Learn How to Make Your Own Flower Essences
By Toria Betson
Bach’s flower remedies are for everyone. It was of utmost importance to Dr. Bach, the creator of the Bach flower remedies, that his remedies remain simple and safe, so one could easily choose the treatments they need, and treat them self.
Making your own remedies is surprisingly simple as well! The instructions were published in Bach’s book “The Twelve Healers”, and were never patented.
Dr. Bach felt dew would contain the properties of the plant it was on, especially if the plant were where the sun could help extract the properties into the dew. He came up with ways to mimic this natural process. In both the “sun” and the “boiling” methods, it is preferable to use wild plants, or plants grown as naturally as possible. Never use flowers grown near a street or highway, as they are likely to be contaminated by toxins.
Both methods will produce much more energized water than you will need. It might be interesting to use the leftover energized water in the bath, or to water ailing plants.
Try to achieve a harmonious state before preparing the remedies.
The Flower Remedies and the Method Used for Each
- Agrimony – sun
- Aspen – boiling
- Beech – boiling
- Centaury – sun
- Cerato – sun
- Cherry Plum – boiling
- Chestnut Bud – boiling
- Chicory – sun
- Clematis – sun
- Crab Apple – boiling
- Elm – boiling
- Gentian – sun
- Gorse – sun
- Heather – sun
- Holly – boiling
- Honeysuckle – boiling
- Hornbeam – boiling
- Impatiens – sun
- Larch – boiling
- Mimulus – sun
- Mustard – boiling
- Oak – sun
- Olive – sun
- Pine – boiling
- Red Chestnut – boiling
- Rock Rose – sun
- Rock Water – sun (early to midsummer)
- Scleranthus – sun
- Star of Bethlehem – boiling
- Sweet Chestnut – boiling
- Vervain – sun
- Vine – sun
- Walnut – boiling
- Water Violet – sun
- White Chestnut – sun
- Wild Oat – sun
- Wild Rose – boiling
- Willow – boiling
Making Flower Remedies Using the Sun Method
The sun method is used for plants that grow in the sun, and bloom during the late spring or summer. Sterilize any bowls, bottles, and pruning shears you will be using. Choose a perfect “blue-sky day”. Fill a glass bowl with spring water. Pick the flower heads early in the morning, when they have just opened fully. You will be cutting them just below the flower spikes or calyx, which is the green ‘cup’ below the flower. Without touching the flowers, allow the flower heads to fall directly into the water as you pick them. You want them to float on the water, until the surface of the water is covered. They all must touch the water, but a little overlapping is acceptable. Try not to cast any shadows on the bowl, and be careful not to touch the flowers or the water. Leave them in direct sunlight for three hours, or until the flowers begin to wilt or fade.
Remove the flowers, with a twig from the plant, again without touching the water. Using filter paper, pour the water into a bottle or jar. Mix the energized water with an equal part of 40% proof brandy, and shake well. This is your ‘mother tincture’, which will be further diluted. Store in a sterilized glass bottle, in a cool dark place.
You may have noticed there is one remedy that is unique, in that it is not made from plant matter, Rock Water. Rock Water is made using fresh, clean water from a healing spring or well, which is energized using the sun method. Using spring water for healing has been around for centuries, and forms the base of all the flower remedies.
Making Flower Remedies Using The Boiling Method
For plants that grow in the early spring, so do not receive as much sunlight, and for woody plants, the boiling method is used. All pans and bottles used must be sterilized, before using. Use a lidded stainless steel, or enameled pot, and glass jars and or bottles.
In the morning, when the flowers have opened to their fullest, cut the flowers, catkins, twigs, and leaves, so they fall directly into the pot, without touching them. The twigs should be about 6 inches, or 16 centimeters, long. When the pan is about three quarters full, put on the lid, and take it home as soon as possible. Cover the twigs with spring water, using about ten parts water to one part twigs, and boil uncovered for half an hour. Put the lid on, and set the pan in fresh air, until the water has cooled. Remove any twigs, leaves, and flowers with a twig from the plant, and without touching the water. Let the water sit again, until any sediment has settled to the bottom. Pour through filter paper, into a sterile jar. Repeat filtering if needed.
As with the sun method, mix the energized water with an equal part of 40% proof brandy, and shake well. Store this ‘mother tincture’ in a sterilized glass bottle, in a cool dark place.
To dilute the mother tincture you will need a sterilized 1 ounce, or 30 milliliters, dropper jar. Fill the bottle with brandy and add two drops of the mother tincture. Now you have a stock bottle, like those found in your local health food store, or food cooperative.
To take the flower remedy, mix two drops from the stock bottle, with a glass of water or other beverage, and sip slowly. Alternatively, you can place the drops directly on the tongue. You may also make a convenient ‘treatment’ bottle, by filling a dropper bottle with mineral or spring water, and placing two drops from the stock bottle into it. Take the remedy at least four times a day until you feel better.
You might feel it best to combine remedies. To do so, place two drops of each into a 30-ml. dropper bottle. Fill the bottle with mineral, or spring water. Take four drops, four times a day. As a general rule of thumb, limit the number of remedies combined to no more than 6 or 7.
To learn more about Bach’s flower remedies, please read my previous article describing the 38 Bach Flower Essences.
