Are flowers a natural stress reliever?

Fromacy is a new wellness brand from London-based naturopath Hannah Knight that uses flower essences to dispel negative emotions such as anxiety, frustration, and lethargy.

Using flowers to combat mental distress may seem like an idea conceived in the town of Haight-Ashby in the 1960s, but flower therapy actually has its roots in Oxford in the 1930s. Located in Shah. It was then that Dr. Bach, a bacteriologist, pathologist, and homeopath, developed his “38 Remedies” or Flower Essences, each associated with a specific emotion.

For example, water violet, a delicate pink and white flower, is a remedy for “quiet independence that leads to loneliness,” and heather is associated with “talkative self-concern and self-centeredness.” Mustard is said to have the effect of fighting “a deep depression that you can’t tell anyone about”. reason,” while orc means “one who continues to walk slowly beyond the point of exhaustion.”

For some, the specificity of these emotions and their corresponding association with flowers can cause a level of disbelief that can raise eyebrows. However, over the decades, Bach’s Remedy has enjoyed steady commercial success, evidence of a loyal fan base that keeps coming back to it.

British readers may recognize Dr Bach from the name scrawled on the droplets and tablets of the yellow-packed Rescue Remedy, a perennial bestseller in chain pharmacies such as Boots. While in the US, Whole Foods retails Batch products alongside other flower remedy brands, and you can also train to become a professional “flower essence practitioner.”

So how does it work? As Knight explains, there’s a clear connection between our mental health and physical health. “Using the language of biochemistry, our minds and bodies are in constant dialogue. For example, heart palpitations, butterfly sounds, and tears are all physical manifestations of acute emotions,” says Knight. he explains.

“We just accept [the physical effects] An immediate, acute emotion like fear, like, “Oh, this is what happens when I get nervous.” We accept that it’s normal to have sweaty palms or a headache when we’re scared. ”

“But if you have low-grade emotions, for example, a lot of people have guilt and feel guilty about everything. You’re chronically thinking about it, so it slowly becomes lower. ” Therefore, if you chronically feel guilty, it naturally affects your body. But it will be slow. It’s not sweat or anything like that.”

If that’s the case, Knight argues, why doesn’t constant guilt have as much of an impact on physical health as immediate fear? In much the same way that CBD is often used to calm the onset of anxiety, or St. John’s wort is used as an over-the-counter medication for symptoms of depression, flower remedies can be used to treat these mild chronic feelings. It is intended to fight against.

With Fromacy, Knight hopes to offer the same benefits of Bach’s treatment, but repackage it for modern design-conscious consumers. This brand offers 6 types of ready-made tinctures. Knight also creates bespoke treatments, meeting with clients via Zoom for short, therapy-like sessions during which he assesses which emotions need to be addressed.

It should be noted that there is little scientific literature on the effectiveness of flower remedies, and many people dismiss their positive effects as nothing more than a placebo. However, many people have found this type of treatment to be life-changing. If so, does it really matter how and why it works?

The emergence of “wellness culture” has changed the perception of everything from juice cleanses to crystal therapy from hippie-dippie indulgences to generally exceptional practices. As interest in natural healing methods continues to grow, flower remedies seemed poised to become the next big thing.

In Knights’ view, the mere fact that these products are completely natural and won’t have any negative effects on you means they’re worth trying. “Our mission is to foster a change in the way we think about nature. Nature is not a substitute,” she says. We eat apples and broccoli and add basil to our food. We know they are good for our health. Using flowers and plants to feel better mentally is not that different. ”