Sai Ram. This lesson will try to round off the discussion on Bach Flowers. We will try to cover all the flowers in brief. If you so prefer, pl. print out this lesson and keep it with you as a sort of handly pocket reference! Sai Ram.
Agrimony - who hide their true emotions behind a cheerful facade. Who dislike to be alone and prefer to hide from themselves through fun, parties and friends. Who may have some addictions (though there is another Bach Flower for addictions as we will see)
Aspen - Fears and anxiety which cannot be named or specified. Anxiety neurosis.
Beech - Intolerant of other's looks, habits, mannerisms etc. Think of it sometimes when a part of you is intolerant of another part of you! (I have not seen this statement in Bach literature read so far but I feel this is worth trying, esp. in autoimmune system disorders) - many allergies (allergies are body's intolerance of some external factors! - I thank a friend who suggested this on the talkbach group).
Centaury - When you can't say No! You may want to say no inside or you may feel that it is your duty to help others, but when you find it difficult or impossible to say No to any one even if it is affecting you adversely, think of this flower! It will help you to be assertive without being aggressive or annoying! It will help you to learn say No, without feeling guilty!
Cerato - Who mistrust their own judgement. Differs from Scleranthus who can't make up their mind. Cerato has no problem in making up the mind but later develops doubts and starts seeking others' advice. Scleranthus on the other hand, doesn't know what he / she wants and keeps on wavering between two choices. In both cases, the final decision may or may not be the correct one! Cerato helps one develop the intuition and listen to one's inner voice. Larch has no such confusions but lacks self-confidence to take up any work. So, some times, it becomes a little difficult to choose between Cerato and Larch but a little analysis will clear up the choice.
Cherry Plum - Fear of losing one's self control (and thus a needed ingredient of Rescue Remedy)
Chestnut Bud - When lessons from life are not learnt and same mistakes keep being repeated, lessons have been learnt but forgotten (I have not seen this statement in Bach Literature but to me forgetting the lessons and not learning are similar since in both cases we keep repeating the mistakes in life again and again!) - When a child is a slow learner (in general, not just for school lessons, this could help!)
Chicory - the selfish clinger - emotional blackmailer? - the one who wants to tie you up with her selfish love! (Many women have this possessive love and will benefit from Chicory!)
Clematis - The day dreamer - who doesn't want to be in the now, here but is always fantasising about some other time and some other place - not well grounded - impractical philosopher or romantic. Clematis fantasises about the future and Honeysuckle lives in the past.
Crab Apple - is the cleansing remedy, and as such is the added 'sixth ingredient' in Rescue Cream. For people who feel that they have something unclean or poisonous about them, or who dislike some aspect of their appearance or personality. Useful in some types of OCD (excessive hand washing for example), skin complaints etc. A sense of internal uncleanliness too, but if feeling guilty, PINE is the remedy.
Elm - for normally successful and competent people, who are temporarily overwhelmed by too much responsibility and feel despondent. This despondency is different from the disappointment felt by GENTIAN and the hopelessness of GORSE and the despair of SWEET CHESTNUT. OAK people don't give up even in such circumstances! Larch doesn't try because they lack self-confidence.
Gentian: for discouragements and disappointments of daily life, a good choice. Some people get easily discouraged compared to others and could do well with a little help from Gentian. Pl. read the description given under Elm for help in differentiating.
Gorse: those who have given up the hope, deep despair. I am using this word synonymously with hopelessness, but Dr.Bach has used it differently. Pl. see http://www.bachcentre.com/centre/38/gorse.htm for his analysis.
Heather - the needy child, the talkative button-holer. The self-centered person, who is at the same time afraid to be alone. Unlike Agrimony who also dislikes loneliness but puts up a cheery front, Heather has nothing very plesant to offer to the others and so may end up being lonely!
Holly: For emotions which are directed very negatively. The person is in need of love but goes about it in a wrong way. Hate, suspicion and jeaousy are the usual expressions of lack of love. Holly helps to open the heart center and helps to love.
Honeysuckle: For those who live in the past, who go on brooding on past happiness or unhappiness! Helps them to come to terms (to achieve closure) and move to the present.
Hornbeam - For the sense of exhaustion or tiredness that comes up thinking about a work! If the work is taken up, the weariness goes off, thus differentiating from Olive. A sort of lack of self-confidence and so if Larch doesn't clear up, may be useful. Sometimes helps in poor quality sleep where the person wakes up unrefreshed. (Kali Phos, the Tissue remedy for nervous troubles is another good choice for this - see http://tissueremedies.onlinecourse.com/ for details about the Twelve Tissue Remedies).
Impatiens - for the impatient patient, who is always in a hurry, restless, wants to do things by him/herself instead of depending upon others who appear to be too slow. Aries people (astrological zodiacal sign represented by Ram, born between March 22 to April 21) are generally impatient and may get benefited by this in becoming calmer and gentler.
Larch - Weak self-image, lacking in self confidence and hence not trying to succeed. Contrast with Elm where they try to take up too much and then start getting doubts whether they can do it. Larch doesn't try because they lack the confidence of succeeding. Larch people will benefit a lot from positive affirmations that they are good, they are capable and they can succeed.
Mimulus - Fear of known things, fear of things which can be named. "I am not afraid of anything except snakes" " I am not scared of anything but rats!" - such statements call for Mimulus. "I am terrified of snakes" may mean either Rock Rose or Mimulus - But if a person who is otherwise normal starts screaming or swoons on seeing a mouse, you may either try Mimulus or Cherry Plum (lack of control).
