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

Sweet Chestnut belongs to the group of For Despondency or Despair,
as classified by Bach. The other remedies in this group are Crab Apple, Oak, Willow, Star of Bethlehem, Elm, Pine, and Larch. Specifically, Sweet Chestnut treats states of meaninglessness and anguish beyond endurance.

In the Sweet Chestnut state, the mind is stretched to its utmost limits of endurance and seems to be unable to experience further anguish. The torture reaches deep into the self, creating meaninglessness, faithlessness, nihilism, and despair. Not being able to rely on faith and not seeing meaning in one's suffering, the person experiences this severe state with intensified impact; the inner reserves of soul strength have been drained.
Any severe existential crisis or religious despair with loss of faith, the "dark night of the soul," or any unwholesome, morbid preoccupation with death calls for this remedy. After a loved one has died, some people are in need of this remedy, as they do not understand where the other has gone, and they cannot accept nothingness where once was life.
Severe and prolonged physical suffering can undermine inner fortitude and create a Sweet Chestnut state. From this agony, as well as from other severe hardship which has created deep existential doubt and despair, can arise the suicidal wish, the ultimate wish to escape the unbearable state.
This remedy can also be indicated in a person free of acute anguish but nonetheless suffering from lack of aspirations and meaningful purpose to the point of nihilism and negation of life's value.
The perceptive focus in the Sweet Chestnut state is narrowed and imprisoned in the dark, nihilistic side of life.
This remedy is of service in the treatment of depressive disorders (cf. Mustard), especially when suicide is threatened and there is deep-seated despair.

The drained inner self is rather void of emotional life but feels as in a deadlock or as in darkness. Despair and despondency weigh heavily and leave no room for the forces of emotional joy and healing to operate. For this reason, death may seem the only way out of a hopeless, barren situation.
In a lighter Sweet Chestnut case, when atheism, nihilism, and lack of positive aspirations have undermined soul peace, the emotional life is hampered as well. Emotions, such as love and devotion, loyalty toward higher values, and gratitude toward the miracle of creation, may not be experienced sufficiently. Many times, the person has made a conscious decision not to worship God in faith, not to believe in survival of the soul after death, and not to strive for humility and service. Negation of these values cuts off important channels of soul joy and impedes union with the wholesome forces of life, within oneself and within the social context. A sense of meaninglessness of life may lead to carelessness of attitude, while deep inside despair finds a soil for growth.

To rekindle the inner light, raise potential for the experiences of faith and new meaning in life. To lighten states of extreme agony.