As an herbalist, I encounter many conditions, symptoms, and experiences when customers visit our apothecary. Customers often describe physical, tangible issues such as a common cold, joint pain, or digestive upset. However, what happens when someone is experiencing something that cannot be touched, visualized, or described with words? What if the issue pertains to emotional health rather than physical health? 

This is where flower essences come in. Flower essences are a type of natural medicine. They are diluted botanical preparations made by infusing fresh blossoms in water, then preserving the solution with alcohol. However, unlike herbal teas, tinctures, or essential oils, flower essences contain no measurable phytochemicals; these are physical compounds in the plant, such as vitamins and minerals. Instead, they work on different levels, addressing both energetic and emotional aspects of well-being. 

Emotional states significantly influence how we perceive and engage with the world. Long-term or chronic emotional dis-regulation can affect your physical health, relationships, overall well-being, and how you present yourself. Unresolved psychological issues can have measurable, long-term effects on the immune, endocrine, and neurological systems. Flower essences serve as a tool to restore balance to dysregulated emotions and energetics by supporting emotional clarity and self-regulation. (1) 

These natural remedies are some of the most subtle yet powerful medicines available in the apothecary. Because flower essences contain no physical properties, only energetic ones, they are gentle and non-toxic, making them safe for children, the elderly, pets, plants, and those experiencing serious health crises. 

These are some of the flower essences we use daily in the apothecary. (2) 

Star of Bethlehem: For shock or trauma (either past or present), there is a need for healing from the spiritual world. It helps to provide unity with the deepest part of Self; which is a sense of wholeness. 

Rock Rose: For emergencies, terror or panic, lack of sense of self, and dissociation. It helps to provide courage when facing adversity, the ability to assume control, and the ability to remain grounded and present. 

White Chestnut: For worry-bound repetitive thoughts, chattering mind, restlessness, and insomnia. It helps to provide a calm, tranquil disposition and a spacious mental state. 

Larch: For lack of confidence, expectations of failure, self-censorship, and inability to speak one’s truth. Helps to provide self-confidence, creative expression, and the ability to take risks. 

Pine: For self-criticism, guilt, or self-blame. It helps to provide self-acceptance, self-forgiveness, and freedom to move forward. 

Aspen:  For fear or anxiety that is vague and unknown. It helps to provide trust and confidence to face the unknown. 

Aloe Vera: For ‘burn-out’ or workaholic syndrome. It helps to provide vital life-energy, soul fire.

 Walnut: For being overly influenced by social expectations, values, or family. It helps to provide freedom from limiting influences and inner strength to make one’s destiny. 

Why Consider Flower Essences? 

• Safe for all ages, including children and animals.

• No known drug interactions or toxic effects.

• Support for emotional processing, grief, trauma, and inner growth. 

• Often used during life transitions. 

How Are Flower Essences Made? 

A classical preparation to make a flower essence involves placing flowers in a bowl of spring water and allowing sunlight to infuse for several hours. This process is believed to transfer the plant’s energetic pattern into the water. The resulting infusion is preserved with brandy or another alcohol to create a mother essence, which is then diluted further for dosing. 

If you are interested in making your own flower essence, that is so exciting! Here is a step-by-step guide: 

1. Ask the plant’s permission before collecting blooms, and only cut what you need. Avoid wild harvesting in areas where the plant is rare. 

2. Cut the blossoms when they are most vibrant, using the brightest flowers or those that have not yet reached their full bloom. 

3. Using only a clear glass bowl and spring water, fill your glass bowl with the spring water, leaving room at the top for the blossoms. 

4. Use tweezers to transfer the blossoms into the bowl, to avoid touching the petals and infusing them with your energy. 

5. Cover the entire water surface with your chosen flowers, ensuring little to no water is visible. 

6. For best results, create the infusion on a clear day when the sun is at its highest, ideally between 11 AM and 2 PM. 

7. Once the infusion is complete, the flowers will appear drained of vitality, and the water may have bubbles and seem more lively. Strain the infusion into your on-site storage receptacle; this is the mother essence. 

8. Add equal parts alcohol (brandy is typically used). This now becomes the stock. 

While flower essences do not fit neatly into conventional medicine, they reflect a broader understanding of healing — one that includes intention, perception, and the connection between the mind, body, and spirit. 

If you are interested in exploring flower essences, contact your local flower essence practitioner, herbalist, or practitioner for more information. 

“Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts.” — Albert Einstein 

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.  

Reference: 

1. Ader, R., Felten, D. L., & Cohen, N. (1995). Psychoneuroimmunology: Interactions between the nervous system and the immune system. The Lancet, 345(8942), 99-103. 
2. Flower Essence Services. fesflowers.com 
3. Bell, I. R., et al. (2004). Nonlinear dynamical systems, emergence, and homeopathy: A model for the scientific understanding of homeopathic medicine. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 10(1), 123-132. 
4. AI using OpenAI’s DALL·E, April 17, 2025. Flower Essence Infusion

Megan Fuhrman-Wheeler
It is her goal to spread herbal knowledge to rural America in a safe, constructive, and accessible manner.

Owner, MEGAN & CO. Herbal Apothecary + Teahouse
www.meganandco.com
Trained at the Colorado School of Clinical Herbalism
Certified Clinical Herbalist
Certified Clinical Nutritionist
Certified Flower Essence Practitioner