Bach flower remedies
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Bach Flower Remedies are the original form of Flower Essence Therapy, which Dr. Edward Bach originated.
Flower essence therapy is a form of alternative medicine which uses diluted sun infusions of 38 different flowers. Flower buds are exposed to the sun for several hours in a bowl of spring water. This creates the mother tincture, which is then diluted to form the stock bottles sold commonly in stores. Each remedy is used alone or in conjunction with other remedies. Each flower is believed by advocates to impart specific qualities to the remedy. They are typically specially prepared by a naturopath or other healer for each patient to meet his/her individual needs. These 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, a pre-blended combination of Rock rose, Impatiens, Clematis, Star of Bethlehem and Cherry Plum remedies. Rescue Remedy is so-called because 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, or as a 'rescue cream' to be rubbed onto the skin. Drops are generally taken under the tongue.
Rescue Remedy and other Bach flower remedies are used on household pets and domestic animals, and have been reported to be effective in calming them and improving problem behaviours. No controlled studies support these claims.
Bach Flower Remedies contain no artificial preservatives or additives. Unpreserved, the tinctures are perishable, therefore they are mixed with a grape-alcohol or other alcohol carrier (usually brandy or cognac mixed with water) as a preservative.
Makers of "flower remedies" all over the world have created additional remedies based on the original principles invented by Edward 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 Dr. Bach, a few other techniques have been developed which have been found effective, including some non-cutting methods. Currently over 400 small (i.e., 1 or 2 people) to medium (i.e., up to 15 or so employees) flower essence makers are active around the world, from Alaska to Australia, Brazil and India. In Britain alone over 60 different makers are registered with the British Association of Flower Essence Producers (BAFEP). Dr. Bach's work has inspired a tremendous area of research worldwide.
Bach Flower Remedies share, and have been criticized for, many of the characteristics and properties of homeopathic remedies.
List of Bach Flower Remedies
The Dr. Edward Bach Centre in the UK presents this list of the 38 remedies discovered by Dr Bach and directed at a specific characteristic or emotional state.
- Agrimony – mental torture behind a cheerful face
- Aspen – fear of unknown things
- Beech – intolerance
- Centaury – inability to say 'no'
- Cerato – lack of trust in one's own decisions
- Cherry Plum – fear of the mind giving way
- Chestnut Bud – failure to learn from mistakes
- Chicory – selfish, possessive love
- Clematis – dreaming of the future without working in the present
- Crab Apple – cleansing remedy, also for self-hatred
- Elm – overwhelmed by responsibility
- Gentian – discouragement after a setback
- Gorse – hopelessness and despair
- Heather – self-centredness and self-concern
- Holly – hatred, envy and jealousy
- Honeysuckle – living in the past
- Hornbeam – procrastination, tiredness at the thought of doing something
- Impatiens – impatience
- Larch – lack of confidence
- Mimulus – fear of known things
- Mustard – deep gloom for no reason
- Oak – the plodder who keeps going past the point of exhaustion
- Olive – exhaustion following mental or physical effort
- Pine – guilt
- Red Chestnut – over-concern for the welfare of loved ones
- Rock Rose – terror and fright
- Rock Water – self-denial, rigidity and self-repression
- Scleranthus – inability to choose between alternatives
- Star of Bethlehem – shock
- Sweet Chestnut – Extreme mental anguish, when everything has been tried and there is no light left
- Vervain – over-enthusiasm
- Vine – dominance and inflexibility
- Walnut – protection from change and unwanted influences
- Water Violet – pride and aloofness
- White Chestnut – unwanted thoughts and mental arguments
- Wild Oat – uncertainty over one's direction in life
- Wild Rose – drifting, resignation, apathy
- Willow – self-pity and resentment
See also
External links
- Bach Centre (http://bachcentre.com/)
- Bach Flower Research Programme (http://www.edwardbach.org)
- Information from WhoNamedIt.com (http://www.whonamedit.com/synd.cfm/300.html)
- British Association of Flower Essence Producers (http://bafep.com/)
- Flower Essences of Fox Mountain, USA (http://www.floweressencesoffoxmountain.com/)
- Himalyan Flower Enhancers (http://www.himalaya.com.au/)
- Light Heart Essences (UK) (http://www.lightheartessences.co.uk/)