BACH FLOWERS
Bach Flowers are named for the late Edward Bach of England, a homeopathic doctor who discovered the thirty-eight flower remedies and their method of treatment. Dr. Bach believed that in this life we have two purposes: to work on our Divine Purpose (to grow spiritually) and to serve our fellow human beings. His theory was that if you are not doing both of these things, then disease can set in.

This system of healing is based on shifting the emotional energy of an individual through the vibrations found in specific flowers. The essence of these flowers has been potentized into drops that can be administered in a variety of ways. By shifting the vibratory energy connected with our emotions, our physical condition has been found to respond accordingly.

Rather than focus on the disease, Bach Flowers looks at the emotional state that is the root cause of disease. Under stress from a negative emotional state, the body loses its natural resistance to disease and gets sick much more easily. By correcting the emotional state, the disease will have nowhere to flourish and will naturally go away. In Dr. Bach’s own words: “There is no true healing unless there is a change in outlook, peace of mind, and inner happiness.”

All of our moods and reactions fall into seven basic emotional states. The thirty-eight Bach Flower remedies facilitate emotional correction in one of these categories:

1. Fear
2. Uncertainty
3. Insufficient interest in present circumstances
4. Loneliness
5. Oversensitivity to influences and ideas
6. Despondency or despair
7. Overcare for welfare of others

HOW TO USE BACH FLOWERS:
Bach Flowers, which come in small bottles, are extremely concentrated. They are the energy vibration from various flowers which have been distilled out and concentrated into a liquid form. A tiny bit of alcohol has been added as a preservative. When kept tightly sealed, the remedies have an extremely long shelf life.

Bach Flowers can be used in several different ways. Adults can take 4 drops straight out of the bottle in their concentrated form and drop them under the tongue. Children can take 2 drops in the same fashion.

The most common way to take Bach Flowers is by diluting the concentrate in water and then drinking the water. If you are using just one flower, mix 4 drops of that flower in 1 ounce of water, then take 4 drops of the solution as often as needed. When diluted in water, the drops are really tasteless, so even picky children won’t complain. If you are using a combination of flowers, mix 4 drops of each flower (up to a total of no more than six flowers) in 1 ounce of water, then take 4 drops of that solution as needed. You may want to purchase a dropper bottle that you can fill with water and then add the prescribed remedies. They can carry this bottle along with you and take drops throughout the day, either straight or by diluting the mixture further in a glass of water, tea or juice. They still will have the desired effect.

A diluted Bach Flower Remedy mixure can be spritzed directly into the air to alter the energy of a room. This is an especially effective way to experience the benefits of Bach Flowers.

Another way to use Bach Flowers is to drop some of the remedy onto your skin and massage it in to the afflicted area. They can be worn like a perfume for emotional concerns. People of any age also can sniff the fumes from the bottle for 30 seconds for a quick pick-me-up. You also can use them in your bath. Simply add 6 to 8 drops of the prescribed remedy to your or your children’s bathwater.

You can administer Bach Flowers to your children before they go to school in the morning, when they get home from school, at dinnertime and before bed. By scheduling the doses in this way, you will increase compliance, as the children will not have to take the drops during their school day.

If you want to carry a single Bach Flower remedy with you, the one to choose is Rescue Remedy. This remedy is a combination of five different Bach Flowers: cherry plum, clematis, impatiens, rock rose and star of Bethlehem. It is an all-purpose remedy for all kinds of emergencies. It helps relieve trauma, anguish, or even daily stress buildup. It is also useful when you have anxiety about an upcoming test or a trip to the dentist. Both you and your child can use this convenient Bach Flower remedy for a variety of purposes.

EXAMPLE OF HOW TO USE BACH FLOWERS FOR AT-HOME CARE:

Bach Flowers are a very safe and effective tool for treating colds and flu. The Bach Flowers system looks at the underlying cause of the cold symptoms. Often when our mind feels worn out, for whatever reason, then our body also feels worn out, our immune system is weakened, and we are more likely to come down with a cold or the flu. Bach Flowers can help balance emotions and therefore prevent a cold or help you to relieve some of the causes behind the cold, which, in turn, will help you get better. Here are some of the Bach Flower remedies that are helpful for the symptoms of colds and flu:

• Crab Apple is a cleanser for mind and body.
• Hornbeam helps strengthen a weary mind and body.
• Mustard helps to fight depression.
• Olive is useful when you feel fatigued or exhausted.