Original Descriptions of the 38 Remedies by Dr Bach

1. Agrimony – The jovial, cheerful, humorous people who love peace and are distressed by argument or quarrel, to avoid which they will agree to give up much. Though generally they have troubles and are tormented and restless and worried in mind or in body, they hide their cares behind their humour and jesting and are considered very good friends to know. They often take alcohol or drugs in excess, to stimulate themselves and help themselves bear their trials with cheerfulness.

2. Aspen – Vague unknown fears for which there can be given no explanation, no reason. Yet the patient may be terrified of something terrible going to happen, though it is vague and unknown. These vague, unexplainable fears may haunt by night or day. Those who suffer from them may often be afraid to tell their trouble to others.

3. Beech – For those who feel the need to see more good and beauty in all that surrounds them, and, although much appears to be wrong, to have the ability to see the good growing within. So as to be able to be more tolerant, lenient and understanding of the different way each individual and all things are working to their own final perfection.

4. Centaury – Kind, quiet, gentle people who are over-anxious to serve others. They overdo it, and their wish so grows upon them that they become more servants than willing helpers. Their good nature leads them to overwork, and they may neglect their own particular mission in life.

5. Cerato – Those who have not sufficient confidence in themselves to make their own decisions. They constantly seek advice from others, and are often misguided.

6. Cherry Plum – Fear of the mind being over-strained, of reason giving way, of doing fearful and dreaded things not wished and known wrong, yet there comes the thought and impulse to do them.

7. Chestnut Bud – For those who do not profit by observation and experience, and who take a longer time than others to learn the lessons of daily life. Whereas one experience would be enough for some, such people find it necessary to have more, sometimes several, before the lesson is learnt. Therefore, to their regret, they find themselves having to make the same error on different occasions when once would have been enough, or to meet the same trouble many times when one difficulty would have been sufficient.

8. Chicory – For those who are very mindful of the needs of others. They tend to be over-full of care for children, relatives, friends, always finding something that should be put right. They are continually correcting what they consider wrong, and enjoy doing so. They desire that those for whom they care should be near them.

9. Clematis – Those who are dreamy, drowsy, not fully awake, no great interest in life. Quiet people, not really happy in their present circumstances, living more in the future than in the present; living in hopes of happier times, when their ideals may come true. In illness some make little or no effort to get well, and in certain cases may even look forward to death, in the hope of better times; or maybe meeting again some beloved one whom they have lost.

10. Crab Apple – This is the remedy of cleansing. For those who feel as if they had something not quite clean about themselves. Often it is something of apparently little importance: in others there may be a more serious disease which is almost disregarded compared to the one thing on which they concentrate. In both types they are anxious to be free from the one particular thing which is greatest in their minds and which seems so essential to them that it should be cured. They become despondent if treatment fails. Being a cleanser, this remedy purifies wounds if the patient believes that some poison has entered and must be drawn out.

11. Elm – Those who are doing good work, are following the calling of their life and who hope to do something of importance, and often for the benefit of humanity. At times there may be periods of depression when they feel that the task they have undertaken is too difficult, and not within the power of a human being.

12. Gentian – Those who are easily discouraged. They may be progressing well in illness or in the affairs of their daily life, but any small delay or hindrance to progress causes doubt and soon disheartens them.

13. Gorse – Very great hopelessness; they have given up belief that more can be done for them. Under persuasion, or to please others, they may try different treatments, at the same time assuring those around that there is so little hope of relief.

14. Heather – Those who are always seeking the companionship of anyone who may be available, as they find it necessary to discuss their own affairs with others, however unimportant. They are unhappy if they have to be alone for any length of time.

15. Holly – For those who are sometimes attacked by thoughts of such kind as jealousy, envy, revenge, suspicion. For the different forms of vexation. Within themselves they may suffer much, often when there is no real cause for their unhappiness.

16. Honeysuckle – Those who live much in the past, perhaps a time of great happiness, or memories of a lost friend, or ambitions which have not come true. They do not expect further happiness such as they have had.

17. Hornbeam – For those who feel that they have not sufficient strength, mentally or physically, to carry the burden of life placed upon them; the affairs of every day seem too much for them to accomplish, yet they generally succeed in fulfilling their task. For those who believe that some part, some organ, will give way and fail to carry on the work required of them.

