Dr Bach's system of 38 flower remedies Contact us if you have a specific question and can't find an answer on the site. Guide to the remedies Each of the 38 remedies discovered by Dr Bach is directed at a particular characteristic or emotional state. To select the remedies you need, think about the sort of person you are and the way you are feeling. For more information on each remedy in this list click the relevant link. It might help to read some case studies first to see how they work. Agrimony - mental torture behind a cheerful face Aspen - fear of unknown things Does it work? Can flower remedies help with autism? Does it work? Can flower remedies help with autism? Tue, May 10, 2011, 01:00 DONAL O'MATHUNA BACKGROUND:A reader asked me to review the evidence behind using flower remedies for children with autism. Known as flower essences or Bach flower remedies, they were originally developed in the 1930s by a British physician, Dr Edward Bach. He believed that illness ultimately arises from negative emotional states and energy imbalances. He claimed to identify 38 negative emotional states and developed 38 corresponding remedies.

Many other remedies are now available. The remedies are made by one of two methods. The sun method collects wild flowers when they are covered in dew and soaks them in spring water. The other method boils the plant material for 30 minutes. For both, the plant material is filtered to leave very dilute solutions to which alcohol is added as a preservative. The remedies are not said to work via any physical substance, but due to non-physical “energy” or “vibrations” captured from the flowers. Probably the best known product is Rescue Remedy, made from five flowers and said to prevent panic and irrationality during stressful situations. EVIDENCE FROM STUDIES The philosophy underlying flower remedies is focused on emotions, and these are clearly involved with autism. Flower remedies are said to permit autistic children to communicate better and handle stress better. Internet sites promoting flower remedies give numerous case studies. These document the challenges of caring for children with autism and describe beneficial effects noticed after using flower remedies. The Flower Essence Society, a US-based organisation, funds research in this area, but does not mention any studies with autism. Its website highlights one study involving 12 depressed patients. Beneficial effects were found after they took individually prepared flower remedies for three months.

However, 65 different remedies were used and the study did not have a control group. The researcher himself stated that this means the results may have “nothing to do with flower essences at all, but were merely a reflection of the sincerity and increased enthusiasm of the practitioners”. ADVERTISEMENT This is why randomised controlled trials are necessary to show if an intervention is truly effective. A 2010 systematic review identified all such studies of flower remedies. None involved autism, but one included children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). No significant differences were found between the flower remedy and placebo. Another five studies investigated flower remedies for the relief of anxiety or stress. They all found flower remedies to be no more beneficial than placebo. PROBLEMATIC ASPECTS The flower remedies themselves have not been reported to cause problems. However, internet sites that promote flower remedies for autism invariably include strong criticism of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. The connection between autism and the MMR vaccine has been shown to be a fabrication, with several independent reviews failing to find any connection. The alleged connection between the vaccine and autism can be traced to a 1998 Lancet publication which reported on 12 cases involving autistic children.

In 2010 its lead author, Andrew Wakefield, was found guilty of dishonesty by the British General Medical Council and struck off the medical register. Since this publication, vaccine usage in the UK has dropped dramatically and measles is on the rise. Flower remedy websites that continue to claim autism is linked to vaccines could contribute to further harm. RECOMMENDATIONS Flower remedies have become very popular and part of a thriving business. Their extreme dilution means that they are unlikely to cause any direct harm. However, if they divert people away from appropriate medical care and effective therapies, indirect harm could occur. Parents of autistic children face many challenges. Conventional medicine is very limited here, but any remedy or therapy should be able to provide clear evidence of benefit. Several conditions with an emotional component have failed to show beneficial effects from flower remedies. If autistic children benefit from the placebo effect, that would be great – but then such remedies should not claim to be more than a placebo or cost any more than one.

Dónal O’Mathúna has a PhD in pharmacy, researching herbal remedies, and an MA in bioethics, and is a senior lecturer in the School of Nursing, Dublin City University Flower Therapy: what it is, how and why to use it in veterinary medicine Editor's note: the following article published in the Italian veterinary journal "Atti Corso Introducttivo alla Medicina Non Convenzionale Veterinaria," has been edited and slightly abbreviated from the original version. It was translated into English from Italian. The article was written by Dr. Laura Cutullo , professional veterinarian and specialist in homeopathic remedies and Bach flower essences. Images in the body of the text are by Laura Cutullo. Abstract: Thanks to its effectiveness in combining with conventional medical therapies in the presence of behavior disorders, in recovering and maintaining a healthy condition, flower therapy presents a large range of utilization for both pets and livestock. For pets, it acts gently and effectively in relieving them from many illnesses and behavior disorders affecting their personalities and making living together difficult. In cattle breeding, flower therapy can greatly improve the animal’s well-being, reducing stress and improving physical condition to the benefit of productivity.

Furthermore, not leaving toxic or harmful residues, flower remedies fall within the pharmacopoeia to be applied to organic breeding. In this article we will analyze the basic principles, the applicability, the method and practical tips for administration. Between 1930 and 1936, a new method of therapy was developed in the United Kingdom due to the genial intuition of Edward Bach, a doctor who discovered in some flowers and plants the power to soothe the stirs of the soul. It was a revolutionary method, completely different from phytotherapy, closer to homeopathy, but with peculiar features. Dr. Bach decided to name it Flower Therapy. Starting from the careful observation of the emotional dysfunctions of his suffering patients, Edward Bach persuaded himself that illness is the materialization of deep inner lacerations, arising out of negative feelings making their way within the individual to such an extent as to result in severe physical symptoms.

