About each Musical Remedy

The notes about the individual Bach Flower Remedies which follow are precised from Julian Barnard’s wonderful book Bach Flower Remedies : Form and Function.

They are presented in the order in which Dr Bach discovered the Remedies, beginning with the Type remedies known as The Twelve Great Healers, moving onto “The Seven Helpers”, and concluding with the situational remedies which Julian Barnard refers to as “The Second Nineteen”.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough for anyone seriously interested in understanding the significance of the Flower Remedies – it is a constant source of insight into Bach’s journey of discovery, into the plants themselves, into the mental and emotional states which resonate with the plants. You can order the book from Julian Barnard’s Healing Herbs website→

Twelve Healers

1. Impatiens   works to bring qualities of patience and empathy to states of irritable tension. Performed with flute, piano, bass and drums on several occasions A bright up-tempo piece in 2/2 time. Alternation of swung... Read more. The products Musical Remedies for piano solo (MRPS), Impatiens (MRPS-01), and Impatiens - Prelude and Fugue in c minor (CLUJ-02) feature Impatiens.
2. Clematis   works to bring creativity and rootedness to states of daydreaming and mental delusion. Performed with flute, saxophone piano bass and drums. Also has been performed with clarinet and trumpet. Slow Latin feel in... Read more. The products Clematis (1209MR-03), Musical Remedies for piano solo (MRPS), Clematis (MRPS-02), and Clematis - Prelude and Fugue in e flat minor (CLUJ-03) feature Clematis.
3. Mimulus   works to bring confidence and courage to states of fearful hypersensitivity. Written for a singer, with piano, bass and drums. Simple strophic song with two verses and instrumental intro and bridge... Read more. The product Mimulus - Prelude and Fugue in G minor features Mimulus.
4. Agrimony   works to bring discernment and inner joy to states of hiding from the dark side of life. Up tempo opening and closing section in 2/2 time. Slower, more expressive central section with scope for improvisation. Written for... Read more. The products Agrimony (1209MR - 01), Musical Remedies for piano solo (MRPS), Agrimony (MRPS-03), and Agrimony - Prelude and Fugue in D minor (CLUJ-05) feature Agrimony.
5. Chicory   works to bring genuine caring for others to states of self-centred possessiveness. Performed with flute, saxophone, piano, bass and drums on several occasions. Highly syncopated opening section in 2/2 time focussed on... Read more. The products Chicory (1209MR-02), Musical Remedies for piano solo (MRPS), Chicory (MRPS-04), and Chicory - Prelude and Fugue in A minor (CLUJ-06) feature Chicory.
6. Vervain   works to bring self discipline and restraint to states of excessive idealism and intensity. Realised for saxophone, piano bass and drums and performed on several occasions. Complex harmonic opening in a slow 2/2 leading... Read more. The products 11 Musical Remedies (11MR), Vervain (11MR-01), Vervain (1209MR - 09), Musical Remedies for piano solo (MRPS), Vervain (MRPS-05), and Vervain- Prelude and Fugue in c sharp minor (CLUJ-07) feature Vervain.
7. Centaury   works to bring clarity and discernment of purpose to states of over subservience. Realised as a song – lyrics by Harriet Edwards. Performed several times in realisation for voice, flute, sax, piano bass... Read more. The products Centaury (7MR-05), 7 Musical Remedies (7MR), and Centaury - Prelude and Fugue in F minor from Book 2 (CLUJ-08) feature Centaury.
8. Cerato   works to bring intuition and inner balance to states of lack of confidence and gullibility. Realised in a performance for flute and piano only. A simple through composed piece with a flowing melody in 4/4... Read more. The products Cerato (3MR-02), Musical Remedies for piano solo (MRPS), Cerato (MRPS-06), and Cerato - Prelude and Fugue in F sharp minor from Book 2 (CLUJ-09) feature Cerato.
9. Scleranthus   works to bring versatile determination and balance to states of erratic mood swings. Realised and performed in version for flute and piano on several occasions Improvised and experimental opening leads to a fast... Read more. The products 11 Musical Remedies (11MR), Scleranthus (11MR-04), and Scleranthus - Prelude and Fugue in E minor (CLUJ-10) feature Scleranthus.
10. Water violet   works to bring humility and wisdom to states of isolated withdrawal and arrogance. One of the simplest and shortest of the pieces, not yet realised in performance (as of May 2009) Written in... Read more. The products Water Violet (1209MR-05), and Water Violet - Prelude and Fugue in E major (CLUJ-11) feature Water violet.
11. Gentian   works to bring faith and the ability to live with conflict to states of doubt and depression. Realised as a song with lyrics by Harriet Edwards and performed on several occasions in realisation for voice, piano, bass... Read more. The products Gentian (7MR-01), 7 Musical Remedies (7MR), 11 Musical Remedies (11MR), Gentian (11MR-06), and Gentian - Prelude and Fugue in A flat major (CLUJ-12) feature Gentian.
12. Rock rose   works to bring courage and steadfastness to states of acute fear and panic. Realised several times in performance for flute, bass and piano A long slow intense piece. The opening section is very... Read more. The products 11 Musical Remedies (11MR), Rock Rose (11MR-09), Musical Remedies for piano solo (MRPS), Rock Rose (MRPS-07), and Rock Rose - Prelude and Fugue in B flat minor (CLUJ-13) feature Rock rose.

