Bach flower remedies: natural alternative to treat various problems

Most people have heard of Bach Flower Remedies, but not everyone knows how and when they can be used, what benefits they provide, and what the different essences are.

According to Maria Cristina Cury, floral therapist, Bach Flower Remedies are an alternative, holistic therapy, developed by Edward Bach, to treat various problems. “It involves 38 types of flowers made up of essences. They are natural liquid remedies, primarily intended for healing emotional problems,” he says.

Edward Bach (1886-1936) was respected as a physician throughout Europe. But, when experiencing an important personal problem, he abandoned his activities and went to the countryside, in search of an original therapeutic form. It was between 1930 and 1934 that he discovered the 38 flower remedies and wrote the foundations of his new medicine.

Bach lost his wife early and soon developed an illness that was diagnosed as cancer. He was given only three months to live. But he did not accept the diagnosis and went to look for an alternative in nature. “He believed that illnesses happened due to a disharmony between the body, soul and spirit, due to the presence of negative energy. He thus started to work with the development of a method that took positive energy from nature, using flowers”, says Maria Cristina.

Who can take Bach flower remedies?

“We can and should all take the florals at some point in our lives. We start to carry clothes, clothes that do not belong to us, and we accumulate all this negative energy for a long time and, thus, diseases are noticed. Nature wisely gave us a wonderful gift presenting itself with the perfect energy potential”, says Maria Cristina.

According to the therapist, there is no contraindication for the use of florals. “Because they are formulas that are able to coexist even with other types of medication, without causing any discomfort to people”, she says.

Maria Cristina explains that florals complement traditional treatments. “They can be taken with any type of medication, however, they do not replace those prescribed by the doctor, nor the necessary conventional treatments”, she adds.

How to use Bach Flower Remedies

“Floral remedies, preferably, should be indicated by a floral therapist, who will help the person discover what is most needed at this current moment, after a thorough interview. And, thus, formulate the floral to be ordered from a trusted manipulation pharmacy… Or the therapist himself can prepare the floral”, explains Maria Cristina.

In therapy by Dr. Bach, up to seven essences can be used together. “The guideline, in general, is to take four drops of its formula four times a day,” he says.

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“The drops can be administered neat, directly on the tongue, or, if the person prefers, can be applied to the lips, behind the ears, on the temples or wrists. For babies and animals, the preservative in glycerin is recommended”, adds the therapist.

A common question is: is there a specific duration time for treatment with florals?

“Absolutely, flower remedies can be taken for several months, depending on the response to treatment. There is no time for therapy, as each person has a different response to florals”, explains Maria Cristina.

“The floral should last an average of 28 days and so we can have the returns, to know if the same floral should be kept or if we are entering new areas to be treated”, he adds.

Emotional groups and appropriate florals

According to the therapy of Dr. Bach, there are seven emotional groups, which he based on to classify 38 essences (each related to a specific emotional state).

In the table below you can see which are these groups and which are, in general, the indicated florals.

The 38 Bach Flower Remedies

Maria Cristina explains that, for Bach, the important thing was to treat the person’s personality and not the disease. “Illness is from this point of view the result of the conflict between the soul and the personality (what we are, in our daily lives). He said: ‘suffering is the messenger of a lesson, the soul sends sickness to correct us and put us on our way again. Evil is nothing more than good out of place,’” he says.

Below you know the 38 florals and for which cases they are indicated, according to the therapist Maria Cristina:

Agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria): for people who suffer inwardly, but who try not to show it. People who are distressed, anxious, distressed, and who, despite that, always have a smile on their face.
Aspen (Populus Tremula): suitable for people who feel undefined fears, such as ghosts, spirits and bad omens. For fear of the unknown and paranormal phenomena.
Beech (Fagus sylvatica): for people who are overly critical, arrogant, intolerant… Who tend to judge others. They are easily irritated by other people’s habits, quirks and ways.
Centaury (Centaurium erythraea): for those who don’t know how to say “no”, they are unable to set limits. Good people who want to please and often end up being exploited. They neglect their own needs in favor of the needs of others.
Cerato (Ceratostigma willmottianna): for people who do not trust their own opinions, they always seek the opinion of the other. When you lack self-confidence to decide.
Cherry Plum (Prunus cerasifera): for people who feel close to a nervous breakdown. They are afraid of losing control and harming themselves or loved ones.
Chestnut Bud (Aesculus hippocastanum): for those who are always repeating the same mistakes. They have learning difficulties.
Chicory (Chicorium intybus): for people who want to control others. Possessive, selfish and manipulative. Easily hurtful, they constantly demand attention, have interested love and affective need.
Clematis (Clematis vitalba): indicated for the distracted, inattentive. Also for the loss of senses. Sleepy, indifferent.
Crab Apple (Malus pumila): for people very concerned about cleanliness, perfection. They feel ashamed of themselves, they do not accept themselves, they are disgusted and afraid of getting dirty or contaminated.
Elm (Ulmus procera): for strong, altruistic, safe and confident people, but who, at a given moment, feel insecure, incapable. For those who, overwhelmed by responsibilities, feel temporarily powerless and exhausted.
Gentian (Gentianella amarella): for people suffering from depression for an identifiable reason. For the discouraged, pessimistic and skeptical.
Gorse (Ulex europaeus): for those who have lost faith and hope and think it’s not worth fighting on.
Heather (Calluna vulgaris): for people in need who want to attract the attention of others. They are selfish and self-centered. They talk all the time about themselves and are fully involved with their problems.
Holly (Ilex aquifolium): for envy, anger, desire for revenge, jealousy, distrust and hatred.
Honeysuckle (Lonicera caprifolium): for people who live remembering the past with regret and longing. For those who get stuck in the mistakes they’ve made, the opportunities they’ve missed, and the life they’ve passed. Uninterested in the present.
Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus): for those who feel physical and mental tiredness, fatigue, overload, morning laziness. It helps in moments of life readaptation (marriage, mourning, moving to another city, etc.). Uninterested in everyday tasks.
Impatiens (Impatiens glandulifera): for impatient, irritable, intolerant, tense people. For insomnia, hypertension, physical tension and stress. For those who talk, eat, walk and move quickly.
Larch (Larix Decidua): for people with feelings of inferiority, lack of self-confidence. They are always expecting to fail. self-censorship.
Mimulus (Mimulus guttatus): for those who feel fears whose origin is known: fear of travelling, of dying, of being robbed, of being injured, of driving, etc. shy.
Mustard (Sinapsis arvensis): for people suffering from deep melancholy and depression without a definite cause. Sadness, hopelessness.
Oak (Quercus robur): for that person who is a great fighter, who takes on many activities and responsibilities. She ends up feeling exhausted, but she doesn’t even think about giving up.
Olive (Olea europaea): for people who feel physically and psychologically exhausted. Total exhaustion, tiredness. The essence helps a person to strengthen and regain vital balance.
Pine (Pinus sylvestris): for those who harbor feelings of guilt. Self-condemnation and recrimination, even when the fault lies with others. They are incapable of forgiving themselves.
Red Chestnut (Aesculus carnea): for people who are anxious, apprehensive and fearful about what bad can happen to their loved ones. Overprotection, excessive worry. Excessive and pathological inner attachment to another person.
Rock Rose (Helianthemum nummularium): for people who feel panic, terror. Loss of control due to extreme fear.
Rock Water: for those who are extremely demanding with themselves, they want to be an example. Moral rigidity and denial of their needs. Self-repression and self-martyrdom.
Scleranthus (Scleranthus annuus): for people who oscillate between two options. Indecisive, unstable, abruptly change opinions and moods.
Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum umbellatum): for people who have experienced (or are experiencing) a traumatic situation of a physical, mental or emotional nature. For those who need comfort after some misfortune. For shocks and trauma.
Sweet Chestnut (Castanea sativa): for extreme cases of anguish and despair, where the person feels that they are at the limit of endurance. For depression, sadness.
Vervain (Verbena officinalis): for individuals who are extremely dedicated to a cause or idea. Fanatics do not tolerate injustice. Tense, very anxious and stressed.
Vine (Vitis vinifera): for authoritarian, ambitious, inflexible, insensitive people. They excessively seek power. Sometimes they are cruel. For those who seek to impose their will on others.
Walnut (Juglans regia): for people who are going through major changes: adolescence, menopause, beginning or end of an affective relationship, etc. Restarting life, breaking with old habits or bonds.
Water Violet (Hottonia palustris): for reserved, lonely, proud people with feelings of superiority. They despise others. They have emotional coldness and great self-worth.
White Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum): for those who suffer from repetitive thoughts. For the constant and uncontrollable internal dialogue that hinders concentration and wears you out. Unwanted and obsessive thoughts.
Wild Oat (Bromus ramosus): for those who have not discovered their vocation, they are dissatisfied with life. Bored and bored with everyday life, professionally frustrated, unable to plan life.
Wild Rose: for apathetic, unambitious. Emotional insensitivity. Devitalized, constant fatigue. They surrender without a fight.
Willow (Salix vitellina): for very negative people, who feel wronged. put…