Each day, we hear about the myriad of emotions our clients feel while trying to conceive, from depressed and anxious to hurt, sad, happy, surprised, and scared.
These emotions are very real! When they are dwelled upon, it can be hard to focus on improving one’s fertility health. It’s hard to focus on staying calm and thinking positive thoughts, on being happy for someone else, on exercising 5 times a week, on checking your cervical mucus let alone having sex, and on eating healthy when in reality all you really want to do is hole up in bed eating a double soy hazelnut latte with a cranberry orange scone, throw your supplements out the window and cry.
What do you do when you jump on the roller coaster of emotions and aren’t in a place to sit and meditate, walk away from the stressor, take a bath, etc.? What can you do when you log on to Facebook and see yet another of your “friends” is pregnant and you become completely overwhelmed with sadness, resentment and jealousy? What do you do when the joy of that positive pregnancy test – finally – turns into anxiety and overwhelm? You can try flower remedies, aka flower essences!
The Development of the Original Flower Remedies
Dr. Edward Bach, a homeopath and physician (who studied illness involving both the mind and body) believed that the attitude of mind plays a vital role in maintaining health and recovering from illness. So he worked to find a way to support the attitude of the mind and discovered plant archetype energy (infused in water) or what we know as the 38 Bach Flower Remedies (many more have since been discovered).
“Health depends on being in harmony with our souls.” Dr. Edward Bach
How They Work
Flower remedies work on the level of energy, addressing feelings and emotions – all thought to impede physical healing. Below I share in brief about 15 flower remedies that I feel most closely speak to the feelings and emotions encountered by our clients on their fertility journeys.
Agrimony (Agrimony eupatorium) is for those who hide their problems behind a cheerful face. You may never know they are hurting inside.
Cherry Plum (Prunus cerasifera) is for cooling down. This person fears losing control and can be so “hopped” up with emotion that he/she feels like she is going to blow (even in response to others).
Elm (Ulmus procera) is for overwhelming emotions. This person is competent and capable, but momentarily loses confidence, hope and courage.
Forget-me-not (Myosotis stricta) is for the person who has a hole in their heart, who has lost a piece of themselves, or feels lonely.
Gentian (Gentiana amarella) is for those who are easily discouraged. This person can pinpoint the cause of their depression and is easily depressed when things go wrong, or when faced with difficulties. She keeps trying but failing, and doesn’t seem to ever lose faith.
Holly (Ilex aquifolium) is the jolly remedy. This is an anger/heart remedy for people who have sharp feelings of anger, jealousy, even hatred. Holly opens the heart which may then help one find joy their successes and in the success of another.
Impatiens (Impatiens glandulifera) is for the impatient. This person hates to waste time, is frustrated by the slow pace of things and focused on time being of the essence.
Mimulus (Mimulus guttatus) is for worry/fear with a known cause that one can name.
Olive (Quercus robur) is for exhaustion… for those with fatigue from dealing with something for a very long time.
Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum umbellatum) is for tragedy, loss, and heartbreak. Dr. Bach described this remedy as “the comforter and soother of pains and sorrows”.
Sweet Chestnut (Castanea sativa) is for extreme mental anguish “the hopeless despair of those who feel they have reached the limit of their endurance”. This person has intense sorrow and feels almost destroyed by it.
Walnut (Juglans regia) is the “move-beyond” remedy when one is faced with having to transition from one stage of life to another and is doing so uncomfortably.
White Chestnut flower (Aesculus hippocastanum) of for obsessive, worried thoughts that seem impossible to control.
Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense) is for finding peacefulness amongst the chaos (good or bad).
Willow (Salix vitellina) is for bitterness and resentment. This person is hanging on to old stuff, has feelings of being short-changed in life – thinks “I don’t deserve this. Why should this happen to me?” In a negative Willow state, this person begrudges other people’s good luck, health, happiness and success.
One bonus flower remedy:
Self heal (Prunella vulgaris): Sara Crow, L.Ac. of Floracopeia shares that Self heal’s “therapeutic actions are that it helps us to take ownership of our health. It helps us to take responsibility for our health and well-being… for people that do not take an active part in their healing process. They want someone else to fix them and they don’t take an active part or responsibility in their healing journey.”
Although there are many, some recommended books are:
Bach Flower Remedies for Women by Judy Howard
Flower Power by Anne McIntyre
Flower Essence Repertory by Patricia Kaminski and Richard Katz
Common Flower Essence Brands:
Bach Flower Remedies
F.E.S. Flower Essence Services
Flower Essences (remedies) can be found at your local health food store and are sold in a liquid to be taken internally. Flower Essences are not intended as a substitute for medical treatment. Should symptoms persist, you are advised to consult your medical practitioner.
- Wolff, L. (n.d.). Three Seasons of Herbal Wisdom 2019 – herbalistlisewolff.com. Retrieved from: http://www.herbalistlisewolff.com/ThreeSeasonsofHerbalWisdom2019.pdf
- The 38 flower remedies: An introduction and guide to the 38 flower remedies. (1995). London: Wigmore Publications.
- Bach Remedy Guide (n.d.) – The Bach Center. Retrieved from: http://www.bachcentre.com/index.php
- Flower Essence Services (n.d.) – FES: Retrieved from: http://www.fesflowers.com/
- Crow, S. (n.d.). Video 3: Learn the Healing Themes of Flowers in the Wild. Retrieved from https://wisdom.floracopeia.com/flowers-power-video-3-qjs/
Elizabeth Willett is the Senior Herbalist and Lead Educator at NaturalFertilityInfo.com. She holds a BS in Mass Communications (2000) from Minnesota State University, and a Master of Arts degree (MA, 2010) in Holistic Health Studies with a specialization is herbalism from St. Catherine University in St. Paul, MN. Liz has written over 200 articles on women’s fertility and brings a vast wealth of knowledge and expertise in holistic health and healing to Natural Fertility Info.com
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