The Bach Flower Remedies

Among the West's favourite remedies for emotional problems are the Bach Flower Remedies - discovered by Dr Edward Bach in the 1930s and used since then for soothing worries, fears and ill temper

The remedies are essentially the dew collected from particular plants preserved with brandy and seem to contain some invisible energy from the plant.They should be further diluted in water before being taken in drop doses. By this stage the remedies are in homoeopathic dilution and many orthodox herbalists are sceptical of their action. However, Bach Flower Remedies can be extremely helpful for a great many people and are worth trying.

Remedy.... Dr Bach's suggested use

Agrimony: For those who suffer mental torture behind a "brave face"
Aspen: For vague fears of an unknown origin
Beech: For critical intolerance of others
Centaury: For the weak-willed
Cerato: For those who doubt their own judgement and seek advice of others
Cherry Plum: For fears of mental collapse
Chestnut Bud: For a refusal to learn from past mistakes
Chicory: For possessiveness and selfishness
Clematis: For the inattentive and dreamy escapist
Crab Apple: A cleansing remedy for those who feel unclean or ashamed
Elm: For those temporarily overcome by feelings of inadequacy
Gentian: For the despondent and easily discouraged
Gorse: For hopelessness and despair
Heather: For the self-centred obsessed with their own troubles
Holly: For those who are jealous, angry or feel hatred for others
Honeysuckle: For home sickness and nostalgia
Hornbeam: For "Monday morning feelings" and procrastination
Impatien:s For the impatient
Larch: For those who lack confidence
Mimulus: For fear of known things
Mustard: For deep gloom and depression
Oak: For those who struggle on against adversity
Olive: For complete exhaustion
Pine: For guilt feelings and self-blame
Red Chestnut: For excessive fear for others, especially loved ones
Rock Rose: For extreme terror
Rock Water: For the self-repressed who overwork and deny themselves any relaxation
Scleranthus: For uncertainty and indecision
Star of Bethlehem: For shock
Sweet Chestnut: For extreme anguish; the limit of endurance
Vervain: For tenseness, over-enthusiasm and over-effort
Vine: For the dominating and inflexible
Walnut: For protection at times of change such as the menopause or during other major lifestage transitions
Water Violet: For the proud and reserved
White Chestnut: For mental anguish and persistent nagging worries
Wild Oat: For uncertainty about which path to take; an aid to decision taking
Wild Rose: For the apathetic who lack ambition
Willow: For the resentful and bitter who are fond of saying "not fair"

Having chosen a suitable selection of remedies put four drops of each into a 10 ml dropper bottle and then fill this with spring water. Take drop doses of the remedy on the tongue as required.