Dr. Edward Bach and Flower Remedies

Dr. Edward Bach

Dr. Edward Bach is best remembered today as the creator of the Bach flower remedies, a system of 38 flower preparations associated with different emotional states and patterns of personality. Yet his journey towards flower remedies began not in holistic medicine, but in conventional medical practice.

Born in Moseley, near Birmingham, in 1886, Bach studied medicine in Birmingham and London and qualified as a doctor in 1912. He worked as a physician, bacteriologist and pathologist, conducting research into the relationship between intestinal bacteria and chronic illness. For a time he also maintained a successful medical practice in Harley Street.

From bacteriology to homeopathy

Although Dr. Bach was successful in conventional medicine, he became increasingly interested in treating the individual rather than concentrating solely on the diagnosis of disease.

This interest eventually brought him into contact with homeopathy. While working at the Royal London Homeopathic Hospital, Bach recognized similarities between some of his bacteriological work and the homeopathic principle of prescribing according to the individual patient.

He subsequently developed a group of preparations that became known as the Bach bowel nosodes. These are still regularly used in homeopathic practice today. Over time, however, Bach wanted to develop an approach that he considered simpler and gentler. His attention gradually moved away from bacteria and towards plants and flowers.

The importance of the emotional state

One of Bach's central ideas was that two people with the same physical diagnosis might experience their illness very differently.

One person might become frightened. Another might become irritable. Someone else might lose hope, withdraw from other people or continue working despite complete exhaustion.

Bach increasingly came to regard these differences as important. Rather than selecting a remedy primarily according to the physical disease, his developing flower remedy system focused on the emotional state of the person.

This represented a significant departure from both conventional medicine and classical homeopathy. Bach eventually came to believe that persistent emotional conflict could disturb health and that restoring greater emotional harmony could assist the individual's overall process of healing.

It is important to distinguish this historical philosophy from a modern medical claim. Emotional wellbeing can certainly influence quality of life and the experience of illness, but Bach's belief that emotional disharmony lies behind physical disease is not an established medical explanation for disease.

The development of the Bach flower remedies

By 1930, Bach had left much of his London medical work behind and devoted himself increasingly to finding remedies in nature. Over the following years he travelled through the English and Welsh countryside, observing plants and experimenting with preparations made from their flowers. His work eventually resulted in a system of 38 flower remedies. Each remedy became associated with a particular emotional pattern. For example:

Mimulus is traditionally associated with identifiable fears and apprehension.

Impatiens is associated with impatience, irritability and the desire for things to happen quickly.

Elm is associated with periods of feeling overwhelmed by responsibility.

Walnut is traditionally considered when a person is adjusting to change or attempting to remain true to their own direction despite outside influences.

White Chestnut is associated with repetitive thoughts and mental conversations that seem difficult to switch off.

A system designed to be simple

Bach wanted his final system to be relatively simple and accessible. Unlike classical homeopathy, which contains thousands of remedies and often requires detailed differentiation between physical and emotional symptoms, the Bach system contains only 38 individual remedies. Several remedies may also be combined when more than one emotional theme is present.

The best-known combination is Rescue Remedy, originally developed from five Bach remedies and traditionally used during stressful or emotionally demanding situations.

Flower remedies should not be confused with herbal medicines. They are not prescribed for their nutritional or pharmacological constituents in the way that a medicinal herb might be. Their traditional use is based instead upon the emotional qualities attributed to each flower.

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