Five-Flower Formula

A combination of five English flower essences first developed by Dr. Edward Bach, promoting calm and balance in diverse situations of stress, emergency, and trauma.

Five-Flower Formula is a highly effective, synergistic blend of five different flower essences in the repertory of English flower essences. This remarkable combination was first developed by Dr. Edward Bach in the 1930's through his own practice and observation.

Five-Flower Formula belongs to the Healing Herbs line of English flower essences, prepared in England by Julian Barnard, and distributed in North America by Flower Essence Services. The following is a brief look at each of the five flowers which comprise this remedy:

Rock Rose - Helianthemum nummularium

Rock Rose is used for extreme conditions of terror or fear. Its role within the Five-Flower Formula is to bring stabilization and calm, particularly by helping to anchor light, or an inner force of sun-radiance, which typically darkens during extreme states of fear or panic.

Clematis - Clematis vitalba

This plant exudes a quality of dreamy, floaty "other-worldliness", and is indicated for amorphous states of awareness which are lacking in clarity and fully awake consciousness. In the Five-Flower Formula, Clematis helps to draw one's consciousness back into the body and into present time during episodes of extreme stress, when one tends to lose connection with the physical body.

Impatiens - Impatiens glandulifera

As its old folk name of Impatiens suggests, this flower essence is used to balance and soothe those who suffer from intense irritability, impulsivity, or hastiness. The Impatiens flower helps us to "breathe with" time, rather than to fight it. Thus we can understand its important role in the Five-Flower Formula, when extreme crisis or emergency often distorts our ability to remain calm and to flow with outer events.

Cherry Plum - Prunus cerasifera

Cherry Plum is beneficial for states of extreme tension and fear of losing control. This over-straining and tightening of one's "psychic grip" on reality creates incredible stress. Like the pure white flowers themselves, the Cherry Plum brings a sense of inner peace and stillness to the Five Flower Formula, allowing us to ease the contraction felt in body and mind during times of panic and emergency.

Star Of Bethlehem - Ornithogalum umbellatum

This is a significant remedy for various states of shock or trauma, which have distorted or diminished one's more radiant inner forces. In the Five-Flower Formula, the Star of Bethlehem helps us to regain deep composure, allowing us to learn from and master the situation at hand. Beyond the immediate recovery from shock and trauma, the Star of Bethlehem also points us to a deeper sense of acceptance and understanding of our experience.

Five-Flower Formula: Indications for Use

There are myriad possible uses of this remarkable formula. Most typically it is used to help with the mental levels of pain, suffering, and confusion which surround any crisis or emergency. It can be helpful for those who are assisting in a crisis or emergency, as well as those who are actually experiencing the distress or pain.

Five-Flower Formula is an ideal, all-purpose home-care remedy. Many mothers use it to calm children who have fallen or hurt themselves, or who are beside themselves with panic or fear. It can be used for household accidents such as burns, along with a creme or suitable ointment. It is also used regularly in stressful situations such as visits to the dentists or childbirth.

Five-Flower Formula is widely reported to be used in cream base or sublingually to help any recovery effort such as after surgery, or in any post-traumatic stress situation such as war, rape, natural disaster, or loss of one's loved ones or home. Finally, many therapists report using Five-Flower Formula as an "entry-level" remedy in their health practices.

Practical Suggestions for Use

Availability

Because this formula is especially designed to assist in emergencies, it is important to keep in handy in places that provide immediate access. In most cases it is advisable to have one or more bottles in various locations such as your purse or briefcase, the glove compartment of your car, and the medicine chest, bathrooms, and kitchen of your home.

Dosage

In emergency situations, Five Flower Formula can be taken directly from the stock bottle with four drops under the tongue, or a half-dropper mixed in a glass of water. You may also make a dosage bottle with the remedy, with equally effective results.

If you are assisting someone who is unable to drink, you can rub some of the concentrate on the lips and on the pulse points of the body. Alternatively, you can spray or mist the formula on the lips and over the whole body.

Counter-Indications for Use of Five-Flower Formula

While Five-Flower Formula has a broad spectrum of uses with outstanding and remarkable results, it should be clearly noted that its application is of a short-term, emergency, or crisis nature. If this formula is used on a frequent or daily basis to simply "numb" one's experience of life challenges or conflicts, its effectiveness will be greatly reduced, if not completely absent.

Five-Flower Formula should never be used as a substitute for qualified emergency care or medical or psychiatric intervention. For example, it would be used appropriately en route to a hospital to help someone that had taken a fall and was perhaps lapsing into unconsciousness. But it should never be considered a substitute for medical care or examination following any major injury or accident.

Similarly, Five-Flower Formula may be very helpful in alleviating the immediate emotional stress and tension following a devastating experience, but in situations which have strongly impacted the psyche other forms of counseling and care are also indicated. Other remedies and combinations are far more suited to the actual therapeutic emotional work, which is the hallmark of in-depth flower essence therapy.

the leaflady is certified in Professional Flower Essence Therapy