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Heather . . . . . . . 96
Holly . . . . . . . . 154
Honeysuckle . . . . 174
Hornbeam . . . . . 134
Impatiens . . . . . . 34
Larch . . . . . . . . 130
Mimulus . . . . . . . 42
Mustard . . . . . . 182
Oak . . . . . . . . . 88
Olive . . . . . . . . 100
Pine . . . . . . . . 170
Red Chestnut . . . 166
Rock Rose . . . . . . 78
Rock Water . . . . . 92
Scleranthus . . . . . 66
Star of Bethlehem . 158
Sweet Chestnut . . 185
Vervain . . . . . . . 54
Vine . . . . . . . . 104
Walnut . . . . . . . 150
Water Violet . . . . . 70
White Chestnut . . 162
Wild Oat . . . . . . 108
Wild Rose . . . . . 178
Willow . . . . . . . 138
THE 12 HEALERS
Impatiens .
Clematis . .
Mimulus . .
Agrimony .
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38
42
46
Chicory . . . . . . . 50
Vervain . . . . . . . 54
Centaury . . . . . . 58
Cerato . . . . . . . . 62
Scleranthus . . . . . 66
Water Violet . . . . . 70
Gentian . . . . . . . 74
Rock Rose . . . . . . 78
Gorse . . . . . . . . 84
Oak . . . . . . . . . 88
Rock Water . . . . . 92
Heather . . . . . . . 96
Olive . . . . . . . . 100
Vine . . . . . . . . 104
Wild Oat . . . . . . 108
Beech . . . . . . .
Crab Apple . . . .
Walnut . . . . . . .
Holly . . . . . . . .
Star of Bethlehem .
White Chestnut . .
Red Chestnut . .
Pine . . . . . . .
Honeysuckle . . .
Wild Rose . . . .
Mustard . . . . .
Sweet Chestnut .
THE 7 HELPERS
THE SECOND 19
Cherry Plum . . . . 114
Elm . . . . . . . . 118
Aspen . . . . . . . 122
Chestnut Bud . . . 126
Larch . . . . . . . . 130
Hornbeam . . . . . 134
Willow . . . . . . . 138
142
146
150
154
158
162
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166
170
174
178
182
186
Introduction
It is an important part of the function of this book that it provides the
necessary technical information for those who wish to make remedies for
themselves. But it is felt that there are other possibilities which can be
mentioned here which may be of use. People who use a pendulum to dowse
for an appropriate remedy can use the photographs in the book for diagnosis.
And this could be done by just looking at the pictures: we will be attracted
intuitively to the flowers that have significance for us. The pictures are
intended to represent the feeling of the remedy as well as give the reader a
copybook illustration, and by selecting a remedy visually we may be able to
come closer to the original healing force of the flower.
The photographs could equally be used for treatment, as contemplating the
image will offer another way to observation. However, they are not likely to
be as beneficial as going out to find the plant or tree itself. By including the
text from Bachs Twelve Healers & Other Remedies it is possible to use the book
for more conventional diagnosis. The affirmations, all chosen from Bachs
own writings, will offer a positive thought for use in meditation. This can
strengthen us by bringing into focus that which we wish to become, that
which we are moving towards.
The main text falls into thirty-eight sections, one for each of the thirtyeight flower essences which Dr Bach discovered. These thirty-eight are
grouped as The Twelve Healers, The Seven Helpers and the Second Nineteen. The
first twelve were characterized by Dr Bach as being the type remedies, the
essential condition and soul lesson with which we are born. The Seven Helpers
were described as remedies for chronic conditions which often overlay the
essential personality type. The Second Nineteen, remedies of a different order,
are for emotional responses to traumatic life experiences.
The details about each of these remedies concern both the flowers and
his reasons for choosing them. This is not the same information as is found
in books on Bach therapy which seek to delineate the psychological type
for each remedy and then give the name of the appropriate flower. The
thought here is that we can look at the plant first, attempting to understand
its gesture and how it speaks of the remedy state to which it corresponds.
Through an appreciation of the plant or tree we can come to an appreciation
of the emotional state. A person can then be helped by an essence made from
that flower. This book puts the flower before the flower essence. It invites the
view that the best therapy comes directly from the natural world itself.
10
The same narrow bridge spans the river and reminds us that there is a bridge
in both space and time to the place where Dr Bach first saw Impatiens
growing there on the riverbank.
For Bach, the recognition of the plant and the way that it grows expressed
in another form the way that he lived his life. The good and the bad
together; the striving for forgiveness alongside the tension and pain that he
recognised as a part of himself. The idea then was to find a way back to the
best of himself, a way to be free from the negative influences of this type of
personality. In the flowers of Impatiens, with their gentle, balanced quality
he saw and heard a message: relax, be gentle with yourself and with others.
