The 38 Remedies

 Dr. Edward Bach found the 38 Flower remedies over a period of almost 20 years. They can be mixed and matched together to handle over 2 million states of mind.

He divided them into seven groups – and they are presented in that way on this page. Remeber, this is only a quick reference guide. The remedies are simple to learn and understand, but by no means are they simplistic in nature. Their uses go deep, and it takes years of experience to truly begin to comprehend the amazing legacy that Dr. Bach has left for us.

The Bach Centre UK, is committed to spreading this precious Knowledge and has created three levels of certification. I currently teach Level 1 and will soon be teaching Level 2. Click to check the schedule for training with me.

Use and Dosage

Fill a 30 ml bottle with clean water. Add 2 drops of each selected remedy (4 drops if one of the remedies selected is Rescue Remedy, and we consider Resuce Remedy to be just one remedy even though there are five flowers in it). This is your treatment bottle.

From the Treatment bottle, add 4 drops to about half a glass of water and slowly drink it.

This is to be done 4 times a day – once in the morning, last thing at night and two more times in between. There are no restriction on when to take your remedy. You may have more doses if required, sometimes a day can turn our to be quite challenging.

I hope the remedies become your friends as they have become mine – and you can help yourself, your family and friends and the community around you with their gentle healing power.

Despondency & Despair

Crab Apple

Malus Pumila

Indication

Self-disgust, feelings of being unclean and tainted towards yourself or your immediate environment, obsessive compulsive need for cleanliness

Effect

Brings acceptance towards yourself and your surroundings, so you can relax and enjoy life

Elm

Ulmus Procera

Indication

Though normally calm and confident, you feel overwhelmed by some situation, feelings of being pushed to a tearful meltdown

Effect

Regain equilibrium and restores confidence

Larch

Larix Decidua

Indication

Fragile confidence, the doubts in yourself stop you from even trying to do something because you are so sure you will fail

Effect

Break away from your self-limiting beliefs and be able to grab the opportunities that life offers

Oak

Quercus Robur

Indication

Burnout, workaholic to the core, struggling on and on despite odds to the point of collapse

Effect

Allows you to rest and take care of yourself, so you can do whatever it is you are doing with even more energy and vigour

Pine

Pinus Sylvestris

Indication

Self-blame and guilt with no justifiable reason

Effect

Releases the guilt, reconnects you to your self and you feel the inherent joy that is there within all of us

Star of Bethlehem

Ornithogalum Umbellatum

Indication

Echoes of shock and traumatic experiences of the past that continue to run your life in the present

Effect

Releases and heals shock and even deep seated trauma, making you feel light and cheerful

Sweet Chestnut

Castenea Sativa

Indication

Acute painful anguish that we feel when things in life go desperately wrong, we call upon a Higher Power for help and release

Effect

Helps you find healing and peace and restores optimism and faith in the future

Willow

Salix Vitellina

Indication

Self-pity, poor me, bitterness, it’s someone else’s fault, refusal to take responsibility for what’s going on in your own life, blaming others

Effect

Grants the ability to forgive and forget, nurture a positive perspective and see the good in the world

Fear

Aspen

Populus Tremula

Indication

Vague and unknown fears, can have nightmares that wake them up and then they cannot fall asleep

Effect

Inner peace and confidence to explore opportunities

Cherry Plum

Prunus Cerasifera

Indication

Fear of losing control, sense of paranoia, a feeling that you will snap, suicidal thoughts, thoughts of doing something terrible and drastic to yourself or others

Effect

Think calmly and become rational

Mimulus

Mimulus Guttatus

Indication

Known fears, fear that you can name, also to overcome shyness and timidity

Effect

Helps you find your inner courage and creates quiet confidence

Red Chestnut

Aesculus Carnea

Indication

Irrational fear that something bad will happen to loved ones

Effect

Feelings of positivity and security and ability to relax out of this anxiety

Rock Rose

Heliantbemum Nummularium

Indication

Extreme fear or terror, panic attacks, almost paralyzed with fear, difficulty breathing because of the fear

Effect

Gently resolves feelings of fear, brings back control, you can breathe deeply and easily and feel alright

