In the 1920s and 30s, a noted homeopath and medical doctor called Dr Edward Bach discovered a system of flower remedies that can help us rediscover the positive side of ourselves. He believed, as many doctors do today, that attitude of mind plays a vital role in maintaining health and recovering from illness. When he died in 1936 he had developed a complete system of 38 flower remedies, each prepared from the flowers of wild plants, trees and bushes. They work on our emotions, helping the individual to manage life’s ups and downs.
Here are 10 of the most popular remedies which you can use to create your own personal combination to help keep your emotions in balance.
You can take the Bach Original Flower Remedies directly onto your tongue or in a glass of water. You should take 2 drops of each chosen remedy and repeat this a minimum 4 times a day. They can also be added to bath water or applied to your pressure points.
1. Mimulus
Mimulus is the remedy which helps with known phobias and fears such as flying, spider or heights. It helps us to rationalise our fears so when we find ourselves faced with them we will be able to act calmly and rationally.
2. Elm
This remedy is helpful if you feel completely overwhelmed with your responsibilities be they at home or at work. It helps you take a step back and look at your situation objectively. You can then prioritise your tasks and responsibilities accordingly, allowing you to take control of your situation without overloading yourself with unimportant tasks.
3. White Chestnut
White Chestnut helps free us from repetitive thoughts. Often we can become so obsessed with a particular aspect of our life that we tie ourselves in knots over it. White Chestnut helps us switch off these unwanted thoughts allowing you to get on with your daily tasks
4. Rescue Remedy®
Rescue Remedy is a combination of five Bach Original Flower Essences and is formulated to help in everyday stressful situations. It comforts and reassures, helping you to focus on what is happening around you and react in a controlled, sensible, rational way.
Rescue Remedy contains:
Rock Rose - for terror and panic
Impatiens - for irritation and impatience
Clematis - for inattentiveness and to counteract faintness
Star of Bethlehem - for shock
Cherry Plum - for irrational thoughts and lack of self control
5. Larch
The remedy Larch is helpful for people who are lacking self confidence. It can help when we are suffering a temporary crisis of confidence or for those who are experiencing sustained long term confidence issues. It helps give us self belief in our skills and to realise our potential. This self esteem boost is what we need to reach for our goals.
6. Crab Apple
Crab Apple is another confidence remedy but it particularly focuses on body confidence. Learning to love your body and its imperfections goes a long way towards feeling happy. Crab Apple will help you to feel at peace with your own imperfections, helping you to love yourself as a whole person instead of fixating on one particular facial feature or aspect of your figure.
7. Walnut
Walnut is the remedy which helps us deal with change in our lives. It can help with times of physical change such as relocating home, job or school, emotional change such as ending or beginning relationships and physiological change such as puberty or the menopause. The remedy helps keep us focus on our goals and targets and protects us from being knocked off course by external factors which are out of our control.
8. Olive
The remedy Olive is great to help with exhaustion. It can be physical or mental tiredness which is felt after an event. It could be a physically tiring day moving house, gardening or running around town shopping. It could be a mentally tiring day where you have been straining at your computer screen, working on your finances or if you have had a day where you have been preoccupied with worrying thoughts. Olive helps give you the mental stamina to continue through to the end of the day on top form.
9. Impatiens
Impatiens can be really helpful to people who suffer from a lack of patience and have a tendency to be tense and restless. It is characterised by snappiness and short temper and usually affects very dynamic people who find it hard to cope with people who work at a slower pace to themselves. This state is also commonly experienced by women who are premenstrual. Impatiens helps calm the impatience within, allowing you to concentrate on others and their needs.
10. Mustard
The remedy Mustard helps when you feel gloomy and down in the dumps. These emotions have no direct emotional origin and leave you feeling flat and fed up for no good reason. Often people feel frustrated because they cannot explain why they are experiencing this low mood which can make the situation worse. Mustard helps to life the dark cloud from above your head so you can get on with living a happy, fulfilled life whatever the time of year.
Bach Original Flower Remedies cost from around £5.99 and are available from Boots, Holland & Barrett and most independent chemist and health food stores. For more information, visit www.bachremedies.co.uk. Always read the label.
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For further information, photography or case studies please contact Amy Lyddall in Nelsons’ press office on 020 8780 4264 or amylyddall@nelsons.net
Notes to editors:
Nelsons is the UK's leading manufacturer of natural healthcare products, with a long-standing commitment to supplying the highest quality natural healthcare products that meet all regulatory and quality standards. Their brands are recognised and sold all over the world and include Rescue Remedy®, Bach™ Original Flower Remedies, Nelsons Arnicare™, Nelsons Teetha™, Nelsons™ Homeopathy, Spatone™ and Nice 'n Clear™.
February 2009
USA 