Bach Flower Essences
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[edit] Definition
Bach (pronounced 'batch') flower remedies are extreme dilutions of flower "essences" developed by Dr. Edward Bach. The remedies are used primarily to treat emotional and spiritual conditions, including but not limited to depression, anxiety, insomnia and stress.
[edit] Discussion
Before turning to alternative therapies, Dr. Bach was a House Surgeon and a casualty medical officer at University College Hospital, London, UK. He was in charge of 400 beds during World War I and later worked at the National Temperance Hospital. He also had a successful practice London's Harley Street.
Bach claimed that dew collected from the flowers of plants contains some of the properties of the plant, and that it was more potent on flowers grown in the sun. As it was impractical to collect dew in quantity, he decided to pick flowers and steep them in a bowl of water under sunlight. If sunlight is lacking, the flowers can simply be boiled. The result of this process is the "mother tincture", which is further diluted before sale or use.
The final remedies contain an infinitessimal amount of flower material in a 50:50 solution of water and brandy. Because the remedies are extremely dilute they do not have a characteristic scent or taste of the plant. Vendors state that the remedies contain the "energetic signature" of the flower, and that this can be transmitted to the user.
Bach flower remedies are not dependent on the theory of successive dilutions, and are not based on the Law of Similars. The Bach remedies, unlike homeopathic remedies, are all derived from non-toxic substances, with the idea that a "positive energy" can redirect or neutralize "negative energy".
[edit] Skeptical Response
A recent review concluded:
The hypothesis that flower remedies are associated with effects beyond a placebo response is not supported by data from rigorous clinical trials.[1]
All studies, whether finding for or against the remedies, have suffered from small sample sizes but the studies using the best methodology were the ones that found no effect over placebo.[2][3]
The most likely means of action for flower remedies is as placebos, enhanced by introspection on the patient's emotional state, or simply being listened to by the practitioner. The act of selecting and taking a remedy may act as a calming ritual.
The Bach centre states that "there have not been any proper clinical trials on the actions of the remedies"[2], a position which is at odds with the studies cited above.
[edit] References
1. E. Ernst (December 30 2002). ""Flower remedies": a systematic review of the clinical evidence". Wiener Klinische Wochenschrift 114 (23-24): 963-966. PMID 12635462.
2. H. Walach, C. Rilling, U. Engelke (july 2001). "Efficacy of Bach-flower remedies in test anxiety: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial with partial crossover". Journal of Anxiety Disorders 15 (4): 359-366. 11474820.
3. Pintov S, Hochman M, Livne A, Heyman E, Lahat E (2005). "Bach flower remedies used for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children — a prospective double blind controlled study". European Journal of Paediatric Neurology 9 (6): 395-398. 16257245.
