Background

Dr. Edward Bach (1886 – 1936) was a British physician who believed that illness is the effect of disharmony between body and mind and that symptoms of an illness are the external expression of negative emotional states. The term flower remedies refers to a set of preparations developed by Dr. Bach. Flower essences are also products derived from Dr. Bach's work.


Dr. Bach asserted that harmful emotions are the main cause of disease, and he classified various emotions into seven principal categories. These categories were then divided further into 38 negative feelings, each of which was associated with a particular therapeutic plant. He also developed a compound of five flowers called Rescue Remedy to be used in emergency situations for trauma.


Bach flower remedies are usually consumed as alcohol-based preparations, but they are also available as creams. Australian bush remedies, Alaskan flower remedies and treatments made from Brazilian rain forest plants are believed by some to be therapeutically similar to Bach flower remedies.

Evidence

Scientists have studied Bach flower remedies for the following health problem:

Anxiety
A small number of studies report the effects of Bach flower remedies to be similar to those of placebo for the treatment of anxiety. These studies have not been well designed, and additional research is necessary before a firm conclusion can be drawn.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Little clinical information is available on the effects of Bach flower remedies on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, although one subjective test found that it has no significant effect. More research confirming these results is necessary before a recommendation can be made.
Major depressive disorder
Depression is one of the major uses of Bach flower remedies. Currently, there is a lack of high-quality clinical trials that have investigated this subject.
Pain
One low-quality retrospective study indicates that Bach flower may benefit patients experiencing physical pain. More research is needed in this area.

Unproven Uses

Bach flower remedies have been suggested for many other uses, based on tradition or on scientific theories. However, these uses have not been thoroughly studied in humans, and there is limited scientific evidence about safety or effectiveness. Some of these suggested uses are for conditions that are potentially life-threatening. Consult with a health care provider before using Bach flower remedies for any use.

Aloofness
Ambivalence
Apathy
Cleansing
Depression
Despair
Discouragement
Egotism
Emotional healing
Envy
Excessive pride
Failure to learn from mistakes
Fear, including fear of the unknown
Guilt
Hatred
Hopelessness
Impatience
Inability to say "no"
Indecision
Inflexibility Intolerance
Jealousy
Lack of confidence
Mania
Mental anguish
Mental exhaustion
Narcissism
Nostalgia
Overdue pregnancy
Phobias
Physical exhaustion
Possessiveness
Procrastination
Repression
Rigidity
Self-hatred
Selfishness
Shame
Stress
Trauma
Wanderlust

Potential Dangers

Many Bach flower remedies contain alcohol, which may cause nausea and vomiting if taken with metronidazole (Flagyl) or disulfiram (Antabuse). Alcohol may also cause drowsiness. Driving or operating heavy machinery may be inadvisable if using Bach therapies with high alcohol concentrations. Alcohol intake should be limited in pregnant or breast-feeding women.

People allergic to certain plants or flowers may be sensitive to Bach flower remedies, although only a small amount of the plant may exist in the solution. Treatment with Bach remedies should not delay consultation with a health care provider for a potentially severe illness.

Summary

Bach flower remedies, and other systems of botanical treatments derived from Bach's work, have been recommended for many psychological and emotional conditions. There are numerous anecdotes about successful treatment with Bach flower remedies, although effectiveness and safety have not been thoroughly investigated scientifically.

The information in this monograph was prepared by the professional staff at Natural Standard, based on thorough systematic review of scientific evidence. The material was reviewed by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School with final editing approved by Natural Standard.