Colors and the Bach Flower Remedies
By Kathleen Karlsen, MA
√ Updated:
September 14, 2010
 Dr. Edward Bach, a London physician in the 19th century, believed that disease is a manifestation of negative mental states. He classifies all negative states into seven major groups. Each of these groups had certain homeopathic flower remedies that would help to dispel the negative state and thus bring about physical, emotional and mental healing. These states were related to a pair of complementary colors as shown below.
A few drops of the diluted remedies, similar to homeopathic remedies, are taken daily until the condition is alleviated. There are Bach flower remedy practitioners carrying his work forward all over the world today. The chart below indicates the thirty eight remedies that Bach developed, their colors and the states of mind they are intended to treat.
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Negative Mental State: UNCERTAINTY
Associated Color Symbolism: Red/Green |
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SPECIFIC FLOWER ESSENCE MEANINGS
Cerato - lack of trust in one's own decisions
Scleranthus - inability to choose between alternatives
Gentian - discouragement after a setback
Gorse - hopelessness and despair
Hornbeam - procrastination, tiredness at the thought of doing something
Wild Oat - uncertainty over one's direction in life |
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Negative Mental State: LONELINESS
Associated Color Symbolism: Pink/Green |
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SPECIFIC FLOWER ESSENCE MEANINGS
Water Violet - pride and aloofness
Impatiens - impatience
Heather - self-centeredness and self-concern |
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Negative Mental State: OVERSENSITIVITY TO OTHERS
Associated Color Symbolism: Orange/Blue |
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SPECIFIC FLOWER ESSENCE MEANINGS
Centaury - the inability to say 'no'
Walnut - protection from change and unwanted influences
Star of Bethlehem - shock
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Negative Mental State: DESPONDENCY AND DESPAIR
Associated Color Symbolism: Orange/Blue |
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SPECIFIC FLOWER ESSENCE MEANINGS
Agrimony - mental torture behind a cheerful face
Holly - hatred, envy and jealousy
Larch - lack of confidence
Pine - guilt
Elm - overwhelmed by responsibility
Sweet Chestnut - Extreme mental anguish
Willow - self-pity and resentment
Oak - the plodder who keeps going past the point of exhaustion
Crab Apple - the cleansing remedy, also for self-hatred
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Negative Mental State: LACK OF INTEREST IN CIRCUMSTANCES
Associated Color Symbolism: Golden Yellow/Turquoise |
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SPECIFIC FLOWER ESSENCE MEANINGS
Clematis - dreaming of the future without working in the present
Honeysuckle - living in the past
Wild Rose - drifting, resignation, apathy
Olive - exhaustion following mental or physical effort
White Chestnut - unwanted thoughts and mental arguments
Mustard - deep gloom for no reason
Chestnut Bud - failure to learn from mistakes
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Negative Mental State: FEAR
Associated Color Symbolism: Yellow/Violet |
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SPECIFIC FLOWER ESSENCE MEANINGS
Rock Rose - terror and fright
Mimulus - fear of known things
Cherry Plum - fear of the mind giving way
Aspen - fear of unknown things
Red Chestnut - over-concern for the welfare of loved ones
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Negative Mental State: OVERCARE FOR OTHERS
Associated Color Symbolism: Magenta/Green |
Chicory - selfish, possessive love
Vervain - over-enthusiasm
Vine - dominance and inflexibility
Beech - intolerance
Rock Water - self-denial, rigidity and self-repression
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More About Bach Flower Remedies
For more information on Bach flower remedies, try these books on Amazon:
The Bach Flower Remedies
The Encyclopedia of Bach Flower Therapy
Bach Flower Remedies for Animals
The Bach Remedies Workbook: A Study Course in the Bach Flower Remedies
The Essential Writings of Dr. Edward Bach: The Twelve Healers and Heal Thyself
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