For those who are intellectually-inclined, or even theologically-inclined, this book review may be of interest.  It was written in Fall 2000 for a Foundations of Spirituality course at Aquinas Institute of Theology, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.  The foundation of the course was the theology of Bernard Lonergan, SJ, and in the "Praxis" and "Recommendation" sections below Lonergan's theological terms are utilized.  Those sections (especially the "Praxis" section) may be a little more difficult to understand if one has no background in Lonergan's theology, which is highly complex and specific in language!

Introduction:  Dr. Edward Bach (1886-1936), an English physician (pathologist, bacteriologist, surgeon and homeopath) discovered a method of imbuing pure water with the healing properties of English herbs and wildflowers.  Using this method he went on to create the Bach Flower Therapy system which is based on the use of thirty-eight flower essences or "remedies."  The underlying premise of this system of healing is that disease originates in the delicate, sensitive mind and emotions before it is manifested in the body, and we must focus on the healing of thoughts and feelings in order to effect healing at the physical level.  Bach's thirty-eight essences address seven  types of emotional suffering which cause disease:  fear, uncertainty, insufficient interest in present circumstances, loneliness, oversensitivity to influences and ideas, despondency or despair, and over-care for the welfare of others.  The essences are to be taken internally as well as used in the bath or as topical compresses.  Bach's system falls under the contemporary category of "vibrational medicine," which involves the human energy field and which is often researched today with technologically advanced equipment.  In 1930 Bach described it simply as choosing essences "of such vibrations that elevate" (p. 160).

The Bach Flower Therapy system has increased in popularity with time and the method discovered by Bach has given rise to research into the healing properties of flower essences across the globe. Collected Writings of Edward Bach contains letters, lectures, and early medical writings of Bach as well as teachings and philosophical writings describing the basis of his flower therapy system, discovered during the latter years of his life.  Bach intended the philosophical writings for the general public, and I have drawn primarily on these in this critique.  I wish to make a distinction between Dr. Bach's writings dating from this pioneering period of the 1930's and the flower essence therapy system as it has evolved into the 21st century, and I will draw comparisons between these two in the "praxis" and "recommendation" sections below.

Purpose:  Bach was a lover of nature as well as deeply committed to the alleviation of suffering in humanity.  He believed that God providentially placed herbs in the field for our healing and he gave up a lucrative medical practice in order to go out and find them.  His primary purpose in writing was to teach his philosophy of illness and to encourage those who suffer and who desire to be well by communicating to them that no evil can withstand the "beautiful remedies. . .Divinely enriched with healing powers. . . [which] open up those channels. . .that the patient may be flooded with healing virtue. . .in the presence of which disease melts as snow in the sunshine." (p. 117).

Point:  Bach's main point can be found in the development of his theory that health consists in the harmony of the personality with the God within, which he calls alternately the soul, spiritual self, or higher self, as well as a variety of more creative descriptions.  Bach never defines these terms and one is left with a vague sense that they all refer to an Inner Reality which is difficult to pinpoint.  Disease is caused by anything which interferes with this harmony between the personality and the inner Divinity.  Interference may take the form of being too easily influenced by others and not being true to oneself, or of being subject to inner states which block the flow of inner light into the personality: pride, cruelty, hate, self-love, ignorance, instability, greed, in addition to the seven types of emotional suffering listed previously.  He repeatedly stressed the need to develop virtues which "flood out" these negative states, among them: love; devoting oneself to others; self-determination; humility; and seeking to learn in all ways, including learning well the lessons which suffering, as a corrective, points out to us, as well as self-knowledge.  The flower essences were viewed as aids and catalysts to help in this process of developing virtues and awareness, bringing us nearer to the Divinity within, and a commitment to this process on the part of the patient was implicit in their use.

