The Bach flower remedies are a system of natural medicine developed in the 1930s that uses thirty-eight flowering plants and trees, prepared with a specific homeopathic process, to treat and prevent illness. Concerned about the side effects of conventional drugs, an English physician, Edward Bach, explored natural, gentler ways to alleviate emotional difficulties and psychological imbalances. Unfortunately, no controlled scientific studies are available to support their effectiveness. One reason is that it’s difficult to measure the effects of flower essences with standard scientific methods. Practitioners have relied on case studies and anecdotal evidence.
Since Edward Bach’s death, further development of the flower essence repertory has been carried on by his protégés in England and the United States. Bach and other flower remedies require patience. They are not quick fixes like tranquilizers or sleeping pills, but neither do they create physical dependence or have side effects. The subtle, gentle action of flower essences makes them safe for use in self-help for mild anxiety.
Bach and other flower essences can be purchased in concentrated form in many health food stores. Put 3 to 4 drops of the concentrate in a 1-ounce bottle of spring water. Place 4 drops under the tongue first thing in the morning, between meals, and before going to sleep. Up to six remedies may be combined and taken at one time, but the fewer mixed together, the better. Each of the different flower remedies is considered to be effective for a specific mental attitude or set of symptoms. Here are nine Bach flower remedies, followed by the symptoms of anxiety and fear for which they are used:
Note: Flower remedies and their applications are presented for interest only and with no claims of effectiveness. As there is no published scientific research, support for these is mostly anecdotal. They are not a substitute for psychotherapy, nor are they meant to treat an anxiety disorder that requires medical attention. If symptoms persist or you feel out of control, immediately consult a doctor or other qualified health professional.
RESCUE REMEDY
One of the best-known flower remedy formulas for stress relief is sold under brand names such as Rescue Remedy, Calming Essence, Five Flower Formula, and Nature’s Rescue. Dr. Edward Bach developed this formula by blending five of his flower remedies together—Impatiens, Clematis, Rock Rose, Cherry Plum, and Star of Bethlehem. Rescue Remedy is the most frequently used combination of all the Bach flower remedies. It is used worldwide as first aid for its calming effect on anxiety, grief, and trauma. It is used for such everyday stresses as tension headaches, temper tantrums, and stage fright. It is said to be helpful for anticipatory anxiety before taking a test, going to the doctor or dentist, or giving a speech. It may also be of assistance in an emotional crisis, such as trauma after an accident or grief over a loved one.
Rescue Remedy should never be used as a substitute for emergency medical evaluation and treatment. In addition, no scientific studies have documented the effectiveness of Rescue Remedy. When stress relief is needed, place 4 drops of Rescue Remedy under the tongue, directly from the bottle. You can also put 4 drops in a cup of warm water and sip it slowly every few minutes until the crisis abates. Rescue Remedy can be obtained at most health food stores. Keep the remedy closed tightly in its original container, and store away from sunlight and heat.
HOMEOPATHY
Through the like, disease is produced, and through the application of the like, it is cured.
—HIPPOCRATES
Homeopathy is a system of healing based on the principle “like cures like.” Homeo means “similar” and pathy means “disease or suffering.” Homeopathy is primarily a German medical tradition, with its roots in ancient Greece. Almost two-thirds of all homeopathic remedies are prepared from plant materials, including fruits, flowers, vegetables, roots, seeds, berries, and the bark of trees.
In homeopathy, symptoms are seen as a healthy response of the body to illness. Suppressing or removing symptoms by standard allopathic medicine is viewed as not treating the underlying cause of the disease. Homeopathy holds that a very small dose of “similars” is capable of inducing a healing response in an ill person with similar symptoms. The best example of this in American medicine is probably allergy shots, in which a very small amount of the allergic substance (known as the allergen) is injected into the allergic person to treat the allergic condition.
Homeopathic prescriptions are formulated by serial dilution and succussion (vigorous shaking). The majority of homeopathic remedies are at relatively low dilutions: 3X–30X, meaning that the mother tincture (1 mg per 10 cc) has been diluted out 3–30 times (taking 9 cc out and adding back 9 cc of water each time), with interval succussion.
Homeopathy strives to treat the whole person, rather than different specialists treating separate symptoms. In keeping with a holistic, natural view of medicine, the patient’s emotional and spiritual aspects are considered just as important as the physical in achieving a cure. Homeopaths consult a Materia Medicas to determine the remedy that best matches the whole picture of the patient’s symptoms. The choice of remedies is determined by taking a detailed case history to elucidate the patient’s overall constitutional needs, not just the evident symptoms. Homeopathy is a safe and effective, though still controversial, system for treating transient anxiety and chronic stress.
Dr. Klaus Linde and other respected researchers, including Wayne B. Jonas, M.D., director of the Office of Alternative Medicine at the National Institutes of Health, thoroughly reviewed 89 placebo-controlled studies of homeopathic treatments reported in the medical literature. Their results were published in the September 20, 1997, issue of the acclaimed medical journal Lancet. Their meta-analysis of the data pooled from these 89 studies showed that homeopathic remedies were almost two-and-a-half times more effective than placebo.
Homeopathic remedies are derived not only from plants and herbs but also from animal and mineral sources. The following are some examples of remedies a homeopath might use, after taking a detailed case history, to match specific symptoms of stress and anxiety:
For transient mild anxiety you can treat yourself with appropriate remedies that can be purchased in many health food stores. Two homeopathic remedies from Lehning Laboratories of France—Sleep Ease, a nonhabit-forming sleep aid, and Anti-Anxiety, for daytime stress—are especially popular in Europe, and are now distributed throughout the United States. Follow the directions on the label. Be sure to take homeopathic remedies at a separate time of day from other herbs and medications. It is also best if the mouth is free of food, coffee, tea, toothpaste, or mouthwash at the time of ingesting the remedy.
Many hundreds of American physicians and other licensed health care practitioners use homeopathy as an alternative medicine. If you are considering homeopathy as part of your treatment for anxiety, it would be best to consult a trained homeopath. Because the symptoms of anxiety can vary so widely from one person to another, working with someone experienced in homeopathy is preferable to attempting to self-treat with remedies available in health food stores. Do not discontinue any prescription drugs without consulting your doctor or a homeopathic physician.
HERBAL MEDICINES ARE A CATALYST OF NATURAL HEALING
Nature is the healer of disease.
—HIPPOCRATES
Healing comes from within, and it is your birthright. Herbal remedies are a catalyst for the innate power to heal anxiety. Just as you might choose to say grace before a meal, each time you take a botanical medicine you might affirm, “This herb is to heal my mind and body, and for my spiritual growth.” You can trust your healing, for nature is now on your side.
Although you may be receiving guidance, advice, and suggestions from one or more health care professionals, your healing is fundamentally in your hands and heart. Most of all, have faith in the doctor who resides in you. It is also important that you form a safe, strong alliance with the health care provider you choose. You must decide among the various courses of treatment presented. Don’t become a sheep. Become educated. Ask questions. If your doctor suggests an herb or synthetic medicine, ask about benefits, risks, and side effects. Make an informed decision, and follow through on the treatment you choose.
Recognize and accept that plateaus will occur. The body does not heal in a smooth, continuous fashion. It is natural for your healing journey to consist sometimes of two steps forward and one step back. Enjoy your healing, and don’t be discouraged. If you have suffered from stress and anxiety for a long time, you may discover a confidence and inner peace you have not known for years.