Mustard - We have already covered in detail under depression. Dark gloomy cloud descending on the mental sky for no known reason, without notice. The disappointments of Gentian have some specific cause whereas the gloom of Mustard has no such known cause. May be useful in Bipolar disorder. With such repeated attacks, the person may become GORSE!
Oak - The strong people who never give up. Such stubbon refusal when rest is needed can actually delay their recovery!
Olive - For exhaustion after physical or mental effort, a good tonic. Compare with Hornbeam where the person feels exhausted before taking up the work (a kind of nervousness, neurasthenia), but Olive is tired because of effort. Rest alone will probably bring back the energy but Olive will hasten the recovery.
Pine - For guilt feelings. We all make mistakes and it is OK to feel bad for the same later with hindsight. But pine feels guilty and suffers! Even when successful, they feel they could have done better and so feel bad (I am slightly rephrasing Dr.Bach's words). Good and bad are relative terms and we do 'bad' or'evil' deeds out of ignorance, Ajnana (lack of true knoweldge). Even when God is forgiving, Pine people can't forgive themselves! So they suffer and spread that misery all around. Pine will show them their ignorance and will help them heal.
Red Chestnut - For fear of safety of other people - a mother worrying about her grown up son or daughter, a wife worrying about her husband etc. Fears, worries and anxieties for loved people will indicate Red Chestnut.
Rock Rose - For Terror (magnified fear), Panic Attacks, Night mares etc.
Rock Water - is not actually a new flower essence, but is water from under some rocks (obviously with some dissolved minerals and capturing the essence of the rock and the water - what a contrast!) - indicated for people of extreme rigidity (high ideals, belief systems etc., inflexible) - helps them take some flexibility and fluidity of the water without losing their strength!)
Scleranthus - The remedy par excellence for uncertainty - to be or not to be? - sometimes showing up as mood swings (very rapid) or motionsickness (as per http://www.bachcentre.com/) - a Gemini or an unsettled Libra (astrologically). Swinging like a pendulum between two or more choices, indecisive.
Star of Bethlehem - for shock, trauma (either recent or even very old one if that is not properly dealt with). Physical or mental shocks. A constituent of Rescue Remedy. The equivalent of homeopathic Arnica Mont. May be useful in PTSD
Sweet Chestnut - for people who have reached the limits of endurance and see no way out, extreme despair, unbearable anguish. When they feel that only a miracle can help them, Sweet Chestnut becomes the miracle!
Vervain - Fanatics who are working for a cause which they believe is good for all others. Sometimes Rockwater people and Vervain appear similar in that both are very fixated in their principles and beliefs but where Vervain tries to convert all around to their point of view, Rockwater doesn't.
Vine - Again for strong willed people who think they know the best for others too and thus try to dominate them. Strong willed, obstinate, forceful, dominating - these are the adjectives that best describe them. Vervain tries to persuade but vine tries to dominate (I know best what is good for you!).
Walnut - a good protective shield against negative inflences, keeps you on the selected path. Compare Rockwater which adds a little flexibility to a too rigid system, Walnut protects against too much flexibility!
Water Violet - for people who are contented with themselves and so appear aloof, proud etc., to help them beter relate to others.
White Chestnut - For constant, repetitive thoughts that keep the mind from calming down and thus adds stress.
Wild Oat - for people who don't know what to do with their life and so run wild! Compare with Scleranthus which knows the options but can't decide, whereas Wild Oat doesn't know the options.
Wild Rose - For apathy, resignation, fatalists, who have given up trying.
Willow - For bitter, resentful people who curse life and fate for their present state. Contrast with Wild Rose who don't complain but accept without trying to improve. Willow also doesn't try to improve but complains! Poor me (self pity) is another emotion that runs through Willow and thus this could be useful in some sorts of neurosis and depression.
Rescue Remedy - A combination of five different Remedies - Cherry Plum, Clematis, Impatiens, Rock Rose and Star of Bethlehem, all added in double strength - is meant for any emergency - physical and emotional. Accidents, injuries, panic attacks, jitters -
But remember, if you are using Rescue Remedy for some reason as a regular remedy, it is counted as one single essence or remedy - so if you feel that you need some more essences, go ahead and make a treatment bottle with Rescue Remedy and the other remedies which may include some of its components. For example, Aspen, Mimulus and Rescue Remedy can be a mixture for a mixture of fears (some specific, some vague, and so terrifying that the person loses control and gets trumatised). Here, the number of essences is counted as 3 and not 7.
Rescue Cream - contains the same ingredients as Rescue Remedy with Crab Apple for cleansing - useful in skin problems, cuts, burns, injuries like bumps etc.
If you want to look at the pictorial representation of the individual Bach Flower Remedies and read the description for their indications and extracts of what Dr.Bach indicated about them in his book The Twelve Healers, pl. go to
http://www.bachcentre.com/centre/remedies.htm
If there is any confusion or difference of perception, pl. follow what is given there.
Also take a look at The Twelve Tissue Remedies available at
http://tissueremedies.onlinecourse.com/
where a few lessons have been uploaded and more or being planned in the next few days/weeks/months. We will also look at Homeopathy and Reiki. So, keep checking.
You are welcome to post your own experiences or ask for suggestions regarding remedy selection.
Read the remedy selection tips for specific problems in the blogs that follow.
Blessings. Sai Ram
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment