What Are Flower Essences? A Guide for Emotional & Energetic Self-Care

vibealchemynz
May 31
6 min read

Introduction: Navigating Emotional Overwhelm in Today's World

In today's landscape of AI-enhanced hustle culture, many individuals find themselves feeling emotionally overwhelmed, burnt out, and energetically drained. Recent studies echo this growing concern:

A 2024 survey by Massey University revealed that 57% of New Zealand employees fall into the high burnout risk category, a significant increase from previous years.
The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists reported that 94% of psychiatrists believe the current mental health system is under-resourced and not fit for purpose. Although this in part reflects some of the structural issues within a vastly underfunded system, this is also a reflection of the substantial increase in demand for services that in many cases has gone unmet due to a lack of resources, also reported in this article by Time magazine as well as The New York Times.

Although highlighting the sad realities of emotional exhaustion in a post-pandemic world, this theme has been pushing many in the need of help to start asking "is there anything else available to help support me?"

The Emergence of Integrative Mental Health Approaches

While traditional clinical care remains essential, there's a growing recognition within the mental health research community that it is the subconscious underlying patterns driven by unprocessed emotions stored in the body that is actually at the root of many of our issues.

There exist many types of therapies for addressing these emotions, but a key component involves working with the body rather than the mind for releasing the trapped energy, because the body is where unprocessed emotions are stored according to experts like Dr Bessel van der Kolk. For this reason, energy work in general and energetic support tools like Flower Essences are increasingly popular in the spaces of integrative medicine as they provide a gentle option for the release of such emotions. In fact targeting specific latent patterns and emotions is precisely the core function of the 39 flowers in the Bach system.

Incorporating tools like flower essences alongside traditional therapies can enhance emotional healing by addressing underlying patterns from a complementary angle. This integrative approach not only supports the effectiveness of clinical treatment, but may also accelerate overall progress—potentially easing the load on an already overburdened mental health system and potentially making treatment more accessible to some individuals .

So What Are Flower Essences?

Flower essences are vibrational remedies crafted from the energetic imprint of flowers. Unlike essential oils, they contain no physical plant material or scent. Instead, they capture the subtle energy or "essence" of a flower, which can influence our emotional and energetic states.

Dr. Edward Bach, a British physician in the early 20th century, pioneered the use of flower essences, developing a system of remedies to address various emotional imbalances.

Why Vibrational?

To understand the concept of vibrational remedies, consider this analogy:

If you've ever followed a raw food diet, you might appreciate that part of the benefit of consuming plant foods without cooking them is that you are preserving the life force energy of the plant. From an energetic perspective, by eating your veggies raw, you are consuming their high vibrational essence. It is this same essence that is captured from the flowers in the case of Flower Essences.

The process involves placing freshly harvested flowers in water under sunlight, allowing the water to absorb the flower's energetic signature. This method captures the vibrational essence of the plant, which is believed to interact with our own energy fields, promoting emotional balance.

This concept aligns with principles found in traditional healing systems like Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda, which recognise the subtle energies of plants and their influence on human emotions.

How Do Flower Essences Work?

Flower essences are believed to work on the energetic and emotional levels, helping to restore balance and harmony. They don't act on a biochemical level like pharmaceuticals but instead aim to address the underlying emotional patterns contributing to distress by leveraging the flower's inherent connection to an emotion due to its vibrational frequency.

For instance, the essence of Crab Apple flower was documented by Dr Bach (and many users since) to address internalised shame and pathological feelings of "uncleanliness". For this reason, Crab Apple is a useful support in blends for many types of trauma survivors, but is often helpful in formulations for patterns where unconscious shame may be present (ie blends supporting the release of rejection wounds or perfectionism and self-worth).

This concept can feel abstract—especially if you're new to metaphysical healing or energy work. The beauty of flower essences is that they’re incredibly gentle and non-intrusive, making them a safe entry point for curious minds. We often encourage newcomers to simply try a blend and observe, as the best proof is in the awe felt when experiencing the pattern-dissolving effects of a well-matched blend. Over time, many people notice subtle shifts in emotional patterns, increased self-awareness, and a growing sense of inner calm.

