by Shannon Marone, LPC, ATR
Photo by Lucy Littlefield
Flower Essence therapy is a gentle, holistic healing modality using the energetic power of plants. When taken over time, flower essences help clear the emotional body and bring healing to both long held wounds and acute changes in mood. A flower essence practitioner works with you to pair specific essences to help with your unique circumstance and emotional self. Clients have described them as “like taking a deep breath” and “feeling both lighter and more grounded at the same time.”
What are flower essences?
Flower essences are the vibrational energy of plants charged into liquid. This process was created by Dr. Edward Bach, a medical physician in England in the 1930s. He dedicated his life to studying the effects that dew drops found on plants had on his sick patients. Disenchanted by the medical field, Dr. Bach left the medical community to help heal his patients using nature. One of the most widely known flower essences today is Rescue Remedy, which was formulated by Dr. Bach and can be still found in stores today.
Flower Essences vs. Essential Oils
Flower essences are not to be confused with essential oils. Essential oils are the aromatic oils of a plant that are extracted and used in aromatherapy. Essential oils are not safe to consume. Flower essences are water based and created from the solar infusion of a plant that is then used to create your stock or dose bottle.
What are the benefits of flower essences?
Flower essences flood the body with the positive virtues of each plant, helping to bring the body back into a state of harmony and out of dis-ease. They provide grounding, uplift, clarity, and reduced anxiety and depression. They are powerful aids to working through acute and chronic trauma, eating disorders, over reliance on substances, life transitions, anxiety, grief, depression and ADHD. Flower essence therapy is powerful on its own or as an ally to therapy and inner healing work.
Are there any side effects?
Like any healing modality, flower essence therapy can sometimes cause things to feel worse before they feel better. As in most healing work, you often have to dig through the muck before you can get to the light. This can mean increased tearfulness and emotions rising to the surface to be released and felt. On some occasions, fatigue, headaches, or rash may occur- most often subsiding after a day or so.
Who can take flower essences?
Flower essences are vibrational in nature are therefore safe for children, adults and elders, can be used with pets and are safe to take while pregnant or breastfeeding. They do not interact with any medications or have any contraindications. While there is alcohol present in the flower essence formulas, if drops are added to water, there is virtually no alcohol being taken into the system, making it safe for those in recovery from alcohol abuse.
The Power of Plants
Flower Essence therapy is a beautiful form of holistic therapy that is based in the knowing that nature heals. Plants (and animals) are brilliant teachers if we only take a moment to notice and listen (with our hearts). Watch as the dandelions show their resilience, forcing their way through concrete pathways. Watch as the birds remind us to listen and call forth our new rituals for the new season ahead. Watch as the bears emerge from their hibernation reminding us of the slow awakening happening within us all. These teachings are abundant medicine just outside our windows.
Flower essences capture the magic within the plant realm, each flower holding its own medicine for us human folk. Of course this is the forgotten way; as humans and plants were once allies in the walk of life. Essences are heart medicine, a truly forgotten piece of the healing puzzle. Our physical ailments are almost always connected with our emotional bodies and the wounds and stories held in our hearts. This approach to healing offers a place for these stories to be told, maybe for the first time. Here, they will be met with witnessing, honoring, and the introduction to a plant ally who will help guide the path toward healing.
Interested in a flower essence therapy session?
That’s wonderful! I truly believe the world would be a much kinder and harmonious place if everyone used flower essences. So here’s to creating ripples of healing! Send me an email and we can start our work (& play) together.
Sessions can be done in person or virtually using Zoom. While I am based in Connecticut, I am able to offer virtual sessions to those out of state in any region.
Click here to book a session.
If you have used any of my Potions for Emotions sprays, then you have felt the power of flower essences! If you'd like to share your experience with flower essences or any of my flower essence based products, please comment below!
**Disclaimer and release of liability: information and services provided on this website, by Shannon Marone and by Brownbear and Owl Holistic Counseling, LLC are not intended to diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure any medical condition and have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.