Flower Remedies Anne Dalziel

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

or comment on their condition, they may avoid taking part in social events. If these feelings are not addressed, this can severely impact their wellbeing and become a lifelong affliction. As Bach (1999) observes:

The mind being the most delicate and sensitive part of the body, shows the onset and the course of disease much more definitely than the body, so that the outlook of mind is chosen as the guide as to which remedy or remedies are necessary. Take no notice of the disease, think only of the outlook on life of the one in distress.

Bach Flower Remedies are usually taken orally; two drops of the stock remedy directly on your tongue, or diluted in a cup of water and sipped from time to time. But flower remedies can also be used externally. To make a compress with Crab Apple (Malis pumila), dilute a few drops of the stock remedy in water, soak a piece of cloth or cotton in it, and then place it on the irritated part of the skin. A few drops of an essence added to bath water is another way to use flower remedies, and may help the purification process as well as relaxing both the mind and body. Crisis Combination is the only mix of five remedies in the whole system of Bach Flower Remedies. It is usually taken orally at times of extreme trauma and in emergency situations. There is also a Crisis Combination Cream that can be used for sensitive and stressed skin. This contains one additional flower essence, so six in total: Impatiens (Impatiens glandulifera) for impatience and irritability; Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum umbellatum) for shock; Cherry Plum (Prunus serasifera) for fear of the mind giving way; Rock Rose (Helianthemum nummularium) for extreme terror or panic; Clematis (C. spp.); and the sixth and final essence, Crab Apple (Malis pumila) for those who have a feeling of uncleanliness. The cream moisturizes dry, flaky skin and restores its natural condition. Use it to soothe bruises, cuts, scratches, blisters, sunburn or insect bites. Images: The Bach Centre References Ardiel, E.L. and Rankin, C.H. (2010) ‘The importance of touch in development’, in Paediatric Child Health, 15(3):153-6 Bach, E. (1999 edition) The Twelve Healers and Other Remedies, C.W Daniel: UK Gupta, M. A. and Gupta, A.K. (1996) ‘Psychodermatology: An update’, in Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 34 (6):1030-1046