Seven Helpers

1. Gorse   works to bring hope and inner strength to states of stagnation and negative expectations. Performed as a piano solo piece only to date A slow D minor waltz with an epic tragic quality. There... Read more. The products Musical Remedies for piano solo (MRPS), and Gorse (MRPS-08) feature Gorse.
2. Oak   works to bring strength and endurance to states of constant struggle and overwork. Performed once only in version for flute, sax, piano bass and drums. Oak is undergoing further development. One of the... Read more. The product Oak features Oak.
3. Heather   works to bring empathy and a readiness to help to states of neediness and self-absorption. Realised with violin and piano, but not yet in performance. This is one of the few Remedy pieces that are... Read more. The products Musical Remedies for piano solo (MRPS), and Heather (MRPS-09) feature Heather.
4. Rock water   works to bring adaptability and inner freedom to states of rigidity and compulsion. Realised as a song with lyrics by Harriet Edwards and performed in version for voice, flute, sax, piano, bass and... Read more. The products Rock Water (7MR-03), and 7 Musical Remedies (7MR) feature Rock water.
5. Vine   works to bring wisdom and true authority to states of ruthlessness and inflexibility. Realised once only in performance for flute and piano. Rhythmically, this is one of the most challenging of the Remedy... Read more. The product Vine features Vine.
6. Olive   works to bring peace and inner balance to states of physical, mental and spiritual exhaustion. Realised in version for piano bass and drums and performed on several occasions. An improvised opening on bass leads to... Read more. The products 11 Musical Remedies (11MR), and Olive (11MR-07) feature Olive.
7. Wild oat   works to bring clarity and purposefulness to states of dissatisfaction and frustration. A short piece, not as yet realised in performance (May 09) This piece uses trumpet, piano, bass and drums. It... Read more. The product Wild Oat features Wild oat.

