History of Bach Flower Remedies

1886

Edward Bach was born on 24th September 1886 in a village called Moseley, near Birmingham, England. He was intuitive and interested in healing from very early in his life. When he left school Edward went to work in his father's brass foundry without even mentioning his interest in healing initially.

1912

Later he studied medicine and eventually went to London where he continued his medical studies at University College Hospital. He completed his medical training and received diplomas and degrees in 1912, 1913 and 1914.

1913

Dr. Bach held a variety of medical positions in London including Casualty Medical Officer at University College Hospital and Casualty House Surgeon at the National Temperance Hospital. He also experienced a period of personal ill-health during this time.

Based from a consulting-room near Harley Street (London), Dr. Bach developed a very busy and successful practice. There he developed his views that it was important that the personalities of patients be considered as well as their physical conditions. He considered that whenever other medical doctors of the day omitted this aspect, it was to the detriment of the well-being of their patients. Dr. Bach was dissatisfied with aspects of the 'modern medicine' of his time and so sought other methods of healing. This lead to his interest in the Immunity School of medicine, hence he became Assistant Bacteriologist at University College, London. He conducted successful research in this field.

1914

At the time of the 1914-18 war Dr. Bach repeatedly volunteered for National Service overseas but was turned-down due to his own ill-health.

He worked hard and was responsible for 400 'war beds' at University College Hospital (London), while he was also held the position of Demonstrator and Clinical Assistant of Bacteriology to the Hospital Medical School during 1915-1919.

1917

Dr. Bach suffered a severe hemorrhage (thought to be due to a form of abdominal cancer), was rendered unconscious for a period of time and his family were called because he was not expected to survive. He survived, but was advised that he was not likely to have more than 3 months to live.

Resolving to make the very most of all of his remaining time, he returned to working and studying for long hours.

1919

Dr. Bach accepted the position of Pathologist and Bacteriologist at the London Homeopathic Hospital where he studied the work (textbooks) by Samuel Hahnmann, the founder of Homeopathy. This excited Dr. Bach as he believed that the concepts described were fundamental to the simple healing system he sought.

1922

Dr. Bach left the Homeopathic Hospital to concentrate on his research but he continued to receive and treat patients at his Practice in Harley Street.

1926

Dr. Bach and his colleague Dr. C.E.Wheeler, published a book* entitled: "Chronic Disease: A Working Hypothesis", that became well-circulated among both allopathic and homeopathic physicians.
*Bach, E. & Wheeler, C.E., "Chronic Disease: A Working Hypothesis", 1926.

1928

While dining in a large banqueting hall, Dr. Bach observed many people around him and reflected on the idea that they could be classified in terms of a set of personality 'types'. This interested him, raising further questions about personality categories, and the possibility that people within any one category may react to different illnesses in the same way.

In September 1928 Dr. Bach travelled to Wales in search of natural remedies that he believed existed but were yet to be discovered. Nora Weeks accompanied him. While in Wales, Dr. Bach identified two plants growing near a mountain spring that were to become the first two of the 38 Bach Flower Remedies. These were Impatiens and Mimulus. By the end of 1928 Dr. Bach had also identified another plant for use to form a remedy: Clematis was to become the third Bach Flower Remedy.

1930

An account of some of Dr. Bach's new remedies based on potenising water using flower petals was published in "The Homeopathic World" journal in February 1930.

Early in 1930 Dr. Bach decided to devote all of his time to developing his theory of personality types. He left London to spend time on his research in Wales. During June-July of 1930 Dr. Bach wrote the manuscript of his book "Heal Thyself" (full title: Heal Thyself; An explanation of the real cause and cure of disease, first published by The C.W.Daniel Co.Ltd. in 1931) while at Abersoch in North Wales. This sets out the principles of his new system of healing and is still readily available today. He returned to London to arrange for the publication of his manuscript but, unsuccessful initially, and keen to pursue the rest of his work, he left the city after only a short time.

In August 1930 Dr. Bach and Nora Weeks went to the seaside resort of Cromer (Norfolk). They remained there until early in 1931, during which time Dr. Bach identified and prepared further remedies.

During 1930 Dr. Bach discovered more remedies including: Agrimony, Chicory, Centuary and Cerato.

From the time he left London in 1930 onwards, Dr. Bach charged no fees for his advice, regardless of the wealth or poverty of his patients. This was because he believed that health should not be thought of as a commercial commodity, but as the right of every individual.

1931

During the summer of 1930-33, Dr. Bach and Nora Weeks spent much time at Cromer. This was an ideal location for Dr. Bach to continue his observations of different personality types because the resort was busy with so people - locals and holiday makers, from all walks of life.

Dr. Bach and Nora Weeks met Victor Buller, a local builder, during the summer at Cromer. Victor Buller later became a great friend and supporter of Dr. Bach's work.

1932

Dr. Bach completed his short book entitled "The Twelve Healers".

1933

During 1933 Dr. Bach discovered additional remedies, including Gorse, Heather, Oak and Rock Water.

1934

By 1934 Dr. Bach had identified 19 Flower Remedies. Also during 1934, Dr. Bach and his close friends moved into 'Mount Vernon', a small rented cottage in the Oxfordshire village of Brightwell-cum-Sotwell, just outside the historic town of Wallingford.

1936

During the summer of 1936 Dr. Bach completed his book "The 12 Healers and Other Remedies". It was important to him that the simplicity of the system he described be preserved, hence this is a short and simply written text.

On 27th November 1936 Dr. Bach passed on peacefully in his sleep, his life's work completed and having made a major contribution to the fields of healthcare and healing. He is buried at Sotwell, Oxfordshire (England).

After Dr. Bach's passing his life's work was continued by Nora Weeks and Victor Bullen who continued to make the remedies available to those who requested them, and to offer consultations and advice to members of the public.

1940

Nora Weeks wrote "Medical Discoveries of Edward Bach, Physician".

1955

Efforts began to raise enough money to buy Mount Vernon and so preserve it's use for the furtherance of the Bach Flower Remedies forever.

1958

Mount Vernon was purchased by the "Dr. Edward Bach Healing Trust".

1970

Nora Weeks invited Nickie Murray and her brother John Ramsell to join herself and Victor Bullen in their work with the Bach Flower Remedies.

1975

Victor Bullen passed on, leaving Nora Weeks and other members of the team to continue the work.

1976

John Ramsell's wife Muriel joined the staff at Mount Vernon.

1978

Nora Weeks passed in her sleep in bed at Mount Vernon, as she had wanted to, and had always said that she would.

1985

John Ramsell's daughter Judy Howard joined the team at Mount Vernon.

1991

Bottling, packing, despatch and distribution of the Remedies was re-located to another facility in the nearby town of Abingdon.The Dr. Edward Bach Foundation was established with the purpose of educating people about the Bach Flower Remedies and the system of healing associated with them.