Insufficient Interest in the Present

Clematis

Clematic Vitlba

Indication

Day-dreamer, switch off from conversation, bump into things, glazed look in the eyes

Effect

Grounds you and helps propel you into action and bring your dreams and wishes into reality

Chestnut Bud

Aesculus Hippocastanum

Indication

Refusal to learn from mistakes and past experiences of self or others

Effect

Allows you to reflect and integrate learnings from the past to develop insights and wisdom

Honeysuckle

Lonicera Caprifolium 

Indication

Prefers to live in the past, either glorifying it or regretting it

Effect

Brings you into sparkling Present Moment, the here and now, so you can move forward

Olive

Olea Europaca

Indication

Physical and mental exhaustion

Effect

Grants the ability to rest, sleep and rejuvenate, you feel reenergised and deeply rested

Mustard

Sinapis Arvensis

Indication

Sudden dark cloud of depression which comes and goes without any reason, feelings of heaviness, cannot be hidden

Effect

Brings lightness to your heart and mind

White Chestnut

Aesculus Hippocastanum

Indication

Too many thoughts, mental merry-go-round, incessant mind chatter

Effect

Serenity in the mind, the chatter subsides – great remedy to take when the mental chatter doesn’t allow you to meditate

Wild Rose

Rosa Canina

Indication

Dead to life, feelings of extreme inertia, apathy

Effect

Rediscover the pleasure of simply being alive

Loneliness

Heather

Calluna Vulgaris

Indication

Self-obsessed, only talking about what’s not alright in your life to anyone and everyone you can, to the point that people start to avoid you

Effect

Feelings of love and empathy which translate into you listening to others, instead of exhausting them with what’s wrong with you

Impatiens

Impatiens Glandulifera

Indication

You know you can do things faster and have no patience for others who seem to be taking their own sweet time, utter impatience with anyone you feel is slow

Effect

Restores patience in you, so you can slow down and calm down from the frenetic pace you set for yourself and others

Water Violet

Hottonia Palustris

Indication

A quiet, gentle person who appears to be proud and aloof, they prefer solitude and are naturally self-reliant – A comfortable introvert

Effect

Allows you to ask for help, be more comfortable in a crowd and be less socially awkward

Overcare for Other’s Welfare

Beech

Fagus Sylvatica

Indication

critical, intolerant, arrogant, fault finder, always right

Effect

Develops tolerance, find compassion for yourself and others

Chicory

Cichorium Intybus

Indication

Loves attention, feels terrible if not acknowledged, “After all I have done for you…” can resort to emotional blackmail, keeps score and expects others to return favours

Effect

Sense of self-worth, so you don’t depend on others to fulfill you emotionally, you give unconditionally

Rock Water

Aqua Petra

Indication

Self-imposed high standards and utter dogmatism about your own work and life, you want to set a good example to others and may even compromise on the quality of your life to do just that

Effect

Allows you to experience the joy that life has on offer by being more flexible in thought and action

Vervain

Verbena Officinalis

Indication

Over-enthusiastic about an idea, wants people to see their point and becomes offended if they don’t, evangelist, can be indignant about an issue and loves to fight for a cause, zealot

Effect

Broadminded, more tolerant and patient, you will have a more accepting energy and people will naturally want to be with you and work with you

Vine

Vitis Vinifera

Indication

Domineering, “my way or the highway” attitude, bossy and arrogant, you tend to bully and intimidate people in the guise of wanting to inspire them, defensive and annoyed by any criticism

Effect

Brings wisdom, helps you inspire people through hope and love rather than fear

Over-Sensitive to Influence & Ideas

Agrimony

Agrimony Eupatoria

Indication

Using humour and liveliness to mask inner turmoil, likes to party, make a joke of illness and can have minor vices and addictions, anything to run away from the feelings inside

Effect

Helps you address the suppressed feelings and reconcile with them, so you can experience the peace you so desperately yearn for

Centaury

Centaurium Umbellatum

Indication

Inability to say no, weak and willing slave, subservient, wants to please others

Effect

Ability to gently, yet firmly say no, so you can be discerning about choosing to help others

