Homemade Flower Essences, a Simple Guide

Homemade flower essences infusing in the sunshine ©Emma Tuzzio

I have been long drawn to the beauty of flowers and find the mere sight and scent of a flower instantly uplifts my mood and anchors me in the present moment. The presence of a beautiful bouquet can transform any space so I made a promise to myself to buy a weekly bunch of flowers as an essential act of self-care.

All flowers possess innate wisdom, a unique healing signature that holds deep therapeutic properties. I began to realise this as I became increasingly drawn to particular flowers at certain times in my life. And upon further research, I discovered how their healing properties corresponded miraculously to the precise emotional or physical issues I was going through at the time. Noticing this profound and ever deepening nature connection, how flowers were calling me through an aesthetic appreciation, led me to learn the art of homemade flower essences in order to harness their healing potential. I will share some of my findings with you here along with links below to resources I found helpful.

Making flower essences is surprisingly easy to do and can be a wonderfully empowering way of supporting yourself on your healing journey, however as an ammeter, I certainly don’t profess to be an expert so if you are seeking assistance for a particular issue, I advise booking a consultation with a trained flower essence therapist. I can highly recommend Tina Gibbons, based in the UK, who dowses what essences are most suited to your current needs and will post them out to you.

What is a Flower Essence?

Blackthorn flower essence infusion ©Emma Tuzzio

A flower essence is a solar water infusion made from the flowering part of a plant. They harness the sun’s energy to capture an imprint of the vibrational energy (or life force) of flowers, plants or trees into the water. Flower essences work on an energetic level to support the emotional, mental, and spiritual body, and address the underlying emotions, release unwanted patterns, and align you with your higher self. They are part of an emerging field of subtle energy medicine that dates back centuries although was first developed in their modern form by Dr. Edward Bach in the 1930s. They are safe to use as they contain only small traces of actual physical substance and have no direct impact upon the body’s biochemistry (FES Flowers, n.d.). However, it is still important to make and consume flower essences with care.

How to make DIY Flower Essences

I will outline briefly how to make your very own flower essence, although for more detailed descriptions please see the links in my resources list below.

Supplies Needed:

Clear Glass bowl (sterilise before use)dark glass bottle (sterilise before use)
Amber dropper bottles (sterilise before use)
Pure spring water
High-quality brandy
labels

TIP: When to pick your flower
Choose a clear sunny day to gather your blossoms, preferably in the morning when they are at peek potency. You may also wish to consider choosing a particular lunar phase or astrological alignment to make your essence on.

STEP 1:

Choose a flower that you are particularly drawn to. Exercise caution when identifying a plant to ensure it is safe for human consumption and that it hasn’t been sprayed with chemicals. Harvest sustainably, only taking what is in plentiful supply and leaving over 2/3rds for the pollinating insects. It is best to avoid touching the flower with your hands by using a leaf from the plant or wearing gloves instead. I like to ask permission from the plant before hand and always offer my gratitude afterwards.

STEP 2:

Place the blooms in a bowl of spring water and leave outdoors in direct sunlight to infuse for at least 3 hours. At this point you may wish to ceremoniously consecrate your essence by imparting some intentions, send healing, blessings or project sound vibrations into the infusion. I ask that only the highest healing vibrations be imparted into the water for the highest good of all and I use my singing bowl to infuse added healing vibrations.

STEP 3:

After 3-4 hours, remove the flowers using a leaf from the flower ideally. Pour the remaining water (called the ‘mother essence’) into a clean amber glass bottle, filling half way. Fill the remaining half with brandy, used as a preservative and remember to label the bottle, listing the flower name, date and ingredients. Store in a cool dark cupboard and mother essences should retain their potency for 6 to 10 years.

STEP 4:

Dilute the mother essence by placing 2 – 10 drops into small dropper bottles and fill the remainder half with spring water and half with brandy. From this ‘stock bottle’, take two – four drops under the tongue, up to four times a day as needed.

Flowers Essence Guide

Below are a few of the wild flower essences I have made recently and their associated benefits according to the experts. I look forward to building on this collection over the coming years.

ANGELICA

Offers inspiration and encouragement.
Enhances ones connection with the spiritual realms, particularly the angels, its name is derived from Greek for “archangel” (arkhangelos) and offers angelic protection in times of crisis or during threshold times such as birth, death, festival celebrations, or other major life passages.
Has a strong maternal energy, so has an affinity with women’s bodies and the womb specifically (although to be avoided by pregnant women.)

BLACKTHORN

Brings hope and joy.
Helps us to cope during adversity and sudden change, so that we instinctively know how to proceed and are able to make the right choices.
Awakens the survival instinct and builds resilience.
Protects your space from unwanted energies including perceived dark, negative or evil energies.
Helps those experiencing huge shifts brining up challenging emotions.

HERB ROBERT

Helps us become more sensitive in our interactions with others and also to ourselves, helping us become more open, kind and gentle towards ourselves and others.
Helps with diplomacy, allowing us to see things from anothers point of view.
Assists communication in relationships, bringing a new level of understanding, intimacy and empathy.

HONEYSUCKLE

Assists with letting go of dwelling in the past so that we can move forward in life.
Can dissolve troublesome, unhappy memories and comfort homesickness and bereavement.
Encourages the positive potential to live in the present and not be held back by past regrets, remorse or resentments.

LESSER CELANDINE

Boosts confidence by finding the strength and courage to face our fears and overcome life’s challenges so that we may evolve on our spiritual path.
Supports the solar plexus chakra.
Brings clarity to the mind and balances emotions.
Empowers personal decision making.

SPEEDWELL

Increases powers of intuitive insight and to trust in divine timing.
It helps us to open up to higher levels of consciousness whilst keeping grounded to see things what they are.
Helps you maintain calm amidst chaos, instigating stillness and focus.
Helps you live in the present and to slow down if you’re rushing through life.

ST.JOHNS WORT

Is a soothing balm for highly sensitive people and those subject to environmental stress or trauma, or immune-related illnesses.
Helps ease depression and melancholy.
Helps ease sleep disorders.
Brings optimism and joy.
Helps the soul encounter darkness, and gives protection from negative spiritual entities, particularly during sleep.
Promote the release and transformation all kinds of fear, whether hidden, subconscious or past life.

WILD VIOLET

Assists those with a highly sensitive disposition.
Helps overcome shyness and introversion and the fear of being invisible or misunderstood in groups.
Finding joy, contentment and deep acceptance within one’s self,
Helps release feelings of loneliness and appreciate the gifts of alone-ness.
It helpful during breakups and major heart transitions.