B
Bach, Edward British bacteriologist, medical doc-
tor, and homeopathic physician born in 1887 who
worked at the London Homeopathic Hospital in
England and who between 1928 and 1932 set forth
the seven major negative human emotions that
correspond with ill-being or illness and developed
remedies (called nosodes, or homeopathic prepara-
tions) for them from specific flowers and plants.
At age 43 Bach (pronounced “Batch”) became
disillusioned with standard medical practice and
decided to pursue his belief that healing involved
more than traditional treatments. In tune with the
homeopathic concept of vibrational healing, he
discovered through his patients that grief, frustra-
tion, anxiety, fear, despair, loneliness, and uncer-
tainty contributed significantly to their physical
ailments. His training in homeopathy led him to
the 38 natural remedies now known as Bach’s
Flower Remedies, which are usually sold over the
counter in health food stores. At his home, Mount
Vernon, in Oxfordshire, now known as the Bach
Centre, he noticed that the habits and characteris-
tics of flowers and plants related to human behav-
ior. For example, the typical beech tree grows to
approximately 100 feet tall and its branches span
approximately 80 feet. Bach concluded from this
and other growth habits and traits of the beech that
its essence could encourage people who are intol-
erant, critical, and nonempathetic to open non-
judgmentally to the world’s beauty. To create his
remedy, he boiled leaves and twigs from the beech
tree in water, let them simmer and cool thereafter,
and then filtered them from the water. To that
water Bach added a small amount of brandy (the
standard mix per flower or plant substance is 50
milliliters (mL), or one-and-a-half fluid ounces, of
the prepared water to 100 mL, or three fluid
ounces, of brandy). Called a tincture, this remains
potent for many years. The typical dose of a Bach’s
flower tincture is four drops on or under the
tongue as often as necessary. Another method for
making flower tinctures is the sun method, in
which harvested blooms or parts of the plant are
floated on water in a glass bowl and placed in the
sunshine for three hours, after which only the
remaining filtered water is added to brandy.
Bach wrote extensively on his flower remedies,
including the books Heal Thyselfand The Twelve
Healers and Other Remedies (both C. W. Daniel, 1931
and 1936). He also specified that after his death, no
more essences were to be added to the 38 existing
remedies for the purpose of keeping the system as
simple as possible, so individuals would be able to
diagnose their emotional problems and self-treat.
The Bach Centre address is Mount Vernon, Sotwell,
Wallingford, Oxfordshire, OX10 9PZ, UK. Also, one
may contact the Dr. Edward Bach Healing Society,
644 Merrick Road, Lynbrook, NY 11563, and Ellon
(Bach U.S.A.), Inc., P.O. Box 32, Woodmere, NY
11598.
See also BACH FLOWER REMEDIES.Bach Flower Remedies In addition to being the
inspiration for several other flower remedies
made in Australia, California, Europe, and else-
where, the original remedies that are believed to
employ the life force, or vibrations, of each flower
to help relieve negativity of varying nature, bal-
ance energy, and thereby encourage physical and
emotional healing. The medical and homeopathic
physician and author Rudolph M. Ballentine
wrote of flower remedies: “If you have ever tried
to pick blackberries, you know it’s tricky. The
vines are covered with sharp spines. The biggest
and most succulent berries always seem to be a
little deeper into the tangle of brambles. You work15