The 38 Flower Remedies

Edward Bach (1886-1936) trained as a doctor of medicine at University College Hospital and Cambridge University. His principal interest was homeopathy. In 1930 he left London in order to concentrate on finding a new system of healing involving plant remedies. Between 1928 and 1935 he devised 38 new remedies, most of which were made from flowers, as a means of counteracting negative states of mind. He published his work by means of lectures and magazine articles in which he explained the three most important aspects of his remedies, namely prescription, method of manufacture and manner of treatment. After his death his work was carried on from his former home, Mount Vernon, Sotwell, Oxon, subsequently called the Bach Centre.

His original set of 38 Flower Remedies are ideal for treating many stress related problems, the most famous of which is known as Rescue Remedy and contains:

Cherry, Plum, Clematis, Impatiens, Rock Rose, and  Star of Bethlehem 

Mental torment behind a cheerful face

Aspen

Fear of unknown things

Beech

Intolerance

Centaury

The inability to say 'no'

Cerato

Lack of trust in one's own decisions

Cherry Plum

Fear of the mind giving way

Chestnut Bud

Failure to learn from mistakes

Chicory

Selfish, possessive love

Clematis

The cleansing remedy, also for self-hatred

Elm

Overwhelmed by responsibility

Gentian

Discouragement after a setback

Gorse

Hopelessness and despair

Heather

Self-centredness and self-concern

Holly

Hatred, envy and jealousy

Honeysuckle

Living in the past

Hornbeam

Procrastination, tiredness at the thought of doing something

Impatiens

Impatience

Larch

Lack of confidence

Mimulus

Fear of known things
 

Mustard

Deep gloom for no reason

Oak

The plodder who keeps going past the point of exhaustion

Olive

Exhaustion following mental or physical effort

Pine

Guilt

Red Chestnut

Over-concern for the welfare of loved ones

Rock Rose

Terror and fright

Rock Water

Self-denial, rigidity and self-repression

Scleranthus

Inability to choose between alternatives

Star of Bethlehem

Shock

Sweet Chestnut

Extreme mental anguish, when everything has been tried and there is no light left

Vervain

Over-enthusiasm

Vine

Dominance and inflexibility

Walnut

Protection from change and unwanted influences

Water Violet

Pride and aloofness

White Chestnut

Unwanted thoughts and mental arguments

Wild Oat

Uncertainty over one's direction in life

Wild Rose

Drifting, resignation, apathy

Willow

Self-pity and resentment