Bach Flower Remedies - How To Make The Mother Tincture

In the spring, when the flowers are in full flowering stage, it is time to prepare Bach Flower Remedies. Bach Flower Remedies are essences of plants that have healing properties, mainly in emotional health. We have previously spoken about Bach Flower Remedies and their healing effects. To know all about these remedies visit the post Bach Flower Remedies - Natural Remedies Guide.

Today we will teach you how to make the mother tincture of these natural essences. Make sure you watch our educational videos where we teach how to make the mother tincture by both sun and boiling methods.

What Is The Mother Tincture?

The mother tincture is the first stage in the preparation process of Bach Flower Remedies. In this first stage, the essence is more concentrated, and it is from the mother tincture that you make the dilutions that are used for intake.

How Is The Mother Tincture Made?

Before we explain how to make the mother tincture it is very important to stress that these flower remedies (or any other natural remedies) should not be made without a sound knowledge of plants. Whenever you have doubts regarding the identification of plants, please do not use them!

The mother tincture of Bach Flowers is done by two different methods, which depend on the plant to be used. 

For both methods, the flowers should be harvested on a clear day, with plenty of sunshine and should be harvested very early in the morning, when the flowers are still fresh and have just opened. 

The most perfect flowers should be chosen, which are not eaten by insects, have no stains or missing petals.

In order for the flowers to be used in their purest state, you cannot touch them with your hands. The flowers must be picked with scissors into a container with water.

The water used must be spring water or mineral water.

The flowers do not need to be submerged in water, but it is necessary to collect enough flowers to cover the whole surface of the water.

Required Materials

For Harvesting

• 1 Glass container (for the sun method)
• 1 Small pot (for the boiling method)
• 1 Scissors 
• Spring or mineral water

For Filtering

• 1 Funnel
• Coffee filters
• 1 Wide mouth jar

For Storing

• Amber bottles with pipette
• Spring or mineral water
• Brandy with at least 40% alcohol by volume
• Label to point out the name of the remedy and the date

All materials have to be washed and sterilized before they come into contact, first with the flowers and then with the essence. 

Sun Method

The sun method is done by infusing the flowers in water exposed to the sun for 3 hours.

1. The flowers are harvested with a previously sterilized scissors into a glass container.
2. After picking, leave the flowers exposed to the sun, without disturbing, for 3 hours. The sunlight will cause the flowers to release their healing properties in the water.
3. During these 3 hours wash and sterilize the materials that will be used to filter the essence (funnel, bottles, and pipettes). The bottles are boiled in water for 30 minutes. Amber bottles must be used to store the flower essences. The pipettes and funnel are hand washed.
4. After 3 hours the essence is ready to be filtered.
5. Use a funnel and coffee filter to filter the essence into a wide mouth jar.
6. After filtering, pour the essence into the amber bottle until halfway through.
7. The other half is filled with brandy with at least 40% alcohol by volume. This will be the preservative of the remedy.
8. Close the bottle and shake vigorously to mix the essence well with the preservative alcohol.
9. Label with the name and date of the remedy.
10. Store preferably in a dark, cool and dry place. When stored and used correctly, flower essences can maintain their shelf life for decades. 

Video - Bach Flower Remedies | Mother Tincture | Sun Method

Boiling Method

The boiling method is done by boiling the flowers in water for 30 minutes.

1. Before picking the flowers it is important to sterilize and wash the materials that will be used to filter the essence (funnel, bottles, and pipettes). Amber bottles should be used to store the flower essences. The bottles are placed in boiling water for 30 minutes. The pipettes and funnel are hand washed. 
2. The flowers should be collected with a previously sterilized scissors into the boiling container. A small pot will suffice.
3. After harvesting, the flowers should be boiled immediately. Boiling is done for 30 minutes on a low heat. *
4. After 30 minutes turn off the heat and let the essence cool down.
5. Use a funnel and coffee filter to filter the essence into a wide mouth jar.
6. After filtering, pour the essence into the amber jar until halfway through.
7. The other half is filled with brandy with at least 40% alcohol by volume.
8. Close the bottle and shake vigorously to mix the essence well with the preservative alcohol.
9. Place a label with the name and date of the remedy.
10. Store preferably in a dark, cool and dry place. As with the sun method, essences made by the boiling method can maintain their shelf life for decades, provided they are stored and used correctly.

*IMPORTANT NOTICE: We collected our flowers in our garden, right next to the house, so we could boil them in our kitchen immediately afterwards. Some people go to to the fields and take a stove. In this case you have to be very careful to avoid fires!

Video - Bach Flower Remedies | Mother Tincture | Boiling Method

This is how you get the mother tincture of Bach Flower Remedies! It is from this tincture that the "Stock" bottles (aka "First Dilution") are prepared, which are the bottles that are sold in stores and that are used to prepare the "Dosage" (aka"Second Dilution"). We will talk about these dilutions in future posts.

The power of plants is indeed incredible! We hope that these tutorials will be useful to you. Still, we can't emphasize enough that you should only make these remedies if you know the plants well. Stay tuned, as we will soon be making posts and videos explaining how the dilutions are done.

See you soon! :)