v: Flower Remedies
Love the skin you are in Anne Dalziel
The defects and faults of the mind are like wounds in the body; after all imaginable care has been taken to heal them up, still there will be a scar left behind, and they are in continual danger of breaking the skin and bursting out again. François de La Rochefoucauld From the cradle to the grave, touch is so important to our emotional wellbeing. The skin-to-skin of the newborn feeding at its mother’s breast generates our first feelings of security and love. Through soft, swaddling blankets, hugs and cuddles— from an early age, the skin plays a crucial role in our personal development. From the lovingly tended scraped knees of childhood, to the reassuring hand on our shoulder during challenging times and, if we are so fortunate, a hand held in love as we pass from this world. Developmental delay is common in children deprived of normal sensory stimulation— for example, in premature neonates and some institutionalized children (Ardiel and Rankin, 2010), and touch emerges as an important modality for the facilitation of our growth and development (ibid.). The skin can be a barometer of the emotions we are experiencing, but many people only focus on the skin once there is an abnormality, or a perceived problem. Yet, as Bach writes in The Twelve Healers (1999): Disturbing moods or states of mind, if allowed to continue, lead to a disturbance in the functions of body organs and tissues. Gupta and Gupta (1996) estimate that in at least one third of dermatology patients, effective management of skin disorder involved consideration of associated emotional factors. We are often not aware how deeply our feelings and emotions can run. Perhaps it’s easier just to look at what is on the surface— without giving much thought to what lies beneath those tears, or that angry outburst.
The field of psychodermatology, looks at how the mind affects the skin, discussing not only medicine, but anti-stress activities and antianxiety techniques— like meditation and mindfulness. Bach used flower essences to balance human emotions and stimulate the self-healing powers of the body. He thought that treatment of various ailments should focus not so much on symptoms, but on the underlying causes associated with feelings and emotions: flood the personality with the virtues of the flowers... when the soul and personality are in harmony, all is joy and peace, happiness and health. One of the first questions that a Bach Foundation Registered practitioner will ask a client is ‘How are you feeling?’ As each appropriate mix of remedies is taken, what lies beneath the surface will be revealed, like peeling an onion. For example, when we are tearful out of a sense of injustice, Vervain (Verbena officinalis) would be the choice. Then a layer of guilt might arise, so Pine (Pinus sylvestris) would be selected. Then perhaps, a layer of fear might be revealed, requiring Mimulus (Mimulus guttatus), and so on until balance is restored. Self-love is often the most difficult love, and people who suffer from skin complaints can find it a challenge to love their skin. For them, skin is just a source of pain and shame— they consider it a flaw and this, over time, can impact their self-worth. Very often during consultations, clients tell me they never get to celebrate having normal, good skin. They can have a poor image of themselves and lack confidence. Concerned that others will notice
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