Part of this thought was introduced into "official medicine" more than 20 years after Bach’s intuition, when the WHO (World Health Organization) started promoting the idea that health is not only the absence of illness, rather it is a state of physical, mental, emotional and social well-being of the individual.1 As if to say: if people live better and peacefully, their bodies are also better. Bach’s theory represents the cornerstone of preventive medicine, industrial medicine, social medicine and bioethics. Changes in these fields resulted from the powerful social struggles carried out in the western world since the 1900s, such as the drainage of marshy areas; the creation of sewers and waterworks; the treatment and control of foodstuffs; meat and milk production on an industrial scale; and veterinary police regulation and even veterinary medicine. This concept of health as well-being touching many areas (psychological, physical and environmental), which seems today almost trivial, was at first recognized within the medical-scientific entourage only half-heartedly; and then with an increasingly firm belief.

This statement has had the merit of taking away from illness its peculiarity, considering as a starting point the whole individual condition.2 Today psycho-neuro-immunology claims the existence of an extremely close relationship among brain, immune system and endocrine system. This study attempts to show the extent of that relationship in determining the state of health, not only as reaction to illness, but as a cause of illness itself. In veterinary medicine, we are facing the same conceptual focus since attention is increasingly addressed to the importance of animal well-being, considered both from psychological and environmental points of view. In other words, the animal well-being is regarded as a primary factor in health maintenance, in production increase and therefore in the increased economic productiveness of livestock, insomuch as it has become an object of regulation from the European Union. Flower Therapy deals with the very psychological and emotional well-being as the cornerstone for reaching or maintaining physical health. This was already stated by Dr. Bach, even though in a more poetic manner, deeply imbued with his faith. According to Flower Therapy, a patient’s psychological state is not only decisive for their health, but is responsible for it.

Therefore, getting rid of the illness is the consequence of having gotten rid of one’s own negative feelings, no matter if these are fear, inferiority complex, sense of guilt, etc. As long as the individual is not able to face these mood concerns to treat them, restoring emotional harmony, the illness will keep sending signals, framing the body. On the contrary, the existence of harmony among body, spirit, and soul makes possible relief and recovery, particularly if the individual is able to prevent the symptoms of the disease by not acting on negative feelings. It is crucial not to mistake Flower Therapy with psychotherapy, since the Bach method, though using the interview as in psychotherapy, considers the flowers its very tool. This "tool kit" includes 37 flowers and rock water (pure spring water), in addition to a combination of five flowers forming an emergency remedy, i.e., the Rescue Remedy (this is the name created by Dr. Bach, now a registered trademark of Bach Center). Each of them presents a specific and precise range, creating a balance to restore an altered emotional state of mind, by developing the opposite positive emotion. These are the very flowers that we may use in veterinary medicine to help our “patients.” Dr.

Bach identified precise negative emotions able to distress the individual and open the doors to disease. For each single emotion, he found the appropriate Flower Remedies; each of them works in specific patterns and covers various emotional nuances: For fear: Rock Rose, Mimulus, Cherry Plum, Aspen, Red Chestnut For uncertainty: Cerato, Scleranthus, Gentian, Gorse, Hornbeam, Wild Oat For insufficient interest in present circumstances: Clematis, Honeysuckle, Wild Rose, Olive, White Chestnut, Mustard, Chestnut Bud For loneliness: Water Violet, Impatiens, Heather For those over-sensitive to influences and ideas: Agrimony, Centaury, Walnut, Holly For despondency or despair: Larch, Pine, Elm, Sweet Chestnut, Star of Bethlehem, Willow, Oak, Crab Apple For over care for welfare of others: Chicory, Vervain, Vine, Beech, Rock Water Rescue Remedy/Five-Flower Formula Though developed for soothing human pains, Flower Therapy has also given very goods results when used to treat animals, which Dr. Bach also treated, personally verifying how Flower Remedies worked on them.

This action is also effective in veterinary medicine, since we are talking of “vibrational” medicine: flowers are carriers of specific energetic information able to re-tune those vibrations within the organism which seem to be confused or disharmonic, rebalancing the whole individual and encouraging the self-healing processes. As far as vibrational medicine is concerned, it may be useful to refer to inquiry methods of systemics and in particular to the Black Box method which is a topic we are not going to explore in this article. As the study on Flower Remedies has gone forward for decades, other groups of essences have been added to those first 38 Remedies: the Californian, Italian and Australian Flowers, some of them still under testing, but all based on principles and methods developed by Dr. Bach. The California Flowers, also known as the North American Essences, the "FES Quintessentials," are composed of 103 essences, each of them with its own specific range. Self Heal The main difference between the FES flowers and Bach flower remedies is the presence in FES of the polarity concept. In FES Flower Therapy the focus is always on virtues rather than vices, (as it occurs in the Bach system).

