a few.

What do they treat?

Flower essences are specifically suited for emotional disorder, physical disorder relating to poor immune balance and psychic disorder, such as allergies, stomach upsets, and they are also suited for spiritual development and growth. They are work exceptionally well for people who have suffered mental and emotional trauma, and can aid abuse survivors, and those who are trying to make difficult decisions in their life. They are thought to work specifically on the spirit and aura, though with higher dosages or more concentrated dosages, they will also aid physical ailments.

I use them personally for spiritual growth, assistance in making decisions that need to be made and in breaking bad habits. I have also used them to support recovery issues in my past. They are subtle, but helpful.

How do I use them?

They are most commonly taken orally, usually from a glass jar that has a dropper, so that it can be administered directly into the mouth. For those who don’t like the taste of the alcohol or vinegar, they can be administered into a glass of water and immediately swallowed.

They can also be administered in the following ways:

- applied on the body to specific acupressure points
- used in massage
- added to spritzers to mist the air or our aura
- used in baths
- spray clothes while ironing them
- pretty much anyway you can think of.

Because they are subtle, they are also great for pets.

When do they start to work?

Some people notice a change immediately, especially if using flowers specifically geared towards helping those in trauma, shock etc. But others might need to take them for a cycle of about 3 to 6 months. It is generally thought that you shouldn’t take more than 4-6 flower essences at a time, so that you can fully absorb the energy of each flower effectively. Some companies offer combinations of flower essences specifically to target depression, fatigue, anxiety, trauma etc.

Are there any side-effects?

Not unless you are allergic to alcohol! There are no side effects at all, and if one is allergic to alcohol, they can be stabilised in apple cider vinegar, which has additional health benefits for the gut and intestinal tract.

Some people have reported feeling a little ‘overwhelmed’ after taking too high a dosage (e.g. swallowing a whole bottle, which is often several months dosage). But this settles down as the essence distributes itself through and out of the body.

Can I make them myself?

Yes, though it’s generally not recommended simply because those who make flower essences, often have the necessary permits required to pick the flowers in order to make them. They often have the room and time to trial many different ways of combining flowers with water, and have specific ways they like to cleanse and purify their water. If you are going to make them, use purified water (both physically and metaphysically), and remember that you’ll need a lot of water, and about a handful of the flowers you want. Remember to always be respectful to the plants. Often the flowers are placed in water, and then placed under direct sunlight for several hours. This is considered the most effective method for imbuing water with flower essences.

Instead of necessarily making them, I would recommend simply standing by the flower you might like to receive the essence of. This is an excellent way to receive the energy of flowers. It’s also free!

Are they just a placebo?

This is something that no one can effectively answer, but the one thing that seems to be the case worldwide – is that they work for a lot of people. Make the decision for yourself. Sit by some flowers, and see how you feel! Do you feel happier, more grounded, more emotionally stable? Do you feel like you are stronger? Take the time to go bush-walking or forest-walking and notice and pause by the wildflowers around you, you will generally notice a difference.

[Kristofski]

Me and my friend both used a flower essence when we quit smoking. I can't remember which one though (I think it was Australian bush something). They worked very well though, especially for her as she was a very heavy smoker and has now stopped completly. So yay for flower essences!

[hedge*]

I've only really used Bachs Rescue Remedy - but I swear by it.
My vet even gave some to my cat when she was distressed.