Second Nineteen

1. Cherry plum   works to bring courage and spiritual strength to states of fear of losing control. This has been performed in a version for sax, piano bass and drums on several occasions. It has also been... Read more. The products Cherry Plum (7MR-07), and 7 Musical Remedies (7MR) feature Cherry plum.
2. Elm   works to bring self-assurance and conviction to states of being overwhelmed by responsibility. A complex series of descending seventh chords provides the backcloth for this haunting piece realised for sax piano bass and... Read more. The products 11 Musical Remedies (11MR), Elm (11MR-05), Musical Remedies for piano solo (MRPS), and Elm (MRPS-10) feature Elm.
3. Aspen   works to bring fearlessness and insight to states of fear of nightmares, darkness; anxiety. Realised as a song with lyrics by Harriet Edwards. Performed in version for voice, flute, piano, bass and drums on... Read more. The products Aspen (7MR-04), and 7 Musical Remedies (7MR) feature Aspen.
4. Chestnut bud   works to bring attention and mental flexibility to states of repeating the same mistakes. Realised as a song with lyrics by Harriet Edwards, and performed with voice, flute, sax, piano, bass and drums on... Read more. The products Chestnut Bud (7MR-06), and 7 Musical Remedies (7MR) feature Chestnut bud.
5. Larch   works to bring realism and objectivity to states of passivity and inferiority/ lacking confidence. Performed twice only in version for sax, piano bass and drums. A slow piece for sax, piano bass and drums... Read more. The products 11 Musical Remedies (11MR), and Larch (11MR-08) feature Larch.
6. Hornbeam   works to bring liveliness and clear-headedness to states of mental exhaustion or creative block. Piano score only – no realisation in performance as yet (may 09) This piece really needs re-visiting to think about... Read more. The product Hornbeam features Hornbeam.
7. Willow   works to bring positive attitude of responsibility to states of resentment or smouldering anger. Performed several times by flute and piano; also in version with bass added. Three sections : * A in 3/2... Read more. The products 11 Musical Remedies (11MR), and Willow (11MR-02) feature Willow.
8. Beech   works to bring good diagnostic faculties and tolerance to states of criticism and arrogance. The last of the Remedies to be written. Not yet realised in performance (May 09). Plans to further develop this... Read more. The products Musical Remedies for piano solo (MRPS), and Beech (MRPS-11) feature Beech.
9. Crab apple   works to bring generosity and clear perspective to states of obsessive self-disgust. Realised as a song with lyrics by Harriet Edwards and performed several times in version for voice, sax, piano, bass... Read more. The products 11 Musical Remedies (11MR), and Crab Apple (11MR-03) feature Crab apple.
10. Walnut   works to bring openness and lack of prejudice to states of resistance to change in circumstances. One of the first Remedy pieces to be performed, in July 2004. An extract from a recording of this performance... Read more. The product Walnut features Walnut.
11. Holly   works to bring love and harmony to states of feeling envious or angry towards others. This piece has been performed several times in a version for flute piano bass and drums. An up tempo rhythmically... Read more. The products 11 Musical Remedies (11MR), Holly (11MR-11), and Holly (1209MR - 08) feature Holly.
12. Star of bethlehem   works to bring clarity of mind and inner strength to states of panic and sorrow. This has only been realised and performed in a version for piano solo to date (May 09) A slow moving... Read more. The products Musical Remedies for piano solo (MRPS), and Star of Bethlehem (MRPS-12) feature Star of bethlehem.
13. White chestnut   works to bring clear-headedness to states of constant and obsessive mental chatter. This has only been realised in a version for piano solo to date (may 09) A fast moving restless piece... Read more. The products Musical Remedies for piano solo (MRPS), and White Chestnut (MRPS-13) feature White chestnut.
14. Red chestnut   works to bring positive energy and a cool head to states of excessive worry about others. A song with lyrics by Harriet Edwards and realised in an arrangement for voice piano bass and drums. A simple... Read more. The products Red Chestnut (7MR-02), 7 Musical Remedies (7MR), 11 Musical Remedies (11MR), and Red Chestnut (11MR-10) feature Red chestnut.
15. Pine   works to bring understanding and forgiveness to states of self-reproach, guilt and despondency. A song with lyrics by Harriet Edwards realised in a performing version for voice, sax, piano bass and drums and... Read more.
16. Honeysuckle   works to bring brings a quality of being present to states of looking back with regret. Played in an early workshop (2004) in a version for trumpet, clarinet, piano bass and drums. This piece requires some... Read more. The product Honeysuckle features Honeysuckle.
17. Wild rose   works to bring inner freedom and flexibility to states of apathy and resignation. A song to lyrics by Harriet Edwards, performed once only to date in a version for voice, saxophone, piano bass... Read more.
18. Mustard   works to bring cheerfulness and serenity to states of black and sudden depression; melancholia. Played in an early workshop (2004) in version for trumpet, vibraphone, piano bass and drums. Needs working into proper arrangement.... Read more. The product Mustard features Mustard.
19. Sweet chestnut   works to bring faith and resurrection to states of utter emptiness and loss of hope. The last of the Bach Flower Remedies. Realised and performed several times in a version for melodica and piano. An... Read more. The products Sweet Chestnut (3MR-03), Musical Remedies for piano solo (MRPS), and Sweet Chestnut (MRPS-14) feature Sweet chestnut.