Bach Flower Remedies

In the twenties and thirties of the last century, Dr Edward Bach worked on identifying negative states of mind that could affect one’s physical health. Around his centre in Oxfordshire, and on his travels throughout the world, he found 38 flower remedies to treat each of these states of mind and attitude, which can today be found in most pharmacies and health food shops. It is also possible to see a Bach Flower Remedies practitioner.

The remedies are very safe for anyone to use, and they are not known to interact with medications or cause side effects. Although based in alcohol, the amount of alcohol used per dose is very small, and if they are added to a hot drink the alcohol will evaporate anyway. If you would be interested in using flower remedies and have any concerns, your pharmacist or doctor would be able to help you.

Each remedy is associated with a specific attitude or frame of mind. Self-injury is often the result of certain patterns of thinking or feeling, contributing to sensations of hyperstress or of dissociation. It is also closely linked with low self-esteem. The following are examples of remedies I might select to help me deal with self-injury on a day to day level.

Agrimony for those who hide their feelings behind humour and put on a brave face
Cherry Plum for the fear of losing one’s mind, and for irrational thoughts or behaviour
Clematis for the absent minded daydreamer who needs to be awake and focus the mind on the here and now
Crab Apple for those who feel they need purification or suffer from high levels of self-hatred
Gentian for despondency and for those who are easily discouraged by a setback in life
Gorse for those stuck in a negative pattern; pessimism
Mustard for depression without cause, those who feel they are under a dark gloomy cloud for no apparent reason
Pine for those who suffer self-reproach and guilt; for those who say sorry even when things are not their fault
Rock Rose for those who feel helpless and experience extreme terror or panic, when there may or may not be a reason but the feeling is real
Sweet Chestnut for despair and hopelessness; for when there seems to be no way out
White Chestnut for tiresome mental chatter and the overactive mind, full of persistent and unwanted patterns of thought

They can be use at the time of need or they can be used on a long term basis e.g. four drops on the tongue, four times a day. One of the more famous remedies is called Rescue Remedy, which is a combination of five of the remedies, to be used at a time of shock, or other intense emotional upset. It can be used alongside other remedies and is thought to be useful for times like those before an exam or a driving test, or an operation, or a job interview – whenever our nerves might get the better of us!

It is also possible to combine the remedies in one. Select those you wish to use or feel are appropriate at this time and add a couple of drops to a glass of water, fizzy drink, cup of tea etc. To avoid mixing too many together, think carefully about the ones that you need by asking yourself the following questions: How do you feel? Why do you think you feel like that? What could have caused the problem?

Who knows whether it’s all about the placebo effect – would that really matter if they worked? They are simple and easy to use, inexpensive and safe. If they help, they help and I’ve gotten through another day without self-harming. Any benefit on top of that would be an added bonus!

References:
http://www.bachcentre.com/centre/remedies.htm
The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Healing Remedies by C. Norman Shealy