Within the same individual can be present a given positive aspect, or its lack, or its surplus. The utilization of an essence relative to that virtue acts by developing the ability to downsize the surplus or increase the lack of that same virtue. This is not the proper place to examine the 38 Bach flower remedies, let alone the over 100 FES Quintessentials flowers; you may refer to specific publications for more information. What we need to clarify is the method and its applicability in veterinary medicine. What is it? From a practical perspective, Flower Therapy is the oral and/or percutaneous administration of “essences” obtained from flowers using a particular method (either sunshine or boiling method). Each of them provides either a calming or an enhancing, according to the specific needs, particular emotional state; they help the “emission” of the positive emotions, or the “opposite virtues.”4 Bach began studying his patients’ souls based on the method taught by Hahnemann, the famous homeopathy scholar, but went beyond the homeopathic concept of "similar treating similar." In Bach’s opinion, it is true that hate can be overcome by a bigger hate; but it can only be cured by love.

A fear can be defeated and forgotten by a bigger fear, but the real treatment of any fear is perfect courage.5 Why use it? Leaving apart any personal considerations, either ethical or philosophical, there are pragmatic reasons why veterinary medicine adopts flower remedies, either for pets, for which flower remedies have proven to be very effective, and also for livestock. In fact, Flower Therapy is: simple: its simplicity, which does not mean shallowness, is more apparent than substantial. We could compare this therapy to an iceberg, of which at first we can only see a slight portion; nevertheless, to be able to use it with quite good results, the initial commitment in terms of study and effort is quite modest, which is an aspect not to be undervalued considering the number of undertakings any professional must face on a daily basis. easily administered: to give Flower Remedies is very simple, since they are almost tasteless, they can be taken along with any food, in the drinking water, or directly in the mouth.

In addition, the dosage is standard for almost all animal species, regardless of size, age, or states of health; usable in combination with allopathic therapies: Flower Remedies do not oppose traditional drugs, since their action impacts on a different plane. This allows the veterinarian to not necessarily make drastic therapeutic choices (Flower Remedies vs. drugs); rather, they combine very well with traditional treatments since they help the animals to better overcome stress situations and to be an active part in the healing process. without side effects: there are no side effects or adverse side effects; if the choice of flower remedies proves to be wrong, the only effect is that no results can be obtained; inexpensive: the investment, either in the course of study or in its practical application, is modest; the out-of pocket cost of each bottle of the final remedy is very low, thus allowing the doctor to have a fairly good profit without forcing the client to high expense. Method The veterinarian who also wants to be a Flower Therapist must face his/her patients with the best practice, great attention and a precise mind.

The first consideration to be made, with an animal which has physical symptoms as well as behavioral problems, is to evaluate if they have physical damage (such as a wound)—which is outside pathogenic onsets, or if they have a real disease. Is the disease an inner deep disorder resulting in external (material) damage? This determination is done to understand what to do, or even more, to determine if the intervention is necessary to only “readjust” the physical body seized with a mishap, or if a deeper help is needed, i.e., on the underlying disturbance resulting in disease. The second consideration to be made, even more importantly, is to understand the direction taken, from the holistic perspective, by a pathologic process. The material evolution of a pathogenic type has always a centripetal direction: it deepens into the body from outside to inside, from the most peripheral parts down to the vital organs. The body, for defensive reasons, tries to leave disease in the most external parts, those mainly “expendable,” by acting in a centrifugal direction.

Therefore, the most external symptoms, such as those affecting skin as well as the so-called “discharges,” (such as wet feces), even though more visible and often more “suffered” by the animal’s owners, must be considered as the least important trouble by which the body expresses its pain. If we try to visualize this concept by means of a cone, representing the individual’s hierarchy as a whole, we see that the highest portion is the Self, of the deepest, either conscious and unconscious being, including mind and thinking. The second layer of the cone is the ability of doing, that is, to put into practice what lies in the ideas; the realization of the will. The third layer constitutes the cardiovascular system (including blood, lymph and intra- and extra-cellular fluids), the fluid portion of the body. Then we have the internal organs and finally the lowest layer, the external organs.6 The cone represents schematically the individual as a whole; the arrows indicate the direction of the vital strength action as well as the direction where the healing process should occur.

If we consider the disease not as a single pathology but as a totality of symptoms arising over time, it is clear that, due to the relationship among the various layers, the evidence of the primary disorder, at the top of the cone level, will occur in the lowest level. In other words, the body will send a signal, but trying at the same time to give up its wholeness as little as possible. On the other hand, if due to either suppressive therapies or a worsening of the disease, the vital strength weakens, the symptoms will be more serious; in other words, they will be evident in the highest layers, to finally become inconsistent with the life itself. This schematization is certainly a bit rigid, but allows us to consider the improving as well as the worsening of the patient’s situation from a holistic perspective, without merely focusing on a single pathologic event, which can even seem to be solved. As an example, the animal may not be suffering from pyoderma anymore, but this does not necessarily imply that he has “recovered.” If afterwards breathing, hepatic or kidney symptoms occur, even if mildly, this means that the animal’s health has worsened, from the holistic point of view.

