“Health depends on being in harmony with our souls, it is our heritage and our right. It is the complete and full union between soul, mind and body; and this is not a difficult far-away ideal to attain, but one so easy and natural that many of us have overlooked it.” -- Dr. Edward Bach M.B., B.S., M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P., D.P.H.
When there is conflict between the personality and the soul’s agenda for our life path, we move into negative emotional states. If this conflict or disconnection is not balanced out, a signpost of this disconnection will eventually manifest in illness as our spiritual nature struggles to move us along on our intended path, much like water seeking its own level.
History
It is this connection which respected British physician and bacteriologist, Edward Bach, became aware of in the early 1920’s through diligent observation of his patients and other human beings. As a highly intuitive and spiritual individual, he had become increasingly dissatisfied with the way orthodox medicine ignored the emotional and spiritual aspects unique to the human condition. He believed that nature possessed a simple system of healing that could correct such disharmonies.
In 1928, Dr. Bach traveled to Wales where he initially discovered the first two of the 38 flowers that would later comprise the Bach repertoire of Flower Remedies. Back in his London laboratory, he prepared them in a manner similar to the oral vaccines he had been working with in his bacteriological research. He administered them to several of his patients according to their emotional profiles (not their physical symptoms) obtaining results far beyond his expectations. At this point he knew he was on the right track.
As he continued through observation, trial and error, he realized that there were particular flowers which possessed a unique energy, or life force, capable of balancing out specific, negative emotional states which are experienced in daily life, during major life transitions and in times of emotional crises.
He further discovered that by applying a variation of homeopathic methodology, it was possible to capture the vibrational or energetic healing properties of the flowers. This process enabled their use safely and with gentle simplicity. He began applying this method to the first three flowers, Mimulus, Clematis and Impatiens. The astonishing results he obtained with these flowers matched that of his earlier efforts, bringing to him the realization that this was the work he was meant to do.
In 1930 he closed his lucrative practice and research laboratory in London, leaving orthodox medicine to others. He proceeded to spend the next several years in the English countryside, during which, he continued to observe negative emotions in himself and those around him, thereupon searching for the flowers which would balance out these emotions.
In 1934 he finally settled in Oxfordshire, in the little cottage which continues to house the Dr. Edward Bach Foundation and Centre today. It is here where he finished the last of his work before he died quietly at the early age of 50 in 1936. At the time of his death, Edward Bach, physician, brilliant scientist and intuitive, had succeeded in discovering nature’s simple system of healing. His work, which he believed was divinely inspired and complete, resulted in the 38 Bach Flower Remedies which people could learn to use for themselves to achieve a balanced state of well-being and absence of illness. It is significant to note that the major flower remedy repertoires globally available today are based on the foundation of Edward Bach’s pioneering work.
The Bach Flower Remedies Today
Currently, the remedies are sold in over 66 countries around the world. In the years since Dr. Bach’s original research, the method used for producing the remedies are still closely followd today by those who have followed in Dr. Bach’s footsteps. Most of the flowers still grow and are harvested from the original locations chosen by Dr. Bach.
It is at the Bach Centre that the harvested blossoms of the flowers and trees are infused in pure spring water and (depending on the flower), are placed either in sunlight or are boiled for a specific amount of time, after which the flowers are removed. An equal amount of brandy is added to the remaining “energized” water in order to prevent bacterial growth.This then is called the “mother tincture.” Two drops of the mother tincture are then added to 30ml of 28% grape alcohol brandy. It is this composition that comprises what are known as “stock bottles” that are sold in retail venues. As they can be administered externally or taken internally, they can be used safely throughout one’s lifetime as well as being effective for animals and plants, without concern of harmful reactions or interactions with other therapies, conventional or complimentary. The mother tinctures for those remedies that are labeled “Bach Flower Remedies” (or Remedies) have been and always will be prepared at the Bach Center.
Finally, it can not be over-emphasized that the remedies are not used to correct physical symptoms; they work on much deeper, emotional levels, which if balanced out, will ultimately affect the physical well being in a most positive way. Some physicians and other practitioners feel they work at levels that are beyond reach of the highest potencies of homeopathic remedies.
Background: Scleranthus (Scleranthus annus),
one of Dr. Bach’s original Twelve Healers and Soul Types