The Encyclopedia of Crystals, Herbs, and New Age Elements: An A to Z Guide to New Age Elements and How to Use Them - Adams Media 2016

Rose
The Power of Flowers: Flower Essences

ORIGINS

The genus Rosa comprises many species of shrubs and vines with prickly stems and fragrant flowers. Most species are native to Asia, although some are native to Europe, North America, and northwestern Africa. The Latin rosa may be an Etruscan form of the Greek Rhodia, meaning “originating from Rhodes”—a Greek city. Rock rose and wild rose are two of Bach’s original flower remedies.

HISTORY/LORE

Ornamental roses were cultivated in the Mediterranean, Persia, and China as early as 500 B.C.E. The French empress Joséphine de Beauharnais (1763—1814) adored roses and maintained a famous rose garden at her Château de Malmaison. Prior to her marriage to Napoleon, she was known by the name Rose.

USES

Bach categorized rock rose under “for those who have fear” and recommended the flower essence as “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. If the patient is not conscious the lips may be moistened with the remedy.” He categorized wild rose under “not sufficient interest in present circumstances” and recommended the flower essence to “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. They have surrendered to the struggle of life without complaint.”