Bach flower remedies

Bach Flower Remedies are a form of alternative medicine which uses homeopathic (extremely diluted) tinctures of 38 different flowers and plants. Each remedy is used alone or in conjunction with other remedies. Each plant is believed by advocates to impart specific qualities to the remedy, and they are generally specially prepared by a naturopath or other healer for each patient to meet his/her individual needs (including nervous conditions such as depression, anxiety, insomnia and general stress).

The best-known Bach flower remedy would have to be the Rescue remedy, a pre-blended combination of Rock Rose, Impatiens, Clematis, Star of Bethlehem and Cherry Plum extracts. Rescue Remedy is so-called because the ingredients are believed by advocates to relieve stress, anxiety, and panic attacks. Rescue Remedy is taken at need, and it 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, as needed.

Some people have used Rescue Remedy and other Bach flower remedies on their household pets and domestic animals, and it is reported by its advocates to often be quite successful in calming them and improving their problem behaviour.

Bach Flower Remedies contain no artificial preservatives or additives in them. By themselves, the tinctures are extremely perishable so they are mixed with a grape-alcohol or other alcohol carrier (usually brandy or cognac mixed with water) to act as a preservative. This makes them generally unsuitable for alcoholics as although used in minute quantities (generally an eye-dropper at a time, either straight on the tongue or mixed in a glass of water) the "alcohol taste" remains very distinctive.

see also naturopathy