FLOWER RXS HOME

AGRIMONY
ASPEN
BEECH
CENTAURY
CERATO
CHERRY PLUM
CHESTNUT BUD
CHICORY
CLEMATIS
CRAB APPLE
ELM
GENTIAN
GORSE
HEATHER
HOLLY
HONEYSUCKLE
HORNBEAM
IMPATIENS
LARCH
MIMULUS
MUSTARD
OAK
OLIVE
PINE
RED CHESTNUT
RESCUE REMEDY
ROCK ROSE
ROCK WATER
SCLERANTHUS
STAROF BETHLEHEM
SWEET CHESTNUT
VERVAIN
VINE
WALNUT
WATER VIOLET
WHITE CHESTNUT
WILD OAT
WILD ROSE
WILLOW

The remedy Elm belongs to Bach's group of For Despondency or Despair, along with the remedies of Crab Apple, Oak, Willow, Star of Bethlehem, Sweet Chestnut, Pine, and Larch. These remedies deal with states of hardship of the oppressive, burdening kind. Specifically, Elm treats a state of feeling overwhelmed and subdued in face of tasks and responsibilities.

In the Elm state, the mind feels unable to rise above challenges or duties that are being presented or still lie ahead. One actually perceives the task as insurmountable, as if it had literally grown above one's capacities, looming ahead, while one feels weak and small in front of it.
One also makes the mistake to view the many steps of present and future tasks as one whole mass of overwhelming duty, instead of concentrating on one step at a time and letting the rest be.
"Duty" is another aspect of the Elm state. Whereas, previously, the tasks may have been enjoyable and within one's strength of achievement, they now look somewhat threatening, intimidating, like a burdensome or dreaded duty.
Elm is also indicated for the mind busy at work on details, while not having an appropriate overview of the various tasks and not being able to plan the best approach to completing the job. One may get lost in details and feel that progress has not really been made.

During emotional hardship, Elm may help a mind unable to sort through the intensity of feelings and may aid the person to come to a place of calm within, where an overview can be reached and the balancing strength of reason and clarity be regained. In case life's problems burden, evade solution, and fixate the mind into preoccupation, this remedy helps to regain mastery within this mental dynamic (cf. White Chestnut).
In the Elm state, one experiences the emotions of being overwhelmed, of dread, anxiety, internal exhaustion, intimidation by the amount of duties, inadequacy, disillusionment, and despondency and despair. It is a state of not feeling empowered, of losing one's wings of joyful progress. Whereas before there was hopeful looking ahead into the future, there now is dread in face of enormous tasks. There can be feelings of sadness, especially when ideals were high and the service attitude strong and one suddenly realizes that one's goals were unrealistic and not within one's reach. Helpers in the arena of human suffering may frequently experience this state.
Some people, while being in the Elm state, do not want to give up but try to struggle on. Personal high expectations and a strong sense of duty will still give some incentive, although the message may be to rest and take care of oneself. Other people avoid facing the particular insurmountable situation and busy themselves with other duties in their lives, those being more easily within their range of present capacity.

To uplift the mind to a position where tasks can be perceived calmly and their completion be planned most efficiently. During task completion, to concentrate on one step at a time, while envisioning the whole in its progress. To overcome despondency and despair and rekindle joy of taking on challenges.