Poetry, placebo effect or real benefits for our mental balance? Almost a century ago, English doctor Edward Bach created 39 flower elixirs whose properties still intrigue doctors and psychotherapists.
“Drops for those who live in constant tension, want to keep everything under control and experience fear … Drops for those who feel that they did not deserve the trials that fell to their lot, and feel sorry for themselves … Drops for those who do not know how to say “no” and always strives to please … ” Such not very coherent notes have remained in my notebook since ten years ago my classmate brought several mysterious dark glass bottles from England and tried to translate for me what their contents are for.
Those who are familiar with the so-called «Bach flowers» will surely agree that a mere description of their properties seems to already have a therapeutic effect. And indeed, the very question: “What do I really feel right now?” Isn’t it the first step towards helping yourself, starting to restore your peace of mind? «Heal yourself» — this principle, which inspired the English physician Edward Bach, is simple and accessible to everyone. Like the method he invented. Which, however, is not like any other of the known methods of medicine.
Its essence is as follows: the patient, having listened to himself and assessed his state of mind, he chooses one or more appropriate flower elixirs. And then several times a day he takes drops — until he no longer feels the need for them. “In this way, a person gets the opportunity to act independently, getting to know himself better and actively striving to restore inner harmony,” explains Larisa Raikova, a certified Bach Colors consultant. “And this, in turn, gives strength to overcome the disease.”
«Treat a person»
The medical career of Dr. Edward Bach (1886–1936) was not entirely typical. A brilliant doctor with advanced views for his time, he was primarily interested in the patient, and not in his diagnosis, sought to treat a person, not a disease. Over the years, observations led him to the conclusion that the disease is directly related to our (unfavorable) internal state.
“Dr. Bach described seven such conditions,” says Larisa Raikova. “Fear, insecurity, lack of interest in the present, loneliness, increased susceptibility to outside influences, despair or despondency, excessive concern for the welfare of others.” An enthusiastic lover of plants and a fine connoisseur of their properties, Edward Bach looked for ways to use them in order to restore spiritual harmony to his patients.
Inflorescences of wild plants collected in the places indicated by Bach are placed in a vessel filled with water and give their properties to water.
The first step on this path was the creation of 12 flower infusions, which Bach soon supplemented with a special composition of five flowers — Rescue Remedy, a kind of «ambulance» for states of severe shocks and acute stress. Having tried them on himself, a few years later he created 26 more flower elixirs, convinced that he had finally found a remedy that could help with any mental illness.
Today, like decades ago, Dr. Bach’s flower elixirs are created in England according to his method. Inflorescences of wild plants, carefully collected in the morning of a fine summer day in the places indicated by Bach, are placed in a vessel filled with water, where, under the influence of the sun, they transfer their properties to water. Further, the infusion is preserved with alcohol and poured into bottles, for convenience, equipped with a pipette so that they can be measured drop by drop. For children, a non-alcoholic form of elixirs has been developed.
Help with therapy
“Bach Flowers has no side effects, they do not cause allergic reactions, are non-toxic and non-addictive,” says Larisa Raikova. — They can be combined with any medication prescribed by a doctor. At the same time, everyone can start taking them on their own. For example, if anxiety is related to a specific and understandable reason (difficult exam, unpleasant event…), you can choose the appropriate elixir. However, if irritation, fear or anxiety become persistent and prevent a clear assessment of the situation, it is better to consult a psychotherapist.
In England, doctors today regularly prescribe «Bach flowers» to patients, in Germany they are also classified as medicines, in Belgium and Switzerland they are even reimbursed by insurance companies, and in Spain «flower» therapy is taught in medical faculties. In our country, “Bach flowers” are registered as a homeopathic remedy, but some allopathic doctors also use them. “At work, I always have a bottle of Rescue Remedy at hand,” admits oncologist Tatyana Semikova. “Hearing a cancer diagnosis is always difficult, and this tool gives the doctor the opportunity to support the patient in order to continue working and talking with him.”
We can already be grateful to Dr. Bach for the fact that his elixirs give us a reason to listen to ourselves.
Child psychologist Natalya Lomakina uses Bach flowers in her work on the correction of psycho-emotional states in children that lead to psychosomatic diseases. “These flower preparations are especially effective for sickly children, those who are adapting to new conditions, whether it is a kindergarten or a new school, and experiencing fears reduces immunity,” she says. — In addition, I notice that with the «flowers of Bach» it is possible to go through different stages of children’s crises less painfully. It helps that these are monopreparations — I can pick them up depending on the specific condition of the child. Although this is not a quick process, it also requires a deep psychological examination, which allows you to identify the hidden causes of a dysfunctional state.
Indecision, doubts, mental fatigue, irritation or guilt… Those who first get acquainted with the «Bach flowers» often admit that they want to choose everything: in their descriptions, everyone can easily find a piece of their experiences. Perhaps this is part of the solution to their properties that have not yet been explained by science? One way or another, we can already be grateful to Dr. Bach for the fact that his elixirs give us a reason to listen to ourselves. And always strive for peace of mind.