Consumers are quickly taking hold of alternative therapies and medicines in ever-increasing numbers, seeking alternatives to modern medicines and treatments and high prescription drug costs. Eastern and Asian therapies such as Acupuncture have become more commonplace, and other therapies are being embraced daily as they gain in popularity. One such therapy concept is that of flower remedies, based on the work of Edward Bach.
Edward Bach was an English physician who believed that the body could suitably resist disease and affliction if possessed of a positive emotional state, while negative emotional states would cause the body’s immune system and defenses to weaken, thus making it more difficult to resist disease. Clinical studies have actually proven that certain emotional states, such as stress, can directly influence certain bodily processes in adverse ways.
The Bach flower remedies use flower secretions and scents to achieve a more relaxed emotional state and eliminate stress and anxiety. A wide variety of flowers are utilized to achieve different results and assist with alleviating symptoms of particular ailments or afflictions.
For example, if for some reason you were feeling hatred or negative emotion toward another individual, you would first try to narrow your focus to what exactly your hatred is based upon. It it a result of jealousy? Impatience? Or just overall aggressiveness? Depending upon which form of hatred was seething inside you, you would choose Holly for general anger and resentment, Vervain if you were feeling hatred as a result of an injustice or wrong that had been done to you, and Chicory if you were feeling hatred or anger as a result of being hurt by another.
There are 38 flower remedies in total, all focusing on specific emotional states. Flower remedies are traditionally sold as tinctures, and can be used one at a time or in combination with other essences.
At the Bach Centre website, located at http://www.bachcentre.com/ you can find a wealth of information on Bach flower remedies, and books to purchase to help you identify what flower essences are to be used for specific imbalances, as well as recommended combinations to use for maximum effect. Case studies are also available for perusal, and if you were to feel so inclined, you could take a few courses to further increase your knowledge of the Bach flower remedies.
There are even Bach flower remedies offered for animals and pets, and may be the key to solving negative behavior or depressive states in your pets. The Bach Centre recommends the book Bach Flower Remedies for Animals, by Stefan Bal and Judy Howard, for more information about such treatment. If you suspect your animal is feeling stressed or is acting in a way that does not seem to reflect his normal behavior, then it may be entirely possible that your pet can benefit from flower remedies. Just as there is for humans, there are a number of Bach flower remedies available for pets and animals relating to specific moods and behaviors, such as intolerance for other animals or people, for general unease, or for car sickness.
You can find Bach flower remedies available for purchase at health and nutrition stores, and shops dealing with herbal products, or online at such stores like iHerb.com, The Vitamin Shoppe, Amazon.com, and others.
