Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Alternative therapy: Bach flower remedies


What alternative therapy means is that it should be taken alternatively, at your own risk/ benefit after taking into consideration the advice from your health practitioners. Still, I get people doing this (above) to me when I tell them I take them.

Bach flower remedies was developed by a homeopath (tempting as it may sound, it does not equal psychopath), Edward Bach who identified some properties of flowers (like how we derive medicine out of plants) for emotional and spiritual purposes. For a quick answer to which of the 38 Bach flowers fit you most, go to Remedy Chooser or Learning about Bach Flowers.

During the stresses of the final exam, I had a housemate who got introduced to this by yet another housemate, the Bach Rescue Remedy. Of all the concoctions of Bach flower remedies you can get, Rescue Remedy proves to be extremely popular and you can easily find it at a local pharmacy in UK.
Its functions?
Rescue Remedy® has been used successfully on stressful days where we suffer from impatience, tension and pressure. It has also been used successfully with children to stop a tantrum, before a speech or job interview. Rescue Remedy® helps us relax, get focused and get the needed calmness.

Its endorsees?
Jay McCarrol, the winner of the reality TV show Project Runway, used Rescue Remedy® on the show's grand finale. Jennifer Anniston says it keeps her cool under pressure. Cate Blanchett swears by it, and Salma Hayek has been a fan for years. Source:
http://www.bachflower.com/

What do I think?
I kept a bottle handy at all times during the exam season and the effect was soothing. I wouldn't say that it works for everyone and this is why...

As my housemate said, the effect was probably more psychological than physical. The bottle of Rescue Remedy took the place of my "sanctuary" when I got stressed up. With one or two drops of Bach flower diluted with brandy, I inhaled properly and imagined all the goodness it did to my body. Result: I got out of my manic final exams alive.

That said, I really want to believe that the cure to human problems (stress, loss of a beloved person, loneliness etc) can be found in nature. The best medicine to cure emotions come from natural surroundings.

How much do you buy this flower story? Share here!

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

i honestly think it's psychological too. all these homeopathy "crap" is just another way to con ppl to spend more lol!

Gianni detto Nuzzo said...

eilyn even if i agree that it can be psychological, and also that can be the brandy more than the flowers :p , i wont say that homeopaty is crap, i have no idea which kind of flowers Mr. Bach used for his remedies, but talking abt some other flowers for example like valerian, are recognized as a remedy for something and i actually prefer to take some flower extract instead of i dunno which chemical cocktail :)
Ive tried it too just before my exams and it worked fine, in italy a small bottle is quite expensive around 8 euros but it will last for long.. as long as u dont exceed too much with it

Ching said...

HAH like i said, i take it, so i dont know if its crap. it might be effective for all u know, but again, its all about finding the right drug for the right cure, unfortunately, with 38 flowers, thats not easily done :S