The treatments addressed only to organic levels can result in a superficial injury recovery, but the healing process is still distant, since the disease’s causes remain and can again occur, even more seriously. “The doctor must know what it is damaging the health and remove it. If the root of an old tooth is causing persistent headache, this is a cause to be removed. Prescribing drugs when a sliver irritates a nerve, would be nonsense, a kind of severe negligence. It is necessary to aim to the differentiation removing externals causes and re-arranging external causes.”7 Bach does not exclude the recourse to physical or chemical remedies which may prove to be not only useful but also essential to obtain the body healing or even its survival. Bach, on the other hand, firmly indicates the primary need of the “treatment of the mental and emotional state, which is crucial for reaching the real healing.” In Bach’s opinion, the disease is not only a functioning defect of the body; according to his principles, the illness, as known to us, is the total result of a conflict between our spiritual Self and our passing Self. As long as both aspects are in agreement, we are in a very good health.

Diagram of the cone upside down In the healing process, the centrifugal direction must be followed: the therapeutic action must begin from the inside and then get to the outside, from center to periphery, from the top to the bottom, from inside to outside, from main organs to less important ones. If Flower Therapy provides good results, we will see a movement of the symptoms in the following direction: as long as the emotional and mental aspects improve, the first to give signals of re-balance (center), and there will be also a movement of physical symptoms towards the periphery. But what is the link between the various layers of the cone? What brings wholeness to the physical and astral bodies? Kent, one of the fathers of homeopathy who, along with Hahnemann, had a great influence on Bach’s thought, (Bach, it is worth mentioning, was a great homeopath before discovering Flower Remedies), affirms that everything is permeated with a spiritual influence, an active substance permeating any material body, having a unique origin and without which no life is possible.

It is invisible and substantial since it interacts with the material; it is intelligent, in the way that has a purpose; and it is coordinating, since it connects single entities determining their co-operation. The vital strength of the body, without which there is no protection from outside attacks,8 comes directly from this spiritual influence. Bach Flowers and Rescue Remedy - Pharmacy Martí Sureda Bach Flowers and Rescue Remedy 8th September 2015 by Caterina Martí 1 Comment Dr. Edward Bach was a doctor and homeopath who devoted his life to finding the purest healing methods. He believed (as many doctors do nowadays) that mental attitude plays an essential part in maintaining health and recovering from illness. He developed a system of 38 essential flower essences made up of wild flowers, herbs and trees. “Bach flowers treat the individual, not the illness and its symptoms.” These flowers help to regulate the balance of up to 38 emotions; here is a sample of the emotional factors that they treat: depression fear of the known and unknown inflexibility physical tiredness lack of concentration The function of these essences is to unblock the emotional state which someone is afflicted by, and they act very quickly.

They can be taken on their own or with other treatments. They have no secondary effects and are also beneficial to plants and animals. There are now many other types of essential flower remedies based on Dr. Bach’s system, such as Flowers of California, of the Mediterranean and orchids or Flowers of Menorca. ­ ­ RESCUE REMEDY Rescue Remedy is made up of flowers to help you overcome upsetting traumas such as the after-effects of a fall or witnessing an accident. It can also be used as a preventative in situations that normally make us anxious, such as before an exam or taking an airplane flight. We recommend that you always have it to hand at home or in your bag, especially if you have young children. greenactivistteam | Smile! You’re at the best WordPress.com site ever greenactivistteam Mosses are classified as belonging to which part of the plant kingdom? A: Bryophyta What is the name of the structures which allow leaves to breathe? A: Stomata Which sub-division of plants is named after their practice of forming ‘naked seeds’? A: Gymnosperms. The maidenhair tree is the sole survivor of which class of plant? A: Ginko.

Which part of the common valerian is used to make a sedative? A: Root. What is the name of the structures which allow stems to breathe? A: Lenticels. What has a central vein called a midrib? A: Leaf. Which acid is contained in rhubarb leaves, making them poisonous to eat? A: Oxalic acid. What kind of an organism causes a ‘rust’ attack on plants? A: Fungus. Which is the dominant generation in the ferns? A: Sporophyte. Which is the biggest flower in the world? A: Fafflesia arnoldiana or stinking corpse lily. What is the name of the lustrous substance that forms pearl and mother-of-pearl? A: Nacre. What is the Latin word for ‘liquid’ which we use to mean the fluid produced by the tree Ficus elastica? A: Latex. What is the generic word for plants that grow in water or water-logged conditions? A: Hydrophytes. What is the main use of the tree Citrus bergamia? A: Perfume. In animal classification, how are the phyla subdivided? A: Classes.

Which physician developed a type of remedy involving wild flowers? A: Bach. The best longbows were constructed from which wood? A: Yew. Five ways to protect plants and get them in the ground early Usually I figure that April first is the earliest date that I would even THINK about planting the summer crops, but… this year I decided to walk on the wild side and plant mid March. It seemed like winter was going to be kind and peter out early, so why not take advantage of the sunshine? Of course, as these things go – that’s when the night time temperatures started dropping back into the thirties and I could imagine all those tender little leaves turning black and dropping off. I hate having to do anymore work than I absolutely have to – but I couldn’t stand to lose all those plants. I was going to have to protect those tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, eggplant and and basil. I didn’t want to spend money on the process – I am chintzy on top of being lazy (though ideally, I’d love to have some beautiful french glass cloches, but that’s NOT in my budget).

