Handmade according to the original instructions of Dr Edward Bach, using his original methods and the exact plant species he identified.
Crab Apple flower essence is traditionally chosen when you feel uncomfortable with something about yourself or your surroundings that seems unclean, imperfect or somehow not quite right. You may become particularly aware of a physical feature, a minor imperfection, something you have thought or done, or a detail in your environment that is difficult to overlook.
The concern itself may be relatively small but it can begin to occupy a disproportionate amount of your attention. Crab Apple is associated with restoring perspective and greater self-acceptance when a perceived flaw or imperfection has become difficult to see beyond.
Indications that Crab Apple may be needed
- Feeling unclean, uncomfortable or dissatisfied with some aspect of yourself
- Becoming preoccupied with cleanliness, germs or contamination
- Feeling self-conscious or disgusted by a perceived physical flaw or imperfection
- Fixating on a small detail and finding it difficult to see the bigger picture
- Feeling uncomfortable with disorder, untidiness or things not being as they should be
- Holding yourself to very exacting standards of cleanliness, purity or perfection
- Wanting to rid yourself of a thought, feeling or action that seems unacceptable or out of character
When Crab Apple may be the right choice
The defining Crab Apple pattern is not simply liking things to be clean or orderly. It is the tendency for something perceived as wrong, dirty or imperfect to take on greater importance than it might otherwise deserve.
You may become so focused on one detail that it is difficult to put it into perspective. A small blemish, an untidy environment, an unwanted thought or something you regret saying may continue to bother you long after someone else would have dismissed it.
Crab Apple may also be relevant when this sensitivity is directed towards yourself. You may feel uncomfortable with your appearance or body, judge yourself harshly for something that does not meet your own standards or feel a strong desire to be rid of something you regard as unacceptable.
Crab Apple and similar flower essences
Several flower essences from the Bach system can involve self-criticism, perfectionism or becoming mentally preoccupied with something but the nature of the concern helps distinguish between them.
Crab Apple and Pine
Both can involve feeling badly about yourself because of something you have thought or done. Pine is associated more specifically with guilt and self-blame, including taking responsibility for things that may not be your fault. Crab Apple centres more on feeling that something about yourself is wrong, unclean or unacceptable and wanting to be rid of it.
Crab Apple and Rock Water
Both can involve very high personal standards. Rock Water is associated with strict self-discipline and denying yourself flexibility in order to live up to your ideals. Crab Apple is more concerned with perceived impurity, imperfection or disorder and the need for things to feel clean or right.
Crab Apple and White Chestnut
Both can involve becoming mentally stuck on something. White Chestnut is associated with unwanted thoughts or mental arguments that repeatedly circle through the mind. With Crab Apple, attention becomes fixed on a particular flaw, imperfection or something that feels out of order, making it difficult to turn your attention elsewhere.
The positive potential of Crab Apple
As the need for everything to feel perfectly clean, ordered or free from flaws begins to soften it becomes easier to put small imperfections into perspective. Details can still be noticed without allowing them to dominate your attention or determine how you feel about yourself.
The positive Crab Apple state is traditionally associated with greater self-acceptance and a healthier sense of proportion - recognising what genuinely matters while allowing room for the ordinary imperfections that are part of everyday life.
How to Use
This is a stock level essence that can be taken directly or combined with up to 6 other essences in a treatment bottle. If you'd prefer your chosen essences prepared for you, you can order a custom blend here.
When taking from the stock bottle, the recommended dosage is 4 drops at least 4 times a day, especially in the morning and before bedtime. For acute situations, you may take the essence more frequently.
Alternatively, for a more gentle effect you can add 4 drops to a glass of water to sip throughout the day. You can combine up to 7 essences using this method.
Why choose Crystal Herbs English Flower Essences?
Prepared by Crystal Herbs in the UK, these English Flower Essences are handmade according to Dr Bach's original instructions using the traditional sun and boiling methods. Each essence is prepared from the exact plant species identified by Dr Bach, preserving the integrity of his original flower essence system.
Continue exploring
If you'd like to explore the full system or compare Crab Apple with the other remedies, our Complete Guide to the 38 Bach Flower Remedies is a helpful place to start.
CRAB APPLE:
I accept imperfection and illness as teachers
Spirit speaks through my physical being
I allow this light to cleanse my body
I feel the radiance of renewed health
~ Affirmations from Affirm a Flower cards ~