This may sound like a simple message: not enough to be the true cause and
cure of disease as Bach described it. But it is the simplicity of the idea which
is most profound. If I know myself then I may heal myself. Self-knowledge
allows for change: understanding enables a person to take responsibility. So
the real message from Bach in his book Heal Thyself is know thyself. And
the subtext of his other seminal essay Free Thyself, is the title of another:
Ye Suffer From Yourselves. All in all he firmly puts us in the driving seat as
masters of our own fate, in charge of our own lives.
It is true that this book started out as a textbook account of how you may
make your own Bach flower remedies. And it remains a valuable way to
contact the essential healing forces of the flowers, just as Dr Bach did. But
just as it has gained a new subtitle the essence within it seems right to
point to a different way in which the reader may work with the book. The
remedy plants are listed in chronological order, the order in which Dr Bach
found them.
11
All of this has an effect upon the consciousness of the earth and it is this
consciousness which gives rise to the thought forms of plant and tree. We are
a part of it ourselves and respond to its call. Conservation and ecology are a
response to the earths need for balance. So too Dr Bachs discovery of flower
remedies, for if we understand how the plants can help us we will better
recognize how we can live so as to help them. We will appreciate the way
that all living things interrelate.
As a subject of study this has a long way to go. We may know some of the
reasons why a plant grows in certain physical conditions but as yet there is
little concern for why it exists in its own terms. Those who seek to attune
themselves to individual plants do learn more of their secrets and this in turn
is offering a new vision of the planets life. Whether we choose to describe
this in terms of plant devas and angelic beings is not really very important,
for there is a genuine attempt to recognize the guiding forces of creation and
to see how they work in life. As we learn about them we may hope to live
and work with co-operation rather than conflict. The
results will become apparent in the world around us,
We shall learn most
as these forces will help to change the consciousness of
by making contact
those who are responsible for the wellbeing of the earth.
with the land and
When the question arises How did Bach actually find the flowers? How
did he know which one would act to help which particular psychological
state? many different answers can be given. Sometimes it looks as though
some good angel or other discarnate being was whispering in his ear telling
him what to look for. And why not? This is channelling and many people
have had experience of it. But perhaps Bach, with his medical training, was
not a man for the psychic approach. Then again people often say, He was a
sensitive man, you know, and he had only to put his hand over a flower and
he knew exactly what its healing quality was. If we have the sensitivity such
things do undoubtedly take place: we feel the strong vibrational quality of
the plant and can recognize it and give it words and form, as it were. But Dr
Bach, whose training was as a scientist, worked with scientific observation
one suspects.
18
In the late summer of 1928 we know that he found the first three remedies
when he was walking along the banks of the river Usk in South Wales. While
much has changed in the years since then these plants do still grow there. So
what can we say about what may have happened?
19
Plant form
Physical properties
We can see this idea more easily
perhaps if we compare the physical
properties of a certain herb with the
wider vibrational qualities.
If we look at the physical
properties of a plant like Agrimony
we can discover, by looking in a
herbal text book, that it has
a long history as a vulnerary
and liver herb in traditional
medicine. A chemist might
take the plant, burn it to ash and
then make a chemical analysis of
the ash. Apparently this would
explain the medicinal action. But
these things are quite different from
the use of this herb by Bach and the
vibrational properties it has.
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29
30
THE 38
BACH FLOWER
REMEDIES
The 12 Healers
The 7 Helpers
The Second 19
33-81
83-111
113-197
31
Impatiens
Impatiens
glandulifera
Gentian Gentiana
amarella
32
Clematis Clematis
vitalba
Mimulus
Mimulus
guttatus
THE 12
HEALERS
These are the type remedies, describing the kind
of person you are. In adults this is not always
easy to recognise. But circumstances can help
expose our essential nature, or remedy type:
how we behave when ill, what we are like under
pressure, what qualities we admire or dislike in
others. Look for the correlation between your
true nature and the remedy description.
Scleranthus Scleranthus
annuus
Cerato Ceratostigma
wilimottianum
Agrimony Agrimonia
eupatoria
Chicory
Vervain
Chicorium
intybus
Verbena
officianalis
Centaury Centaurium
erythaea
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The 12 Healers
IMPATIENS
Impatiens glandulifera
irritated by constraints,
quick, tense, impatient
gentle and forgiving
AFFIRMATION
You are striving for
exquisite gentleness
and forgiveness, and that
beautiful mauve flower,
Impatiens, which grows
along the sides of some of
the Welsh streams, will,
with its blessing, help you
along the road.
INDICATION
Those who are quick in thought and
action and who wish all things to be
done without hesitation or delay. When
ill they are anxious for a hasty recovery.
They find it very difficult to be patient
with people who are slow, as they
consider it wrong and a waste of time,
and they will endeavour to make such
people quicker in all ways.
