Bach’s Flower Natural Depression Remedy – Does it Work?
Bach’s flower remedies are not something found at the corner store – but they’re surprisingly “present”, without one having to do backflips to obtain them. Quiet English doctor Edward Bach died in 1936 – but his simple, gentle remedies are still in demand today.
These gentle homeopathic remedies still come in traditional tiny glass bottles with droppers – dark-colored to block out potentially harmful effects of light; and glass as the most neutral container.
A house surgeon at University College Hospital in London, England, Dr. Bach also had an office in fashionable Harley Street, the “medical district”. He specialized in bacteriology, and worked on vaccines – and 7 “nosodes” which later brought him fame.
What is a “nosode”? It’s Bach’s first homeopathic group of natural remedies, each dealing with a particular primary negative emotion – created when Bach grew convinced that man’s disorders were tied to his emotions.
Under each nosode, or group, Bach created remedies to break these emotions down even further, targeting specific causes. Bach’s original groups were:
• Fear• Uncertainty• Insufficient interest in present circumstances• Loneliness• Over-sensitivity to influences and ideas• Despondency or Despair• Over-care for welfare of others
As he saw real success with his experiments, Dr. Bach lost interest in the omnipotent and patriarchal medical establishment, which he felt was out of touch with real human beings, thanks to their fascination with only the symptoms and pathological causes of disease. In 1930, he abandoned his successful and prestigious Harley Street medical practice and left the city, devoting all his energy to continuing his research with flower essences.
He enjoyed locating plants during the spring and summer, experimenting with them. During the winter, he offered holistic medical healing to local residents. At this time, he became even more convinced that his patients’ emotions played a major part in the physical symptoms each manifested, and worked hard to isolate specific remedies further.
There were many success stories – and of course, many detractors from traditional medicine. And both trends continue to today. What is particularly telling, however: Edward Bach’s 38 remedies remain exactly as he invented them. And are still readily available across the world, in almost every Natural Health store.
An example just 7 of these remedies, and what they are for (remember – these are homeopathic tinctures of flowers:)
1. Gorse – To counteract despair2. Rock Rose – To counteract panic attacks3. Star of Bethlehem – To counteract sudden shock, severe loss4. Gentian – To counteract being too easily discouraged, crushed by the slightest setback5. Mimulus – To counteract fear – of everything (loss, poverty, loneliness, etc.)6. Pine – To counteract guilt and a tendency to blame oneself for every small thing7. Willow – To counteract bitterness and a tendency to blame life
Finally, there is Bach’s famous “Rescue® Remedy, a combination of flowers said to be especially good for traumatic situations. It’s formulated from a blend of 5 flowers:
• Star of Bethlehem• Rock Rose• Clematis• Cherry Plum• Impatiens
Depression patient Mary P., also reminisces about carrying tiny bottles of Rescue Remedy with her, when she first began to leave her house. “I don’t really care if it was a placebo effect – the point is, a few drops of Rescue Remedy under my tongue would relieve the worst anxiety attack.”
Holistic practitioner Sandi Chadwick, R.N., swears by Rescue Remedy; and says she finds it particularly beneficial against shock, especially with the elderly.
And the best part about these gentle, homeopathic remedies?
They can be taken by anyone – even pets – and won’t interact badly with any other medication. The interesting part about giving it to pets, says Chadwick: “They don’t know anything about `placebo effects’. And it really works.”