Bach Flower Remedies

Below are very brief descriptions about what the Bach Flower Remedies are used for to help you put together your own combination. If choosing your own combination, please note that it is not advised to used more than 7 remedies per combination.

Agrimony   Most suited to those with a sunny and cheerful disposition, who hide or suppress the aches, pains and traumas that they feel. They are usually the life and soul of the party, cracking jokes and making others laugh. These people love to be in the company of others - they are 'people' people. Yet, more often than not, they will feel that no one really understands them and they will not make intimate friendships with their peers. Useful in helping to relieve suppressed anger, depression and loneliness. Good to take when treating liver complaints.

Aspen  For unknown causes of fears and phobias; also nightmares and bedwetting... Good to take when there is any kind of involuntary shaking within the body (ie Parkinson's Disease).

Beech  Beech people are usually tall, elegant and graceful, but can be shallow and materialistic, with a coolness about their persona. Beech is taken when one feels overly critical about themselves and others (especially others!). They are often people who look down on others and consider themselves beyond the base emotions of most people. They will make comments about the way things are done and are too intolerant of others. Good to take when acceptance is needed.

Centaury  They are the kind, quiet people within society always serving others. The difficulty is when they become "a doormat" to others; when they find it difficult to say no and become overly anxious to please others all of the time. This is when this remedy should be taken.

Cerato  Lost without guidance, this person finds it difficult to find their own roots because they never trust themselves to be right. They are akin to a leaf blowing in the wind. They do usually have direction and a great amount of wisdom, but they will never listen to it with faith... they will always ask everyone else what they think before finally trusting their own advice. They are a stranger in a foreign land who does not speak the language. The must learn to be self-reliant and trust themselves if they are to survive.

Chestnut Bud  Fantastic for children and adults with learning difficulties; it helps them to remember what they have learnt and apply that knowledge accordingly. Usually given to those who repeat mistakes over and over again and can't seem to understand why. It will help the mind, emotions and body integrate what it has learnt.

Cherry Plum  For those who fear losing control of their minds and their actions... and this fear is very great. This is for people who fear they will quite literally lose control and do something they will later regret. Good to take if you are under anger management or if you're at the end of your tether with life. Can help severely depressed people (who may even be contemplating suicide) to find their state of mind again.

Chicory  The Chicory persona gives, gives and gives... then expects it all back in return! They give so much they burn out halfway through the day. Their generosity is conditional. It is a good remedy for those who need great reassurance and admirance from others (indeed, those who feed off it!). Because of this need, they are extremely possessive of the things that mean the most to them (ie. the mother who will do anything to keep their children from leaving home), believing that if those things disappear, their lives will hold less meaning. They will often want those they care about to be in keeping with their own values (you will go to church). Their selfishness stems from a need to be greatly loved, hence, they need to love themselves and all of their vices.

Clematis  Clematis is the daydreamer who is always thinking about the future, never about the present... he can see where he wants to be, but never how to get there. He has his head in the clouds and needs to be brought back down to earth. This person will need help in manifesting their goals. It is also a good remedy to put someone back into their physical body (ie. after general anaesthetic or after a great shock). Clematis will help someone to ground their energy.

Crab Apple  Clears and detoxifies all the bodies (mental, emotional and physical). It's ultra cleansing (can be used in a bath for wounds and sores). Is good for anyone with obsessive compulsive tendencies; for those who feel constantly dirty and / or unclean.

Elm  For all those overwhelmed by life and the responsibilities they have to carry; for those who feel burdened by this. Elm is hugely regenerative for all the senses and your energy levels. It can help the body to overcome disease in a combination with other remedies.

Gentian  Those who need Gentian are stuck in a negative state of mind where they feel they don't deserve anything. So, they try to achieve their goals half-heartedly. It is a state of depression that has a known cause - they usually know why they are depressed, but feel so despondent that they won't do anything about it, or are afraid to do anything about it, or simply don't feel they deserve the achievements that this might bring. They are easily discouraged by minor setbacks (almost willing them to occur).

