You’ve probably never heard of Bach Flower Therapy. I didn’t know either until recently. But with the big boom in essential oils and essences we’ve been seeing, we were immediately intrigued by this homeopathic wellness trend that uses natural methods to limit everyday nuisances like stress and lack of sleep. I did. Even Hollywood celebrities such as Salma Hayek, Emma Watson, and Jennifer Aniston have said they use Bach flower remedies for their calming effects and staying calm under pressure. To find out what the hype is all about (and what exactly it is), I consulted an expert.
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Bach Flower was developed in the 1930s by a naturopathic doctor named Dr. Edward Bach. “He was a physician who believed that physical illness stemmed from emotional imbalance,” says Alexis Smart, a flower essence practitioner and founder of her namesake flower remedies company. “He found that ingesting flower essences had a very positive effect on mood. Once emotional balance was restored, the body began to heal naturally from physical ailments.” In Energy Healer Holistic health practitioner Carolyn Harrington added, “He was a true innovator because he developed these before energy healing became very popular.”
Harrington explains that Bach Flowers (there are 38 of them) are simply flower essences. “What this means is that when you take a plant, put it in water, and put that water in the sunlight, the essence of the plant goes into the water (the water is preserved in the organic alcohol). But… What Dr. Bach discovered was that a variety of plants may help alleviate a variety of negative conditions and emotions, including anxiety, insomnia, and lack of energy.
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However, if you think that all you have to do is buy a flower, put it in water, and drink it, unfortunately, that is far from the case. “that teeth someone might be able to do it “Some people make their own Bach flower remedies, but the process is quite deep, so I don’t recommend doing that,” Harrington advises. Available in stores and online at Amazon.com. To use, add a few drops to water and drink. No need to buy plants. Smart says you can also ingest the plant by putting four drops of the essence under your tongue, which is very common.
Image/bachflower.com
If you’re wondering whether Bach flower can help, Harrington says all types of people can take advantage of its healing properties in some way. “Everyone can benefit because our emotions have a direct impact on our health. If you’re dealing with negative emotions like worry, fear, stress, or fear, it can have a negative impact on your health. It may not be obvious at first, but in the future, if you do not deal with negative emotions, something can manifest itself as a disease, so these batches of flowers are designed to have negative effects. It helps you deal with the emotion and get it out of your system.”
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The most popular Bach flower essence is Rescue Remedy (a blend of Impatiens, Star of Bethlehem, Cherry Plum, Rock Rose, and Clematis), which is used when you are nervous or have experienced a frightening event. “People take this for a variety of reasons. Maybe they have exam anxiety and can take it before an exam to feel calmer,” Harrington explains.
One of the big questions we’ve been wondering (and I’m sure you have too) is, are they safe? “The beauty of Bach Flower is that it’s very safe because it’s just water,” Harrington explains. “They won’t hurt. There’s no chemicals.”
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As with many homeopathic treatments, the scientific community is not completely convinced of its effectiveness and has struggled to prove its benefits. A randomized clinical trial conducted by the NIH in 2010 showed no difference between flower remedies and a placebo. However, it is not intended for medicinal purposes, as believers of this method claim. Harrington says, “It’s not like taking a pill will make your emotions go away. It’s a slow detoxification of your emotions. The situation doesn’t change. It just changes your perception of the situation.”