Bach Flower Remedies: Agrimony for a positive but realistic outlook

Agrimony is called for when someone hides emotional pain behind an outwardly carefree façade.

by Linda Crider — 

One important quality that distinguished Dr. Edward Bach from other physicians of his day was the attention he paid to human emotions and personality traits. While his contemporaries in the 1920s were busy treating the physical symptoms of disease, Bach spent his time observing human behavior and noting how plant energy could soothe agitated emotions. He speculated that ignoring this inner discord might lead to physical disease. After years of study, he became convinced that emotional imbalances were indeed stumbling blocks to good health.

This philosophy led to the discovery of Bach’s 38 flower remedies, a noninvasive healing system designed to help individuals reach and maintain a state of emotional harmony. Bach grouped related essences into categories, but for the sake of simplicity, they can be introduced here in alphabetical order.

And so we begin with agrimony, perhaps one of the least sought-after remedies because those who need it are often in denial. It takes keen discernment to recognize this behavior pattern in others or to detect it in oneself. To complicate matters, those in need of agrimony also are difficult to spot because they appear to be lighthearted and easy-going. These folks are often extroverts and quite popular as companions. This, however, is only the persona they choose to present to the outside world.

Agrimony is called for when someone hides emotional pain behind an outwardly carefree façade. Bach described such individuals as “jovial, cheerful, humorous people who love peace and are distressed by argument or quarrel.” But suppression of emotions such as fear, anger and resentment can have explosive results and, therefore, does not support overall good health.

This kind of imbalance can be seen in the terminally ill patient who downplays his condition by constantly joking with both visitors and caregivers. Another example is the individual who hides her inner pain by being the perpetual life of the party. These people are often sociable to a fault because to be alone means facing up to whatever they are trying to suppress. In situations where they cannot avoid solitude, they are often tormented by the very emotions they are so desperate to hide.

Many of those in this negative state avoid facing their problems by means of alcohol or drug abuse and other forms of escape. It is no surprise that this essence is often used when working to treat addictive behaviors. It is also helpful for children who are unable to express their emotions.

Using the essence of agrimony will not turn people into somber pessimists or overly anxious whiners. When emotional balance is restored, they will maintain a positive outlook while openly acknowledging whatever darker realities they were deliberately ignoring. Their customary cheerful exterior becomes genuine, in contrast to the mask that previously only served to hide their true feelings.

This is one example of the subtle but effective healing power of flower remedies. Watch for more to come.

Linda Crider is an educator of botanical healing practices and specializes in flower essence therapy. She is the founder of Blooming Vibrations, LLC. 602-774-2382 or www.bloomingvibrations.com.

Reprinted from AzNetNews, Volume 30, Number 1, Feb/Mar 2011.