A Conversation with Mirjana Grbić
Have you ever wondered how emotions, stress, and mental states impact your physical health? Today, we are diving into Bach flower essences with Mirjana Grbić, a pharmacist and certified Bach practitioner, who will help us understand the power of this natural therapy. Bach’s essences are a unique approach to restoring emotional balance and addressing the root causes of physical ailments by focusing on mental and emotional health. Let’s explore how this century-old remedy works and how it can complement modern medicine.
The Awakening Times (TAT): Hello, Mirjana, and welcome to the “Celebrate Life” Festival!
Mirjana Grbić (M.G.): Thank you to ACT Croatia for inviting me, and thank you, Lea, for the opportunity to do this interview.
TAT: I’m excited to talk to you about Bach flower remedies and Bach therapy. How they were created, and used, and on what levels can they help?
M.G: Bach flower essences were developed 100 years ago by Dr. Edward Bach, a general practitioner who specialized in microbiology and worked as an internist. He always had a unique approach to patients, which I believe every doctor should have. That means he not only addressed physical symptoms but also considered other factors contributing to physical illnesses or injuries. He believed that emotional or other imbalances would eventually manifest as symptoms or problems in the physical body.
His goal was to discover the root cause through conversations with his patients. He didn’t just treat the symptoms because that would only mask the issue, and the symptoms would likely return, potentially in a more severe form. He aimed to eliminate the source of the problem so that the chain reaction wouldn’t continue, preventing further harm or illness.
TAT: How are Bach essences made, and how do they work?
M.G: Bach’s essences are completely natural remedies, and one of Dr. Bach’s requirements was that the plants must be gathered from untouched nature—places where the soil hasn’t been cultivated or treated with pesticides or any chemicals. The plants are harvested from their natural habitats. The essences are very simple to use, so anyone, even without medical knowledge, can select the right essence. Of course, a conversation with a Bach practitioner can help if someone wants to work more deeply on themselves.
How do the essences work? They transmit their frequency, or energetic vibration, to us. Depending on our issue, they restore us to mental and emotional balance. They aren’t meant to simply lift your mood; instead, they bring your inner balance back to equilibrium, like leveling a seesaw. When we are stressed, changes occur in our emotions or mental beliefs, and by taking the complementary essence, balance is restored.
38 essences cover all mental and emotional states, and this remains unchanged, no matter the times we live in. This timeless quality is what drew me to become a Bach practitioner.
TAT: As a pharmacist, how do you see the connection between your profession and Bach therapy?
M.G: Pharmacy opened the door for me to help people on a physical level, and it’s a wonderful job. But I always felt the need to offer more—to help people mentally and emotionally as well. Bach flower essences allow me to do that, so these two professions complement each other. The pharmaceutical side addresses the physical aspect, which is crucial since many people are on medication or have various health conditions. I can help them understand what’s happening in their body and reassure them that there are no interactions with Bach essences. Regardless of medications, whether they are homeopathic or other preparations, Bach essences work separately. Their task is to transmit information without interfering with our physiological processes or causing chemical reactions.
TAT: Can you share a personal experience with Bach’s essences?
M.G: Yes, I talked about this last year. I had a fear of public speaking, especially at last year’s festival. Aside from giving lectures in an academic setting, which felt like my comfort zone, this was different. I was going to a city I’d never been to, in front of an unfamiliar audience, without knowing how many people would attend.
Knowing about my fear, I started taking an essence about two weeks before the event. When I arrived in Pula, I didn’t feel anxious or nervous at all. I even checked with the audience, asking how they perceived me, and they said I seemed natural as if I had done this many times before. This experience was very liberating for me. After last year’s festival, I took this work more seriously. I launched an Instagram page, and started recording videos—something I couldn’t imagine doing before. I wouldn’t have dared to record even an audio message, let alone appear on social media, but now I do it daily.
I’ve been using Bach essences for seven years now and have tried all of them. I have plenty of stories to share, from overcoming recurring nightmares, fear of loss, anxiety, and depression to hormonal imbalances. One particular essence, Scleranthus, helped me regulate my menstrual cycle, which had been irregular.
TAT: What final message would you like to leave with our readers?
M.G: Above all, I think people need to be patient with themselves and learn to honor their needs on all levels—physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. These aren’t separate but form a whole. If we are out of balance in one area, it will undoubtedly affect the others. So, I believe that’s the first and most important thing to understand. It’s also essential to respect your boundaries and respond assertively. This will help prevent conflicts with yourself and others.
The approach you choose depends on you—your constitution, your issues, and your desires. I wouldn’t recommend any approach specifically. Instead, I suggest listening to yourself and acting according to your feelings. It’s crucial to maintain that connection with your inner self, as that’s the only way you’ll receive the right information about what will truly help you.
TAT: Thank you for the conversation!
M.G:: Thank you for the opportunity.
