“For the jovial, cheerful and humorous people who love peace and suffer from differences of opinion and disputes; they are prepared to give up a great deal to avoid such unpleasantness.

Although they generally face difficulties and are worried and restless both inwardly and outwardly, they hide their sorrow behind a mask of humour and wit and are highly valued as friends and companions. They often resort to copious amounts of alcohol or drugs to put themselves in the right frame of mind and to gain the light-heartedness with which they intend to bear their burden.”^[1]

The Bach flower Agrimony: The plant

Common agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria) belongs to the rose family (Rosaceae) and is a hardy, perennial plant with small yellow flowers in terminal, cone-shaped spikes, a cylindrical stem (70 cm) and green and grey serrated leaves.

The plant is native to the temperate climates of Northern and Central Europe and is commonly found on roadsides, embankments and in the countryside. It is effective in treating anxiety and depression and promotes self-acceptance.

What are the effects of the Bach flower Agrimony?

Agrimony is a wonderful aid for those who wish to recognise problems and work on them. It is also known for its beneficial effects in combating teeth grinding, nail-biting and even addictions. It is likewise used to soothe inner turmoil and to help one feel more authentic and in a better mood.

Agrimony is a powerful force against disturbing and distressing thoughts, as well as negative coping mechanisms such as alcohol or pills. With this Bach flower, you can gain strength and confidence to make decisive changes in your life.

The Bach flower Agrimony in a balanced state

When in a balanced Agrimony state, a person does not suffer and is able to face all problems, misfortunes, fears and worries. They are a genuine optimist, a skilful diplomat and a tireless peacemaker.

The Agrimony personality type

The Agrimony personality is sensitive and very vulnerable. They are easily influenced by their surroundings, particularly on an emotional level. They are also extremely sensitive when it comes to opinions and ideas. The sensitivity of a person in the Agrimony state is also evident in their need for harmony: they are peace-loving and always open to making concessions in order to avoid potential disharmony in their environment.

Life behind a mask

The vulnerability and high sensitivity of the Agrimony type are not openly expressed to the outside world. This person hides themselves and their inner life behind a mask. They repeatedly take on stereotypical roles such as that of the clown or the jester. Behind this lies a desire to please the outside world and to meet the expectations of others. A person with this temperament is a true actor: they would never tell the person they are talking to that they find their clothes or car tasteless – quite the opposite, in fact.

Their craving for harmony and their desire not to cause any embarrassment or even provoke hatred have a very strong influence on their behaviour. This person does not want to make enemies under any circumstances; they are determined to live in peace with everyone. Through their conformist behaviour, they also create the opportunity to mask their own emotions and the constant unease they feel about themselves. This, too, means that the authenticity of this personality suffers greatly.

Problems with challenging situations

Behind the mask of a smile, the Agrimony type hides both in good times and bad. They do not judge others and rarely say what they think. Seen from the outside, they go through life with great composure, calm and light-heartedness. They are usually loved by everyone. Even in difficult situations, they manage to make those around them happy.

However, things become problematic when they are confronted with a genuine difficulty in life. Then they react superficially, shirk all responsibility and devote themselves entirely to distractions and pleasures of all kinds. For the person in Agrimony mode, problems do not exist; they joke about them and, accordingly, rarely ask for help. The vague inner torment, however, always remains.

Further aspects of the Agrimony personality

Those trapped in the Agrimony state are not only fleeing from problems, but also constantly fleeing from themselves: there is a deep-seated fear of one’s own innermost self. When defence mechanisms prove insufficient, the Agrimony personality often turns to drugs and stimulants such as cigarettes, coffee, alcohol or chocolate.

It may also be the case that this person develops various physical coping mechanisms that allow them to suppress their inner unease and maintain a façade of happiness. These include, for example, nervous tics or teeth grinding.

Escaping from oneself

In everyday life, the Agrimony personality throws themselves into all the achievements of the technology industry that distract them from their own feelings and thoughts: watching television, playing video and computer games, and surfing the internet are their favourite pastimes. However, they also enjoy spending their time going to the cinema, the theatre, concerts and sporting or club events – as long as they are not left to face themselves.

Many people in the Agrimony state also bounce from party to party or from one club to the next, thereby avoiding any kind of self-reflection. Seen from the outside, those affected appear to be enjoying life’s pleasures and to be happy. They give the impression that they never lose control or their zest for life.