Gorse  They are people who "know nothing will make any difference" to the ailments they may have (yet they keep telling you about it anyway!). It is Gentian, but a stage further on, where they have given up completely on the thing they were trying to achieve. The keywords are utter hopelessness, despair and pessimism. They are prickly in personality, unwanting of any help and don't tend to listen to any suggestions given. Gorse should help them find optimism and hope again and put a spring back into their step.

Heather  Those who need Heather are very lonely people. They are talkative (to the point where you can't get a word in edgeways), and will often try to bustle their way into groups and events that they may not be welcome at. This kind of button-holing is owing to loneliness. Heather people are terrified of being on their own. They will do anything to try and make friends, keep friends and not be alone. If they could just be in the quiet of themselves for a while, they would see that they actually have a great, deep, spiritual connection with the universe and those around them. But the universe seems too vast and barren for them, so they never take the time to be with their own company. Heather helps put this barrenness into perpective.

Holly  For intense anger, jealousy and envy. Holly can transform these emotions into that of acceptance and universal, unconditional love.

Honeysuckle  For those who hold onto and live in the nostalgia of the past (ie. the mother who cannot let go of her son who died last year). They live in the belief that the present is not as good as the past ("in my day, we had this, this and this"). Honeysuckle can help all those holding onto the past (and to grief associated with it) to let go.

Hornbeam   Hornbeam is for "the Monday morning blues". It's for those who do anything they can to put off a task or something they need to do. They'll procrastinate rather than do! It's for getting on with household chores, getting on with that website you wanted to build, actually DOING those things you've wanted to do for the past 5 years (but please note, it will not make you like the things you DON'T want to do!)

Impatiens  For those who rush ahead of others and are impatient of others... they can usually complete things faster than others and will not take kindly at being held back (this can usually be found in the classroom or working environment). They are competitive, emotional, hungry for achievement, red in the face when they get angry, but usually genuinely hurt when others get annoyed with them. Impatiens teaches patience and wisdom in tolerance. Can be a good remedy for those with high blood pressure, heart conditions and migraines.

Larch   These are the people who lack confidence in themselves and feel inferior to others, yet in a crisis, they would be the ones that know exactly what to do! They are completely capable individuals, but they need to believe in themselves. Larch will help with this.

Mimulus  This is the remedy for known fears - heights, flying, spiders, snakes, burglars, etc

Mustard  For depression where the cause is unknown... where all of a sudden your mood goes down-hill and you just don't know why. For this reason, it can be good in balancing hormones (ie. PMT) in a combination remedy. It's as if you're living under a dark cloud with occasional sunny intervals. Good for manic depressives. Mood swings.

Oak  For those who soldier on until the very end (and don't know when to stop) and yet their backs and knees might be falling apart. Oak people are fighters and warriors who positively know they will win the battle... but they don't listen to their own bodies or their own exhaustion.

Olive  For those who are battered and bruised, who are fatigued, exhausted and do not have the strength to carry on. Good for labour and last stages of pregnancy, if you're physically battered and bruised, post-operation, ME sufferers, etc.

Pine  For those who live in guilt... guilt of things they haven't even done. They are apologetic about things they needn't apologise for. Sometimes the guilt is generational - they are carrying it on from the past (ie. many Germans who weren't even associated with World War II will still feel as if they are responsible). Pine helps to distinguish guilt that is appropriate and guilt that is not.

Red Chestnut   For those who carry unnecessary concern for others (ie. parent who worries that their child is 5 minutes late home). For those who are always fearing the worst and always fearing misfortune for others... to the point of being obsessive about it. Red Chestnut will help to instill calmness during these moments.

Rock Rose  For sheer, uncontrollable terror. For those who may be at the end of their life and cannot cope with what comes next.

Rock Water  For those who are strict, rigid and dogmatic with the way they live their lives, at danger of becoming a martyr to their own beliefs. They often have extremely high standards for themselves (usually because they had critical parents or were criticised a lot as a child) and will see themselves as failures if they do not live up to their own expectations. Rock Water will help ease this pressure and to offer a new outlook on life and the way to live it. This remedy is one of the ones that is very good for helping to treat arthiritis and any kind of rigidity within the mind and body.