Instead I went burrowing into my plastics bin and decided to reuse some freezer jars that don’t keep their lids on very well at all. I also got some drink cups from Starbucks (recycled). I had some garden staples that I heated on the burner, then pushed through the plastic cups. These made ideal little greenhouses and with the staples pushed deep into the soil, the cups stayed put even through the windy weather. I also used some wire baskets that I swathed in plastic wrap for some of the bigger plants. That feels a little wasteful as I can’t re-use the wrap, but…better than losing the romas. And a few lamp shades that are likely the closest things to glass cloches that I’ll ever end up with. I’ve got my basil under this one. Lastly, the old standby- the milk jug. I really like the way these work for the eggplants. I pounded a stake into the dirt that the plant will eventually be tied to as it grows taller. This stake poked up through the slits I cut into the top of the jug and holds it in place, either over the plant, or allows the jug to be raised to let the sun in as the weather allows.

As an additional perk, all these little greenhouses are snail resistant (unfortunately not snail safe). They are working fine. The zucchini are already raising their roofs. 84% of a raw apple is water. 99% of the pumpkins sold in the US end up as jack-o-lanterns. A cucumber is 96% water. A notch in a tree will remain the same distance from the ground as the tree grows. A pineapple is a berry Almonds are the oldest, most widely cultivated and extensively used nuts in the world. Americans eat more bananas than any other fruit: a total of 11 billion a year. An average ear of corn has 800 kernels, arranged in 16 rows. Arrowroot, an antidote for poisoned arrows, is used as a thickener in cooking. Avocados have the highest calories of any fruit at 167 calories per hundred grams. Banana oil never saw a banana; it’s made from petroleum. Bananas are actually herbs. Bananas die after fruiting, like all herbs do. Cranberries are one of just 3 major fruits native to North America. Blueberries and Concord grapes are the other two. Dr.

Joel Poinsett, the 1st US ambassador to Mexico, brought the poinsettia to US in 1828. The plant, called “flower of the blessed night” in Mexico was renamed in Poinsett’s honor. Eggplant is a member of the thistle family. Hydroponics is the technique by which plants are grown in water without soil. No species of wild plant produces a flower or blossom that is absolutely black, and so far, none has been developed artificially. Nutmeg is extremely poisonous if injected intravenously. Oak trees do not have acorns until they are fifty years old or older. One pound of tea can make 300 cups of the beverage. One ragweed plant can release as many as one billion grains of pollen. Oranges, lemons, watermelons, and tomatoes are berries. Orchids have the smallest seeds. It takes more than 1.25 million seeds to weigh 1 gram. Peanuts are beans. Sep 6 Do you ever wonder how plants and animals interact with each other? or how do they depend to one another? In this article,we would see and know more about the interaction between plants and animals.

In our daily life, their are many times we just depend to the plants around us. Especially the carbon-dioxide cycle, we need the oxygen that is given off by plants; the carbon dioxide that we give- is used by plants to make their own food. That is only one of the many interaction between plants and and animals. As we go on, we will tackle more examples about their interaction. STATISTICS: LET’S SEE HOW GR. 7-A SCIENCE STUDENTS DEPEND ON PLANTS NOT EATING VEGETABLES A WEEK: 2 EAT VEGETABLES ONCE A WEEK: 11 EAT VEGETABLES TWICE/ THRICE A WEEK: 29 EAT VEGETABLES DAILY: 10 Based on the statistics, we would see how plants important to us. Animals depend on plants and vice versa.Let’s see how STATISTICS: LET’S SEE HOW PLANTS DEPEND ON US. (GR.

7-A SCIENCE PLANTING PLANTS AT BACKYARD) PLANTS FLOWERING PLANTS: 11 PLANTS FRUIT BEARING TREES: 24 PLANTS DIFFERENT KINDS OF PLANTS: 17 Based on the statistics above we would how plants depend on us. There are also processes which involves the interaction between plants and animals. Examples are: POLLINATION In pollination of flowers, some animals transfer pollen grains to the other flower. In carbon dioxide-cycle, plants give-off oxygen that we need in breathing and in return we give-off carbon dioxide that plants need in making their own food. Generally, plants are important to us and vice versa. Bach Flowers | Veronica Friend – Reiki Master – Courses in Totnes, Devon, UK Bach Flowers Bach Flower Remedies Dr Edward Bach, an eminent Harley Street doctor and bacteriologist and homeopath developed the flower essences over 70 years ago. He had a deep sensitivity and discovered 38 essences/remedies which cover all known negative states of mind. His medical studies and research led him to understand that much of our ill health has its origin in our mental and emotional state, rather than in the physical body.

Bach Flower Remedies are based on the principle of “treating the person not the disease”. They can be taken by people of all ages. Animals and plants also can benefit from this treatment. The 38 flower essences are infusions of wild flowers, bushes and trees and are not like other medicines. They are best described as a type of liquid energy, a vibrational medicine which works in a similar way to Homeopathy. They help to balance emotions and moods and transform negative feelings, such as fear, uncertainty, loneliness, into more positive ones. By treating the emotions and emotional states our physical health can improve, restoring harmony and happiness in mind, body and spirit. These time-tested remedies are a simple, natural, safe, non habit forming, gentle form of healing. Bach Flower Remedies have become widely available and extensively used throughout the world. They can be used alongside other therapies and do not interfere with other medications and treatments. My aim is to assist and support the client and to help them recognise behavioural patterns and responses to situations, strengths and weaknesses, which if unchecked, can affect health and happiness. A bottle of flower remedy can be selected for the presenting emotional state of the client.