Despite the numerous distractions, however, the person with the Agrimony temperament feels a deep emptiness within. They compulsively try to fill this with even more distractions. The cycle of distraction and repression begins anew.

Fear of death and pain

Dr Edward Bach devoted a great deal of attention to the Agrimony personality type in the course of his work. This condition was also the first one he sought to heal through his “treatment of tomorrow”. He described such a person as tormented and plagued by inner turmoil, whilst unconsciously striving solely for the virtue of peace.

According to Bach, the key question that a person in the Agrimony state should address is: To what extent can one’s own soul accept and understand the fact of mortality? With this question, Bach pointedly highlights the root of the suffering associated with Agrimony. What this person fails to see and constantly seeks to repress is the reality of death and everything that causes them pain.

Learning to be with oneself

Despite all their efforts, this person finds it difficult to find an answer to Bach’s question, for they see and experience the pain of the world and know, deep down, what the cause of their torment is. However, they do not feel able to reconcile this pain with their faith in life. Instead of finding solutions to this complex problem, they give up and hide behind a mask and in the maelstrom of distraction – constantly driven by the desire to escape existence.

For diagnostic purposes, one might ask a person in this state: “How would you feel if you had to spend a whole day walking alone in the countryside?” The person would immediately recognise their vulnerability and devise a defence strategy to avoid having to face up to themselves.

The Bach flower Agrimony as a mood

Sooner or later, everyone has to face an inner conflict in life. If you feel you lack the right tools to overcome or understand it, this can lead to rejection or denial. Agrimony is useful in all cases where such a dynamic begins to emerge.

What sort of conflicts are typically associated with the Agrimony state? Often, it involves a change in one’s outlook on life or in life itself, such as the end of a relationship or other circumstances that are unchangeable and which we do not wish to acknowledge. Grieving for someone or something, or experiencing a severe trauma, are also characteristic Agrimony conflicts.

During periods when we find ourselves trying to reduce anxiety and downplay, deny or laugh off distressing experiences, we should consider using the Agrimony flower essence.

Reaction patterns of a person in a disharmonious Agrimony state

People in a disharmonious Agrimony state

experience a feeling of mental oppression caused by unpleasant situations and/or disputes
do their best to please everyone
are prepared to make many concessions “for the sake of peace”
make many sacrifices to maintain inner and outer harmony and avoid confrontation
always hide their worries and inner turmoil behind a playful and cheerful façade
attach great importance to the impression they make on others
tend to play down their problems or avoid talking about them, and to deny them when others bring them up
seek forms of distraction (cinema, parties and other activities) to avoid problems
put on rose-tinted glasses when they do not want to acknowledge an unpleasant situation
enjoy playing the role of the cheerful guest who is the life and soul of every party
turn to alcohol, cigarettes or psychotropic drugs to overcome difficulties and suppress distressing thoughts
always have to keep moving so as not to give themselves any space to think
play down their suffering when ill and even entertain the nursing staff with witty jokes
deliberately overlook their partner’s character flaws because they want to live in an idealised world
resort to clichés and platitudes such as “weeds don’t spoil” when problems or an unpleasant situation are discussed

Moods and symptoms of the Agrimony personality type

forced joy
fear and anxiety masked by joy
hidden inner conflicts
A tendency to avoid discussions
Difficulty being alone
localised anxiety in the chest or a feeling of pressure on the chest
nervous hunger
Emotional instability (making it impossible to stick to diets, etc.)
Superficiality
Fear of loneliness

Typical statements of the Agrimony personality

I hide my problems from others behind a broad grin.
Instead of thinking about my problems, I listen to music or have a cigarette.
I’m afraid of responsibility.
I’m afraid of certain feelings.
These headaches! If I die, I won’t have to suffer any more.
I’m able to fool everyone, even myself.
I don’t like arguments.
I never tell anyone about my problems.
I hide my illness from those around me with a smile on my face.
I can’t solve this problem – let’s have a drink to it.
Without my cigarettes, my chocolate, my anti-anxiety medication, etc., I feel weak.
I don’t even talk to my psychologist about my problems.
When I go to a party, I have to drink to have fun.
I always drink chamomile tea before I go to sleep.
I never reveal my feelings to others.
I can’t be happy; I just always pretend to be.
I’m never sincere.
I wake up at night and have to eat something, otherwise I get too nervous.
During the day, I’m able to pretend I’m happy. At night in bed, however, my problems torment me.

