You are here: Success Articles > The Tools of the New Laws of Healing -- 5. Flower Essences

The Tools of the New Laws of Healing -- 5. Flower Essences

The flower essences were first created in the 1930s by a Welsh Physician, Microbiologist and Homeopath named Edward Bach. Essentially, freshly picked flowers are soaked in fresh spring water in sunlight. Some mysterious property is supposed to be transferred to the water, which is then taken, a small amount of brandy added as a preservative, and dispensed in small bottle. The whole thing sounds questionable, and there is little credible scientific research. Yet countless practitioners have found these remedies to be very helpful adjunctive treatments. The Bach Flower essences are easy to obtain, surprisingly powerful, and are a useful addition to your household.

The original Bach Flower Essences are:
1. Agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria)
2. Aspen (Populus tremula)
3. Beech (Fagus sylvatica)
4. Centaury (Centaurium umbellatum)
5. Cerato (Ceratostigma willmottiana)
6. Cherry Plum (Prunus cerasifera)
7. Chestnut Bud (Aesculus hippocastanum)
8. Chicory (Cichorium intybus)
9. Clematis (Clematis vitalba)
10. Crab Apple (Malus sylvestris/pumila)
11. Elm (Ulmus procera)
12. Gentian (Gentiana amarella)
13. Gorse (Ulex europaeus)
14. Heather (Calluna vulgaris)
15. Holly (Ilex aquifolium)
16. Honeysuckle (Lonicera caprifolium)
17. Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus)
18. Impatiens (Impatiens glandulifera)
19. Larch (Larix decidua)
20. Mimulus (Mimulus guttatus)
21. Mustard (Sinapis arvensis)
22. Oak (Quercus robur)
23. Olive (Oleo europaea)
24. Pine (Pinus sylvestris)
25. Red Chestnut (Aesculus carnea)
26. Rock Rose (Helianthemum nummularium)
27. Rock Water (Aqua petra)
28. Scleranthus (Scleranthus annuus)
29. Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum umbellatum)
30. Sweet Chestnut (Castanea sativa)
31. Vervain (Verbena officinalis)
32. Vine (Vitis vinifera)
33. Walnut (Juglans regia)
34. Water Violet (Hottonia palustris)
35. White Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum)
36. Wild Oat (Bromus ramosus)
37. Wild Rose (Rosa canina)
38. Willow (Salix vitellina)

There is also a 39th, which is a combination called "Rescue Remedy," which is indispensable. I keep some in my and office car as well as the kitchen. I never leave home without it.

The Bach Remedies can be divided into seven primary groups, based on the emotions they most help. If you find that any of these emotions is troubling you, the remedies could be most helpful for you.

1. Fear: Rock Rose, Mimulus, Cherry Plum, Aspen, Red Chestnut
2. Uncertainty: Cerato, Scleranthus, Hornbeam, Gentian, Gorse, Wild Oat
3. Disinterest: Clematis, Olive, Honeysuckle, Mustard, Chestnut Bud, White Chestnut, Wild Rose
4. Loneliness: Water Violet, Impatiens, Heather
5. Oversensitivity: Agrimony, Centaury, Walnut, Holly
6. Despondency: Larch, Pine, Elm, Star of Bethlehem, Sweet Chestnut, Willow, Oak, Crab Apple
7. Over-concern: Chicory, Vervain, Vine, Beech, Rock Water

Over the last three decades, many new and powerful remedies have been discovered, which have an array of subtle uses. I have found one: Yarrow, obtainable from Flower Essence Services to be very helpful when I am doing a lot of flying.

For readers seeking more information, I have established a reading list at Amazon.com, which you can find here:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/richpub/listmania/fullview/R171WVSSLME362/ref=cm_rna_own_lm/104-0728113-7786351

Filed under: Health

Website Email | Profile |

About Richard G. Petty

Dr. Richard G. Petty is an internist, psychiatrist, acupuncturist, homeopath and researcher. He has the distinction of being a member of both the Royal College of Physicians and the Royal College of Psychiatrists in the United Kingdom. He has taught at major universities, and for many years served the Research Council for Complementary Medicine and Prince Charles' Foundation for Integrated Medicine. What he teaches is the fruit of 35 years of experience, together with an analysis of many thousands of books and research papers, and working with some of the foremost thinkers, intuitives and spiritual leaders of our time.

Richard G. Petty graduated in medicine from the London Hospital Medical College, University of London, in 1976, having been awarded a place there when he was only 17 years old.

In addition to his basic medical degree, he holds an advanced degree in Biochemistry, and a Research Doctorate in Endocrinology. He practiced and taught internal medicine and endocrinology for 14 years, having trained at several of the major teaching hospitals in London, England. He did his psychiatric training at the Bethlem Royal & Maudsley Hospitals, London and Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore.

Dr Petty has had a 35-year interest in complementary medicine, both as a practitioner and as a researcher. He served for some years as the Chairman of the Scientific Committee of the Research Council for Complementary Medicine, before becoming the Chairman of the entire Organization from 1992-1994. His involvement, from 1993-98, with Prince Charles' Foundation for Integrated Medicine lead him to serve first, as Chairman of the Scientific Committee, and then as a Trustee of the Foundation. For eight years, he also served on the Council of the Scientific and Medical Network, a prestigious international group of scientists, doctors, psychologists, engineers, philosophers, complementary practitioners and others who are engaged in creating a new worldview for the 21st century.

Richard Petty has been a Visiting Professor, Guest Lecturer or Keynote Speaker in 44 countries in the last five years alone.

He was for several years on the Faculty of the University of Pennsylvania where he founded and was the first Director of the Department of Psychiatry's Integrated Medicine Program. He has over 140 publications to his credit, and he has received many awards, including the 1997 Resident's Award for Excellence in Teaching at the University of Pennsylvania.

In addition to his medical credentials, he has, in parallel, had extensive training in acupuncture, including advanced work in China, as well as hypnotherapy, homeopathy and Reiki. He began studying with a number of spiritual teachers while still in his teens, and he has himself taught meditation, T'ai Chi Ch'uan and Qigong.

In recent years he has been moving away from providing individual patient care into full-time research, writing and teaching.

His originality, clarity and compassion, coupled with a dynamic and charismatic style of presentation, have made him an extremely popular and sought after speaker, and he regularly appears on television and radio programs throughout the world.