An Intro to the Essence of Flower Therapies

 

 Most people today are familiar with holistic healing therapies, particularly the practice of using herbs for healing.  But raise the subject of healing with flower essences, and most people are at a loss to tell you what an "essence" is. 

First of all, essences are not the same as essential oils.  In fact they are very different.  Essential oils are used in aromatherapy treatments, home fragrance, and bath and body products.  Unlike essential oils, essences contain no biological material, have no scent, and no confirmed physical therapeutic properties that you would associate with an essential oil used in aromatherapy. 

So what are they then?  Simply put:  essences are liquid solutions that contain the energetic or vibrational nature of the flower or plant from which it is made.  An essence is the energetic imprint of the life force of the flower or plant.  This imprint is captured in water and then a preservative is added (usually alcohol).  This solution, or decoction, is then stored in bottles (which usually include an eyedropper) so that the essence can be taken orally, added to bath and body products, or used on chakras or meridian points.

Unlike essentials oils, essences do not contain any of the biological content of the plant from which they are made; therefore, they are non-toxic. 

Nature has its own energy or life force.  This energy or life force allows everything around us to function, live, adapt, grow, blend, and flourish within its surroundings, and to survive its environment by evolving to cope with challenges around it.

Most people are familiar with the word "chi" or "qi," used by the Chinese to describe the life force.  The yogis of India refer to the life force as prana.  The Hawaiians call the life force mana.  Native Americas call it manitou; in Hebrew the life force is known as ruach, and in Islamic cultures it is known as baraka. 

All life, in whatever form it takes, comprises energy, and this energy is constantly mixing, merging, and exchanging.  People like Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein spent years exploring it through physics and the same goes for those who are studying quantum mechanics today -- so much in the universe does seem to relate to vibrations and energy. 

Essence making is a tool for capturing the vibrations and energies of life.  Much research has been done over years by scientists and other people on how water can be affected by vibration and the energy to which it is exposed, and the way that it can hold a memory of the energy or vibrations to which it has been exposed.  This is why flower essences are prepared in water. 

To understand how essences work, you need to recognize that a human being is more than just a physical body.  Each person has his or her own external and internal energy and vibrational centers.  You may have heard them described as auras, chakras, subtle bodies, or meridians -- to just name a few.  Many people simply visualize these energies and vibrations as mists that surround and go through us;  they can carry different colors, frequencies, sounds, and speeds.  These are not visible to human eye but they are still very much there.  Interchanging, mixing, and merging with each other and all living things throughout the world.

Here is a great example of the way in which these subtle bodies and energy centers can impact the way you feel or affect what you think about a situation: Take a moment to think of a time when you met someone and liked them instantly, although you have never met before.  How about a time when you have walked into a room and not been comfortable or sure about the space you were in, uncomfortable with the "vibes"?  Or a time when you took a walk in nature and experienced a difference in emotion without knowing quite why?  This is because your vibration and energy centers mix with the vibrations and energy centers that are around you, affecting your thoughts and feelings, thus creating a vibration and energy with you.  Those external and internal energy centers evoke emotional and psychical responses making you feel a certain way.

When our energy systems are affected -- whether by thoughts, feelings, or life experience--we can feel off-balance.  This is where working with energy and using the life force and the imprint of the vibrations we can obtain through essences can make a difference.  We use what nature has to offer, by taking the vibration of our mind, body, and soul, so that an optimum state of healthy and well-being can be achieved.  As everything has its own energy, the combination of what to use and when it should be used is unique to each of us.

Dr. Edward Bach

Before we look at a few of the essential therapies themselves, let's have a look at the founder of flower remedies.  His name is Dr. Edward Bach, a physician who got tired of treating the symptom instead of the person and so developed his Bach Flower Remedies.  He specifically defined the seven moods that cause disease and suffering as, fear, uncertainty, loneliness, lack of interest, over-sensitivity, over-concern for others, and despair.  He then went on to discover a total of thirty-eight different flowers that could help bring about changes for his patients.  He defined the seven qualities of healing disease as hope, peace, faith, joy, certainty, love, and wisdom.  He truly believed the mind played an important part in improving general health and well-being, and explained his therapy as a way,  "...to raise our vibrations and open up our channels for the reception of our Spiritual Self, to flood our natures with the particular virtue we need, and wash out from us the fault which is causing harm."

