Q: Every healer has a unique journey. What was the pivotal moment in your life that guided you toward the path of flower remedies and natural medicine?
I had the path of the “wounded healer.” I was very sick physically and emotionally. After everything else failed me, I was given a flower remedy combination that healed me in one month. I knew there was no turning back from that moment on.
Q: Flower remedies are known for addressing emotional and spiritual imbalances. How do these remedies contribute to the holistic mind-body-spirit connection, and how critical is emotional healing in achieving lasting physical health? Can you share a particularly moving experience that illustrates this?
After I had the healing with flower remedies, I realized that there is no “mind body connection.” The phrase perpetuates the idea that they are separate. In homeopathy we call it the “organism” and it encompasses all parts of a being: physical, mental, spiritual and emotional. Dr. Bach, who discovered flower remedies, said “There is no true healing unless there is change in outlook, peace of mind and inner happiness.” And I fully agree. His belief and the philosophy behind homeopathy is that illness and therefore health, begins in the spirt. So you will have a hard time healing a physical illness if you are emotionally out of balance.
I experienced this when I took my first flower remedy formula. I was very sick with a physical illness I got in Egypt, which was likely malaria. I was actually recovering on my own, and doing really well a few months after, but then my first love died of cancer and it was a huge blow to my vital force. Then the malaria took over and I could not heal. I tried many things, all for healing the body and neglecting that huge grief, as I didn’t know yet about remedies. I stayed sick for about five years… then the first flower remedy I took addressed my spirit and my body had a spontaneous healing.
Q: You’ve been a Bach flower remedy practitioner for over twenty years, which is remarkable. What shifts or trends have you observed in the field of natural healing, and how have these influenced the evolution of your own practice?
When I set out to do this work, no one was doing it. But even though I was taking a risk, I knew it was my calling and nothing stood in my way. Since then, flower remedy therapy is becoming more and more common. And herbal tincture formulas are everywhere. I love that people discuss the microbiome and that nontoxic skincare is everywhere. I love this because it shows that there is growing consciousness in our culture. But on the other hand, there are now so many people starting wellness brands or calling themselves herbalists or flower remedy practitioners after only studying for a few months. We have to practice discernment to know who is just an influencer and who really knows their stuff.
Q: Homeopathy and flower remedies often complement each other in holistic practices. How do you blend these two modalities in your approach, and what unique benefits do they each bring to the healing process?
I don’t actually blend them much. With classical homeopathy, one of the main principles is that you choose only one remedy for a person (and avoid doing a lot of other modalities at the same time, as it clouds the picture). The one remedy should cover their physical, mental and emotional imbalance. So it’s rare that if I am giving someone homeopathic treatment that I bring flower remedies into the mix. I like to have the person be a blank slate so I can tell what’s doing what when they come back for follow-ups. But if someone is on a flower remedy and then they have an acute physical illness, I may give them a homeopathic to clear the physical. So even though flower remedies can heal the physical, by bringing a person back to a state of joy and stimulating their self-healing mechanism, homeopathy is so miraculous to bring speedy physical healing, especially in acutes like flu, food poisoning and accidents, etc. I mostly do flowers now because they are so easy to work with. There is nothing that can interfere with their action and there is never a danger of aggravation, as with homeopathy. Learning homeopathy was hugely influential in the way I perceive a person’s case and how I go about questioning them to find the best flower remedy.
Q: While your remedies are designed for universal conditions, each person’s healing journey is unique. How do you guide individuals in choosing the right remedy for their needs, especially those who are new to flower remedies?
I looked to Dr. Bach for guidance when I was creating my formulas and writing the descriptions for each one. He was very clear that the remedies should be described simply, with very little theorizing or rhetoric, so that people could recognize themselves in the words and easily choose the best remedy for themselves or their family. That’s why I use simple language and stay away from catch phrases and spiritual jargon. I’ve found most people read the descriptions and, just like reading a restaurant menu, they’ll say “Ooooh, I know what I’m getting!” I do recommend that if you have had trauma and have never recovered, even if it was long ago, that you start with one of my “foundational formulas,” as trauma can be a block in other remedies working and needs to be cleared first. For those who are confused I have created a quiz on my website that is really good for narrowing down a treatment plan.
Q: As someone deeply connected to the divine feminine energy and the healing power of plants, how do you nurture your own balance and well-being while holding space for others on their healing journeys?
The more healed I’ve become, and the more toxins I’ve cut out of my life, the more sensitive I have become to other people’s energy. I made a formula called Pathos, for empaths, and it was one of the formulas I made for myself and then realized others needed it too. I was getting so drained from interacting and taking on everyone’s suffering that I had to stop doing personal consultations. This formula is slowly returning a stronger psychic aura. Other practices I do are sunbathing (I feel the sun is masculine and gives real balanced grounded life force energy to the feminine), baths with epsom salts, baking soda and Dr. Hauschka rose bath oil, EMF minimization when possible (I have blue shield emf mitigating devices for home and travel and I avoid those big scanners at the airpot and opt for pat down), wearing only natural fabrics (linen and silk are my fave), listening to ragas and healing music (I love Krishna Das) and spending time outside in the desert, watching the wild rabbits, hummingbirds and coyotes.
Q: For someone just starting out with flower remedies, what are the must-have products you would recommend as a baseline, and why?
Everyone should have my formula called First Aid Kit. It’s my version of Dr. Bach’s Rescue Remedy and you should have this on you at all times because it neutralizes shock, trauma and acute fear. If you only had one remedy, it should be this one. Shock is a great inhibitor of healing and if you can address it as soon as it happens, you will not have any lasting damage. Some other universal ones I love to have on rotation are: Beauty Formula No.8: Gives a glow, releases tension in the body and face and makes you magnetic, then My Personal Assistant which I use when I have a lot of work or I’m packing for a trip or just feel stagnant and sluggish. It’s instant energy without jitters. Then Peaceful Worrier is good for times when you are worried, have insomnia and just need to relax. It’s better than Xanax :)
Q: For those inspired to explore your work or begin their healing journey with flower remedies, where can they find more information and connect with you directly?
I’m on instagram @alexissmartflowerremedies and I see all the messages. I post a lot about healing there and which remedies do what. My website has a ton of info on the “About” pages. Make a cup of tea, browse the site to narrow down some choices, then if you have questions, write me on Ig or take the quiz on alexissmart.com (answered by a human, not AI :)
