Frequently when I'm explaining what I do and what flower essences are, I get interupted with questions like "Whadya got for headaches? Got anything for energy?" Well it doesn't really work like that. There are some essences that have some physical effect, but for the most part it's not as simple as herbs that do this or help that. I have to find out what's draining their energy, are they burnt out from working too much at a job that doesn't interest them, is there a long term illness factoring in, are they mad at somebody? Flower essences heal the mind and the body follows. Any of us that have messed around with essences for awhile have usually had some kind of physical healing that happened inadvertently while we were cleaning up our emotional health. Most practitioners today are only acknowledging the emotional effects of essences but in Bach's biography it is quite clear that he was out to heal on a physical level. Healing emotions was the icing on the cake. I have read case study after case study where physical problems lessened or went away after taking an essence compatible with that person's character.

Bach believed that disease is not necessarily due to physical cause but to upsetting states of mind which are communicated to the physical body through the nerves causing loss of tone and vitality in it's tissues. This could then be reversed by righting the mind. Even the CDC admits that 90% of diseases have an emotional element. Immune system problems, spines that won't stay in alignment, digestive problems and more can all be tied to our emotional health.

Researchers at the university of Texas Southwestern Medical Center found that cells record their experiences. Psychological trauma, addiction, depression can all be tied to cellular memories. An astonishingly high number of rheumatoid arthritis sufferers have had a traumatic experience before the age of 5. This could be one example of what happens when a trauma registers in your cells. Someone told me once that when you have a shock like a near car collision or anything that rattles you, you need to freak out and jump up and down or shake and yell or whatever seems right to get it out and not lock it in by acting all cool about it.

My Aunt Audrey died recently, she was 104 1/2. She didn't even die of anything serious, some minor surgery and never came out of anthesisa. I've been interested in centurians for along time, trying to sort out why they live so long. You always hear of a particular people, like the Okinawans, who supposedly live a long time because they eat lots of sea vegetables, or is it the soy? Then the Hunzas eat the millet and some eat bugs and some eat monkeys raw, so and so's Grandma always boils her water before she drinks it. Some of them eat sausage every day, some of them smoke, yet they manage to stay in decent health, many of them living independently. The only thing I've noticed is they have an easy going attitude and /or deep spiritual faith, sense of humor, they don't get too bent out of shape about anything. What you are eating is not as important as what's eating you.

Still not convinced about this whole mind/body thing? Ok, what happens when you get stressed? On the surface, you stop eating as well as you used to either because you don't have time, your stomach is in knots, because you stopped caring now that you have bigger problems that what you're putting in your mouth at that very moment or because it's "what you need to feel better" about the situation. On a pysiological level, your immune system is depressed, your adrenals are in overdrive, your digestive system is less efficient, your breathing is shallower, sleep is disturbed, muscles are tense and your PH goes to acid. I realize this sounds like extreme stress but even minor stuff needs to be handled because it still is capable of producing changes in your body. Even if it's only your digestive system that's not functioning optimally, you stop absorbing nutrients as well, your colon gets clogged and toxins start accumulating. Pretty soon you can have symptoms from that alone. Bottom line is, if you want to be healthy, make yourself happy.


Some Essences With a History of Effecting the Physical

Arnica Trauma essence, use when you might use homeopathic arnica or after injury where there is shock. Helps to heal shock that locks into the body and prevents healing or causes other physical /emotional problems. Helpful after accidents or violence.

Blue Lupine may help with hyperactivity

Borage Heavy-heartedness, I use this in the Heart and Lungs combo, anybody with heart disease and needing some help getting through sad circumstances should consider Borage.

Chamomile helps with stress that manifests itself physically in the stomach. Worth trying for stress related digestive problems and a good essence for children with mysterious tummy aches, hyperactivity, colic or general fussiness.

Corn Grounding, most of us are inside too much and wear shoes too much and have no quality connection to the earth. You lose energy and focus, corn is helpful when you can't change your circumstances.

Dandelion works for stress problems resulting in muscle tension. If you have muscle aches but haven’t been working out you probably need dandelion unless your tension is set in the jaw, in which case I recommend snapdragon. Try a little in your bath water as well as internally. Nice to use in conjunction with massage.

Dianthus can give you a shot of energy when you are fatigued by emotional issues that have been dragging you down.

Echinacea is good for maintaining your sense of self throughout difficult times or for any loss of self whether through abuse, surgery or menopause (loss of female identity.) I would definitely use after a hysterectomy.

Feverfew is for women who experience hormonal related tension. Feverfew brings softness, calmness and serenity.

Fireweed is the regeneration flower. It helps us start over after devastation. Good for shock and trauma or for feeling burned out. It strengthens our connection to the earth and helps bring about revitalization and renewal.

Lavender is for nervousness or “wound up” people. Those who need lavender tend to be very awake and mentally active with a strong attraction to spiritual practices. They suffer from headaches or vision problems and neck and shoulder tension. They tend to have insomnia or other nervous problems. Lavender initially soothes sedates, taken for a longer time, it shows you how to regulate and moderate energy.

Lettuce soothes the nervous system when over stimulated by external stresses, caffeine, or drugs. Information passed along nerve pathways becomes less jarring. Facilitates release of chemical addiction, stimulates endorphin production shut down by drug use. Greatly useful for babies born to addicted mothers.

Lilac helps those who can't delegate work, can't ask for help, perfectionistic, don't want anything from anybody, you get the idea. These people have back problems! They take the weight of the world on their shoulders because no one else can be relied upon to do it. Some people think that lilac helps a chiropractic adjustment stay. I haven't found this to be true for me, but it's another nice one for massage.

Lungwort is the link between emotions and breath, if you find yourself holding your breath in tense situations, have asthma, are a smoker, hyperventilate when anxious, you could benefit from Lungwort. Also recommended when doing a program of breathing exercises or if you do yoga and have a hard time linking breath to movement. In the Heart and Lungs Combo.

Moonbeam Coreopsis helps to heal you on every level, great to use during any kind of illness whether physical, mental, spiritual or emotional. In the Recovery Combo.

Self Heal is used to speed healing from any illness or addiction by stimulating your innate healing process. Some say this helps you absorb nutrients more better, I don't know how we can know that, but it's a nice thought. My theory is it helps by making you more aware of what your body needs to heal and motivates you to treat yourself well and do what you have to do to get better. This one's in the Recovery Combo too.

Star of Bethlehem is for all kinds of trauma whether old or still fresh, physical mental or emotional. Sets you back on your feet again and helps move out stored childhood stuff that might be affecting you today. Everybody has gone through something sometime. I would try this with trauma related diseases like MS, Fibromyalgia, and Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Teasel is for depleted, emotionally exhausted people. The key thing with this remedy is loss of energy, through any emotional condition or long term illness. There is also a lot of documented use of Teasel flower essence as a complementary therapy for Lyme disease. This is also in the Recovery Combo.

Wild Rose helps those who are overly accepting of a cruddy lot in life, they don't even try to work towards betterment, they are resigned to their "lot in life." This occurs frequently in long illnesses or "uncurable" illnesses. You're not going to heal if you've given up.