The healing power of flowers

Is there more to these beautiful blooms than we think?

How do flowers traverse the fields of joy and sorrow so perfectly, that they are equally appropriate and appreciated?
They hold within their existence the qualities of beauty, fragrance and elegant form, delicate blooms and colours both vibrant and soft. Their fragrance enters the chemistry of our brains effecting mood and focus. When we see how flowers are associated with love, romance, birth, death, friendship and gratitude, it seems to naturally follow that they could play a part in healing.

Bach Flower Remedies:

Bach Flower Remedies take the energy of flowers into the realm of emotional healing. While some question this and may find it hard to fathom, there are a multitude of others who swear by them, myself included. You can only reach this level of certitude by using them personally for a specific situation. Is it the placebo affect? Everyone will have their own thoughts on this, but I don’t think so. I have also given them to my son with very good effect when he was dealing with change and upheaval, low levels of confidence and the fears associated with changing schools.
The greatest endorsement comes from the fact that the Flower Remedies have endured the test of time, which I don’t believe anything can if it just doesn’t work.

Australian Bush Flower:

There is also a range of Australian Bush Flower essences which similarly work on an emotional level. I’ve tried both with success over the years.
Given that there is very little else available (non-prescription) on the shelves of a Pharmacy to alleviate despondency, lack of confidence, fear, stress, feeling overwhelmed and other emotional states of imbalance, the Flower remedies are a source which offer a sense of hope. The very act of choosing them however, using them daily and focusing on the positive outcome you are looking for is something quantum physicists would suggest is the healing journey half way achieved anyway. Perhaps flowers just offer a pathway?

What do quantum physics have to do with flowers?

I remember reading once about an experiment undertaken by quantum physicists: a group of participants were asked to focus absolute feelings of love on a glass of water. Then they were asked to focus absolute negativity and hate on another glass of water. The structure of the water molecules were then examined and they found that the molecules subjected to loving thoughts were uniform and beautiful. The other glass of water contained molecules which were deformed and haphazard. It has become quite well known now, but this interesting experiment suggests that the energy you focus on is capable of making a physical difference. If the effect of flowers hold the ability to enhance positive energy in humans, it is really worth putting aside scepticism and seeing how else they are offering their healing properties besides the joy and gratitude which is felt when they are given or received.
The language of flowers after all is clearly the language of emotion.

Gregg Braden is an author who explores the interconnection between science and spirituality. He says of emotion:

‘It’s human feeling and emotion that affect the stuff our reality is made of – it’s our inner language that changes the atoms, electrons, and photons of the outer world. However, this is less about the actual words we utter and more about the feeling that they create within us. It’s the language of emotion that speaks to the quantum forces of the universe…’
‘The Divine Matrix’ Hay House ’07

How do our thoughts relate to flowers?

Born in 1886, Dr Bach was ahead of his time; he sensed that there was more to flowers than anyone knew. He felt so strongly about this, that he left his career as an Emergency Physician to pursue his study of them. What he discovered was along similar lines to quantum physicists. He said that flowers contain an energy, that is they have the energy within them to right the emotional excesses and negative thought patterns that are an aspect of ill-health, whether it be emotional, physical or spiritual.

‘Dr Bach stressed the importance of inner healing – healing the whole person, not just the physical aspect. He understood human nature and he knew that healing the body without healing the mind was pointless.’ ‘Bach Flower Remedies’ by David Vennels Llewellyn Pub 2001
By his deep focus upon the subtleties of how each flower produced particular emotional effects, Dr Bach developed a group of flowers which were of particular support in groups of emotional disorders. For example:

‘Sweet Chestnut’ flower remedy is indicated for severe mental distress and anguish. It is associated with a loss of hope, a feeling of being stretched to the limits of their mental endurance. It is said to have a wonderful calming and healing affect, a tremendous sense of relief……a renewed sense of hope and improved mental attitude toward their situation.’
Vennels ’01

If I was feeling like this, distressed and overwhelmed, devoid of hope, and Dr Bach said try this, it is really going to help you…it is completely natural and has no side-effects….it is the distillation of the healing energy of the Sweet Chestnut flower…. I would try it. I wouldn’t completely understand it, but I would try it. There is so much I don’t understand about life, and so much is done on faith. I would try it based on my faith in Dr Bach, my knowledge that it could do no harm, my focus on trying something to relieve my distress, and my expectation that I would feel better. All of this achieves a change in my energy, my thoughts and as the quantum physicists may suggest, a change in my universe.

Bach Rescue Remedy

One of the Bach Flower Remedies which has achieved wide-spread acceptance and is now available in pharmacies and health shops, is the Rescue Remedy. Consisting of Clematis for faintness, drowsiness and sleepiness; Star of Bethlehem for shock; Rock Rose for extreme fear or terror; Impatiens for irritation and frustration; and Cherry Plum for extreme mental pressure. It is so helpful in any situation of great worry, anxiety or when the pressure of life becomes insurmountable. It comes in lozenges, cream or the original drops which are placed directly onto the tongue or in a glass of water. I even saw it at the Airport Newsagency for people who don’t like flying.

How long before they work?

Something to consider if you are going to try the Bach Flower Remedies or the Australian Bush Flower Essences, is that they are very subtle in their effect, and others frequently notice the differences before you do. After continuing with use, the effect will become more obvious to the point where the condition they were being taken for is no longer a problem. They are equally suitable for children and even pets.

Dr Bach loved flowers, walking amongst them, being in their world. It was his love of flowers and his great desire to help others that led to his remedies.

Flowers come from patience, tending a garden, giving of ourselves to the earth and weeds and worms…..understanding the needs of every season, to wait quietly watching the tiny buds, until the sunlit day of blossoms unfolding, rewarding us with delicate petals, sweet fragrance and energy to uplift and delight us. A flower in its pure form, whether it is a lilac sweet-pea, a dark velvety red rose or a candy striped petunia, it will quite simply make you feel better.

I feel absolutely inspired to go and buy punnets of snapdragons, white petunias and Johnny Jump-ups and put them in the ground!