The treatment bottle can contain up to seven essences and the normal dosage is four drops, four times a day. Nutrition and Bach Flower Remedies in Cases of Constipation The Role of Nutrition and Bach Flower Remedies in Cases of Constipation by Elizabeth Gray “A good set of bowels is worth more to a man than a quantity of brains.” (Josh Billings (Henry Wheeler Shaw), 1818 – 1885) Over sixty years ago Doctor Edward Bach, a medical physician, gave up his Harley Street practice to focus on creating a new system of healing through wild flowers. His remedies work by by addressing an individual’s emotional state rather than simply looking at their symptoms. He discovered that one’s body is a mirror of one’s mental state. So if one is frightened, worried or depressed, progress through the disease toward recovery is slow, but if one is hopeful, happy and determined, recovery will happen more quickly. Nowadays the thirty-eight flower remedies he developed have become increasingly popular and available to everyone through health shops and pharmacies.

As they are completely natural, created by transferring the potency of wild flowers into pure spring water and preserving it in brandy, it can be taken by everyone (though medical practitioners need to be kept informed) – even animals and plants can benefit. Bach Flower Remedies are not recommended for any physical illness in particular, but rather to alleviate the root cause of the illness which could be brought on by an individual’s state of mind (for example:- fear, depression, worry, lack of confidence and jealousy). What is Constipation? Contrary to common belief, constipation is not an illness but a sign that the normal working of the intestine is disturbed in some way. It exhibits itself by way of infrequent and difficult elimination of faeces accompanied by hard dry stools, which means a process that should occur naturally becomes difficult, uncomfortable and embarrassing. Ask anyone if they have ever been constipated at some time or another and the answer will invariably be “Yes” but for the odd 10% of individuals it happens far more frequently than they would like. It seems to be more common in the elderly, in pregnancy and in the female gender.

Constipation can also lead to tiredness, loss of appetite, mental sluggishness, irritability, bad breath, allergies and a bloated feeling. If left unchecked, constipation accompanied by straining can lead to haemorrhoids, appendicitis, diverticulosis, prolapsed internal organs and even varicose veins. At its very worse faecal impaction and autointoxification can occur. This is a condition where the faeces remains in the large intestine/colon for longer periods giving it time to further decompose and putrefy, so that undesirable bacteria multiply causing toxins to be produced, which are in contact with the colon wall for longer. These can be absorbed into the bloodstream with serious health damaging effects such as general chronic diseases and colo-rectal cancer. Doctor Bernard Jensen, in his book Guide To Better Bowel Care, states “Constipation indirectly cripples and kills more people in our country than any single condition having to do with deficient function”. Colo-rectal cancer is now one of the leading cancer killers in Western Society (brought about by our over-processed, highly refined food). The incidence of colon cancer is more common in women and rectal cancer more common in men.

In less industrialised countries, where they eat more wholesome fibre, constipation is not such a problem. The causes of constipation are numerous. For example dehydration, poor eating habits, lifestyle, some medicines, alcohol, aperients, physiological and psychological problems, putting off the urge ‘to go’ and as already mentioned poor food choices can all lead to the condition. You may not be aware that well over £50 million a year are spent on over-the-counter remedies for constipation in the United Kingdom alone, that’s not taking into account the many prescription products. There are two types of constipation: 1) Spastic constipation is the more common type which is characterised by irregular explosive bowel movements with spasms. Antispasmodics are recommended for these individuals for example Lobelia (Lobelia Inflata) and Kava (Piper methysticum) plus soft mucilage fibre for example Oat Bran (Avena sativa) and Slippery Elm (Ulmus rubra).

2) Atonic constipation, produces infrequent bowel movements due to lack of tone and sluggish faecal movement in the colon which has been stretched and lacks the pushing power, often referred to as a ‘lazy bowel’, the faeces becomes thick and stodgy. Plenty of water and coarse fibre such as Bran and Psyllium Husks (Plantago ovata) are recommended for these individuals. “As long as we continue to assume that the colon will take care of itself, just that long will we remain in complete ignorance of perhaps the most important source of ill health in the whole body”. Dr. James A. Wiltsie MD The Importance of Fibre Fibre (roughage) is a part of food that cannot normally be fully digested (broken down) by the body. Dietary fibre is ‘The Broom’ for cleaning and restoring the colon because it consists of parts of food that are not broken down during digestion. Fibre also adds bulk to faeces and increases its passage through the large intestine and colon, so helping individuals who suffer from constipation. Fibre consists of two types: 1) Soluble Fibre, such as Pectin, which is partly broken down in the Large Intestine.

