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