Dr. Edward Bach revolutionized the world of health and healing with the creation of flower remedies. One of the major contributions he made with his keen observation was the correlation of the personality to states of dis-ease and disharmony. While working with patients Dr. Bach noticed that the same personality types suffered the same afflictions. And, he explored using the personality as a guide to health. He was able with the help of flower essences to assist his patients restore health and a positive outlook. By helping patients heal their fears, tensions, worries and anxities Dr. Bach noticed their physical health also improved.

Our personality is malleable and constantly develops throughout all of life’s stages. The beginning stages of personality development happen while we are young and is influenced by our parents, teachers, peers and society. While young we receive impressions and instructions on what is appropriate behavior and ways of being, they are fed to us and accepted as true. The rules of engagement we learn about life may not always be true for us. Yet as a child we lack the experience and perspective to appropriately determine the judgment of of others.

The system Dr. Bach developed is aimed at aligning the personality with the truth of who we are. In short it is aimed at whole body health, clearing traumas and getting in touch with the truth of who we are.

The Bach Remedy System is neatly broken down into 3 parts which follow chronologically the order in which the remedies were discovered. The first twelve are known as The Twelve Healers which are soul type/archetypal remedies that deal with broad themes such as courage, enthusiasm, compassion, wisdom and balance to name a few.

The ‘Key Words’ used are general headings which the remedies treat and the themes are areas of the personality these remedies will help to develop. “Use for’ referrers to areas of personality imbalance that the remedies correct. Keep in mind these are general descriptions and serve as a simple guide to beginning to understand the remedies.

The Twelve Healers

Mimulus- (mimulus guttatus) Key Word: Fearlessness

Themes: confidence, bravery, security Use for: fear of known things, shyness, timidity

Impatiens- (impatiens glandulifera) Key Word: Compassion

Themes: patience, tolerance, harmonious relationship with time Use for: impatience, developing tolerance, irritablity

Agrimony-(agrimonia eupatoria) Key Word: Truth

Themes: honesty, authentic humor, openness Use for: masked emotions/inner pain, escapism via drugs/alchol

Clematis-(clamatis vitalba) Key Word: Integration

Themes: vision, awareness, present in the body Use for: dreaminess, withdraw, ungrounded awareness

Centaury -(centaurium erythaea) Key Word: Dignity

Themes: boundaries, self esteem, self reliance Use for: weak personality, being used, servant, taken advantage of

Cerato-(ceratostigma willmottiana) Key Word: Instinct/Knowledge

Themes: trust of self, discernment, decisive Use for: discretion, trust of self wisdom, easily influenced

Gentian -(gentiana amarella) Key Word: Hope

Themes: faith, trust in positive outcome, positive outlook Use for: doubt, pessimism, depression, despair, hopelessness

Chicory-(chicorium intybus) Key Word: Love

Themes: fulfillment, radiant love, unconditional love Use for: possessive, heart ache, manipulative behavior

Vervain- (verbena officianalis) Key Word: Passion

Themes: enthusiasm, optimism, dynamic Use for: overly stressed, type A, high strung, righteously indignant

Scleranthus -(scleranthus annuus) Key Word: Decisive

Themes: decisiveness, balance, stable Use for: indecisiveness, mood swings, trust in decision making

Rock Rose - (helianthemum nummularium) Key Word: Assurance

Themes: calm strength, emotional steadiness Use for: panic, stuck emotions of terror

Water Violet -(hottonia palustris) Key Word: Unity

Themes: gracefulness, quite, integration with group Use for: feelings of loneliness, isolation, pride, superiority

St. john’s wort a special summer herb holds an esteemed place in the world of flower essences. This light filled essences is made from the bright yellow flowers that begin blooming around the summer solstice. The days near the solstice are characterized by early sunrises and sunsets that stretch long into the evening. This abundance of light is a key signature of the action of this essence.

I has my first plant spirit journey with this herb. Plant spirit journeys are one way to gather information on the healing properties of the plant. Two years ago while attending a flower essences course with David Dalton and Kate Gilday I made an essence from this plant. There were many plants flowering at this time and we were instructed to make an essence of a plant we felt drawn to. I felt myself being guided to a bright yellow flowers of St.John’s Wort.

After making the essences we reconvened and prepared to journey to the plant spirit to seek information on the healing action of the essence. The journey was led by a drummer and verbal instructions from David. As with most spirit journeys we were told to find a portal near the plant and travel through the portal to meet the spirit.

The journey took me down a portal which led to a garden, it was like and English garden, very neat with rows and a pathway lined with some benches and lanterns. I walked around in this garden looking at the various plants and then sat down on a bench. Soon after sitting down I was greeted by luminous being about 3 feet fall. He told me he was the spirit of St. John’s Wort, I asked if he had a name, he said “John”, of course. I then asked him “What does St. John’s Wort flower essence do?”

The spirit jumped up put his hand on my belly, upon putting his hand on my stomach a light grew and then spread to encompass my whole body in tight field of light. I could feel a brightness and sense of protection and upliftment from this action. He then sat down next to me, we just sat together on the bench and soon afterwards the drumming changed rhythm and we were lead back to body consciousness.

I related my story to the group and David shared that in his research he discovered that St John’s Wort strengthens the energy field where it connects to the stomach. What I discovered from this plant is that it has a powerful ability to strengthen the human energy field, it tightens the energy field pulling it closer to the body. David recalled that in his research he found that it ‘tightens the filaments of light in our protective field.

The human energy or aura, can be damaged or compromised by stress, ill health, drugs and negative thoughts and feelings. When our field is compromised we may feel tired, unable to focus, experience unexplained fears, disturbed sleep and nightmares. Research by the Flower Essence Society recommends it for people who are overly expanded, thus making them more susceptible to outside influence. This essence has also been used to treat depression related to Seasonal Affective Disorder.

Saint Johns Wort’s unique actions make it a useful essence to have on hand when we need extra support in maintaining the integrity of or energetic field.