Bach flower remedies

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Bach flower remedies are dilutions of flower "essences" developed by Dr.Edward Bach. They are similar to homeopathy in many respects and form a part of alternative medicine. Some researchers believe that they exert their claimed effects via the placebo effect, however practitioners feel the "energetic signature" of the flower can be transmitted to the user and affect a person's psychological state.

One difference between homeopathy and Bach flower remedies are the "potentization" methods used to produce the remedies, Flower remedies are produced using the sun method or, for the hardier plants, the boiling method. Both these methods were invented by Bach. Another key difference is that Bach remedies are only used to treat the mental symptoms believed by practitioners to be the root cause of the many diseases. Bach flower remedies are not dependent on the theory of successive dilutions, and are not based on the Law of Similars. The Bach Remedies are all derived from non-toxic substances, with the idea that a "positive energy" can redirect or neutralize "negative energy".

There are thirty-eight original Bach remedies plus "Rescue Remedy^TM" (see below), each prescribed for certain mental and emotional problems. They form a complete system with which practitioners treat every variety of human emotional imbalance. Other systems of remedies have been developed by practitioners who have access to flowers that are indigenous to other regions, and that were therefore unknown to Bach.

[edit] Use

Each remedy is used alone or in conjunction with other remedies, and each flower is believed by advocates to impart specific qualities to the remedy. Up to six or seven remedies are typically mixed together by a naturopath or other healer for each patient to meet his/her individual needs. The remedies are used primarily for emotional and spiritual conditions, including but not limited to depression, anxiety, insomnia and stress.

The best-known Bach flower remedy is "Rescue Remedy^TM," a pre-blended combination of Rock rose, Impatiens, Clematis, Star of Bethlehem and Cherry Plum remedies. The ingredients are believed to relieve acute stress, anxiety, and panic attacks, especially in emergencies. Rescue Remedy is taken as needed, and is available either in a small spray-bottle, in a glass bottle with an eye-dropper. Drops are generally taken under the tongue. Rescue is also available in the form of "Rescue Cream^TM" which is rubbed into the skin.

Rescue Remedy and other Bach flower remedies are used on household pets and domestic animals, and have been claimed to be effective in calming them and improving problem behaviours. No controlled studies support these claims. Some people claim that they are also useful for the treatment of diseased plants. Research on the effects of a particular remedy is done by case reporting with consensus review by other users. For example, one person will report that using a particular remedy seemed to help with 'X', then other users will then focus on that same condition either in treating themselves or patients, and will report findings. Results found in this manner are often skewed by a confirmation bias. A recent review concluded:

The hypothesis that flower remedies are associated with effects beyond a placebo response is not supported by data from rigorous clinical trials. ^[1]

However, the effect of a given flower essence will vary from person to person depending upon the emotional life and overall health of the subject. All studies, whether finding for or against the remedies, have suffered from small sample sizes but the studies using the best methodology were the ones that found no effect over placebo.^[2][3]

[edit] Additional flower remedies

Makers of "flower remedies" all over the world have created thousands of additional remedies based on the original principles invented by Bach. The term "flower essences" is also commonly used these days, especially when referring to the non-Bach flower essences being made. Along with the sun-bowl method of preparation pioneered by Bach, a few other techniques have been developed, including some non-cutting methods.

Currently over 400 small (i.e., one or two people) to medium (i.e., up to fifteen or so employees) flower essence makers are active around the world, from Alaska to Australia, Brazil and India. In Britain alone over sixty different makers are registered with the British Association of Flower Essence Producers (BAFEP). Bach's work has inspired a tremendous amount of activity worldwide. Some makers are producing other "vibrational essences," using sources such as minerals/gemstones, nonflowering plants, sea life, mushrooms, cacti, metals, intuitive methods, and natural environments.

[edit] List of Bach flower remedies

The Dr. Edward Bach Centre, which is the Centre founded by Dr Bach to promote and preserve his work, presents this list of the thirty eight remedies discovered by Dr Bach and directed at a specific characteristic or emotional state.

1. Agrimony – mental torture behind a cheerful face
2. Aspen – fear of unknown things
3. Beech – intolerance
4. Centaury – inability to say 'no'
5. Cerato – lack of trust in one's own decisions
6. Cherry Plum – fear of the mind giving way
7. Chestnut Bud (made with horse chestnut buds) – failure to learn from mistakes
8. Chicory – selfish, possessive love
9. Clematis – dreaming of the future without working in the present
10. Crab Apple – cleansing remedy, also for self-hatred
11. Elm – overwhelmed by responsibility
12. Gentian – discouragement after a setback
13. Gorse – hopelessness and despair
14. Heather – self-centeredness and self-concern
15. Holly – hatred, envy and jealousy
16. Honeysuckle – living in the past
17. Hornbeam – procrastination, tiredness at the thought of doing something
18. Impatiens – impatience
19. Larch – lack of confidence and self-esteem
20. Mimulus – fear of known things
21. Mustard – deep gloom for no reason
22. Oak – the plodder who keeps going past the point of exhaustion
23. Olive – exhaustion following mental or physical effort
24. Pine – guilt
25. Red Chestnut (a type of horse chestnut) – over-concern for the welfare of loved ones
26. Rock Rose – terror and fright
27. Rock Water – self-denial, rigidity and self-repression
28. Scleranthus – inability to choose between alternatives
29. Star of Bethlehem – shock
30. Sweet Chestnut – Extreme mental anguish, when everything has been tried and there is no light left
31. Vervain – over-enthusiasm
32. Vine – dominance and inflexibility
33. Walnut – protection from change and unwanted influences
34. Water Violet – pride and aloofness
35. White Chestnut (made with horse chestnut blossoms) – unwanted thoughts and mental arguments
36. Wild Oat – uncertainty over one's direction in life
37. Wild Rose – drifting, resignation, apathy
38. Willow – self-pity and resentment

[edit] See also

• Edward Bach
• Naturopathy
• Homeopathy

[edit] External links

[edit] Sceptics

• Sceptic Information from WhoNamedIt.com
• Bach flower therapy from The Skeptic's Dictionary

[edit] Advocates

• Bach Centre
• Bach Flower Research Programme
• Flower Essence Society - California
• Bach Flower Remedies - introduction, history, materia medica & clinical classification at Hpathy.com
• Rescueremedy.it - How to use it

[edit] Commercial

• Flower Essences of Fox Mountain, USA
• Personal Bach Flower Remedy
• Original Bach Remedies
• Organic Bach Flower Remedies supplied by Karmia. Global Delivery
• Petaltone Flower Essences

[edit] References

1. ^ Ernst E. "Flower remedies": a systematic review of the clinical evidence. Wien Klin Wochenschr. 2002 Dec 30;114(23-24):963-6.
2. ^ Walach, H., C. Rilling, U. Engelke, “Efficacy of Bach-flower remedies in test anxiety: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial with partial crossover”, J Anxiety Disord., july 2001,15 (4), 359-366
3. ^ Pintov S, Hochman M, Livne A, Heyman E, Lahat E. Bach flower remedies used for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children--a prospective double blind controlled study. Eur J Paediatr Neurol. 2005;9(6):395-8.