Physical conditions for which the Bach flower Agrimony is indicated

Arrhythmias (heart rhythm disorders)
Tachycardia (rapid heart rate)
Irritable bowel syndrome
Nausea
nervous gastritis
spastic colitis
Stomach problems
Shortness of breath
Asthma
Psoriasis
Shingles
agonising pain caused by inflammation, abscesses, conjunctivitis, etc.
Itching (allergic eczema, hives, insect bites)
Haemorrhoids
Onychophagia (nail-biting)
Bruxism (teeth grinding)

Psychological conditions for which the Bach flower Agrimony is indicated

Internal tension
Fear and states of anxiety
Inability to tolerate disharmony
Wearing a social mask
Denial (e.g. of conflicts or one’s own painful shadow aspects)
Hypersensitivity
Restlessness of the soul
Lack of self-control
Lack of genuine involvement
Unreliability
Indecisiveness
Excessive concern with the judgement of others
Suppression of emotions
Difficulty in communicating problems
Excessive pursuit of pleasure and intense emotions
Aversion to calm and inner stillness
Downplaying adverse situations
Hiding suffering behind a false sense of light-heartedness
A tendency to escape
Emotional fragility
Excessive optimism
Relationship difficulties
Dissociation
inner torment
Loneliness and anxiety at night
Difficulty falling asleep
Waking up at night feeling nervous
Night-time teeth grinding
Bedwetting in children
Self-directed aggression
nervous tics
reactive depression
manic-depressive disorders
profound melancholy
histrionic personality disorder (excessive emotionality and a need for attention)
Difficulty swallowing
Addiction to stimulants (alcohol, drugs, etc.)
other addictions (e.g. sexuality)
Bulimia
Anorexia
Phobias

The positive potential of the Bach flower Agrimony

Honesty and openness towards others
Ability to draw comparisons
Ability to clearly visualise and overcome positive and negative events
Sincere, heartfelt joy
Experience of true harmony and inner peace

Harmonising the Agrimony state

The inner restlessness of the Agrimony type can only be transformed into peace if they are honest with themselves. The person must recognise, accept and integrate into their own personality their unease, their torment and the conflicts that manifest themselves within them.

The Agrimony flower brings to light the hidden inner world, which is otherwise held back by all its baggage and fears. Agrimony removes the toxins of the soul by inducing connections between thoughts, emotions and feelings that are usually suppressed.

Agrimony brings together sensitivity, recognition and acceptance, making it possible to let go of social masks and compensatory patterns. This is particularly true when one can release the need for a protective armour against the disharmony of inner and worldly experiences. This enables pain and joie de vivre to coexist. Disharmonies are no longer pushed aside, but are addressed and resolved.

Bach flower Agrimony for animals

The Agrimony flower is suitable for animals that are restless and whose behaviour is often contradictory. This characteristic stems from the inner conflict of the negative Agrimony type: due to their strong need for harmony, they always appear cheerful and sociable on the outside, but inside they suffer from unresolved conflicts.

For these animal characters, the most important thing is to please others. They do not want to be a burden and sometimes even hide their illnesses. As they do not let on, it can be difficult to identify any problems at all. However, their behaviour, which repeatedly deviates from the norm, can provide insight into their true condition.

Their suppressed emotions tend to surface, particularly when they are alone or feel unobserved. They may then become genuinely angry or appear listless and hang their heads.

Bach flower Agrimony for children

The Agrimony child never causes any trouble. Outwardly, they always appear cheerful and happy. On closer inspection, however, it becomes apparent that they bite their fingernails, suffer from a nervous tic, bite their lips or grind their teeth at night. They are not cheerful and carefree. Their strong need for harmony and peace leads them to deny any difficulties or conflicts in order to avoid confrontation or disharmony.

They are always so cheerful and carefree that they are like society’s court jester, entertaining others even when they themselves are plagued by sadness and worries. In the long run, they lose touch with their emotions and feelings and may begin to develop psychosomatic disorders whose cause no one can understand.

Differences and similarities when compared with other Bach flowers

Hypersensitivity to the ideas and influences of others leads Agrimony to adopt a defensive stance and to yield voluntarily, out of a need for peace. Centaury, on the other hand, rules out any act of will in its submissive capitulation. A lack of autonomy and a tendency towards conformism prevail. Walnut can be diverted from its path by the strength of other people’s opinions and convictions, in comparison to which it does not appear free enough.