Scleranthus  The Scleranthus person feels scattered in life, as if different parts of his personality are leading him in different directions and he doesn't know which path to follow. It is for indecision. If he has to make a decision based on many options, he will most likely sit on the fence. Scleranthus brings clarity to this situation and allows one to focus on all the options more clearly. It is another remedy that is also good for mood swings and balancing hormones.

Star Of Bethlehem  A beautiful remedy for Grief, Loss and trusting in Faith again after bereavement. It is effective whether the trauma is present or long past. Good for shocks of all kinds.

Sweet Chestnut  This remedy is the light at the end of the tunnel. It is the remedy for deep, deep anguish and mental patterns of self-cruelty caused by entrapment. You are in a situation you cannot get out of and you can't bear it any longer (ie. you have been in hospital for months and they still won't let you out, you are in prison, kept alive by machines unable to leave your body, etc). Emotionally, you have been trapped in a state of despair and anguish for too long... this is when you take Sweet Chestnut.

Vervain  For the 'teacher' who is always right and always telling you 'the way that it is'. They are enthusiastic, talkative, have big ideas, believe that everything they do is for the good of humanity and will rarely listen to advice from others. This remedy is good for increasing flexibilty in one's way of thinking, encouraging the Vervain person to be less argumentative and more accepting of ideas other than their own. It can help this person to work in a team, together for the good of humanity. Another good remedy for arthiritis and rigidity.

Vine   This is a remedy for the bully. For those who need to dominate over others in order to feel that they have got their opinions across. In their positive state, they are great, natural leaders with tremendous willpower. In their negative state, they will impose their willpower over others in a fascist way, wanting their way to be the only way. But they will believe that they are doing everyone a favour, not seeing their tyrannical approach.

Walnut  This is the remedy to take when you need help to cope with change and transformation, from one phase of life to another (changing schools, home, job, going through puberty and the menopause, etc). It is the link-breaker that helps you to let go of one thing to embrace another. It is also a good remedy for strengthening willpower and resolve (ie. to help give up smoking).

White Chestnut  This is the remedy for the busy mind that won't switch off. You're trying to go to sleep and your mind is turning, going over all the things that you did today. You're driving the car and one hour into the journey, you're wondering if you turned the oven off... and now that's it, that's all you think about for the next two hours. This is the remedy for obsessive compulsive thoughts. It can help with insomnia.

Wild Oat   For those who are frustrated and dissatisfied at not being able to find their 'true path' in life. What the hell am I here for? What am I supposed to be doing? You know you have a lot to give and accomplish - you can feel it wanting to burst out - but you're just not sure what that is... what you're supposed to be doing. That is when to take Wild Oat; when you need to change your life and fulfill yourself with what you are supposed to be doing. Wild Oat will help you to find your true vocation.

Wild Rose  A remedy for apathy. For those who know their lives need to change but can't be bothered to do anything about it, so they trundle on as before. This remedy's keyword is vitality. It brings Life back into the lifeless. This also makes it a very good remedy for reconnecting with the feminine (the giver of Life) and can aid with fertility issues if combined with the right remedies.

Willow  For resentment, and feeling like everything is against you and it always happens to you! "Why me?" is the common question asked by the Willow person. When someone is describing something unfortunate that happened to them, the Willow person will often turn the conversation around to be about a similar thing that happened to them, so, it is once again about something that happened to them. They feel unfortunate in life and cannot see that others also have misfortunes, believing everyone else to be luckier then them. The keyword is self-pity... and it is never their fault that life has dealt them this blow. Willow will allow this person to take responsibility for themselves and their life, and to see the world in a kinder way.

Water Violet   The aloof, distant loner, who prefers the sound of trickling water to the noisy bustle of city life. They are whisps in the city - they get swallowed up by it, preferring the country and what nature has to offer. The are usually holders of great spiritual knowledge and wisdom, and have many talents and experiences to share, but find it incredibly difficult to convey this to others as they do not see others as being on the same wavelength as themselves. They find it difficult to integrate with others, often preferring to be alone and building up barriers to keep others out in a sort of self-created isolation... In a negative state, they will then usually become very lonely, but not know how to break down the barriers that they have put up. Water Violet will help them do this.