June 23, 2023

A few days ago I had a question from one of the members of my Facebook Bach Group about how to take the Bach Flower Remedies, and as it is such a good question I thought I’d share the answer with you.

But before I run through the most effective way of taking the remedies, I’d like to tell you about two Free Bach Flower Guides.  Click the image to order your guides.

Now, back to taking the remedies..

Part of the confusion surround how to effectively take these powerful remedies is because there are 4 different ways to take them and they all work!

The remedies are going to work, no matter how you take them (so long as you chosen a matching remedy).

1) Drops on your tongue

You can up 2 drops on your tongue straight from a Stock Bottle (the small 10ml bottles are Stock Bottles) or you can put 4 drops on your tongue straight from a treatment bottle. More on the treatment bottle later.

2) Put the remedies into water

Edward Bach liked to put his remedies in water.   Water will carry the memory of whatever has been in it.  So when we put the remedies into a glass of water, it turns the whole glass into your remedy.

Sipping the water frequently is the most effective way of using the remedies to bring about a healing.

The remedies are preserved in brandy and so to give a child or an animal remedies straight from the bottle, the strong taste of brandy will be a shock. It’s kinder to put the remedies into water, juice or tea to disguise the taste of brandy.

3) The Treatment Bottle

If you’re dealing with a long term problem, perhaps unravelling something situations from childhood, then using a treatment bottle is the most effective way of taking the remedies.

A Treatment Bottle is usually a 30ml brown bottle, with a dropper, which is sometimes available from high street chemists. Treatment bottles will be available from your Bach Flower Essence/Remedy manufacture.

4) From the Treatment Bottle to a glass of water

The 4th way to take the remedies, is to make yourself a Treatment Bottle, and then put 4 drops from the Treatment Bottle into a small glass of water, and sip it frequently throughout the day.


The key is that the intensity of your emotions indicates the frequency of dose.  For example, if you’re extremely anxious, then you’ll need your remedies about every 15 minutes fo a couple of hours.

So – Intensity of emotions indicates frequency. Frequency is more important than ‘number of drops’.

Personal Mix

Edward Bach understood that we are all individuals and we each see our world through our own unique lens. Therefore, the beauty of his simple method of healing is that you can select the remedies that you feel suit you best: that are the closest match to your feelings, and mix together your own personal mixture – that suits only you.

Making and using a treatment bottle

Fill a 30ml (or perhaps you have a 20ml, if you’ve bough your remedies in pharmacy on the high street or in a suoermarket. Fill the bottle to the shoulder with mineral or filtered water

Next add 2 drops of every chosen remedy, including Rescue Remedy (Bach advocating using no more than 6) into your Treatment bottle, so I always stick to that.

Remember to put a label on the bottle, with the date and the remedies you’ve chosen. You’ll be referring to this when you come to make up the next bottle.

Now you take 4 drops from your treatment bottle – at least 4 times a day.

a) You can take it straight onto your tongue.
b) Or you can do as I do (I found this is the most effective way of taking the remedies) and put your 4 drops into a small glass of water, and sip it frequently throughout the day.

A Treatment bottle will normally last you about 3 1/2 to 4 weeks.

There is no need to add additonal brandy or apple cider vinegar to a Treatment Bottle. The water will be OK for that short a time.

However, if the bottle is going to have to last much longer, then I would suggest you perserve the water by adding half a teaspoon of brandy, or cider vinegar.

Making up a treatment bottle and putting 4 drops in a glass of water that you’ll sip throughout the day (and can last you all day) is, in my opinion, the most effective way of getting steady results, and also the most economical way of using the remedies.

If you’ll like to be able to help yourself and your family to live emotionally balances lives, I have Bach Flower Remedy On-Line Course which will help you do just that.

Over to you…

As always, I love to hear from you, so please leave your thoughts and comments in the Comment box below.

Thank you.

About the author 

Rose Todd

Rose is the founder of The Bach Flower School, a qualified Bach Flower Practitioner and a Qualified Homeopath. Her passion for the Bach Flower Remedy healing system as been growing since she first discovered Bach's work. She has been teaching the Bach principles for over four decades now. When she's not reading a book on natural healing, she is walking around a lake or spending time with her family.