Ultimately, the hypersensitivity of Holly is related to the fact that the behaviour of others is perceived as a nuisance. Within this dynamic, other people trigger the angry responsiveness that Holly expresses clearly, without any inclination to put on a mask.

The fears and torments experienced by Agrimony, which often seek relief through distractions and drug dependence in a wide variety of forms, cannot be equated with a generalised anxiety disorder. Agrimony’s anxiety is specific. Its distinctive feature lies in the emotional, cognitive and behavioural characterisation that Bach provides for the remedy. The Agrimony state, which implies self-torment, also differs from White Chestnut’s shattering ideological compulsion.

Agrimony is not characterised by shyness, but unlike other extroverted remedies such as Vervain, it has no convictions it wishes to convey to others. This is because the Agrimony type does not accept their conflict-prone nature and therefore does not accept themselves as they are. Consequently, this person’s relationship with others can only consist of hiding their true self. For those who suffer from anxiety and suppress it, Aspen combined with Agrimony can be helpful.

Common combinations of Agrimony with other Bach flowers

For those who display artificial tolerance: Beech with Agrimony

For those who display excessive goodwill: Centaury with Agrimony

For those who suppress their anxiety and consequently feel psychological pressure: Cherry Plum with Agrimony

For those who struggle with learning or tend to procrastinate: Chestnut Bud with Agrimony

For those who harbour hidden or suppressed feelings of inferiority: Larch with Agrimony

For those experiencing a hidden fear: Mimulus with Agrimony

For those with hidden worries: Red Chestnut with Agrimony

For those who freeze up in panic: Rock Rose with Agrimony

For those who hide emotional pain behind a cheerful façade: Star of Bethlehem with Agrimony

For those experiencing complete alienation from themselves: Walnut with Agrimony

For those who struggle with social interactions due to their reserved nature: Water Violet with Agrimony

For those who lack self-confidence: Wild Oat with Agrimony

The credo of the Agrimony personality

“I can make others laugh, even when I’m having problems.”

Positive affirmations for the Agrimony personality type

I feel true joy, peace and tranquillity within me.
I am filled with tranquillity and peace.
I am at peace with myself.
I own my feelings.
I communicate my feelings openly and honestly.
I give myself completely.
I feel a great sense of joy within me.

I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking the time to read this article. If you have any further questions or would like to share something with us, we’d love to hear from you in the comments.

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Bibliography

Bach, Eduard (2000): Heile Dich selbst: die geistige Grundlage der Original-Bach-Blütentherapie. Munich: Hugendubel.

Krämer, Dieter (2017): Neue Therapien mit Bach-Blüten 1: Die sanfte Heilmethode effektiver angewandt über die zwölf Schienen. Bad Camberg: Isotrop Verlag.

Krämer, Dieter (2017): Neue Therapien mit Bach-Blüten 2: Die sanfte Heilmethode effektiver angewandt über die zwölf Schienen. Bad Camberg: Isotrop Verlag.

Orozco, Ricardo/Rodríguez, Boris C. (2007): Intelligenza emozionale e fiori di Bach. Tipi di personalitá nella psicologia contemporanea. Moriondo Torinese: Centro Benessere Psicofisico.

Orozco, Ricardo (2009): Fiori di Bach. 38 descrizioni dinamiche. Moriondo Torinese: Centro Benessere Psicofisico.

Orozco, Ricardo. (2017). FLORES DE BACH Patrón Transpersonal® y aplicaciones locales Territorios tipológicos. Barcelona: El Grano de Mostaza Ediciones

Scheffer, Mechthild (2015): Die Original Bachblütentherapie: Das gesamte theoretische und praktische Bachblüten-Wissen. 2nd edition. Munich: Irisiana Verlag.

Scheffer, Mechthild (2020): Die Original Bachblütentherapie für Einsteiger: Die Blüten – Die Anwendung – Die Wirkung. 6th edition. Munich: Irisiana Verlag.

References

Bach, Dr Edward/Petersen, Jens-Erik R. (1988): Heile dich selbst mit den Bach-Blüten. Location: Munich, Knaur Verlag, p. 161. ↑

1. Bach flower Agrimony: Find the courage to be true to yourself

The Bach flower Agrimony: the flower of honesty, conflict and confrontation