All About Flower Essences
By Dr. Emily Wiggins
We LOVE flower essences at Terrain Natural Medicine! They are such a gentle and potent support for the emotional and mental elements of healing.
Considered an energetic therapy, similar to homeopathy, they are able to harmonize the nervous system to allow for physical healing to occur as well.
The History of Flower Essences
These powerful little remedies were developed by a British homeopath and medical doctor named Dr. Edward Bach (pronounced Batch), who lived during the late 1800s, early 1900s.
In search of a way of supporting his patients with safer treatments that focused less on bacteria and more on the whole person, he started collecting plants and flowers to use in making remedies. After much trial and error , he came to full develop the use of flower essences, geared to mach the mental and emotional states he identified in his patients.
Dr. Bach found that in supporting the mental and emotional aspects of the individual, they also found improvement in the physical conditions they were experiencing. 38 remedies were made and used by Dr. Bach and since then the number and varieties of flowers used to make remedies is endless.
How are Flower Essences Made?
To make a flower essences, flowers are picked at the peak of their bloom and either floated on the surface of a bowl of spring water set in the sun or boiled in spring water, depending on the delicacy of the flowers being used.
The water is then filtered and brandy is added to make what is called a mother tincture. The mother tincture is then further diluted to make single remedies that can be taken directly.
Remedy Selection for Flower Essences
Remedies for an individual are chosen after a provider has asked certain questions to determine themes that might be coming up for the patient or in what mental and emotional state a person finds themselves.
A custom formula usually has somewhere between 1-7 different flowers that are meant to go well together in supporting a common theme or combination of mental/emotional aspects.
How to Take a Flower Essence
Flower Essence formulas are meant to be taken directly into the mouth regularly throughout the day.
Generally 4 drops 3 times per day is typical dosing.
The effects of the remedy can be felt as soon as right away or it can take 3-4 weeks of consistently using a remedy to notice a difference.
It’s generally best to use remedies that were made from flowers grown nearest to where the patient lives.
At Terrain Natural Medicine, our flower essences come from Nevada City, CA.
Curious what flower essence will support your body?
Schedule a free discovery call or appointment with our Naturopathic Doctors. We work with patients in Bend, Oregon and worldwide.
