If you are trying to lose weight and are considering using natural therapies to help, then flower essences may be of great benefit. Flower essences specifically target the mental and emotional aspects of over-eating and obesity, and may help with losing weight. Consult with a certified flower essence or natural health practitioner before purchasing a flower essence product, and ask your doctor if it's OK for you to use them.
What are Flower Essences?
Flower essences are homeopathic remedies made from the flowers of medicinal plants, and are often taken in the form of a liquid extract several times a day. While the liquid extract contains only highly diluted traces of the physical plant material, flower essence practitioners believe these essences contain the life energy of the plants used, and can be employed to correct energy imbalances within humans and animals. Addiction, over-eating and anxiety may be symptoms of an underlying energetic imbalance, and can be treated through specifically chosen flower remedies that correspond to those issues.
Sweet Marjoram
If you eat food as a method of comforting yourself, taking a medicinal plant called sweet marjoram as a flower essence may be helpful. According to Anne McIntyre, author of "The Complete Floral Healer," sweet marjoram essence helps to provide stability, reducing vulnerability and improving reliance on self. Sweet marjoram may be especially useful as a supportive remedy during times of grief and sorrow. In Ancient Greece, it was given to bereaved families to plant on graves. In aromatherapy, the oil taken from the leaves of sweet marjoram has relaxing and sedative properties, which may contribute to the action of the flower essence.
Olive
Olive flowers can be made into a flower essence that provides energy and strength if you overeat due to exhaustion and depletion of reserves. David F. Vennells, author of "Bach Flower Remedies for Beginners," states that olive is recommended if you suffer from physical or mental exhaustion, are recovering from a long period of illness or if you push yourself too hard and tend toward "workaholism." Olive is one of the 38 Bach Flower remedies that are produced in Britain and are widely available in health shops around the world.
Centaury
When you have trouble saying "no" to that extra helping, centaury may be just the flower essence for you. According to Dr Edward Bach, the founder and creator of Bach Flower Remedies and author of "The Twelve Healers," centaury is useful if you have trouble saying "no," are easily influenced by others and if you neglect your own needs or mission in life. Centaury is also a remedy if you are busy helping or caring for other people and focusing your energy and time on people besides yourself. Taking this flower essence may improve your self-esteem, your inner strength and your ability to do what is right for yourself.
Monga Waratah
If you feel you have become emotionally dependent or addicted to some types of foods, Monga Waratah may be appropriate for you. Monga Waratah is a native plant to Australia and one of the major remedies used in the flower essence system known as Australian Bush Flowers, which can now be found in health food shops around the world. According to Ian White, author of "Australian Bush Flower Essences," the Monga Waratah essence is specific if you easily become overdependent on others, cannot do things by yourself or have an addictive personality.
White Chestnut
White chestnut is a useful flower essence if you are prone to eating when you worry or feel anxious and have trouble switching off your thoughts. According to an article published in "Vibration Magazine" in 1999, Bach flower counselor Shirley Li-Raun states that white chestnut can help with insomnia, depression, anxiety and nagging thoughts -- all of which may lead to overeating and weight gain. Li-Raun says taking white chestnut may increase mental clarity and calm, reducing one's need to self-medicate with foods.
Safety and toxicity
There are currently no reports of toxicity or drug interactions linked to using flower essences. While flower essences are regarded as safe for the majority of the population, use them with caution if you have a known allergy to the plant used in the production of the essence. Flower essences are not intended to be a replacement for standard medical care or psychotherapy. Consult with your health-care professional before taking herbal products such as flower essences. There are currently no clinical studies to support the use of flower essences for weight loss.
References
- "The Twelve Healers"; Edward Bach; 1999
- "Bach Flower Remedies for Beginners"; David Vennells; 2001
- "Australian Bush Flower Essences"; Ian White; 1997
- "Vibration Magazine"; White Chesnut: A Balm for the Worry Wort; Shirley Li-Raun; 1999
- "The Complete Floral Healer"; Anne McIntyre; 1996
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