I'm interested in using Bach Flowers--heard good things about them. My only concern is

[Mist]

that what I've read says "As issues/emotions come up, just deal with them." I need to know how strong those emotions might be--and "deal with them" is a little vague for me! I'm assuming "deal with" means "acknowledge and release," but I'd like some input on how strong those feelings are. Should I have a therapist "in reserve" to talk to if it gets intense? I've read that Bach Flowers are gentle, but wonder if the resulting emotions that surface are gentle enough to handle on my own?

Any input appreciated!

[BlueIris]

1. You came to the right forum for this question, my friend.

I looooove Bach flower essences, and most flower essences generally. However, contrary to popular belief, they do have some drawbacks. Those issues are something I wish people on this website in particular had warned me about before I tried them.

You are right to be wary of the potential emotional fall out from using these products. Flower essences, and most homeopathic items, have the potential to create something called a healing crisis. Basically, the emotional imbalances you're trying to sort out could get worse before they get better. I would liken it to stretching out a sore muscle; the energy vibrations you're working on could be very "kinked up," and straightening them out could take some time.

A warning--a healing crisis can be extremely painful. I've had a bad reaction to an anti-depressant, and I've been experienced a healing crisis from a Bach's remedy (Larch, if you must know.) The healing crisis was just as bad as the reaction to the prescription med. Also, it wasn't possible for me to "work through" it, it was that bad.

There are lots of people who would claim that if it happens to you, you should just keep using the homeopathy until it goes away. If you ask me, that advice is coming from a) people who haven't been there and therefore stupidly believe there's nothing "all that bad" about a healing crisis, or b) people trying to push product in natural/organic food stores. Or c) I guess, people who are so ignorant about what homeopathy can do that they really have no idea what they are talking about.

Since you ask about having a therapist in reserve--up to you, but I won't lie, it IS possible to have a severe crisis as a result of using these products. So, securing access to a mental health professional is not the worst idea. But...if you start having such a reaction, I wouldn't try to force yourself to keep using the essence, therapist or no therapist. At all. Just ditch it, and try to address the problem another way. IMO, if an issue is so significant that homeopathy kicks off that kind of pain, it's not appropriate to try to resolve it through a flower essence alone.

I really recommend using a pendulum to pick out your Bach's, or any kind of homeopathy. It could help you avoid picking a product you would be better off avoiding.

Lastly, Bach's is only one of like 250 different flower essence manufacturers around the world. If you don't find what you're looking for there, you have many, many more places to go to find it.

I like fesflowers.com and spirit-in-nature.com. The Spirit In Nature lady is greeeeaaat, and the purity of her commitment to healing others really shines through in her stuff.

[Mist]

2. Thanks so much--lots of info there. I'll hold off for now. What I've heard has

been that flower essences is a gentle way of healing, and maybe it is, for some. I even know one woman who said she mixed several essences and made a dilution that she sipped throughout the day, and at the end of the day she was done. I couldn't help thinking that whatever was bugging her was the psychological equivalent of a hangnail. But I didn't say anything of course. I believe in healing crises--had a couple myself. I'd call one of them a mid-life crisis, but I was only 29. Just internal stuff that demanded I start expressing my creative side, and stop worrying about an "adult career." Honoring that internal knowledge was the healing, I think.

Like I said, I can hold off for now! Thanks for the input.

[BlueIris]

3. Well, for the official record, I didn't mean to suggest that flower essences are evil.

Most people don't feel anything while they're using them. They can be a very gentle form of healing.

It's just that not everyone has that experience. Those of us with more delicate systems can get our collective butts kicked by those things. And personally, I feel that if you're getting the sense that the essences might be painful or overwhelming for you to use, that IS a sign to hold off.

[Mist]

5. Yes, I think trusting my instincts on this is right! nt

[Why Syzygy]

4. If you want

to be cautious, I can suggest that when you are ready, start with Bach's Rescue Remedy. Just a few drops in a little cup of water is plenty.
Sip. Since it is in fact intended to be used in all sorts of 'emergencies', if something confusing happened, RR will help you remain calm
and relaxed. BlueIris probably has the most experiences with essences of anyone here. I trust her knowledge. I'm REALLY glad she shared
her experience in your thread!

Personally, I've used mainly classic homeopathy; and Rescue Remedy. Essences are fairly pricey, so limited use is not a bad thing at all.
A friend had a healing crisis situation. He was dosing for Bursitis in his shoulder. That night he had more intense pain than usual.
Normally he could hang his arm over the bed and get some relief. Not then. He was up for less than an hour. But it stopped hurting;
and he was able to use it at work with no recurring pain! Stuff like that makes the 'crisis' worth it. However, we can't really predict
what might be needed to heal.

Just wanted to give an additional thought to the question.

[Mist]

6. Yeah, I'd forgotten about rescue remedy. But I thought it was supposed to be

diluted in a large glass of water? I keep reading/hearing different things about flower essences--not drastically different from one another, but different enough to be a bit confusing.