Bach Flower Remedies – Crab Apple

Species: Malus pumila or sylvestris

Group: Despondency or Despair

Keywords: Poor self-image. Sense of uncleanliness. Stuck in details.

“To struggle against a fault increases its power, keeps our attention riveted on its presence, and brings us a battle indeed…”
~Edward Bach

Modern apples were domesticated from wild apple trees with small, bitter fruit. A crab apple is any common apple fruit smaller than 2 inches. Most have a sour taste. Today there are thousands of cultivated apple trees with fruit in a variety of flavors, size, and textures. The apples we buy at the grocery store were originally grafted onto a rootstock and are essentially cloned. Bees are pollinators of apple trees, otherwise there would be no fruit. The legendary Johnny (Chapman) Appleseed introduced apple seeds to other areas of North America as he traveled westward from Massachusetts through Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois in the early 1800s.

Dr. Bach wrote that Crab Apple is the “remedy for cleansing. For those who feel as if they had something not quite clean about themselves. Often it is something of apparently little importance. In others there may be more serious disease which is almost disregarded compared to the one thing on which they concentrate. In both types they are anxious to be free from the one particular thing which is greatest in their mind and which seems so essential to them that it should be cured. They become despondent if treatment fails.”
– The Twelve Healers

Emotional disharmony indicating Crab Apple:

• A poor self image
• A sense of uncleanliness
• Ashamed or embarrassed by physical imperfections
• OCD about germs or obsessed with cleanliness

Positive character qualities of Crab Apple:

• Self-acceptance
• A positive self image
• Acceptance of personal imperfections
• Relaxed about the appearance of the home

Daily use of the Bach flowers provides gentle emotional support. Negative attitudes are transformed into positive virtues as the body’s self-curative potential strengthens emotional health and restores inner harmony.

“And may we ever have gratitude in hearts that the great Creator in all His glory has placed the herbs in the field for our healing.“ ~ Edward Bach