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Flower essences are said to "wake up" the emotions of the person who ingests them. Sometimes, this action produces side effects.
In contrast, essential oils use a lot more plant compounds. These plant parts are steam distilled or pressed, to extract an oil from them.
It would be easy to confuse flower essences with essential oils. Even their names sound similar! However, they're not the same thing.
The premise of flower essences is that each flower contains its own healing vibration. To make use of this remedy, it's possible to extract the essence from the flower using water.
If there is no resonance between the challenges you face and the healing action of the flower essence, it's unlikely that you'll notice any difference.
Bach believed that by treating emotional and energetic imbalances with flowers, you could help to achieve mental, physical, and spiritual well-being.
In the limited studies that are available on their efficacy, they were shown to have an alleviating effect on anxiety and pain.
Edward Bach was a British physician in the 1930s. He was the first person to develop the modern-day theory that flowers contain an energy that can help to balance emotions.
Although both flower essences and essential oils are derived from plants, they are both prepared in completely different ways.
They are readily available in stores, or by consulting a specialized essence therapist. However, their claimed benefits are lacking proof in the form of studies.
The finished product can be made without alcohol. It's also possible to extract the essences of crystals or nonflowering plants using the same method of extraction.
After being submerged in natural spring water, the flowers in the water are brought to a boil or placed in direct sunlight.
In doing so, the water becomes infused with the flower's energy to make an alternative therapy referred to as a flower remedy.
Their actions are said to cleanse the subtle and auric bodies, helping to bring about balance. The flowers work on specific imbalances, so the correct one needs to be chosen to feel the effect.
In the finished product, no flowers are present. What remains is the preserved "essence" of the flower, extracted via the process of heat or sunlight.
Flower essences could have potential benefits for those who struggle with moderate anxiety. Although studies are limited, one 2017 case report found Bach flower remedy helpful for reducing menopause-induced anxiety in one woman.
Flower therapy using flower essences is considered a type of complementary and alternative medicine. This is because it's said to work with energy.
The theory goes that the sunlight helps to draw out the energy from the flowers. Afterward, the water is filtered and brandy is added, to act as a preservative.
A 2017 study looked at the effectiveness of Bach remedies in offering pain relief to those with carpal tunnel. Although the mechanism isn't understood, it was found to help numb the pain.
Those side effects can include fatigue, headache, or skin rashes. Although minor, these effects should supposedly disappear within a day.
Through his observations and using mostly English wildflowers, Bach prepared 38 remedies. His formulations are still sold today as Bach Flower Remedies.
However, it's always best to err on the side of caution. As many contain alcohol, it's wise to think twice before choosing these flower essences if you're pregnant or breastfeeding.
Other forms can be applied directly to the skin. Bath salts and certain body creams also contain flower essence for their alleged pain relief benefits. Health food stores, naturopaths, or herbalists can recommend the best essence for you.
Sources: (Healthline) (The Cut) (The School for Aromatic Studies) (Flower Essence Services)
See also: The surprising therapeutic uses of frankincense oil
Flower essences can be placed underneath the tongue, or sometimes come in the form of pastilles, chewables, or lozenges, as well as liquid sprays.
Flower essences are considered to be more or less quite safe to use. As they are diluted solutions, they have less potency.
Today, people still use flower essences for the reasons Bach felt they were useful, and they're growing in popularity.
Flower essences differ, as they are said to hold the vibrational frequency of the original flower. This vibration then works on the subtle energy level of the individual to influence their auric field.
It's claimed that when flower essences are ingested, they settle between the nervous and circulatory systems. From there, they move into the energy meridians of the body, where they are amplified out to the chakras and back into the physical body.
Flowers have been used for healing for many centuries. The flower essences of today are a relatively new trend, having originally been part of quite a niche section of wellness culture. But like everything else alternative, they're becoming more mainstream. Not to be confused with essential oils, flower essences are liquid extracts of specific flowers, chosen for their healing benefits. Said to have mind-body-spirit benefits, they are part of a realm of well-being treatments known as subtle energy therapies.
Curious? Click on to discover the healing properties of flower essences.
Can flower essences boost vitality?
There's a reason why we stop to smell the flowers
LIFESTYLE Wellness
Flowers have been used for healing for many centuries. The flower essences of today are a relatively new trend, having originally been part of quite a niche section of wellness culture. But like everything else alternative, they're becoming more mainstream. Not to be confused with essential oils, flower essences are liquid extracts of specific flowers, chosen for their healing benefits. Said to have mind-body-spirit benefits, they are part of a realm of well-being treatments known as subtle energy therapies.
Curious? Click on to discover the healing properties of flower essences.