  • Barbara T says:

    If you add Rescue Remedy to the mixing bottle, does that count as 1, or 5 remedies?, since there’s 5 different remedies in RR

    • Rose Todd says:

      Hello Barbara.
      Ah yes. This is a tricky question and one that is often asked.
      Rescue Remedy counts as 1 remedy. So you can use Rescue adn 5 others. Hope this is helpful. love Rose

      • Barbara T says:

        Thank you. Yes! Very helpful. My mother told me yesterday that I have to accept the fact that she’s dying and to leave her be! It’s all a little overwhelming.
        I’m going to take a 1/2 glad of iced tea and put RR, walnut, red chestnut, Willow, (because my brothers AREN’T helping!), and the Oak as you suggested. Is that ok?
        I’ll deal with the guilt and overwhelming later.
        Again, thank you and Blessed Be.

        • Rose Todd says:

          Hello Barara. Good to hear from you. But I’m sorry to hear about your mother.
          What a shock for you. You defintely need Star of Bethlehem for shock and sadness.
          But now you know your mother is ready to ‘pass on’, you can help her in the best way you can and help here where she needs help,
          But from what you’ve now said, I would recommend you change your remedies.
          Still take Rescue Remedy’ Walnut; Red Chestnut and Willow. You don’t need Oak. You need Elm (for being overwhlemed by the responsibility of looking after your mother, and Pine for your feelings of guilt.
          You can take them all together.
          I recommend you put all 6 remedies into a glass of water, and sip that water during the day. Thi glass can last you all day. This is your remedy water, not for your thirst or your iced tea,
          These remedies should help you a lot. Take care.
          Love Rose

      • Also! I finished the 1/2 glad of tea! Is that enough? Would it be dangerous to make another batch for tonight? It’s 345 in the afternoon here.

        • Rose Todd says:

          Hi Barbara. You can’t overdose with the remedies and they have no side effects.
          I’ve sent you another message – I suggested you take out Oak and put in Elm and add Pine.
          And I’ve also suggested that you put all remedies into a glass of water and sip frequently throughout the day and evening.
          That one glass should last you all day. The glass is for your remedies and not your thrist.
          I’m sure you’ll feel better soon.
          Love Rose

          • Barbara T says:

            To my surprise I didn’t HAVE Pine! I added Larch for confidence in myself and I feel a ton better.
            I took RR, Walnut, Elm, Oak, Red Chestnut, and Larch.
            Again, if the remedies work, do I stop them or continue as preventative? Thank you so very much. I can’t wait to get your book!!

          • Rose Todd says:

            Hello Barbara. Soemtimes the remedies we have are the best remedies for us.
            Larch is the most amazing remedy so I’m glad the remedies helped you feel better.
            The remedies always work when we take them for the emotions we’re feeling, right Now – in this present moment.
            Theyr do not work if you take them as a preventative. You only take them when you don’t like how you feel.
            I’m in the north of England at the moment and its bitterly cold, with snow and ice, so I probably wont be able to get your book into the post for a day or two. I’ll let you when I’ve posted it. Take care. Love Rose
            PS., Can I suggest you get some Pine as soon as you ca.=n. It’s a brilliant remedy and goes really well with Larch,

          • Barbara T Chicago says:

            I’ve ordered the Pine, and it’s due tomorrow. I wish I could get it sooner but for some reason must of the stores that used to carry Bach, now ONLY carry the rescue remedy. Very frustrating!
            So it’ll be here tomorrow….. For my 61st birthday! Big yay
            Believe me, I understand about the weather. Please don’t feel the need to rush out to mail it.
            Here’s to staying cozy!

          • Rose Todd says:

            Hello Barbara. I beleive that everything happens in the right way at the right time. So, perhaps you need more Rescue Remedy at the moment. You’ll see, it’ll arrive ‘just in time’.
            And have a happy birthday! Love Rose

          • For some reason the chat didn’t have field for the email! I tried to match yesterday the actual way I was feeling and since I’m all over the place in doubt and acceptance of her (now) being bed bound and her resistance to a physical therapist…. She’s coming in a few days…. I’m feeling again, overwhelmed and a little trapped. I made a mix of Elm, Walnut, white chestnut and gentian. Since you know these remedies inside out, does that sound like a good mixture? Should I add Rescue? I’m SO grateful to you.

          • Rose Todd says:

            Hello Barbara. Thank you for leaving Comment on the blog.
            I think you’ve chosen good remedies, and I think that adding Rescue to your mix will do you a lot of good.
            I’m sure you’ll feel better soon. Love Rose.

  • Do you stop taking a particular remedy after it helps?

    • Rose Todd says:

      Hello Barbara. Take the remedies as long as you don’t like how you feel.
      Take the remedies for the feelings you have Now – in this moment.
      You’ll find that when you start to feel better, you’ll ‘forget’ to take them – and when you begin to slip back into your unwanted feelings, ypu’ll remember again. It’s a simple as that.
      Take care. Love Rose

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