Bach Flower Remedies were introduced in the 1930s by the English Physician and Homeopath Dr. Edward Bach and can be most easily defined as natural remedies for the emotions. Unlike conventional medicine, the flower remedies do not work to treat physical complaints, but instead work on balancing the emotions of the individual. They can be used to help fight against illness by addressing the negative emotions which can impede our physical healing or alternatively they can be used at times of stress and anxiety to prevent physical illness. The link between mind and body has long been documented and balancing the mind and body is a vital step in maintaining our physical health. Bach Flower Remedies are completely safe for everyone to take; even pregnant women, babies and children can take the remedies without complication. If the incorrect remedy is chosen it will not be harmful, at worst case it will simply not have an effect.
The flower remedies aim to balance negative emotions by transforming them into positive emotions. They do not suppress negative emotions, but instead the negative emotions are removed by encouraging the corresponding positive emotion. The remedies are invaluable for restoring emotional balance before symptoms of physical ailments appear. They allow us to take a step back from our emotions and deal with them in a more positive way. It doesn’t work directly on physical issues but transmute the emotion one is facing during the illness and thus curing physical issues too indirectly.
There have been various theories over the years as to how exactly the flower remedies can work to restore our out-of-balance emotions and indeed it is still not fully clear. One theory is that the flower remedies work to subtly change our own energy or vibrations, other theories are that the flower remedies trigger chemical releases in the brain which cause our emotions to change. What is clear however is that Bach Flower Remedies are an extremely subtle and effective way of putting our emotions back on track.