Common Experiences When Using Flower Essences

Individuals may experience:

Immediate Calm: A sense of relief or clarity during acute emotional episodes.
Emotional Release: Surfacing of suppressed emotions, allowing for processing and healing.
Gradual Transformation: Subtle changes in thought patterns and emotional responses over time.

It's important to note that responses vary, and the effects are often gentle and cumulative.

Are Flower Essences Safe?

Yes, flower essences are safe for most individuals, including children, pregnant individuals, and pets. They contain no physical plant material, reducing the risk of allergic reactions or side effects, although it should be noted that the blends contain alcohol for preservation purposes, a common practice in the preparation of herbal preparations such as tinctures and homeopathic remedies. When taken in water at the recommended dosage, the alcohol concentration is very minimal and considered safe, although a vegetable glycerine base is available for those who prefer for comfort of philosophical reasons.

While not a replacement for professional therapy, flower essences can complement other treatments. Using tools like our free emotions tracker can help monitor changes and facilitate discussions with healthcare providers.

How to Choose a Flower Essence

Selecting a flower essence can be intuitive:

Reflect on Emotions: Identify current emotional challenges or patterns.
Use Resources: Our free PDF guide can assist in pinpointing suitable essences.
Trust Your Intuition: Often, individuals are drawn to the essence they need most.

Flower Essence Info Cards. Download full guide below.

How to Use Flower Essences

Common methods include:

Oral Intake: Place 4 drops under the tongue or in water, taken several times daily.
Topical Application: Apply to pulse points or chakras.
Environmental Use: Add to bath water or use in a spray to cleanse spaces.

Consistency is key, and tracking emotional responses using our printable emotional tracker or monitoring self-talk can enhance the experience.

Why Vibe Alchemy Flower Essences Are Unique

At Vibe Alchemy, our approach is both scientific and artistic:

Holistic Formulations: We blend essences to address both symptoms and root causes, integrating allopathic and holistic formulation philosophies.

Example: "My Needs Matter Too" is a blend designed to support individuals struggling with boundaries, working on a number of levels. It includes essences that both bolster self-expression and reduce self-doubt, while nourishing spiritual energy depletion caused by "pouring from an empty cup". It addresses both the expressed pattern and underlying energetic root cause.

Energetic Synergy: Our blends are crafted to harmonise energetically, supporting emotional and spiritual well-being.

Example: Blends crafted to support the release of emotional baggage—like Peace With The Past—are intentionally layered with flowers that work on multiple energetic levels. Holly helps transmute emotions such as anger and resentment, while Sweet Chestnut provides gentle support for ancient soul wounds, including spiritual-level patterns like abandonment. Together, these essences create a compassionate and stabilising energetic field, allowing the healing of painful memories to unfold in a way that feels held, safe, and lovingly supported.
Alchemical Art: Alchemy is an art—and this philosophy guides everything we create, from our products to our approach to energy healing. On a technical level, each formula is crafted using alchemical principles, designed to create harmony within your energy body—much like how composers use specific chords to evoke emotion and movement in music.

Ready to Begin? Download Our Free Flower Essence Guide

Our comprehensive guide includes:

Blend Descriptions: Detailed information on each essence.
Selection Quiz: Tools to help identify the most suitable essences for your needs.
Usage Tips: Guidance on incorporating essences into your daily routine.

FAQs

1. Can I use flower essences alongside other medications or therapies? Yes, flower essences are safe to use with other treatments. However, always consult with your healthcare provider.

2. How long does it take to see results? Results vary; some individuals notice immediate effects, while others experience gradual changes over weeks.

3. Are there any side effects? Flower essences are generally free from side effects due to the absence of physical plant material.

4. Can children and pets use flower essences? Yes, they are safe for both children and animals.

5. How should I store my flower essences? Keep them in a cool, dark place away from strong odors and direct sunlight.

6. What if I don't feel any changes? Subtle shifts may be occurring but may take some time to notice, particularly when a pattern is subconscious. We recommend finishing a bottle if you have purchased it to address a specific concern (you bought it for a reason, after all!). Maintaining a journal or using our emotions tracker can help identify changes over time.