Flower Essences
Using Flower Essences For Emotional Healing
About Flower Essence Therapy
Use of flower essences is an extremely safe therapy for
shifting emotional states which may be causing or perpetuating
outward physiological illness. Developed by homeopath,
naturopath, and allopath Dr. Edward Bach in the 1930's, these
liquid preparations are intended to work in subtle ways on
one's emotional/spiritual energetic patterns. Through repeated
dosage, essences have helped individuals release 'negative'
emotions or fears, and support transformation to higher states
of health and wellness.
While a few 'formal' methods are given, there are no
hard-and-fast rules for the use of flower essences. It can be
best to begin with one of the 'commonly' prescribed methods,
and explore creative ways to incorporate the flowers into your
life as you see fit. Flower essence therapy has a certain
flexibility, and will likely be most effective when used in a
way that feels right in your life. Here are a few guidelines to
take into consideration:
Frequency of Use
Most flower essences can be used directly from the 'stock'
bottle (the dilution level at which essences are most often
sold). A typical usage schedule is four drops directly in the
mouth (or added to a glass of water), four times daily. Because
of the particularly dynamic nature of daily awakening and
retiring, the most important times may be immediately upon
waking, and just before going to sleep. The other two times may
be before lunch and upon arriving home at the end of a workday -
whatever times might best suit your daily rhythms. Some folks
apply essences to their heart chakra, pulse points on their
wrists, or on their forehead; essences can be dropped in a bath
or added to a spray bottle and sprayed about a room or house
(more about further dilution in a minute). Sixteen drops can
also be added to a water bottle and taken throughout the day -
this is a very effective method for those with a busy schedule
who otherwise may forget to take their essences.
Duration of Use
Because flower essences work on an emotional level, sometimes
described as the 'soul level', it is important to remember that
changes may best be made gradually. Flower essence therapy has
been most successful when the essences are taken regularly,
most often for the period of about 1 month, for changes in
'core' emotional issues to be seen. Some essences, like Rescue
Remedy, are blended to have an effect regarding a recent
(minutes, hours, days) traumatic event. Yarrow Environmental
Solution by Flower Essence Services was created to offer
protection from our modern environment on a daily basis, while
not necessarily addressing personal emotional situations. Still
other essences, like 'Impatiens' - used to calm an impatient
aspect of personality - works fairly quickly in some cases. One
user regularly felt the effect within 10 minutes while the
impatience was still a significant part of his personality,
with the entire personality aspect being slowly washed away
after long-term use. So, in most instances, if trying to clear
or change some significant part of your soul makeup, try at
least a few weeks of regular use.
Dilution and Blending
Flower Essences can be further diluted from the 'stock bottle'
(the 'dilution level' available on this site) to a 'dosage
bottle' for regular use. One can add 1 or more droppersful from
the stock bottle to a clean 1 ounce (30ml) dropper bottle and
fill the rest with spring water (optimally) or other clean
water source. Blends can also be made this way, adding 1 or
more droppersful from each flower essence to the 1 ounce
dropper bottle, filling the rest with spring water. The
receiving bottle should either be new, or boiled in water to
remove old residue - because of the nature of flower essences,
they can pick up etheric vibration left over. Also, whenever
using flower essences from the stock bottle, be conscious of
not touching the dropper tip to anything - your tongue, hands,
another bottle, etc. - to help maintain the vibrational purity
of the flower essence.
Dilution Effects
Dilution of the essences will have different effects for
different; Some do not find the effect as pronounced with a
dilution from the stock level, while others find the effect
just as significant. Dilution is usually best, however, for
children - either from a dosage bottle or from the stock bottle
into a glass of water (this can also be good for
alcohol-sensitive persons, because of the small amount of
brandy in every drop). If you chose not to dilute and are
making a blend, simply add equal amounts of each essence to a
clean dropper bottle and use from there (unless you intend to
have more of one essence than another).
Misting Your Environment
Misting your environment is also an effective means to surround
yourself with the energies of your essences. To use as a spray
to mist your home, office, or other environment, a dilution in
spring water is best. Also, glass bottles are preferred over
plastic, as almost every type of plastic has been shown to
release at least a little residue into the water.
Pets and Plants
Animals and pets respond wonderfully to flower essences,
perhaps because of their lack of expectations or any
'resistance' to being healed. If giving flower essences to
pets, it's usually easiest to add drops, perhaps 4 per day, to
their water bowl. Success has also been noted with misting
growing plants - particularly with Rescue Remedy when
transplanting or repotting.
Other Resources
This is in no way intended to be an exhaustive description of
ways to use flower essences. Many fine books are available both
on the Bach essences (those flowers originally described by Dr.
Edward Bach) and the many other flower species now available in
remedy form. The 'Flower Essence Repertory' from Flower Essence
Services is a fantastic guide to essence selection and use,
with in-depth flower descriptions and a reference of primary
emotional conditions and useful remedies. Experimentation with
flower essences is encouraged, for as you begin to use them,
their place in the dynamics of your personal healing journey
will unfold.
About The Author: Misty Rae Cech, ND, is a naturopath and yoga
teacher practicing in Boulder, Colorado. She regularly employs
flower essences with her clients, finding them a gentle yet
effective means of giving momentum to the healing process. More
resources many be found on her website, Ananda Apothecary, at
http://www.anandaapothecary.com