Holly

Ilex Aquifolium

Indication

Intense feelings of Anger, Jealousy, Hatred or Revenge, feelings of hostility

Effect

Heals and soothes your heart and mind, kindling generosity and magnanimity 

Walnut

Juglans Regia

Indication

Feelings of vulnerability when there is some sort of a change in life – external or internal, you may get swayed from your chosen path by others opinions and ideas during this time of change, inability to let go and move on

Effect

Link Breaker, shields and protects you from pressures of the environment

Uncertainty

Cerato

Ceratostigma Willmottianum

Indication

Continuously asking others for their opinions and ideas and usually getting mislead when you actually know what it is you need to do

Effect

A sense of trust about your own intuition, so you can act with certainty

Gentian

Gentiana Amarella

Indication

Dejection because of failure, doubt in one’s ability to succeed

Effect

Restores faith and confidence in self to be the best you can be

Gorse

Ulex Eurapaeus

Indication

Feelings of being helpless and hopeless about a situation, of “giving up” because you feel “Oh, what’s the use?!”

Effect

Feel rays of sunshine and hope, as you rediscover confidence within yourself

Hornbeam

Carpinus Betulus

Indication

You feel tired at the very thought of starting something, procrastination, the “Monday Morning Blues”

Effect

Restores vitality into your thinking so you get propelled into action

Scleranthus

Scleranthus Annuus

Indication

Brain Freeze when faced with choices

Effect

Take decisive action, become balanced and committed

Wild Oat

Bromus Ramosus

Indication

Frustration because you feel “this is not what I was born to do”, even if you are successful in life, but you have no idea what it is that you should be doing

Effect

Gives you a clearer sense of purpose, possibly develops your intuition so that you can finally “know” what it is that you need to be doing

Combination Remedies

Rescue Remedy

Panchapushpam, Crisis Mix, 5 Flower Remedy

Indication & Description

A combination of 5 flowers together formulated by Dr. Bach himself and used in any sort of Emergency situation – from minor things going awry to stuff that could be really challenging – Clematis to ground you, Impatiens to calm you and slow you down, Cherry Plum to make you feel you are in control of whatever is going on, Rock Rose to deal with fear,  and Star of Bethlehem to negate any shock or trauma that may have happened.

This is the best known, and most beloved of all the remedies and a go to for millions of people the world over. Some companies call it the Crisis Mix and the 5 Flower Remedy.

In the Bach Flower kit we make in India, we call it Panchapushpam – Pancha, meaning five and Pushpam meaning Flower.

Effect

Helps you tide over the difficult situation, brings unexpected strength to cope, negates the trauma of the event 

This almost magical remedy must be there in every household of the world.

Rescue Cream

Crab Apple + 5 Flowers of Rescue Remedy in a Cream Base

Indication & Description

Rescue Cream is made of the 5 flowers of the Rescue Remedy, along with Crab Apple in a cream base, to be applied topically.

Crab Apple helps alleviate the feelings of being tainted, or being sullied and hastens healing for the skin.

This formulation was created by Nora Weeks – who was Dr. Bach’s assistant and successor and who worked tirelessly to bring his work to the world at large.

Effect

This is used for minor cuts, abrasions, stings, etc and provides quick relief – I like to make this with extra virgin coconut oil and a few pieces of edible camphor. Remember that this cream is to be gently applied onto the skin and not rubbed in.

For creating beautiful skin, add in 2-5 drops of Kumkumadi Oil – however the cream with the Kumkumadi Oil shouldn’t be used on damaged skin.

PS You can use the discount code BND10 to get a 10% discount on the Shankara website should you wish to purchase the Kumkumadi Oil (or any other beauty product) from them.

Acknowledgements

Some of the photos of the Bach Flowers above were clicked by Nicola Hanefeld  A few others were clicked by me when I was in London and the rest are from various other online resources.

To write about the indications and effects for each flower, I referred to the Bach Centre UK website,  the book 12 Healers by Dr. Edward Bach, Emotional Wisdom by Lynn Macwhinnie and Bach Flower Therapy – Theory and Practice by Mechthild Scheffer – all are fantastic resources to read more about the Bach Flowers.