Flower Essence Therapy
What are flower essences?
Flower essences are liquid plant extracts that support the mental, emotional, and spiritual sides of life. They’re very dilute and are considered vibrational in nature; some might describe them as energy healing in a bottle.
Where do flower essences come from?
While flowers have been used for healing for a long time, flower essences in their current form were developed by Dr. Edward Bach in the 1930s. His goal was to create a simple, beautiful system for improving health that anybody could use.
How are flower essences made?
Flower essences are made by using pristine flower blossoms and floating them on spring water in a glass bowl in the sunlight for several hours. As the flowers sit in the sun, their energy infuses the water. The flowers are then removed, and the water is preserved in alcohol. This is called the mother tincture. The mother tincture is diluted further into stock bottles sold in stores and used by practitioners.
How do I take flower essences?
The extracts come in small bottles, and you can take them drop by drop on your tongue, in a glass of water, or in a bath.
Flower Essences in Chinese Medicine
Flowers are used extensively in Chinese herbal medicine, but the preparation of flower essences is unique to Western Herbalism.
That said, seven of the thirty eight plants used in Bach’s essence repertory are also used in Chinese Medicine, so there are definitely some affinities:
Honeysuckle / Jin Yin Hua
Wild Rose / Mei Gui Hua
Clematis / Wei Ling Xian
Gentian / Long Dan Cao
Agrimony / Xian He Cao
Impatiens /Ji Xing Hua
Mustard / Bai jie zi
In Chinese Medicine, every organ system has it’s corresponding emotion. When the organ system is unwell, that emotion will be out of balance. When the emotions are out of balance, it can also affect the organ system.
By working with the subtle world of flowers to shift emotional states, one can help bring the Chinese medicine organ systems into balance.
Flower essences used topically on acupuncture points can be incredibly supportive, and I include them in many of my acupuncture treatments.
Flower essences also provide beautiful vibrational support beyond the treatment room, and are especially helpful for people who have difficulty taking internal herbal formulas, as they are so gentle.
To learn more about flower essences, you can check out the Flower Essence Society, based in Northern California.
To learn more about flower essences used topically, you can also check out the book Floral Acupuncture.
Flower Essence Therapy
Flower essences are available to all clients of Soraluna, and are offered as an adjunct therapy during acupuncture and herbal medicine sessions.
If you are interested in a custom flower essence formula, let me know at the beginning of your session.
I also offer stand-alone flower essence therapy sessions, either in-person or long distance to people in California.
You can book your session here.