2) Insoluble Fibre, such as Cellulose which passes through unchanged. Fibre is very efficient at binding with minerals such as zinc, magnesium and calcium so it is very beneficial for people to take these supplements in order to increase the effectiveness of the fibre they have in their diet. Eating too much fibre, which is highly unlikely, can make these minerals unavailable for the body to utilise though. Briefly, the Large Intestine is a long hollow muscular tube approximately 1.5 metres in length. Its main function is to form, store and eliminate faeces. It is made up of three parts: It starts with the Caecum, which is a blind-ended pouch, that is joined to the Small Intestine by the Ileocaecal Valve, which is a non-return valve. The Colon, which has a puckered appearance, has pouches called Haustra. It extends up the right-hand side of the abdomen, this section is named the Ascending Colon, across the upper abdomen named the Transverse Colon and down the left side named the Descending Colon, then the Sigmoid Colon,.

This finally connects to the Rectum which should serve as a temporary storage site for faeces until just before defecation, where it continues down the Anal Canal and out of the Anus. Large veins are located around the Anus, if these become engorged and varicosed they are known as Haemorrhoids. Water (about 1.5 litres a day) and salts are absorbed through the lining of the colon into the bloodstream and lymphatic system from the waste that is formed as it passes by a pattern of smooth muscle contractions. The process of defaecation is based on the activities of both the intestinal flora and the smooth muscle contractions of the colon which propels and mixes the faecal matter towards the anus where it is eliminated. These contractions vary in rate, strength and make up and are called Peristalsis, Haustral Churning, Mass Peristalsis and Reverse Peristalsis. The lining of the colon also secretes mucus which helps lubricate and move the faeces through.

Billions of bacteria, which normally live in the intestinal tract and are harmless to us as long as they stay there, feed on undigested fibre and protein in faecal matter and reduce the amount of faeces we produce. They also produce vitamin B and K along with noxious gases such as hydrogen sulphide. It is easy to see how constipation can have a detrimental effect on one’s health and general well-being over a period of time, causing unpleasant symptoms as previously stated. To achieve optimum colon health one needs to gradually change to a more wholesome, unrefined diet with plenty of fibre, rehydrate by drinking at least two and a half litres of water a day, plenty of exercise, at least half an hour a day, especially abdominal exercises, good toilet position and routine, answering the urge to go to the toilet don’t put it off, colonic irrigation (for cleansing and rehydration) probiotics and digestive enzymes, internal lubrication with Essential Fatty Acids for example Linseed Oil (Flaxseed) and Starflower Oil (Borage) and other supplements for example vitamins B and C and Magnesium and Calcium minerals, and stress reduction.

Stress has an immediate action on digestion, interrupting it, followed by interrupting the pattern of movements in the colon. It is interesting to know that the appearance of healthy faeces should be about the length of a banana, walnut coloured, have the consistency of toothpaste, be easy to pass with minimal odour, should settle in the toilet water then gently submerge. Food normally spends longer in the colon than anywhere else but the timing of its passage depends on its type and on the individual person’s transit time. Ideally an evacuation once a day is good but three times a day after meals is perfect. When all said and done it is mainly diet that stands as both the cause and the cure for most cases of constipation. Poor eating habits should be gradually replaced by the unrefined high fibre foods which should be chewed well, three satisfying meals a day, with time taken to sit quietly and digest. Eating on the run and animated conversation during meals should be avoided. It is better to drink fluids in-between meals rather than with food as it is more beneficial to digestion. How can Bach Flower Remedies help? When I advise people on what remedies would help them, I first ask them about their lifestyle and attitude.

This can often shed light on why they are constipated in the first place. Constipation tends to affect people who cling to old perceptions and ideas, and do not want to let go. They tend towards taking and keeping things and hiding their fears. These types of people are often unable to make up their minds and are insecure. The Bach Flower Remedies you could use in cases of constipation, depending on the individuals personality and requirements, are: Scleranthus (Scleranthus annuus) is useful for individuals who suffer from indecision and are unable to choose between alternatives, they either retain or expel. This remedy works by bringing calm and certainty to their indecisive mind Honeysuckle (Lonicera caprifolium) is for individuals whose thoughts are always in the past, they have some painful memories they don’t want to forget. This remedy can be given to help them leave the past and move on Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum umbellatum) can help people who repress bad news, shock and trauma. Such people hold on to their deep down feelings.

This remedy is useful for easing the mind-block caused by the shock Impatiens (Impatiens glandulifera) helps impatient individuals, as the name suggests. These people tend to be nervous and impulsive. The remedy relaxes both the body and the mind, making their personality more rounded and well -balanced Rock Rose (Helianthemum nummularium) can be used as an emergency remedy. The person in a rock rose state has a fear of the sphincter closing. A sphincter is a circular muscle which normally maintains constriction of a natural body passage or orifice. There are two sphincters at the anus which control the exit of faeces from the body. Rock Rose remedy is used to calm nerves and restore some rationale Crab Apple (Malus sylvestris) can be used to help people overcome feelings of despair and despondency bought about by feelings of disgust. This remedy is useful in cleansing the mind and body Chicory (Cichorium intybus) is useful for individuals who are normally possessive in their personal relationships and are often lonely and afraid of being left alone.

The remedy chosen helps to let the normal flow of love go so that the vicious circle of being both manipulator and manipulated can be broken Wild Oat (Bromus ramosus) is good in cases of dissatisfaction, when the individual cannot seem to find their place in life. They are unsure of what path to take. The remedy helps them to take stock of their lives and gives them patience and perseverance Centaury (Centaurium umbellatum) can help individuals who are easily influenced by the views and attitudes of others. Such people lack will-power and seem to be weary and exhausted all the time. This remedy helps by boosting their vitality and help them follow their path in life Agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria) is good for people who hide their worries and anxieties behind a cheerful face and feel weary of it. This remedy helps by restoring their ability to cope with the good and bad things in life, allowing them to see their problems more clearly and in perspective Larch, (Mimulus) helps fight insecurity and fear When advising people on how to take their remedies, I tell them to keep things simple and try the remedy on its own (not to use in a mixture of remedies) until they find the ones best suited for their requirements.

Some people using other Flower Remedies try to make things more complicated and scientific but I feel they should be used as Doctor Edward Bach intended, as simple and natural as possible. Two drops of the chosen remedy in a glass of water sipped at intervals is normally enough (Four drops of the Rescue Remedy). Replenish as needed. If necessary the Flower Remedies can be dropped onto the tongue, or rubbed onto the lips, behind the ears or on the temples and wrists. The Flower Remedies can be taken as often as needed, especially in times of crisis. I also advocate relaxation classes and meditation for those suffering from the consequences of hectic lifestyles and stress-related constipation. References Guide To Better Bowel Care by Dr. Bernard Jensen Handbook of the Bach Flower Remedies by Dr. Philip Chancellor The Human Body in Health and Disease by Ruth Memmler and Barbara Cohen Natural Remedies For Autism Remedies For Autism A reader asked Dónal O’Mathúna to review the evidence behind using flower remedies for autism for children. Known as flower essences or Bach flower remedies, they were originally developed in the 1930s by a British physician, Dr Edward Bach. He believed that illness ultimately arises from negative emotional states and energy imbalances.

He claimed to identify 38 negative emotional states and developed 38 corresponding remedies . Many other natural remedies are now available! Remedies for autism are made by one of two methods. The sun method collects wild flowers when they are covered in dew and soaks them in spring water. The other method boils the plant material for 30 minutes. For both, the plant material is filtered to leave very dilute solutions to which alcohol is added as a preservative. Remedies for autism are not said to work via any physical substance, but due to non-physical “energy” or “vibrations” captured from the flowers. Probably the best known product is Rescue Remedy , made from five flowers and said to prevent panic and irrationality during stressful situations. EVIDENCE FROM STUDIES The philosophy underlying flower remedies is focused on emotions, and these are clearly involved with autism. Flower remedies are said to permit autistic children to communicate better and handle stress better. Internet sites promoting flower remedies for autism give numerous case studies. These document the challenges of caring for children with autism and describe beneficial effects noticed after using flower remedies for autism.

The Flower Essence Society, a US-based organisation, funds research in this area, but does not mention any studies with autism. Its website highlights one study involving 12 depressed patients. Beneficial effects were found after they took individually prepared flower remedies for three months. However, 65 different natural remedies were used and the study did not have a control group. The researcher himself stated that this means the results may have “nothing to do with flower essences at all, but were merely a reflection of the sincerity and increased enthusiasm of the practitioners”. This is why randomised controlled trials are necessary to show if an intervention is truly effective. A 2010 systematic review identified all such studies of flower remedies. None involved autism, but one included children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). No significant differences were found between the flower remedy and placebo. Another five studies investigated flower remedies for the relief of anxiety or stress. They all found flower remedies to be no more beneficial than placebo. PROBLEMATIC ASPECTS Flower remedies themselves have not been reported to cause problems. However, internet sites that promote flower remedies for autism invariably include strong criticism of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.

The connection between autism and the MMR vaccine has been shown to be a fabrication, with several independent reviews failing to find any connection. The alleged connection between the vaccine and autism can be traced to a 1998 Lancet publication which reported on 12 cases involving autistic children. In 2010 its lead author, Andrew Wakefield, was found guilty of dishonesty by the British General Medical Council and struck off the medical register. Since this publication, vaccine usage in the UK has dropped dramatically and measles is on the rise. Flower remedy websites that continue to claim autism is linked to vaccines could contribute to further harm. RECOMMENDATIONS Flower remedies have become very popular and part of a thriving business. Their extreme dilution means that they are unlikely to cause any direct harm. However, if they divert people away from appropriate medical care and effective therapies, indirect harm could occur. Parents of autistic children face many challenges. Conventional medicine is very limited here, but any remedy for autism or therapy should be able to provide clear evidence of benefit. Several conditions with an emotional component have failed to show beneficial effects from flower remedies for autism.

If autistic children benefit from the placebo effect, that would be great – but then such autism remedies should not claim to be more than a placebo or cost any more than one. Dónal O’Mathúna wrote this helpful original flower remedies for autism article and has a PhD in pharmacy, researching herbal remedies , and an MA in bioethics, and is a senior lecturer in the School of Nursing, Dublin City University. This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 17th, 2011 at 8:09 am. Trackback from your own site.

Question: Which physician developed a type of remedy involving wild flowers?
Answer: Bach