Health Benefits of Flower Essences Made from Common Edible Herbs

Many of the herbs that are used in cooking are also used for their specific medicinal properties. When used for health benefits, herbs are often taken in capsules, teas, poultices and tinctures. However, some particularly special herbs may also be prepared as essences. These essences are more commonly known as "flower essences".

When herbs are prepared in this manner, many individuals believe that the essences benefit one's health, particularly mental health, in a multitude of ways. Dr. Edward Bach, who originally developed flower essences, and the Flower Essence Society have documented the health effects of hundreds of flower essences. Some of the more common North American herbal flower essences are described below.

Garlic, latin name Allium sativum:
For the individual who is fearful, weak or easily influenced, prone to low vitality. Garlic addresses many forms of nervous fear and provides a sense of wholeness which imparts strength and active resistance.

Basil, latin name Ocimum basilicum:
Promotes the ability to integrate sexuality and spirituality. The individual in need of Basil tends to associate sexual activity with that which is secret or sinful. May feel great tension between the polarities of spiritual purity and physical sexuality. May have issues of marital stress or clandestine behavior.

Chamomile, latin name Matricaria recutita:
Provides emotional peace and stability for individuals who are easily upset, moody and irritable, with an inability to release emotional tension. Those needing this remedy are subject to very changeable moods and often have difficulty letting go of their emotional stress at night, and thus suffer from insomnia.

Lavender, latin name Lavandula officinalis:
For relief of nervousness, excessive mental activity. Soothing and sedating effect for high-strung' and wound-up' individuals. Promotes the ability to moderate and regulate one's physical and emotional energy

Dill, latin name Anethum graveolens:
For overwhelm due to overstimulation, hypersensitivity to environment or to outer activity, sensory congestion. Promotes the ability to experience and absorb the fullness of life and better assimilate sensorial impressions.

Peppermint, latin name Mentha piperita:
For relief of mental lethargy, sluggishness, dull feeling, unbalanced metabolism which depletes mental forces. Promotes mindfulness, wakeful clarity, and mental alertness.

Cayenne, latin name Capsicum annuum:
For breaking a pattern of stagnation and the inability to move forward toward change. This flower essence provides the motivation to change and transform. For the individual who feels stuck, unable to make real progress or change, or feels as though they are caught in a pattern of procrastination and resistance.