Notonly is this is a very complex topic, but we are still very much in thelearning stage regarding our understanding of how essences work. Our equipment for detecting subtle energy is not nearly as precise as ourequipment for analyzing physical aspects of the body (chemicals, blood,bones, etc.).  The most comprehensive model I have come across whichattempts to explain how essences work is found in Vibrational Medicineby Richard Gerber, M.D. (Bear and Company, 1996) and in his audio tapesby the same name.  The interested reader is referred to his works. I can only give a very basic overview on this web site. 

On a very simple level, a good analogyfor understanding how a vibrational essence (which is the category thatflower essences fall under) works may be found in the tuning fork. Let's say that someone who is healthy and vibrant isvibrating at a clear B pitch.  A person who is depressed or otherwisesuffering from disease may then be described as vibrating at a flat B pitch. If one finds the correct essence or essence blend, i.e. an essence vibratingat the clear B pitch that the person needs in order to regain health, andif one introduces that essence or blend into the energy field of the diseasedor suffering person (through internal ingestion, spraying the aura, applyingtopically, or adding to the bath), through the principle of sympatheticresonance, the flat B pitch will rise to match the clear B pitch for aperiod of time, just as two tuning forks will attune to each other. As one introduces this healing vibration into the diseased or sufferingperson's energy field with regularity over time, eventually the personwill be able to hold the clear B pitch on his or her own.

Floweressences work with the body's energy system which is comprised of meridians,chakras, and the energy field or aura.  The meridians comprise thecomplex system of electrical circuitry through which every cell in ourbody is connected (as found in the Chinese model of medicine).  Thechakras are the energetic power stations in the body, classically numberedat seven (as found in Eastern philosophy).  Both the meridian systemand the chakra system operate in the realm of subtle energy and are thusinvisible to common eyesight.   They also have direct correlationswith specific glands and organs in the body.  These systems are comprehensiveand holistic:  each chakra or meridian is associated with particularmental and emotional states as well as physical organs/glands and spiritualenergy.  Since vibrational essences work with the energy system ofthe body, it is impossible to make clear distinctions regarding actualhealing between the levels of mind/emotions/body/spirit.  They areall interconnected.

The energy field, or aura, of thehuman being is comprised of the emanations from the meridian system andthe chakra system.  Kirlian photography is actually able to photographthese emanations.  Mechthild Scheffer, in her excellent book TheEncyclopedia of Bach Flower Therapy (Healing Arts Press, 2001), showsKirlian photographs of each of the 38 Bach flower remedies.  Eachis different in color and form and looks something like a unique mandala. These Kirlian photographs show the subtle energy radiation of one dropof each flower essence, and thus they show the pattern which has been infusedinto the water through the process of making the essence (most typically,charging the water containing the blossoms with sunlight).  Perhapsan aspect of the medicine of the future will be to identify the correlationsbetween these patterns and human illness.

Afascinating bit of research pertaining to this idea has been describedby Dana Ulman on his audio tape series, Homeopathic Healing. An experiment was conducted in which a homeopathic remedy for the thyroidwas placed into water in which tadpoles were living.  It slowed theirgrowth, as expected.  Then, only the unopened bottle of thethyroid remedy was placed into the water with the tadpoles, and theremedy had the same effect.  The emanation or energy field ofthe remedy was as powerful as the physical substance.  Homeopathicremedies and flower essences are both forms of vibrational medicine (clickhere for a comparison of the two systems), so this experiment givesus information about how flower essences work as well. 

Another theory proposed by homeopathsBenvenieste and Bellavite suggests that information is encoded in the watermolecule of the remedy in a "meta-molecular" form and that "disease isan information disorder."  By providing the correct information toan imbalanced system, health may be restored (see Homeopathy: A Frontier in Medical Science).  As our research progresses, thistheory may correlate well with the various patterns of the emanations ofthe essences, visible through Kirlian photography, which Scheffer has documented(as mentioned above). 

Returningto the concept of the energy field, it is theorized that in the human beingit consists of several levels, some more validated through research andothers more based on speculation.  Some research with salamandersand plants (but none with human beings yet) indicates that the energy fieldclosest to the body, called the etheric body, is like an energy templateof the entire body, with all organs of the actual physical body presentin subtle energy form.  It is composed of faster-than-light subtleenergy.  The etheric body seems to provide guidance for the developmentof the fetus as it grows.  It is a blueprint for the physical body,and it is thought that disease appears at the etheric level before it ismanifested at the physical level. 

The remaining levels of the humanenergy field are less substantiated by research.  They radiate outinto space farther from the physical body than the etheric body. The astral, or emotional, body is related to the emotions; the mental bodyis related to concepts or ideas; and the causal body is related to deeplyheld psychic experiences.   All of these subtle energy bodiesco-exist with the physical body but vibrate at different speeds, differentfrequencies.  Some vibrational essence producers categorize theiressences by which subtle body the essence helps to heal. Others categorize their essences by which chakra or meridian the essencecorresponds to, and still others simply give a description of what theessence helps and don't relate it to the energy system of the body at all. Based on muscle testing, which is one method I employ is selecting essences,the truth is that there are no absolute rules about which essences strengthenwhich chakras or which meridians.  Any essence can balance or strengthenany chakra or meridian--it all depends on the individual. 

Itseems that healing through vibrational essences begins in one or more ofthe subtle bodies which comprise the energy field of the person. The new energy is then transferred from the etheric body (the subtle bodyclosest to the physical body) to the physical body via the meridian pathwaysand the chakra system.  Electrical circuits are repaired, chakrasare balanced, and blueprints for the physical body stored in the ethericbody are restored.  Vibrational essences don't directly cure disease. They correct imbalances and help bring the body into alignment and balanceso that healing may occur on all levels. 

First photo:  Blackberry helps oneto focus one's will and manifest what one desires in the world (courtesyof FES)

Second photo:  Blue Camas balancesthe brain hemispheres and helps with learning disabilities (©Pacific Essences®)

Third photo:  Sticky Geranium helpsprocrastinators (courtesy of Steve Johnson, Alaskan Flower Essence Project)

Fourth photo:  Echinacea helps establishcore integrity when one feels shattered or has been through severe traumaor abuse (photo courtesy of Scott Emanuel)

Fifth photo:  Five Corners promoteslove and acceptance of the self for those lacking in self-esteem (courtesyof Ian White, Australian Bush Flower Essences)

Sixth photo:  Morning Glory is helpfulfor many forms of addiction (courtesy of FES)

Seventh photo:  The Camellia promotesopenness and self-expression (© Pacific Essences®)