Bach flower remedies are an alternative or complementary treatment that is used for emotional problems and pain. They’re made out of watered-down extracts from the flowers of wild plants.

Edward Bach, a medical doctor and homeopath, created these remedies in the early 1900s. Homeopathy is the belief that the body can cure itself. It uses small amounts of natural substances like plants and minerals to treat the body or mind. The idea behind Bach flower remedies is similar to homeopathy. But they use fewer materials and don’t work directly on physical symptoms, but instead on the emotions.

Bach believed that healing negative emotions helps the body heal itself. His system contains 38 remedies that each address a specific negative emotion.

The emotions are grouped into seven broad psychological causes of illness:
1. Fear
2. Uncertainty
3. Lack of interest in present circumstances
4. Loneliness
5. Over sensitivity to influences and ideas
6. Sadness or despair
7. Cares for others at the expense of self