Flower essences are natural healing remedies made from plants and flowers. They are liquid preparations, available in either dropper bottles or spray top bottles and may be used both internally and externally.
In addition to flower essences, gem elixirs and environmental essences are prepared and used in the same way. For simplicity’s sake, the term flower essences may be used to refer to any of these since they share the same general method and application.
Based on the principle that everything is made of energy, essences are vibrational remedies that help re-align the body’s electrical system, releasing energetic blockages that are held in the body on a molecular level.
Once blockages are released, the path to healing is opened. Because they are energetic, they function on a deeper and more subtle level than other forms of therapeutic or health supplements. They can be taken as a compliment to professional therapy, or incorporated into anyone’s wellness or healing plan. Essences are holistic healers that address wellness on multiple levels: physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual.
Flower essence remedies have a wide range of body-mind healing applications. They assist in emotional and spiritual healing from past or present traumas; provide relief in stressful situations; energetic support for transitional periods such as moving or a change in work or relationship; release of old or negative patterns; balancing energy; spiritual development or spiritual practice; recovery; detoxification; strengthening the individual on many levels; deepening and understanding one’s sense of self; the capacity for expression; and expanding consciousness.
Flower essences may also be referred to as “energetic tinctures” because there is no physical trace of the flower (or gemstone, etc.) that the essence is made from; rather, the energetic pattern of that flower or gemstone is
imprinted in the water-based solution of the stock essence.
It is that energetic pattern that the body-mind utilizes to receive the healing qualities of the essences. This means that the essences work on an energetic level rather than on a digestive level, and therefore do not counter-indicate with other health supplements or medication you might be taking, making them safe and easy to use.
In addition to individual essences, combination formulas are made up of a combination of essences, or a combination of essences with the addition of essential oils (like those used in aromatherapy, which are made using
a different process entirely). Some combination remedies are meant for internal use, while others are used externally as room sprays to improve the energetic quality of an environment (home, workplace, etc). There are
also therapeutic herbal flower oils that contain flower essences, essential oils, and carrier or base oils, these are for external use only.
The method of collecting, preparing and using flower essence remedies was pioneered by British physician and homeopath Dr. Edward Bach (1886 – 1936).
In his search to create a natural and holistic method of healing that would address not only physical, but also emotional and spiritual conditions, Dr. Bach developed the first system of flower essences comprised of 38 different English flowers, and the well-known trauma and stress formula called Rescue Remedy. These are the classic Bach Flower Remedies, also called the English Flower Remedies.
The method of making a flower essence is relatively simple and direct in order to maintain purity and integrity, though much care and attention is required. Organically grown or wild crafted flowers and plant material are placed in a clear glass or crystal bowl of water, and allowed to infuse in an appropriate time and setting - outdoors, in nature. Brandy is added as a preservative, and the mother tincture is produced. The mother tincture is diluted to create the stock essence, which is then bottled and sold.