Other Frequently Asked Questions
Our individual flower essences smell like alcohol. Unlike essential oils, flower essences do not have definite aromas to them. Instead, the most pronounced scent comes from the preservative used to extend their shelf life, which is predominantly alcohol. The non-alcohol version of Five-Flower Formula and the Kinder-Garden formula both use vegetable glycerin as their preservative, and will therefore have a sweeter scent. Some of our formulas, such as the Flourish formulas, do contain small amounts of essential oils in them, which do offer a distinctive scent to those products.
For more on how flower essences are different from essential oils, please read the next section 'What is the difference between flower essences and aromatherapy oils?'
The most significant
difference is that essential oils have definite aromas; flower essences
do not. Essential oils work primarily through the sense of smell and its
effect upon the “old brain.” They are highly concentrated chemical
substances, many of which are quite poisonous taken internally. Most
essential oils are diluted first in a carrier oil before they are
applied topically. On the other hand, flower essences are safe and
gentle to use whether taken internally or used on the skin.
Essential oils are produced
from large quantities of plant material, the flowers, roots, seeds, or
bark, depending on the location of the volatile oils in the plant.
Steam-distillation is the most common extraction method. With flower
essences, only the flowers are used and in a very small quantity. The
vibrational imprint of the flower is extracted in water, which is then
further diluted. Thus essential oils are a physical extract and flower
essences are a subtle energy “extract.”
Flower essences and essential oils are very complimentary to each other in healing work. While both affect the mind-body continuum, they work from opposite pathways. Essential oils enter through the senses to reach the soul, while flower essences impact the subtle energy fields of the soul to affect physical well-being. Flower essences and essential oils combine well in spray bottles and in topical applications, such as in skin cremes and massage oils.
Flower essences are herbal preparations made only from the flower of the plant in a way to embody its higher vibrational healing. Herbal preparations can be made from various plant parts, using large quantities of the herb. In tea, tincture or capsule form, they have a strong effect directly on our physical state. While some herbs can be poisonous in their action and through over-dosing, flower essences are safe to use. Flower essences can be safely taken in conjunction with Herbal remedies. The Yarrow Environmental Solution is an example of a successful herbal and flower essence combination.
Flower essences and
homeopathic remedies are kindred preparations, yet there are important
differences. They are similar in that both are based on energetic,
rather than biochemical principles, and are physically diluted. Both
modalities address the whole person — body and mind— and work with the
person’s healing process rather than by suppressing symptoms.
However, flower essences were
not developed by the Law of Similars — “Like Cures Like” — which is
the basis of homeopathy. Rather they balance and integrate polarities
within the individual. Homeopathic practitioners work very precisely
with specific pathological symptoms, matching the “proving” of the
remedy to the “symptom picture” of the patient. Flower essence
practitioners work with archetypal themes of soul development, which are
embodied in the subtle qualities of the plants. They work with issues
of self-actualization and life destiny issues as well as the pathologies
which are blocking soul development.
There are also differences in preparation and usage. Flower essences are made exclusively from the fresh blossoms of plants, whereas homeopathic remedies can be made from a variety of plant parts, or from mineral, animal, or human substances. Unlike most homeopathic remedies, flower essences are not antidoted by substances such as camphor, or strong herbs.
Homeopathic remedies do not interfere with flower essences, and many homeopathic practitioners recommend flower essences for their patients. Some classical homeopaths follow a method for which no other remedies — including flower essences — should be taken during the treatment program.
If figured from the plant substance, the ratio is 1:6000, calculated as follows:
1:10 plant substance to water for mother essence
1:2 dilution in alcohol to preserve mother essence
1:300 dilution of mother essence to stock bottle.
10 x 2 x 300 = 6000
Certainly physical remedies can be, and have been made from a wide variety of natural and human-made substances. Similarly in homeopathy, there is a wide range of substances which form the basis for potentized remedies. However, Dr. Edward Bach, who had previously worked with both allopathic and homeopathic medicines, specifically chose the flower to achieve the soul-transformational effects he sought for his new therapy. The method he developed, simulating the effect of the morning dew on the blossom with the bowl of water in the sun, is specific to the properties of flowering plants. Undoubtedly, “vibrational remedies” can be made from other substances or energies, but they are not flower essences, and cannot be assumed to have the same properties as flower essences. Further research will need to be done to ascertain the unique properties for these preparations and the preparation method most appropriate to them.
This principle is known in physics as resonance. Just as a piano string will sound when its resonant note is sung, so our own “soul chords” respond to the “soul notes” of the flower essences which we need for our healing and growth. Unlike pharmaceutical drugs or conventional herbal medicines, the impact of the flower essences is not from direct physical or chemical intervention in our bodies. Flower essences work through the various human energy fields, which in turn influence mental, emotional and physical well-being.
Flower essence therapy utilizes a precise understanding that the thoughts, feelings and experiences of the human psyche are reflections of the same cosmic laws inherent in the growth patterns, shapes, colors, fragrances, and vital energies of Nature which are expressed in the flowering plant.
Modern physics has known for nearly a century that matter and consciousness are intertwined. However, medical science still generally works with a nineteenth century model of the human being as a mechanism in a world of machines. We expect that in this new century medical science will develop ways of studying the impact of consciousness on health, and we will learn more about the ways in which flower essences work.
This clinical study of the use of essences is called “empirical” research, or research based on experience. It is also the method by which homeopathic remedies have been verified during the last two centuries. We have also supplemented this broad research program with narrowly defined, double-blind placebo studies following conventional scientific protocols. For further information on these studies, please contact the Flower Essence Society at 800-736-9222 or mail@flowersociety.org.
Not all flower essences companies thoroughly research the properties of their flower essences. Therefore customers and stores need to investigate the standards and procedures used to verify the indications of essences they purchase. The FES flower essences are backed by over a quarter century of professional clinical use and study.
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