When you hear Bach flowers, do you think of beautiful plants by a creek? You can find out here what the Bach flower effect is really about.
Origin of the Bach Flowers
The principle of the Bach flowers goes back to the British doctor Dr. Edward Bach back. In 1906 he began studying medicine and dealt with the connection between the mental state of a patient and his illness. For example, he discovered links between heart disease and a lack of love, and stomach ulcers from worry. Over the years, Bach turned more and more to natural remedies and specialized in plants or flowers that can balance negative emotions due to their vibrations.
To do this, he tested many plants on himself and realized that the essences of the flowers in particular help to release inner blockages. Conventional medicine ostracized him for this path, so Bach withdrew to the countryside and created his own flower therapy. A Bach flower effect has not yet been scientifically proven.
Treatment: 38 Bach flowers for every situation
The Bach flowers are said to have a positive effect on conditions such as fear, stress or negative emotions. However, Edward Bach has already emphasized that a long-term Bach flower effect only occurs in connection with a change in lifestyle.
There are 38 different essences in total, since according to Bach each Bach flower is linked to one of the 38 states of mind. We would like to introduce you to some of the most popular essences, such as Rock Rose, Crap Apple or Chestnut, and explain how they affect possible diseases in humans.
- White Chestnut: The white chestnut promises a remedy if your thoughts are constantly revolving around a topic.
- Red Chestnut: The red chestnut is said to reduce worry about other people. Sweet Chestnut: The sweet chestnut stands for motivation and courage.
- skirt rose: The rose is said to bring serenity, especially when there is shocking news or situations.
- impatiens: The Bach flower impatiens (glandular balsam) promises inner peace and serenity.
- Cherry Plum: The cherry plum is said to make you more balanced, especially when you lose your temper again.
- Crab Apple: If you are dissatisfied with your appearance or self-confidence, Crab Apple Bach flowers are said to bring about inner acceptance.
- wild rose: Are you facing a conflict situation, but you really don’t want to deal with it? As a Bach flower wild rose, the dog rose helps to approach the dispute positively.
- Wild Oat: I have many talents – but what do I really want to do? As a wild oat, the brome helps to find the right path.
- Gentian: Those who are easily discouraged should rely on the autumn gentian in the form of Gentian – it gives new confidence.
- larch: A mountain of tasks is piling up in front of you and you are unsure how to deal with it? The Bach flower Larch strengthens your self-confidence so that you can start with these tasks with courage.
- horn beam: If you have trouble getting out of bed in the morning, you should rely on the hornbeam, known here as hornbeam. It helps us to start the day with more momentum.
- mustard: Everyone is sad from time to time. But if you’re sad for a long time, apparently without a reason, wild mustard, also known as mustard, helps to improve the mood.
- Rock Water: Do you always want to do everything perfectly? Rockwater Bach Flowers bring you back to earth and help you see things a little more loosely.
- Cerato: Sometimes you’ve already decided on something, but you still want confirmation from others that you’re going in the right direction. Leadwort can help here by boosting self-confidence.
- Star of Bethlehem: Unexpected negative events can throw us off course. The Star of Bethlehem, which stands for the Doldig Milk Star, increases confidence in overcoming the event.
- Chicory: Chicory provides relaxation when one tends to be possessive or has an excessive need to protect someone.
- Holly: Are you prone to envy, distrust or jealousy? The Holly Bach flowers from the bad palm now have a calming effect.
- Vine: Are you sometimes dominant because you are ambitious? The grapevine then makes you more flexible and relaxed in dealing with others.
- aspens: Basically, aspen does exactly the opposite of what its name suggests – it relieves nervousness and anxiety and helps us to relax.
Bach flower effect: Application as drops
The original Rescue Drops consist of five flowers:
- Cherry plum (Cherry Plum)
- Doldiger milk star
- Yellow Rockrose
- White clematis
- Glandular Balsam (Impatiens)
These Bach flowers called emergency drops should be consumed during periods of mental depression or when there is a lot of stress.
Basically, there are the Bach flowers as drops, spray, globules or drops to suck. However, it should be clear that these drops are only to be taken as a supplement in an emergency and you should not forgo a visit to the doctor.
In the following situations Taking the drops can also be useful:
- Before surgery or other medical procedures
- When stressed
- For fear
- For sports injuries
- After a argument
Bach Flower Effect: Crafting
In order for Bach flowers to develop the effects outlined by Edward Bach when ingested, they have to be produced in a very special way. In contrast to homeopathy, no herbal substances are extracted from Bach flowers. Instead, it is about the vibrations of the plants, which are transferred to the carrier water. However, there is no scientific evidence for the Bach flower effect. There are two different ways to craft:
- sun method: The flowers, leaves and twigs are placed on a bowl of spring water so that the parts of the plant wither when exposed to the sun for three to seven hours. This is followed by a dilution and with the addition of alcohol, the water, which corresponds to the essences of the flowers, is filled into small bottles. These can later be taken as drops.
- cooking method: In months when sunshine is low, the flowers are boiled in spring water until they wilt. The same procedure then follows as with the sun method.
Effects of Bach flowers: tips on buying, storing and taking them
You can buy the drops in almost every drugstore. You can also get them in pharmacies, but the prices may vary. Like all homeopathic remedies, Bach flowers are controversial because there is no evidence of their effectiveness. However, many patients and naturopaths swear by the flowers. As already mentioned, you can test them as a supplement and form your own opinion, but you should never see them as a panacea.
The Bach flowers are Long shelf life provided you store them in a cool, dark place. You will also find an expiry date on the packaging.
Are Bach flowers also suitable for children?
Since there are usually no side effects to be feared, Bach flowers can also be used in children in various mixtures, as long as they don’t contain alcohol. There may be a Bach flower effect in children in the following cases:
- impatience
- aggressiveness
- increased anxiety
- Jealousy, for example of siblings
- fear of failure
- homesickness
- low self-confidence
Bach flower effects in animals
Since the Bach flowers are said to have a calming effect, they are also used in veterinary medicine for animals such as cats, dogs and horses. This applies in particular to animals that show various behavioral problems such as anxiety or aggressiveness. Different mixtures of Bach flowers can be used, it is only important that the variations do not contain alcohol. The Bach flowers are often given to animals in the form of globules, which are given two to three times a day with the feed.
Are you skeptical about Bach flowers, but are you interested in foods that also promise a healing effect? You can find out everything about the effects of green tea, the hemp oil effect, the MSM effect and the effect of ginseng here. And here we explain anthroposophic medicine and show you how you can easily create a healthy nutrition plan.
If you would like to exchange ideas with others about Bach flowers and other natural remedies, take a look at our BRIGITTE community past.
sources
IGeL Monitor: Bach flower therapy
Glück, H.: Bach flowers, the gentle helpers, Norderstedt, 2009
Kübler, H.: Bach flower therapy in veterinary medicine, Stuttgart, 2002
Scheffer, M.: The Original Bach Flower Therapy, Heinrich Hugendubel Verlag, 2nd edition, 2013