So let's look at some therapies. 

Wild Rose:

The BACH remedy Wild Rose encourages the positive potential for enthusiasm and a lively interest in life. Reignite your passion for life, and find enthusiasm for the world in general, work, and those you care about. Take initiative, and make some changes.

Mustard Flower:

Be Joyful, with BACH Mustard The BACH remedy Mustard encourages the positive potential to return to joy. Everyone faces occasional sudden gloomy feelings. When you are feeling down, bring joy back into your daily life.  

Bach Star of Bethlehem 

The BACH remedy Star of Bethlehem neutralizes the effects of grief and encourages the positive potential of inner strength. Deal with the aftereffects of a life-altering experience. Have comfort and soothe your pain and sorrows.

White Chestnut:

The BACH remedy White Chestnut encourages the positive potential to find tranquility and peace of mind. Don't let those repetitive thoughts cloud your mind and get in the way of your focus. Reclaim your day and cope with the hectic world around you.

Aspen Flower:

The BACH remedy Aspen encourages the positive potential to maintain a state of inner peace and security, regaining assurance of mind. For when apprehensions consume your mind, and unsettling feelings leave you on edge. Face the unknown with your head held high, and take on any moment throughout your day with confidence.

Chicory Flower:

Love Unconditionally, with BACH Chicory The BACH remedy Chicory encourages the positive potential to selflessly take a step back and care for others without expecting anything in return. Care for the ones you love without becoming manipulative or overprotective. Take a step back, and love unconditionally.

Crab Apple Flower:

Accept Imperfections, with BACH Crab Apple The BACH remedy Crab Apple encourages the positive potential to embrace your body and mind, and accept your imperfections. Obsessive thoughts over imperfections can lead to a poor self-image and a feeling of uncleanliness. Learn to accept yourself.

Larch Flower:

Have Confidence, with BACH Larch. The BACH remedy Larch encourages the positive potential to approach different situations with confidence and determination. Are you nervous to try new things due to a lack of confidence, or need a boost to your self-esteem? Find your inner confidence.

Hornbeam Flower:

The BACH remedy Hornbeam encourages the positive potential to be certain in your ability, and “face the day ahead.” Shake off that “Monday morning feeling,” cope with the demanding day ahead and face whatever obstacles are on your schedule, without hesitation. 

Honeysuckle: 

 “Those who live much in the past, perhaps a time of great happiness, or memories of a lost friend, or ambitions which have not come true. They do not expect further happiness such as they have had.” 

Good for: Homesickness, nostalgia, bereavement 
 
Gentian:

“Those who are easily discouraged. They may be progressing well in illness or in the affairs of their daily life, but any small delay or hindrance to progress causes doubt and soon disheartens them.”
Good when you easily get discouraged when faced with difficulties. 

Oak: 

“For those who are struggling and fighting strongly to get well, or in connection with the affairs of their daily life. They will go on trying one thing after another, though their case may seem hopeless. They will fight on. They are discontented with themselves if illness interferes with their duties or helping others. They are brave people, fighting against great difficulties, without loss of hope of effort.”

Good for exhaustion, overwork, workaholic, fatigued, over-achiever

Willow Flower:

“For those who have suffered adversity or misfortune and find these difficult to accept, without complaint or resentment, as they judge life much by the success which it brings. They feel that they have not deserved so great a trial that it was unjust, and they become embittered. They often take less interest and are less active in those things of life which they had previously enjoyed.”   

Fights self pity, resentment, short-changed, poor me, sulky, irritable, grumbling, bitterness, blame, complain