Overwhelmed?
My Unexpected Adventure with Flower Essences (not to be confused with essential oils).
Back in my 20s, I went to a psychologist who didn’t just rely on talking things out—she used flower essences like Bach Remedies and Australian Bush Flowers. Yes, I was skeptical.
Now, I am hooked.
One of the ones I took was Willow(excellent if you are feeling sorry for yourself), and a couple of days later—bam!—I felt this strange, unexplainable lightness. Like someone had taken an emotional vacuum cleaner and sucked up all my grumpiness.
It was subtle but kind of amazing.
Losing your mojo can can creep up on you and then when you realise it, it’s part of your every day life and it’s difficult to get out of it. When I see the signs, I use flower essences and 1 or 2 days later I’m capable of thinking again and then, I’m smiling again.
The cool and reassuring thing about flower essences? If you take the wrong one, nothing happens. No side effects, no drama—just you, wondering if you should’ve picked a different flower friend.
But if you take the right one, the effects are real.
Willow is perfect for those moments when bitterness, resentment, and self-pity have set up camp in your brain. It gently nudges them out and replaces them with forgiveness, acceptance, and personal empowerment. It’s great for when you feel stuck in negativity and want to restore a more positive outlook. 🌿✨
When feeling down….it works a treat.
Taking it is easy—you just pop a few drops in a drink or straight into your mouth. Either way, it works, because it’s vibrational therapy (which sounds fancy, but basically means your body just gets it). Oh, and heads-up: these essences are usually preserved in brandy. So if you suddenly feel extra relaxed, it might not just be the flower power talking! On a serious note, it’s only 2 or 4 tiny drops that you are using so don’t get excited!
But, if you are avoiding alcohol completely you can get bach remedies in granules from Healing Herbs instead. (They really should pay me for all this free advertising)!
Anyway, since that first experience, I’ve been hooked! Over the years, I’ve used flower essences whenever life needed a little energetic nudge in the right direction. I even went all in and took courses to learn how to use them properly.
A good all rounder is Bach’s rescue remedy. It contains 5 flower essences in 1 remedy.
Here's a description of each of the five flower essences found in Rescue Remedy:
Rock Rose – for moments of extreme fear or panic. It helps to bring calm and courage in situations where you feel overwhelmed by terror or distress.
Impatiens – for those who feel impatience or frustration, especially when things aren't moving as quickly as desired. It promotes patience, relaxation, and the ability to go with the flow.
Clematis – when you're feeling disconnected, absent-minded, or detached from the present moment. It helps bring focus and clarity, encouraging mindfulness and a stronger connection to reality.
Star of Bethlehem – for emotional trauma or shock, particularly after difficult or painful experiences. It offers comfort and healing, helping to release the impact of past events and restore inner peace.
Cherry Plum – for moments of mental or emotional tension, especially when there's a fear of losing control. It promotes calmness, mental clarity, and helps in maintaining emotional stability.
Together, these essences work synergistically to help you cope with stress, anxiety, or emotional challenges and restore a sense of balance.
Right now, since starting this blog (which, let’s face it, requires more brain power than I expected), I’m taking Cognis by Australian Bush Flowers. It’s meant to help with focus and clarity—aka, keeping me from staring blankly at my screen and not having a clue about what I’m doing!
Some therapists who use flower essences prefer the bach remedies made by Healing Herbs, claiming they are more potent. I'm going to give them a try and see how they work for me. So far, I've had positive results with the Nelsons brand.
Flower essences give quicker but more subtle results. Sometimes you only realise days later, on looking back, that you feel quite different. (There is a description of all the main flower essences at the bottom of the page.)
I take some supplements that also help with emotional states. (Description in this blog.)
But to name just a couple of essential ones for the nervous system: Ashwaganda and a good quality B complex.
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is an adaptogenic herb traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine to help the body manage stress, anxiety, sleep improvement, cognitive enhancement, and anti-inflammatory effects..
Clinical studies suggest the following dosages for stress and anxiety relief:
General Use: 300–600 mg of ashwagandha root extract daily.
Specific Extracts: For standardized extracts like KSM-66®, doses of 250–300 mg per day.
It's advisable to start with a lower dose to assess tolerance and consult with a healthcare provider before beginning supplementation especially if you are on medications for thyroid disorders, blood sugar, and blood pressure.
Ashwagandha is generally well-tolerated, but some individuals may experience digestive upset, drowsiness, or allergic reactions (as with all supplements and even some food).
Always choose high-quality supplements from reputable brands to ensure safety and efficacy.
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Here’s a quick description of each Bach flower remedy and the emotions they help with:
Agrimony – For those who hide worries behind a cheerful mask; helps with inner peace.
Aspen – For vague, unknown fears and anxiety; brings inner security.
Beech – For critical, intolerant attitudes; fosters understanding and compassion.
Centaury – For people-pleasers who struggle to say no; encourages self-assertion.
Cerato – For those who doubt their own judgment; builds inner confidence.
Cherry Plum – For fear of losing control; restores emotional balance.
Chestnut Bud – For repeating mistakes and not learning from experiences; enhances awareness.
Chicory – For overprotective, possessive love; nurtures selfless giving.
Clematis – For dreamers who lack focus in the present; promotes grounded awareness.
Crab Apple – For self-disgust and feeling unclean; aids in self-acceptance.
Elm – For overwhelm from responsibility; restores confidence and capability.
Gentian – For discouragement after setbacks; brings perseverance.
Gorse – For deep hopelessness and despair; renews optimism.
Heather – For self-centeredness and neediness; encourages empathy and connection.
Holly – For jealousy, hatred, and anger; fosters love and understanding.
Honeysuckle – For living in the past and nostalgia; helps embrace the present.
Hornbeam – For mental fatigue and procrastination; boosts energy and motivation.
Impatiens – For irritability and impatience; promotes calm and tolerance.
Larch – For lack of confidence and fear of failure; builds self-assurance.
Mimulus – For known fears (heights, public speaking, etc.); instills courage.
Mustard – For deep, unexplainable sadness; restores inner light and joy.
Oak – For tireless overworkers who never give up; teaches balance and self-care.
Olive – For complete exhaustion and burnout; replenishes vitality.
Pine – For guilt and self-blame; encourages self-forgiveness.
Red Chestnut – For excessive worry about loved ones; fosters trust and calm.
Rock Rose – For terror and panic; instills bravery and calm.
Rock Water – For self-denial and rigidity; promotes flexibility and self-kindness.
Scleranthus – For indecision and uncertainty; enhances clarity and decisiveness.
Star of Bethlehem – For trauma and grief; brings comfort and healing.
Sweet Chestnut – For extreme anguish and despair; restores hope.
Vervain – For overenthusiasm and stress from overcommitment; encourages relaxation.
Vine – For dominant, controlling personalities; nurtures wise leadership.
Walnut – For life transitions and outside influences; strengthens adaptability.
Water Violet – For aloofness and isolation; fosters connection and warmth.
White Chestnut – For racing, obsessive thoughts; brings mental peace.
Wild Oat – For uncertainty about life’s purpose; provides direction and fulfillment.
Wild Rose – For apathy and resignation; restores enthusiasm for life.
Willow – For bitterness and self-pity; cultivates forgiveness and positivity.
Ever tried flower essences? Write a comment below telling us your experience. 🌿✨
Helpful links:
https://bmccomplementmedtherapies.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1472-6882-9-16/tables/1
https://www.natureswish.co.uk/shop/flower-essences