18. Impatiens – Those who are quick in thought and action and who wish all things to be done without hesitation or delay. When ill they are anxious for a hasty recovery. They find it very difficult to be patient with people who are slow, as they consider it a fault and a waste of time, and they will endeavour to make such people quicker in all ways. They often prefer to work and think alone, so that they can do everything at their own speed.

19. Larch – For those who do not consider themselves as good or capable as those around them, who expect failure, who feel that they will never be a success, and so they do not venture or make a strong enough attempt to succeed.

20. Mimulus – Fear of worldly things, illness, pain, accidents, poverty, of dark, of being alone, of misfortune. The fears of everyday life. These people quietly and secretly bear their dread, they do not freely speak of it to others.

21. Mustard – Those who are liable to times of gloom or even despair, as though a cold dark cloud overshadowed them and hid the light and the joy of life. It may not be possible to give any reason or explanation for such attacks.

22. Oak – For those who are struggling and fighting strongly to get well, or in the affairs of their daily life. They will go on trying one thing after another, although their case may seem hopeless. They will fight on. They are discontented with themselves if illness interferes with their duties or helping others.

23. Olive – Those who have suffered much mentally or physically and are so exhausted and weary that they feel they have no more strength to make any effort. Daily life is hard work for them, without pleasure.

24. Pine – For those who blame themselves. Even when successful they think they could have done better, and are never content with their efforts. They are hardworking and suffer much from the faults they attach to themselves. Sometimes if there is any mistake it is not their fault, yet they will claim responsibility.

25. Red Chestnut – For those who find it difficult not to be anxious for other people. Often they have ceased to worry about themselves, but they always fear that some unfortunate thing may happen to those they love.

26. Rock Rose – The remedy of emergency, for cases where there even appears no hope. In accident or sudden illness, or when the patient is very frightened or terrified, or if the condition is serious enough to cause great fear to those around.

27. Rock Water – Those who are very strict in their way of living; they deny themselves many of the joys and pleasures of life because they consider it might interfere with their work. They are hard masters to themselves. They hope to be examples to others, living according to their theories and ideals, and they wish to be well, strong and active, and will do anything which they believe will keep them so.

28. Scleranthus – Those who suffer much from being unable to decide between two things, first one seeming right then the other. They are usually quiet people, and bear their difficulty alone, as they are not inclined to discuss it with others.

29. Star of Bethlehem – For those in great distress under conditions which cause them great unhappiness. The shock of serious news, the loss of someone dear, the fright following an accident, and such like.

30. Sweet Chestnut – For those moments which happen to some people when anguish is so great as to seem unbearable. When the mind or body feels as if it has borne to the uttermost limit of its endurance, and that now it must give way.

31. Vervain – Those with fixed principles and ideas, which they are confident are right, and which they very rarely change. They have a great wish to convert all around them to their own views of life.

32. Vine – Very capable people, certain of their own ability, confident of success. Being so certain, they think it would be for the benefit of others if they were persuaded to do things as they themselves do.

33. Walnut – For those who have definite ideals and ambitions in life and are fulfilling them, but on rare occasions may be tempted to be led astray from their own ideas, aims, and work by the enthusiasm, convictions, or strong opinions of others.

34. Water Violet – For those who in health or illness like to be alone. Very quiet people, who move without noise, speak little and in a gentle voice. They are generally free from the opinions of others and go their own way.

35. White Chestnut – For those who cannot prevent thoughts, ideas, arguments which they do not desire from entering their minds. For such thoughts which worry and remain, or if for a time thrown out, will return.

36. Wild Oat – Those who have ambitions to do something of prominence in life, who wish to have much experience, and to enjoy all that is possible for them, to take as much as they can from life.

37. Wild Rose – Those who, without apparently sufficient reason, become resigned to all that happens, and just glide through life, take it as it is, without any effort to improve things and find some joy.

38. Willow – For those who have suffered adversity or misfortune and find these difficult to accept, without complaint or resentment, as they judge life much by the success which it brings.

These descriptions are from the book „The 12 Healers and other Remedies“ by Dr Edward Bach.