What is an essence?
In our Orewa clinic we have been using flower and gem essences that are produce and based on the Chinese five elements. For many years the image that I have when I think of when producing essences is one of fluidity, however through the years I have found that it is often associated with the Beauty and skin care field.
The word itself is defined as “the inherent nature of a an idea or a thing” and is derived from the Latin word essentia, and was coined by Cicero to mean that something’s essence or nature, that which makes a thing “to be” the particular kind of thing that it is. Or otherwise, it means the “true nature of something”.
As I mentioned before Essences have been central to notions of beauty and skincare for centuries in Asia, often involving intricate cleansing rituals involving “beauty waters” which are recorded in the ancient Japanese beauty guides dating back to 1813.
In the antiquity, essences were given exalted names like “miracle water” or often referred to as a “lotion”, some are thickened fluids, while others have a consistency as clear as water. Traditional formulations in the Far East, include ingredients sourced from tea leaves, red algae, and fermented rice. Modern-day science has verified the efficacy of these elements, vindicating centuries of practice, which are still in use today but refined with more sophisticated technology.
Still, the purpose of essences remains the same: to bring about the correct pH to balance the skin, and when applied prior to serums, elixirs, and creams, to act as a channel that magnifies their beneficial effects.
There are other substances that are called essences for example flower and crystal essences, which have gained world-wide recognition due to their contribution to holistic health and emotional healing. However, these subtle medicines are difficult to study on a biochemical level due to the limitations of science and research. This should not mean we ignore the thousands of years they have been used traditionally to heal.
Ancient times
The history of using flowers to heal emotional imbalances extends back thousands of years, with scriptures on papyrus in Ancient Egypt. Indigenous Australians also recognised their healing qualities and would use them as part of healing ceremonies to resolve emotional imbalances and physical injuries.
Europe
The earliest European recorded use of flower essences was by abbess Hildegard von Bingen in the twelfth century, who would place muslin sheets over flowers at night to absorb their dew, which would then be collected in the morning, rung out, and used to treat people with emotional imbalances. However, it was in the 1930’s that the British physician, Dr. Edward Bach pioneered a deeper understanding and precise application of flower essences through his clinical and personal observations. This is when the famous 38 Bach Flower Remedies were discovered and brought to the world.
How do they work
Western Biomedical science finds the study of the effectiveness of flower essences challenging. Unlike pharmaceuticals or some herbal medicines that suppress symptoms, flower work by the principle of resonance within the subtle human energy field, which impacts one’s physical and emotional health. In other words, flower essences are based on vibrational energetics, rather than biochemical, and stimulate the body’s natural capacity to bring itself back to homeostasis. All plants carry vibrational energy patterns, and it is said that flowers are the pinnacle of this energy. Doctrine of Signatures (DOS) play a major role in identifying the specific application of each flower. DOS originated within Alchemical and Hermetic traditions, where the most important thing was to understand how the macrocosm (universe) corresponds to the microcosm (individual).
Balanced Energy
At Balanced Energy the Liquid Light Essences are six carefully balanced blends of flower, gem and crystal essences for harmony. Each beautiful combination embodies the positive, balanced qualities of the five elements of Chinese Medicine plus a special sixth element we call Unity- all the elements working together.
Liquid Light Essences are as pure as possible, are produced on Waiheke Island and the Whangaparaoa Peninsula in New Zealand using certified organic ingredients, pure New Zealand spring water and certified organic vodka as the only preservative, .
Liquid Light Essences are a key ingredient in all Balanced Energy products, from therapy to skincare.
Please click here to contact us and we will happily assist you in making the right choice of essence blend for you.