They often prefer to work and think
alone, so that they can do everything at
their own speed.
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35
The 12 Healers
IMPATIENS
Impatiens glandulifera
Locality
Impatiens is found throughout
Britain. It grows along the banks
of streams and rivers, the seeds
travelling in the water. It will grow
in full light or shade and accepts
varying soils, unless markedly acid.
It prefers damp ground.
Flowering period
July to September, .
or until a frost.
Preparation
Identification
Impatiens glandulifera (also known as
I. roylei) is the only plant of its kind
although there are two or three other
Balsams that are related. It grows
tallest and strongest of the family; the
others have yellow or orange flowers.
It is a fast growing annual, the leaves
are large and pointed with a toothed
edge, dark green and like the stem they
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The 12 Healers
Clematis
Clematis vitalba
dreamers, drowsy,
absent minded
brings down to earth
AFFIRMATION
The remedy brings stability:
and places the patient on
a more practical plane;
brings them down to earth;
and so enables them to fulfil
their work in this world.
INDICATION
Those who are dreamy, drowsy, not fully
awake, no great interest in life. Quiet
people, not really happy in their present
circumstances, living more in the future
than in the present; living in hopes of
happier times, when their ideals may
come true. In illness some make little or no
effort to get well, and in certain cases may
even look forward to death, in the hope
of better times; or maybe, meeting again
some beloved one whom they have lost.
38
The 12 Healers
Clematis
Clematis vitalba
Locality
Clematis is found throughout
southern Britain, preferring
calcareous soils. It becomes
scarce in the north.
Flowering Period
July through to September.
Identification
Clematis is a woody perennial,
growing stems as long as 30m which
hang from trees like jungle vines.
The pinnate leaves are pointed (1520cm), in opposite pairs, on long
twisting stalks which serve to entwine
branches and provide support since
there are no tendrils.
The unrelated White or Black
Bryony could be mistaken for Clematis
since they also straggle through the
hedges, however both forms of Bryony
40
Preparation
Clematis is prepared by the sun method
(p.200). Pick the separate flowers by the
stalk from several different plants in a
place where Clematis is growing strongly.
Care should be taken to choose flowers in
perfect bloom: this will be apparent by the
scent and the pollen on the stamens.
41
The Second 19
Beech
Fagus sylvatica
intolerant, critical, fussy
seeing good in the world
Affirmation
That we never criticise nor
condemn the thoughts, the
opinions, the ideas of others;
ever remembering that all
humanity are Gods children,
each striving in his own way
to find the Glory of his Father.
INDICATION
For those who feel the need to
see more good and beauty in
all that surrounds them. And,
although much appears to be
wrong, to have the ability to see
the good growing within. So as
to be able to be more tolerant,
lenient and understanding of
the different way each individual
and all things are working to
their own final perfection.
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Beech
Fagus sylvatica
The Second 19
Flowering Period
April and May, soon after the
leaf appears. The male flowers
open as fluffy balls when ready.
Preparation
Identification
Beech is a native British tree
growing to over 30m with a
smooth grey bark. In woodland
they often have no low branches
though solitary trees will grow
to a complete and balanced form
with branches offering leaves for
all available light. Leaf buds are
long and slender on opposite
spurs. Flowers form soon after
the leaves appear with male
and female on the same tree.
The females mature a few days
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The Second 19
Star of Bethlehem
Ornitholagum umbellatum
loss, grief, fright, sudden alarm
balance and harmony
Affirmation
To remain in such a state
of peace that the trials and
disturbances of the world
leave us unruffled, is a great
attainment indeed and brings
to us that Peace which passeth
understanding; and though at
first it may seem to be beyond
our dreams, it is in reality, with
patience and perseverence,
within the reach of us all.
INDICATION
For those in distress under
conditions which for a time
produce great unhappiness.
The shock of serious news, the
loss of someone dear, the fright
following an accident, and
such like. For those who for a
time refuse to be consoled this
remedy brings comfort.
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The Second 19
Star of Bethlehem
Flowering Period
April to May.
Ornithogalum umbellatum
Locality
Star of Bethlehem grows in open grassland on drier
soils. It is not uncommon but is most likely to be
found in the south and east of England. Old flower
books speak of it as being an introduced species to
be found in cottage gardens, though if it is not a
native species it has generally naturalized.
Preparation
Identification
Star of Bethlehem is a perennial bulb of
the Lily family. When in flower it has a
stem and leaves of about 10-15cm The
leaves are slender and pointed, growing
from the bulb, dark green with a white
central vein. The flowers are held in
an umbel a head of between six and
ten separately stemmed flowers each
flower (30mm across) having six petals.
These are bright white with a dark green
stripe on the back; this is due to their
dual function as sepals forming a green
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