Presuppositions:  A primary presupposition of Bach is that the reader would be able to accept many aspects of his theory and philosophy in an era dominated by the rational mind and allopathic medicine.  For many readers, it would have been problematic to accept that flower remedies can heal emotions, that a "God within" or higher self exists and disease is a result of disharmony between the personality and this "higher aspect," and that the healing of emotions is primary and will result naturally in healing of the body.   Perhaps Bach's most daring presupposition is that the reader would be capable of accepting his method of discovery of flower remedies, which is rather shamanic.  While it is not explicitly stated in his writings, anyone with a desire to know could easily read about Bach's method of discovery.  Bach believed that God gave him states of suffering precisely so that he would be able to go into the fields and discern which flower could heal a particular state.  He developed such a degree of sensitivity that, by simply placing a petal on his tongue, he could intuit its healing properties.  The rational 20th-century mind would have had difficulty with both Bach's method and theory, and this continues into the 21st century, but with greater openness due to twelve-step spirituality and alternative medicine.

Praxis:  The primary gift of Bach flower therapy lies in the realm of "praxis,"  and here I must distinguish between Bach's written theories and the ongoing, practical value of his flower essences into the 21st century.  His theories mean little unless they work.  Many people, including myself, find Bach flower therapy helpful.  The Bach flower system addresses primarily the psychic level of consciousness.  With the co-operation of the individual through intentionality and the use of affirmations which support one's desires, the essences help to stabilize emotional intensity, decrease painful and debilitating emotions, and modulate the effects of dramatic bias.  Psychic conversion, with the accompanying theological virtue of hope and the strengthening of fortitude and temperance, is thus set in motion.  This in turn has a healing effect at the level of the organism (in the physical body) and provides more freedom for the spiritual functions of understanding, judgment, and decision.  When emotions are intense or overwhelming, the possibility of bypassing the use of reason is increased.  Anything which can reduce the intensity of emotions offers a "space" into which reason may enter in order to guide one's emotional responses through the will.  Thus one has an enhanced capacity to exercise all the moral virtues if one so chooses.  The implication of this is nothing less than the possibility for moral conversion, as opposed to being overcome by strong emotional forces and passions.  Bach always encouraged people to develop the virtue of universal love, which is rooted in the unity of all people as equals and children of God.  As a medical doctor he spent a great deal of time listening to each patient; he lived out his ideals through concretely helping people, one by one.  While Bach's life and philosophy attest to an outward-oriented channel for new psychic energy through service to others, his foundational belief that one must be true to oneself would prevent him from making his goal of service anything more than an offering of his wisdom, leaving the question of how one chooses to use new energy gained through healing to the choice of the individual.

Recommendation:  The incarnational and sacramental aspects of Bach's writings are clearly evident.  The Divine is seen as dwelling at the core of the human being as well as in all of creation, and the sacramentality of the healing flowers is paramount.  Bach actually calls them "sacraments" and "our Creator's Divine gift to aid us in our troubles" (p. 103).  We see the communal aspect of an incarnational spirituality in Bach's communal vision of love through service, which was foundational to his way of life.  But his writings focus more on healing for the individual and how his philosophy and healing flowers relate to the individual.

I would recommend the Bach flower therapy system to anyone who is open to it and feels the need for extra help at the psychic level.  It is especially helpful for those with emotional sensitivities and past wounding.  But I would recommend the reading of more recent books on Bach's system before approaching Collected Writings of Edward Bach.  It is definitely worthwhile reading as an historic work documenting the genesis of flower-essence therapy, and there is a beauty in the simplicity of the writing and the emphasis on harmony and unity.  However, in my opinion, "translations" of Bach's concepts into the psychological language which we, as citizens of the 21st century, are accustomed to, make the works of recent authors easier to grasp in the beginning stages of learning the Bach flower system.

Eileen Hutcheson

Collected Writings of Edward Bach is available from FES.

First Photo:  Mimulus helps one discover the courage within to face everyday life and challenges.

Second Photo:  Holly is helpful for anger,  jealousy, and envy.  It stimulates forces of love in the heart.  A cluster of male holly flowers is shown (courtesy of FES). 

Background:  Pine is helpful for feelings of guilt and promotes self-forgiveness and self-acceptance.